Groove to the Music with Dance Classes Near Kiawah Island, SC

From celebrated golf courses to unspoiled beaches, these destinations have it all.

South Carolina is often referred to as the Palmetto State, so named for the abundance of the trees in the area, but it could just as easily be dubbed the Barrier Island State. With 34 barrier and tidal islands peppering its shoreline (more than any other state except for Florida), South Carolina spills over with natural wonders, beautiful beaches, and unique destinations to explore. In our 2024 South's Best awards, readers voted on some of the very best of them. Here are the best islands in South Carolina, according to our readers.

The South's Best 2024

01 of 10

Hilton Head Island

With 12 miles of public beaches, more than 24 championship golf courses, and around 250 restaurants, Hilton Head's numerical stats alone prove why it's one of the state's most beloved islands. But the real magic, of course, belongs to its community—a mix of transplants and born-and-breds who are sure to make you feel right at home, whether you're sampling local oysters at Hudson's on the Docks or watching the boats come in at Shelter Cove Marina.

Explore Hilton Head

02 of 10

Isle of Palms

There’s nothing sleepy about this mile-wide destination just a short drive from downtown Charleston, where the activity and restaurant offerings belie its small size. Catch a concert at beachfront venue The Windjammer, play golf or tennis at nearby resort Wild Dunes (where you can book a stay in one of the property’s two inns or numerous vacation rentals), or shake out your towel on a sliver of the island’s six miles of sandy beaches for a leisurely day in the sun.

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03 of 10

Kiawah Island

While much of this tree-shaded barrier island is accessible only to those staying at Kiawah Island Golf Resort (either at The Sanctuary hotel or in one of their many rental properties), Beachwalker Park on the island’s west end is home to one of the state’s most beautiful beaches. Here, you’ll find both ocean-fronting shoreline and river views and can rent chairs and umbrellas for a no-fuss beach day. On your way, pick up deli sandwiches from The Station, an old-school convenience store in Freshfields Village, for an easy picnic.

Explore Kiawah Island

04 of 10

Edisto Island

This sea island about an hour’s drive from Charleston feels like a throwback in all the best ways. You won’t find high-rise hotels here, and the wildest nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays from the end of May through the beginning of August when the Edisto Island Lions Club hosts bingo (no booze allowed). For seasonally driven fare made with locally sourced ingredients, settle in for a meal at Ella and Ollie's (pictured above). The area’s crowning jewel is Botany Bay, a 4,600-acre nature preserve with nearly three miles of unspoiled shoreline, where erosion has left dead trees in its wake, resulting in a beautiful, otherworldly span referred to as the “boneyard beach.”

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05 of 10

Sullivan’s Island

Just two-and-a-half miles long, Sullivan’s is a secret that Charleston locals are keen to keep. First settled in the late 17th century, the island can claim an embarrassment of riches when it comes to both historical significance and natural beauty. The wide beaches are pristine, and there’s nary a trace of touristy kitsch on Middle Street, the town’s main drag—just a handful of memorable eateries (we’re partial to The Obstinate Daughter’s house-made pastas) and well-curated shops (visit Sandpiper Gallery to peruse the work of local artists). The bitty beach town is big on curb appeal too: thoughtfully maintained historic homes and storybook cottages with flower-swamped trellises line the streets that crawl toward the beach.

06 of 10

Folly Island

About a dozen miles from downtown Charleston, this 12-square-mile barrier island is best known for being home to Folly Beach, a laid-back surf town that departs from the Holy City’s tucked-in approach in favor of flip-flop casual. With the Folly River on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, there’s no shortage of opportunities for waterfront fun: Paddle through tidal creeks with a local outfitter, stretch out on the sand (there are six miles of beachfront here), or cast a line from the historic Folly Beach Pier, which recently reopened after extensive renovations.

Explore Folly Beach

07 of 10

Hunting Island

Just a 25-minute drive from downtown Beaufort, explore the seaside charmer's wilder side at Hunting Island State Park (South Carolina's most popular state park). Here, five miles of unspoiled beaches unfurl along the Atlantic and sandy trails wind through dense maritime forest.

08 of 10

Daufuskie Island

As the crow flies, the southernmost of South Carolina’s barrier islands is just miles from Savannah and Hilton Head, but it might as well be worlds away. Daufuskie is accessible only by boat (the official ferry offers four shuttles from Bluffton a day, five on Fridays), which is likely one of the reasons its 500 or so residents have been able to so carefully preserve its natural environment and its rich Gullah history. And while the island remains untouched in many ways, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see or do here: Tour the island with sixth-generation Daufuskie native Sallie Ann Robinson for an education in Gullah culture; go for a horseback ride on the beach; shop indigo-dyed goods at Daufuskie Blues; and cap off the day with a plate of deviled crab at Old Daufuskie Crab Company.

