I know we have some awesome beaches at our fingertips, but if you want to branch out to a place that holds a piece of my heart, you should try Edisto Beach, SC. My family has been vacationing there for quite some time, and it is an easy day trip from anywhere in the Charleston area as well. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a small island on the other side of Wadmalaw and Seabrook Islands. Admittedly, I haven’t done everything I’m going to tell you about, but someone in my family has, and they have done it repeatedly, so I’m betting it’s good. Except for camping….no one has gone camping, but I hear that’s a blast too.
If you wanted to make it an overnight trip, there is an excellent campground at Edisto Beach State Park. I’ve seen many friends go there on facebook, and I know it’s a good site if camping is your thing.
A good stop for children that enjoy reptiles and things that slither is the Serpentarium. I have family members that go every year we visit, and I plan on taking my children some day. I’m just quite a big beach bum, so I tend to sit on the beach the whole time I’m there. I’d suggest you hit that place on the way into town before going to the beach.
If shells are a favorite of yours, Botany Bay is a must. However, it is about a ½ mile walk to the beach, and you can’t take any of the shells with you….legally, anyway. It really is quite breathtaking and children always enjoy seeing the shells. I highly recommend this as a stop, maybe on your way back home around sunset- awesome photo opportunity.
http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/charleston-county/botany-bay.html
The beaches are beautiful and are rarely busy or crowded, although the ocean side beach will be busier than the one on the bay side. My family stays on the bay side typically, but you can easily hop over to the ocean side if you’d like to jump some waves. The bay side is especially good for dolphins at any time of the day. You can access the beach along the main road where you see any blue beach access sign, and parking is easy as well.
You can rent bikes on the island at Island Bikes & Outfitters or Edisto Bike Rentals- there is a nice trail and a bike route along Jungle Road. Make sure you take a walk on the beach and look for Eddie Stow- he’s fun to get in a picture. You can usually spot some Loggerhead Sea Turtle nests too in the early summer. There are also plenty of restaurants on the island, with my personal favorite being the Waterfront Restaurant…but please note, it’s not actually on the waterfront.
You can’t go wrong if you venture out to Edisto Island; the locals are friendly, and there is plenty to do. I would try and stop at King’s Market on Hwy 174 on your way out of town for a scrumptious Tomato Pie to bring home- it’s worth every penny.
