Most travellers know Charleston, the darling southern gem only a stone’s throw from South Carolina’s coast. However few find out about all of the enjoyable issues to do in Kiawah Island, the naturally preserved escape that’s only a 35-minute drive from town.
Dwelling to a nature sanctuary, championship golf programs, a sprawling open-air market, and vigorous Lowcountry gatherings, Kiawah appears like a world of its personal.
You’ll spot dolphins splashing in its river, households watching motion pictures or dancing collectively on its village inexperienced, and cyclists pedaling by means of its miles and miles of motorbike trails.
Issues To Do in Kiawah Island
Half sandy seashore, half maritime forest, and half resort-style village, Kiawah Island has rather a lot to supply all several types of vacationers.
So whether or not you’re searching for a low-key and enjoyable getaway to the seashore or a coastal journey for the entire household, try this checklist of the highest 10 issues to do on Kiawah Island.
1. Watch The Solar Rise Over The Ocean
In case you’ve visited (or dwell on) the East Coast, seeing the dawn over the ocean might be one thing you knocked off your bucket checklist a very long time in the past.
However as a result of Kiawah Island is of course preserved and extra sparsely populated than different seashore locations, dawn is a bit more magical.
Wake at first mild and bike right down to the seashore to unfold a blanket, see the solar peek out over the ocean, and watch coastal birds swoop round looking for breakfast.
Higher but, reserve an oceanfront trip rental and produce espresso out to the balcony for a second to your self earlier than the world wakes up — it’s possible you’ll even spot Kiawah’s white-tailed deer grazing within the dune grass throughout these quiet morning hours.
2. Chow Down at a Lowcountry Cookout
Each Monday evening in the summertime (and on most main holidays), islanders and guests alike head to the banks of the Kiawah River for a long-standing custom: the Mingo Level Oyster Roast and BBQ.
There’s a lot to pile onto your plate together with Southern facet dishes and desserts and mouth-watering mains cooked over an open hearth — from fresh-caught oysters to smoked hen and pulled pork.
Whereas some feast, you’ll spot others kicking up their toes on the dance flooring to native bands. Craft workshops and island hair braiding provide an opportunity for the little ones to get in on the Lowcountry enjoyable, and native artisans arrange store to promote the whole lot from jewellery to wooden crafts.
Mingo Level Handle: 876 Kiawah Island Pkwy, Kiawah Island, SC 29455, United States. Get instructions right here.
3. Trip Bikes On The Seaside and By means of The Marshlands
With over 30 miles of paved paths and 10 miles of hard-packed, bikeable seashore, biking is a most well-liked technique for getting round Kiawah Island.
Not solely are the bike paths a low-stress strategy to get from level A to level B, however they’re additionally typically a vacation spot in themselves.
Spend a day biking alongside tropical wetlands, then cease to tour Marsh Island Park and climb the tower, which gives views out over Kiawah’s preserved marshes and coastal panorama.
Proceed pedaling alongside the Kiawah Island Parkway and out to Rhett’s Bluff to find the outdated Shoolbred cemetery and the dock overlooking the Kiawah River. Or just coast alongside the tide line to see the size of the island’s total shore.
4. Guide a Tee-Time at Championship Golf Programs
It’s no secret that Kiawah is residence to among the nation’s greatest golf. Hyperlinks Journal, Conde Nast Traveler, and Golf World have all acknowledged the island as a prime golf vacation spot, and its 5 world-class programs entice golfers from close to and much.
Highlights of Kiawah’s golf choices embrace Turtle Level, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course that blends seamlessly into the scenic panorama, and Osprey Level, that includes 4 pure lakes and dense forests.
However probably the most spectacular of Kiawah’s programs is the Ocean Course, which has been residence to an array of championships together with the 2012 PGA Championship, and is scheduled to host the PGA Championship once more in 2021.
Each one in every of its 18 holes gives jaw-dropping views of the Atlantic — in reality, it boasts probably the most oceanside holes of any course within the Northern Hemisphere.
Nevertheless it’s not simply lovely; it’s additionally difficult. Coastal winds make this course a formidable problem for even seasoned golfers.
5. Watch a Film within the Pool or Underneath The Stars
On Kiawah, watching motion pictures isn’t only a wet day affair. Throughout summertime, you’ll have two choices for alfresco flicks.
Dive-in motion pictures are a Tuesday evening custom at Night time Heron Park. Households collect with pool floats in tow to chill whereas a number of kid-friendly favorites play on a giant display.
And each Wednesday, Freshfields Village hosts Starlight Cinema, the place friends of all ages huddle up on seashore chairs and blankets on the village inexperienced to catch family-friendly motion pictures on the large display.
These occasions are among the greatest free issues to do in Kiawah Island. It’s the perfect strategy to wind down within the night whereas nonetheless having fun with some outdoors time.
6. Go Fishing
Everybody from newbie anglers to seasoned execs can discover the right spot to go fishing on Kiawah Island. Landlubbers can forged a line off the fishing dock at Bass Pond, a scenic and standard spot close to Rhett’s Bluff, whereas these searching for slightly extra journey can fee a constitution out of Bohicket Marina.
Wish to take to the waters? Cruise by means of Kiawah’s creeks and marshes on a four-hour inshore fishing tour. These catch-and-release charters maintain a most of six folks, and friends may have the possibility to hook flounder, redfish, and noticed trout.
For many who’d prefer to enterprise slightly additional offshore, close to coastal and reef fishing charters will whisk you as much as synthetic reefs and wrecks as much as seven miles out, the place giant sharks and black sea bass are widespread catches.
