2024 Kiawah Island Vacation Guide

Kiawah has always held a special place in my heart, and not just because I lived on neighboring Johns Island for 8 years. My husband, Chris, and I were married at the Kiawah Island River Course 15 years ago this April! Kiawah truly is a magic place, steeped in natural beauty. From the Spanish Moss shaded trails to the endless white beaches, it is a photographer’s dream backdrop!

Kiawah Island Family Portrait

RESTAURANTS

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Breakfast

The Hemingway 

Venture off the island to The Hemingway for gourmet coffee, southern chicken biscuits, and tasty ricotta toast. The elevated cafe offers a quality breakfast menu, full coffee bar, and exquisite wine and beer menu. 

Lunch

The Tattooed Moose

The Tattooed Moose is the perfect halfway stop between Kiawah and Downton Charleston. It has burgers and beer and a great kids’ menu. It’s shaded by enormous oak trees, and there is plenty of space to let the kids run around and play.

Jasmine Porch

For upscale southern fare, Jasmine Porch hits all the right notes. Located in The Sanctuary, it is the perfect place for a delicious post-spa lunch or exquisite dinner. For a savory southern classic, be sure to order the fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese!

Dinner

The Ocean Room

Indulge in fine dining at The Sanctuary's renowned steakhouse, The Ocean Room. With an outstanding menu and even better view over the ocean, it’s the perfect way to complete a day at the beach or on the golf course.

Wild Olive

Wild Olive is worth the short 20 minute drive from the island! The authentic Italian eatery leans on local, seasonal and homemade ingredients to ensure their dishes are the absolute best- try the house-made pastas and salami! The vibe is as unpretentious as the food, and the staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu.

SHOPPING

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Rosebank Farms

The Rosebank Farms produce stand is an icon to residents and visitors of Kiawah Island. It’s the perfect place to stop for locally grown produce,  fresh seafood, packaged goods, and fresh flowers. Be sure to buy one of the key lime pies! The stand is owned by Sidi Limehouse, a Johns Island legend. If you see a farmer that looks like Jerry Garcia driving a tractor down Betsy Kerrison Parkway, that’s SIDI! 

ACTIVITIES

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Kiawah Island Resort offers a variety of award-winning activities, from their unparalleled spa and shopping to the world-class golf courses and tennis center. The beach is wide and beautiful, with sea turtles and dolphins and waves that are just right for young kids. Here are a few other activities you may enjoy:

Bike Trails

Explore miles of marshland by bike! There are well-marked bike paths all over the island, connecting the various communities and weaving through the woods. You can even bike on the beach at low tide. There are several bike rental companies on the island, including Kiawah Island Bike Rentals, Seaside Cycles,and Alligator Bike. 

Tidal Trails

Tidal Trails is an outdoor company devoted to providing memorable experiences on the water. You can book a nature tour via kayak, power boat, stand up paddle board or take surf and kayak lessons.

Visit the Angel Oak

The Angel Oak is the largest living oak, estimated to be nearly 400 years old! It is a gorgeous sight and worth the short drive to John’s Island. 

FOR THE KIDS

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Night Heron Park

Located within the Kiawah resort, this expansive 21 acre park is a nature-lover’s dream come true! There is the fascinating Nature Center, playground, hiking trails, pool, splash pad and more. Check the activities calendar for special events too, like movies in the park or alligator tours.

Kiawah River Goatery

For a truly memorable experience, stop by The Goatery, located in the Kiawah River community. Tour the farm, socialize with the friendly goats, pick eggs from the chicken coop or schedule a private yoga class (with goats!). It’s hands-on education at its finest!

Aqua Park

Located on Trophy Lakes on John’s Island, Aqua Park is a ridiculously fun floating playground. Climb, jump, slide and swim during the warmer months.

Discover Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms is one of South Carolina’s hidden gems. Only 7 miles long, it flies somewhat under the radar compared to Sullivan’s Island or Kiawah, which attracts far more attention (and visitors!), making it more lowkey and less crowded  Wild Dunes Resort is a huge draw for families and vacationers year-round, and tons of beach house rentals line the coast. Isle of Palms has a nostalgic beach town vibe, is super bikeable, and boasts an absolutely stunning beach. The best things to do on the island involve a beach chair and a good book. 

