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A Guide to Beaches in the Charleston Area & Proximity to Sailors Rest
- Sarah
- Apr 25, 2022
- 3 min read
The most common question we are asked is "how far are you from the beach?" The answer is usually "Which one?!" The Charleston area has so many beaches to explore, each with unique features, so without further adieu, read on to find out the proximity of each beach to Sailors Rest as well as locals' tips to keep in mind while visiting.
1) Kiawah Beachwalkers Beach - 10 minutes from Sailors Rest.
Kiawah Beachwalkers Beach is located 10 minutes from Sailors Rest (unless there is a line to get in). It probably has the most amenities of any beach in the area, which I have included in the image below. This beach is our personal favorite. Parking is $10, but ask us about the beach pass that gets you free parking! Pro tip: on weekends in the summer the parking lot fills up quite quickly, so be prepared to possibly give your name and number to the parking attendant who will text you when your place in the queue is available. Strolling around Freshfields Village is a great way to pass the time while you wait for your coveted text message. It usually only take 30 minutes to get a text. Go early in the morning or on a weekday to avoid the crowds. If you forget something, no problem; there is a little shop at the beach entrance with all basic beach-day needs.
The Charleston CVB couldn't have said it better: "Seabrook Island is one of the best kept secrets on the East Coast. This community offers residents and guests two championship golf courses, a tennis center, horseback riding, fine and casual dining, a marina and many other amenities."
Known as "Charleston's Beach Town," and the "Edge of America," Folly Beach boasts a fun party-vibe with many restaurants, pubs and beach knick knack and hippy shops to browse. There are lots of paid parking options as well as some street parking. Pro tip #1: Visit Burts Market, a 24 grocery with the motto "we may doze, but we never close," considered the hub of the island for both locals and visitors alike. Keep in mind in the summer there is always a chance of long lines to get to the beach. Pro tip #2: If you take a left on the main street on Folly and keep driving all the way down towards the Morris Island Lighthouse you can park your car and walk all the way down the beach path to get a stunning view of the lighthouse.
Soak up some history at Sullivans Island, located past beautiful Mt. Pleasant over the iconic and unmistakable Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Sullivans offers unique shops and restaurants and was once home to poet Edgar Allen Poe. In fact, there's a whole book about it, Edgar Allen Poe's Charleston. Eat at Poe's Tavern or at Beard Cats, an excellent gelato & sweet shop, and try their in-house specialty while there, olive oil and sea salt gelato. Check out Fort Moultrie and learn about the defeat of the Royal Navy in 1776.
Pro tip: On your way to Sullivans you may want to pick a few places in Mt. Pleasant to check out. Mt. Pleasant is definitely worth a visit if you're staying in Charleston a week or more. There's many shops and restaurants there. In fact, it deserves it's own blog post (coming soon).
Check out their official website for complete details on this lovely spot.
6) Botany Bay on Edisto Island - 56 Minutes from Sailors Rest. Botany Bay offers unique scenery with many tree sized driftwood and lush tropical vegetation that backs right up to the beach. It's a lovely day trip from Sailors Rest. Eat at The Old Post Office Restaurant. Pro tip: While it's too dangerous to swim here because of all the driftwood under water it's a beautiful spot to take a few Insta-worthy shots and peruse the area. If you're craving some time in the water, drive a little farther to get to Edisto Island Beach.
We feel blessed to be surrounded by so many beautiful beaches here and hope you will come visit and experience them too!
Peace, Love & Blessings -Sarah
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