Explore Daufuskie

09 of 10

Fripp Island

About 20 miles from Beaufort, Fripp Island is a 3,000-acre designated wildlife sanctuary, home to more than 175 species of birds, plus endangered loggerhead turtles who use its beach as a nesting ground. The private island is accessible only to homeowners and those staying in vacation rentals, but once you're here, there's plenty to do, from guided kayak eco-tours to pickleball and golf.

10 of 10

Seabrook Island

Right next door to Kiawah Island, Seabrook has stunning saltmarsh vistas and celebrated golf courses, along with a full-service equestrian center that offers guided horseback rides. Its nearly four miles of beaches are private, accessible only to residents and those renting, though Bohicket Marina (just before the property’s gates) welcomes anyone and everyone to enjoy its river views. Snag a table on the upper deck of Salty Dog Cafe to tuck into fresh seafood with one of the area’s most memorable sunsets.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - There’s been a back-and-forth battle over the potential development on a Kiawah Island sandy inlet for more than 15 years.

An agreement between the developer that owns the property, known as Captain Sam Spit, and the town recently expired, and the town is now taking action to keep the land untouched.

Two obligations were outlined in the contract that the developer did not fulfill, and this led to the town issuing a demand letter a few weeks back. The letter asks for those requirements to be carried out, according to the town.

The obligations in question are that the developer transfers ownership of some highlands on the spit to the community association, and that they protect the remaining highlands with deed restrictions.

“That means, since nothing has been developed, all of Sam Spit will be prohibited from being developed,” Kiawah resident Alex Fernandez said.

Kiawah Resort Associates said they formally responded to the town, but it is unclear what was said.

At a special-called town council meeting Wednesday afternoon, a motion was passed for the town’s legal counsel to pursue the town’s rights in enforcing what was laid out in the demand letter.

“The community is whole-heartedly behind this, there’s no doubt about it,” Fernandez said. “It’s a beautiful place and we want it to remain in the present state.”

Amy Armstrong, Executive Director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Project, has played a large role in fighting to keep the spit untouched.

“Between the birds and the dolphins and the turtles, it’s just a very ecologically rich piece of land and once an area like this is developed, it’s gone forever,” Armstrong said.

The debacle has faced the South Carolina Supreme Court a handful of times.

Armstrong and Fernandez are passionate about protecting the land and the wildlife of Captain Sam Spit.

“We want to save these last remaining natural places from permanent destruction and loss,” Armstrong said.

“The Town of Kiawah Island has a duty to ensure the developer honors its obligations under the development agreement. This includes the conveyance and deed restriction obligations for Captain Sam’s Spit,” town officials said in a statement.

At the end of Wednesday’s meeting, it was said that after 15 years, maybe some kind of resolution is close.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Neighbors on Kiawah Island said they’re opposed to the plans for the Island Park Place Health and Wellness Village.

“We just don't want it,” said Johns Island resident Tesha Nelson. “We wanna continue with the beauty of Johns Island to stay the beauty of Johns Island.”

Collie Farah, the land preservation specialist with Kiawah Conservancy, said they are "talking about a development that is just under 130,000 square feet. That is a lot of impervious surface.”

“The infrastructure that's here now on Betsy Kerrison just simply can't support a development of that size," he added.

Read more: "Opposition rises against controversial Kiawah Island Park Medical Village."

They’re concerned not only about the size but the environmental impact.

“Not only is it disrupting wildlife habitat, but it's also filling in two acres of freshwater wetlands that are critically important for wildlife, but also stormwater mitigation,” Farah said.

Nelson adds: “It's going to affect the environment where, like I said, if we give one person to build, they'll build more. So they're going to take away from the beauty, the beautiful trees, the island that we all love.”

According to a press release from the Kiawah Conservancy, the developer has listened to concerns and made some changes since the initial presentation of the plan.

Read more: "Kiawah Island health center proposal faces steep opposition amidst rising concerns."

News 4 spoke with Councilmember Jenny Honeycutt, who represents this area and reminds people—right now, this is just a proposal.

“This is a plan development,” she said. “And so this would come to council and committee and then have to go through the three readings process at three council meetings. They still have not brought this to the county council for an actual vote in committee.”

