The Beaches of Charleston
Dewes Island | Helga Rabley via Getty Images
Along the South Carolina city's barrier islands await boneyard beaches, world-class golf courses and alligators aplenty.
DEWEES ISLAND
Strict building restrictions, no cars along crushed limestone roads, and ferry-only access protect this tranquil sanctuary both 12 miles north of Charleston and a world away.
ISLE OF PALMS
A popular pick for families thanks to an abundance of activities and swells suited for beginners. Separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway.
Beach Eats
With its weatherworn salvaged-wood interior, Jacques Larson’s Italian-inflected Obstinate Daughter is the perfect post-beachstop: local ingredient-fueled pastas, wood-fired pizzas and cocktail.
SULLIVAN’S ISLAND
Refreshingly residential, the island is home to a palmetto log fort for American patriots, the last major lighthouse built in the United States, and a dense maritime forest that buffers erosion and storm surge.
Charleston
Oyster bars and secret gardens, silversmiths and chefs, architectural heritage and Lowcountry lore.
FOLLY BEACH
Known for its funky-casual feel and for the Washout, best surf break in Charleston. Killer view of the 1876 Morris Island Lighthouse too. Find everything from surf wax to spam sliders along main drag Center Street.
KIAWAH ISLAND
The oak-lined approach of Bohicket Road sets the tone for Kiawah’s natural charms. Golf rules here, with seven choices for a tee time, including the famed Ocean Course. Gator sightings are the norm.
EDISTO ISLAND
Serene and secluded. Where beachcombers can often spot sharks’ teeth at low tide and Botany Bay’s boneyard beach evokes a wild, otherworldly beauty.
SEABROOK ISLAND
Private beach with a full-service equestrian center (take your pick: trails or beach) and the first golf facility in South Carolina to join the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