River creek charters additionally provide a family-friendly choice for younger anglers to try to catch widespread saltwater fish. And each Wednesday morning, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Bohicket Marina incorporates a fishing event only for children ages 4-14! Study extra right here.
7. Take pleasure in Stay Music and a Summer time Breeze
Chilly drinks, toe-tapping tunes, and a heat breeze — you’ll discover this good trifecta on summer time Thursday nights on the Porch Bar, an area favourite in Kiawah’s Freshfields Village.
Catch a sundown over Andell Lake, settle right into a southern swing or rocking chair, and order your favourite cocktail whereas native jazz bands present a very enjoyable summer time soundtrack.
For a livelier expertise that’s match for the entire crew, Freshfields Village hosts weekly Friday Night time Music on the Inexperienced live shows in the summertime.
Convey your chairs and blankets and chill, or arise and bust a transfer to the tunes of southeastern musicians and teams. Every week brings a unique act, starting from groovy jam bands to rock-and-rollers.
Freshfields Village Handle: 165 Village Inexperienced Ln, Kiawah Island, SC 29455, United States. Get instructions right here.
8. Witness Wildlife Up Shut
Whether or not you’re searching for it or not, you’ll possible spot Kiawah’s native wildlife throughout your travels on the island. You might glimpse dolphins strand feeding within the Kiawah River, an alligator wandering throughout a golf course, or a white-tailed deer prancing within the dune grass.
None of these sights are unusual, and so they’re what makes Kiawah really feel just a bit bit completely different from extra typical seashore locations.
However in case you’d prefer to be slightly extra intentional in your wildlife search, register for a naturalist-led bike tour by means of Kiawah’s wetlands, a birding tour to distant island locations, a gator stroll, or a dolphin cruise.
Naturalists additionally set out on pictures excursions for many who need to take residence reminiscences of the creatures they meet throughout their time on Kiawah Island.
9. Wine & Dine
Homey Italian eateries, traditional sports activities bars, high-class French institutions — there’s slightly little bit of the whole lot with regards to eating in Freshfields Village.
Convey the youngsters for a laid-back household dinner at King Road Grille, or deal with your self to a three-course meal ready with native elements at Hege’s Restaurant.
In case you’re seeking to enterprise slightly additional out, John’s Island is residence to genuine Mexican eating places, farm-style southern gems, and French-Southern fusion. And for die-hard foodies, the various eating scene of peninsular Charleston is only a 45-minute drive away.
For a very memorable eating expertise, ebook a trip rental with a full kitchen and rent an area chef for an at-home meal that rivals the island’s greatest eating places.
Higher but, make a visit to Forty-Eight Wine Bar beforehand to pattern reds and whites and decide up a bottle to get pleasure from together with your connoisseur dinner.
Planning a Journey to Charleston? Listed below are a couple of of the top-rated excursions there:
10. Take pleasure in Retail Remedy
Positive, you’ll be able to hit the mall again residence. However buying’s slightly extra enjoyable at Freshfields Village. This open-air market is Kiawah Island’s model of Fundamental Road, and it’s lined with high-end retailers, native craftspeople, and quaint boutiques.
Spend the afternoon indulging in slightly little bit of retail remedy, then end off the day with a glass of wine or a rejuvenating spa therapeutic massage.
The place to Keep on Kiawah Island
This can be a small island, however there are some distinctive lodging. Listed below are a couple of nice choices:
- Andell Inn: Positioned in Freshfields Village, the attractive suites right here embrace a scorching breakfast. There’s an onsite swimming pool, a bar, and free parking is out there on the property. Click on right here to study extra.
- Tennis Membership 4773: This vacation residence is a superb choice for households and teams. With 3 bedrooms and three bogs, there’s a number of area. Plus, the seashore is simply 650 meters from the home. Click on right here for particulars.
- Marsh Vista: That is one other 3 bed room, 3 toilet home that’s good for teams or households. The kitchen has all of the necessities you’ll want, plus there’s satellite tv for pc TV and parking. Click on right here to study extra.
Visiting Kiawah Island: FAQ’s
You possibly can spend a day at Kiawah Island having fun with a spherical of golf, lunch and buying at Freshfields Village, a swim on the seashore, or a hike one of many nature trails. End the time off with oysters at Mingo Level BBQ.
Kiawah Island is greatest recognized for its pure magnificence and luxurious. On the island, you’ll discover world-class {golfing}, facilities, and resorts, with the chance to see dolphins, alligators, turtles and different wildlife of their pure habitat. This unspoiled barrier island gives nature and a little bit of luxurious.
Many celebrities have houses (or had previously) on Kiawah Island. Reese Witherspoon, Dan Marino, Richard Gere, George Clooney, and Bruce Willis, to call a couple of. There are different well-known athletes who additionally personal properties on Kiawah.
Sure, anybody can go to Kiawah Island. This can be a widespread query, nevertheless, as there’s a guard on the principal entrance. However, even in case you’re not staying on the island, you might be nonetheless in a position to go to for the day. By automotive, flip proper simply earlier than the primary guard gate, and in case you hold driving to the tip, you’ll arrive at Beachwalker Park. From the park, nevertheless, you’ll need to go by foot or by bicycle if you wish to see different areas of Kiawah Island.
Now You Know What To Do in Kiawah Island
Able to make your escape to Kiawah Island? This standard vacation spot is only a fast journey from Charleston, making it an excellent getaway for a day, a weekend, or per week. Begin by searching Kiawah Island Getaway’s assortment of scenic-view and oceanfront trip leases on Kiawah Island.
From penthouses excessive above the seashore to cozy hideaways surrounded by maritime forest, take your decide of picture-perfect leases to function your private home base throughout your time on the island. Pack your luggage and luxuriate in!