Honeycutt admits she shares the environmental concern.

“This is a very high intense use, right next to a residential area on the border of the urban growth boundary. And I'm not so sure that that is the best use,” she said. “Again, I try to keep an open mind, but clearly, the folks in this area do not want to see something of this scale in this area.”

Read more: "Charleston board deliberates on new developments amidst tree preservation concerns."

And though the Kiawah Conservancy has been very vocal about this development, they say they aren’t against the idea of the project, but rather the size.

“We have to learn to live with the environment and grow with the environment and not against it,” said Farah.

Honeycutt said unless the developer asks for another deferral, the revised plans will be presented in front of the Charleston County Public Works Committee on Thursday.

Based on the Charleston County Public Works recommendation, the plans will then be seen by the Charleston County Council.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Multiple four-story condominium complexes could be coming to Kiawah Island and residents there want the proposed plans to change.

They have concerns about the potential project on Upper and Lower, or Ocean Pines, Beachwalker Drive and say development on the island should not be rushed.

“The impacts are far-reaching for everyone on Kiawah Island, Johns Island, and people wanting to go to the public beach,” Kiawah resident Lance Spencer said. “The infrastructure costs that the city is going to have to bear and that taxpayers are going to have to bear are significant.”

Homeowners said they aren’t against development, but it needs to be done responsibly and they say what’s been proposed is far from it.

“We’re not naïve, we know the developers have the right to develop, but we just want them to develop more responsibly, meaning less density,” Homeowners Association representative for Kiawah Island Lynda Leffler said. “These two areas that they are trying to develop are the most dense on Kiawah Island.”

Their concerns include an uptick in traffic, stormwater management, and that the complexes won’t fit in with the surrounding communities.

“The additional building and construction that the partners and developers want to do is all just for profit with no consideration to the environment and the sensitivity of the environment to what is best for this community,” Kiawah Island property owner James Caltabiano said. “No consideration, it’s all just for profit.”

The complexes would be in a similar fashion to “The Cape” being built now on the island.

“It’s a monstrosity on the beach next to the county park that people come from all over to enjoy,” Caltabiano said. “Now they have The Cape to look at, and it’s terrible.”

Residents say the process to get this development approved has felt rushed and left little time for community feedback.

“The partners have a development agreement which expires December 4th of this year, so certainly they are trying to get everything approved before then, because in that development agreement they can put four stories on these buildings,” Leffler said. “We know they can do that, we just object to that and we wish they would tone it down to two stories.”

They said a two-story building would fit in with surrounding communities as well as address their other concerns.

“It would have a more positive impact on the environment,” Kiawah Island Cottage Association Board Member Cynthia Hadley said. “The stormwater retention is a huge issue in the sense that we experience more and more flooding as the ocean levels rise and the king tides come in. So, a smaller development is definitely what we’d like to see.”

To view the full proposed plans, click here and scroll down.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

One of South Carolina’s most enchanting locales, Johns Island boasts miles of shoreline with gorgeous coastal architecture. Only 20 miles from historic Charleston, the Kiawah River area is the region’s sole “agrihood” community, offering everything from a 100-acre working farm and goat dairy to active beehives and nature trails. Today, we’re touring the interior of one of the area’s custom homes, filled with luxe-modern details.

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Built by Charleston-based JacksonBuilt Custom Homes with interiors by Motif, this three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home was designed to reflect the area’s natural elements, such as driftwood, feather grass, and water. Moving to Kiawah to escape the Pennsylvania winters, the homeowners have created a retreat highlighting vaulted ceilings and a tranquil aesthetic.

“The front part of the home is the main living space with a beautiful, vaulted ceiling, plaster fireplace, and iron ‘turnbuckles,’ which add to the design goal of making this part of the house feel like the original homestead,” says Kimberly Jackson of JacksonBuilt Custom Homes.

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Though the home sits on an irregularly shaped corner lot, the 2,950-square-foot abode blends in seamlessly with its surroundings. The exterior wows with its coastal farmhouse feel. A stunning live oak tree in the front yard offers a prominent natural feature for the homeowners and the surrounding community. The home is so beautiful, in fact, that it received a “Best in American Living Award” from the National Association of Home Builders! “The home is very natural and organic to the community’s 20 miles of shoreline, acres of maritime forest, and working farms. The large live oak tree in the front is the star of the landscape,” says Kimberly.

Working with architect Collin Cope to accomplish the design and aesthetic, the home offers materials and furniture that complement the outdoors.

All images courtesy of Keen Eye Marketing.

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