10 Finest Seaside Cities in South Carolina

Folly Seaside

“As somebody who lives 10 minutes from Folly Seaside, I actually really feel like I’m on trip the place I reside,” Katie Hirsch, the director and chief curator of the Halsey Institute of Modern Artwork, tells Journey + Leisure. It’s one of many closest seaside cities to Charleston, so it’s an important possibility for a day journey when you’re visiting the Holy Metropolis; simply remember to arrive on the sooner facet if you wish to beat the crowds and have a better time parking. Plus, “when you’re an early riser,” says Hirsch, you would possibly need to “attempt discovering shark tooth throughout a morning seaside stroll.” She additionally recommends grabbing some meals at native favourite Jack of Cups Saloon for “surprising bites impressed by Asian delicacies.”

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Hilton Head Island

“Hilton Head Island is likely one of the greatest locations to flee to if you wish to be close to a seaside city however need a totally different setting from Charleston,” explains Hirsch. “It has trendy touches however nonetheless retains its Southern appeal, interesting to each vacationers and locals alike.” Hilton Head is understood for its golf programs and bike trails, however there’s one thing for everybody on the 12-mile-long, five-mile-wide island. Gullah heritage excursions, boat rides, paddleboarding, and birding are all itinerary contenders, and Hirsch additionally says the vacation spot has “among the greatest thrift shops.” If that’s up your alley, save a day for exploring the products at The Cut price Field, My Sister’s Closet, and The Church Mouse.

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Isle of Palms

I’ve spent numerous days on Isle of Palms, a small barrier island just below half-hour from downtown Charleston. It’s one of many extra family-friendly seashores within the space, with many guests opting to remain at Wild Dunes Resort or hire a roomy oceanfront dwelling. Regardless of the place you might be on the island, although, its leisurely tempo, large seaside, and traditional small-town options will entice guests of all ages. Certainly one of my favourite issues to do on “IOP,” because the locals name it, is to seize dinner at Islander 71 and watch the boats come out and in of the marina. I’d additionally suggest testing the reside music schedule at The Windjammer — or selecting up a to-go frosé from The Co-Op.

Sullivan’s Island

Named one of many greatest seaside cities on the East Coast, Sullivan’s Island continues to be a favourite — particularly for Charlestonians. “The seaside may be very relaxed, and the marsh views are second to none,” says Betsy Fuller, proprietor of A Maker’s Put up. “In case you’re visiting, I’d suggest taking a protracted seaside stroll ending at Station 22.5, so you possibly can head into ‘city,’ aka Center Avenue, to do some procuring.” This a part of Sullivan’s Island is common for its numerous eateries; there’s all the things from Mexican and barbecue to burgers and seafood. Fuller recommends getting a desk at Excessive Thyme or The Obstinate Daughter — then grabbing a nightcap at Dunleavy’s.

Associated: How you can Plan the Good Journey to Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina

Beaufort

The second-oldest metropolis in South Carolina, Beaufort is usually in comparison with Charleston; it’s historic, lovely, and crammed with oak bushes and superb structure. Its proximity to the water can be a perk. Equally to Charleston, you’ll should drive a bit out of the principle hub to get to the seaside. In case you don’t thoughts parking your seaside chair by Battery Creek, fairly than the Atlantic Ocean, make your method to the Sands Seaside on the southern finish of Port Royal. The seaside is free to the general public, and there’s loads to maintain the entire household entertained, together with shark tooth searching, a boardwalk, and an remark tower. For true oceanfront seashores, you’ll must drive to Looking Island State Park, the place 5 miles of gorgeous seashores reside alongside marshes, a saltwater lagoon, and maritime forests. 

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Pawleys Island

Leisure is paramount while you’re visiting Pawleys Island, a barrier island seaside city situated between Myrtle Seaside and Charleston. That is the kind of place the place time routinely slows, the place you’re inspired to log out, and the place you possibly can see the unparalleled pure splendor of South Carolina’s coast. Spend your days crabbing, browsing (if the waves allow), fishing, {golfing}, or eating on traditional Lowcountry staples; simply don’t neglect to save lots of time for the artwork of doing completely nothing. For a very rejuvenating getaway, e-book a room at The Pelican Inn, an eight-bedroom bed-and-breakfast with various studying nooks and locations to take a nap. 

Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet, or the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” makes this listing for just a few causes. For starters, the historic fishing village has a characteristic often known as MarshWalk. The picket boardwalk spans a half-mile alongside a pure saltwater estuary and a number of other eating places, together with Bovine’s, Wahoo’s Fish Home, and The Claw Home. In between journeys to the far-from-crowded Huntington Seaside State Park, guests ought to make some extent to cease by Brookgreen Gardens, a zoo and 9,100-acre sculpture backyard. Murrells Inlet was additionally beforehand the placement of Goat Island, which Hirsch calls a “spectacle to see,” however as of 2023, the resident goats have been changed with steel goat replicas as excessive tides posed an excessive amount of of a menace to the animals.

Edisto Seaside

Edisto Seaside isn’t your typical, buzzy seaside city — and that’s the fantastic thing about it. There aren’t any stoplights, excessive rises, or chain eating places on the whole thing of Edisto Island, and the seaside city itself wholeheartedly embraces the magic of gradual residing. For leisure, guests can (respectfully) discover the 4.5 miles of shoreline, take a dip within the ocean, and seek for shells, shark tooth, and different fossils which will wash up on shore. Biking, kayaking, and dolphin excursions are additionally favourite trip additions. But when there’s completely one factor you possibly can’t miss whereas visiting Edisto Seaside? The wonderful sunsets. Convey a blanket to Edisto Seaside State Park, sit again, and benefit from the present. 

Associated: How you can Plan the Good Journey to Edisto Island, South Carolina

Myrtle Seaside

Myrtle Seaside could technically be a metropolis, however it has the entire trappings of your traditional seaside city. There’s a bustling boardwalk, golf programs, go-karts, memento procuring, and, after all, various public seashores. “I’ve at all times been drawn to the nostalgia that you will discover on Myrtle Seaside,” says Fuller. “Certainly one of my favourite motion pictures, “Shag,” is about there, and at any time when I watch it, I daydream about going again to go to the seaside city within the Nineteen Fifties.” And whereas it may be synonymous with spring break crowds and households on summer time trip, this can be a vacation spot that delivers — whether or not you’re hoping to spend the day by the water or maintaining your schedule full, from sun-up to sunset. 

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Kiawah Island

“Seaside city” has totally different associations for various folks. To me, a seaside city is someplace that’s simply navigable by bike; it’s a spot with only some retailers that each one, for probably the most half, promote some type of solar hat or location-specific t-shirt. In South Carolina, a seaside city additionally evokes a nostalgic mixture of humidity, salt water, and the odor of pluff mud. Kiawah Island meets all of those standards — after which some. A majority of the island capabilities as a gated non-public neighborhood, accessible solely to residents, their friends, and people with reservations, although there are a few areas open to the general public, specifically Kiawah Beachwalker Park and Freshfields Village. On the latter, you possibly can load up on all of your trip necessities — groceries, seaside reads, bathing fits, and extra. 

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