Restaurants

Breakfast: Sea Biscuit Cafe

The Sea Biscuit Cafe is everything you want from a beach town diner: friendly staff, cute cottage location, mouth-watering southern breakfast. It’s open for lunch too and both are delicious.   

Lunch: Long Island Cafe

For an upscale lunch, stop by the Long Island Cafe for some tasty french-southern fusion dishes. From the outside, it is small and unassuming, tucked away in a stripmall, but locals know what a treasure it is. The seafood-heavy menu gives many southern classics a modern twist. 

Dinner: The Obstinate Daughter

While there are plenty of casual dinner options on the island, it is absolutely worth the short drive to Sullivan’s Island for a truly spectacular dinner at The Obstinate Daughter at least once during any Isle of Palms stay. The seasonal menu features homemade pastas, pizzas and fresh raw seafood. 

To Do

County Park

The Isle of Palms County Park is right in the heart of Isle of Palms, with easy parking, showers and picnic tables if you want to make this your home base at the beach. There is a sweet little playground and summer snack bar, plus it’s walking (or biking/scooting/skating) distance to the “downtown” area. 

Isle of Palms Marina

The Isle of Palms Marina is a welcoming marina with boat rentals and charters, family-friendly activities, a restaurant and marina store. When you need a break from the beach, it’s the perfect place to rent a boat or take a fishing charter and explore the intercoastal waterway.

Ben & Jerry’s

It may not be local, but the IOP Ben & Jerry’s feels about as small town, beachy ice cream shop as they come. Walk up from the beach in your swimsuit or bike over barefoot, order from a window and find a park bench to eat. Summer perfection!

The Windjammer

The Windjammer is an institution: a live music venue right on the sand with beach volleyball outside and unbeatable views of the ocean. It’s an awesome place to end a beach day with a cold beer, good company and great music. 

Remember to book your family portrait before your trip! Call 843 442-0802 or fill out my contact form to schedule. My summer 2022 dates are filling up fast!!

Discover Folly Beach

Because Folly Beach is practically in my backyard (and since we’re “beach people”), my family spends a lot of time on this 6 mile island. A funky little beach town with a low key vibe, Folly is a unique place to visit. With delicious dining options, great surf waves and beautiful beaches, it draws a mix of surfers, hippies, families and college students. While a mere 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, it feels a world away tucked into the overgrown palms and lush greenery. 

Folly Beach Restaurants

Breakfast: The Lost Dog Cafe

The Lost Dog Cafe is a Folly Beach institution. The menu has a little something for everyone for breakfast, brunch or lunch…even your dog! There’s often a wait for a table, but it is worth the extra time and you can explore the Folly Beach Library next door or Folly River Park around the corner. 

Lunch: Chico Feo

Stop by Chico Feo after a morning at the beach for an unforgettable experience. The outdoor only, dirt-floor-and-picnic-tables restaurant and bar serves a small but tasty (seasonal) menu of tacos, noodle bowls, pulled pork and kimchi sandwiches and more under the palms, usually to the live tunes of a funky local band. Kids can grab a corn dog or burger at Bert’s Market next door if they aren’t into the eclectic menu. 

Dinner: Jack of Cups

 Jack of Cups is the unassuming gem of Folly Beach, drawing foodies away from Charleston for “globally-inspired comfort food.” There’s a full bar and large back deck so there’s plenty of space to spread out with a bigger group or the whole family. 

Weekends: Crosby’s Food Truck

On weekends, the local seafood store Crosby’s Seafood opens their food truck in the parking lot. Feast on local fish tacos, fried shrimp and seafood chowder, eaten on their fishing dock out back. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!

My family at Folly Beach! My girls are 10, 8 and 2 years.

Folly Beach with Kids

State Park

Folly Beach State Park is a great beach park for the whole family! With easy parking, restrooms, showers and even a snack bar, it is incredibly convenient with small children. There are ramps (hello, beach wagons and strollers!), lifeguards and dressing rooms. The park covers the western tip of the island and is a beautiful beach for swimming, playing, fishing and sunset walks!

Pirates Cove Playground

Pirates Cove Playground is located on E. 5th between Erie and Hudson. It’s a pirate themed playground for all ages with a climbing structure and tall lighthouse slide for big kids, smaller ship structure for little kids and swings for everyone! There’s also a public dog park, tennis courts and pickle ball courts for whole-family fun! 

Wave Watch Playground

Wave Watch Playground is another fun, gated playground located on the opposite side of town. Situated at the end of West Cooper Avenue, it’s a colorful playground with clean bathrooms and even a little lending library.

Folly Beach Sights

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve is located at the far east end of the island and is the best place to view the Morris Island Lighthouse. Fish off the beach or walk or bike down the graffiti covered pathway to the end of the island. There’s a trail around the island to the river that’s fun to hike with the whole family. 

Morris Island

If you’re on the hunt for shells or shark teeth, hire a boat or kayaks to Morris Island! Pack your walking shoes and a picnic lunch for a day of exploring… and maybe even megladons! 

Rainy Day 

Charleston Aquarium 

Head downtown to the Charleston Aquarium for an incredible experience! From the touch tank to hands-on exhibits, it’s full of interactive fun for all ages. 

King Street

When the weather won’t cooperate (or you need a break from the beach!), explore all the shopping on King Street! There’s an endless array of iconic local shops, with award-winning restaurants throughout when you need a shopping break. 

Patriots Point

A visit to the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is both educational and exciting for kids and adults alike. Tour the enormous USS Yorktown aircraft carrier and more. 

My husband and 2 year old! ♡

Kiawah Island & Seabrook Island Vacation Guide

Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island are some of the most pristine beaches on the East Coast. I lived on neighboring Johns Island for eight years, and my husband and I were married at the River Course on Kiawah Island. Beachwalker is one of our favorite beaches to take our dog on a long walk off-leash.

The Goatery at Kiawah River Farm

The Best Places to Eat

The Ocean Course is a public golf course on the far East side of Kiawah Island. It has incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and is the place to be at Sunset. Be sure to grab dinner or a drink here during your stay.

https://kiawahresort.com/golf/the-ocean-course/

Wild Olive is a bit of a drive, but it's perfect for a date night and is one of the local's favorite restaurants for celebrations. Their crispy calamari is not to be missed, along with their extensive wine collection.

https://wildoliverestaurant.com/

Rosebank Farm is one of the oldest working farms on the Island. The Rosebank Farms Market on the side of Betsy Kerrison Parkway sells vegetables plucked from the fields, local shrimp, and make sure you pick up a key lime pie; they are out of this world good!

http://www.rosebankfarms.com/

Things To Do

Heron Park Nature Center is a great place to entertain kids. Learn about local animals like sea turtles, land turtles, bobcats, and snakes.

https://kiawahresort.com/recreation/nature/

Fresh Fields Village has movies and concerts on the weekends. This city center has outdoor concerts, movies, and festivals. Bring your beach chair and a plastic cup filled with wine. This is a great place to picnic and watch kids run wild.

https://freshfieldsvillage.com/

The Goatery at Kiawah River Farm is a new family-friendly experience where you can hang with goats, pigs, cows, donkeys, and chickens. Be sure to make an appointment, and you will get up close and personal with all the animals. If you're into yoga, don't miss goat yoga on Fridays and Saturdays. I tried it last summer and laughed through the entire class.

https://thegoateryatkiawahriver.com/

Folly Beach Vacation Guide

Folly Beach is the area of town I know the best. My family and I live close to this beach and have many friends on the island. My husband surfs a longboard at the pier most mornings. My three girls, ages 9, 7, and 1 spend hours playing in the sand on the weekends with friends.

Don't miss these Folly Beach Restaurants

Bowens Island Restaurant is a fried seafood and oyster dive restaurant with plenty of character and incredible views of the water and sunset. Look out for dolphins swimming by, and bring your bug spray.

https://bowensisland.com/

Taco Boy has a fun beach vibe with incredible food. It's a four-story restaurant with unique decor. I love their fried avocado tacos!

https://www.tacoboy.net/

Rita's Seaside Grille is authentically Folly. They have live music nightly on the patio. My kids love the chicken fingers served on a frisbee. My favorite is the tuna watermelon nachos.

https://www.ritasseasidegrille.com/

What to do on Folly Beach

Morris Island Light House Trail on the east tip of the island is an easy 1-mile walk to the ocean. There is graffiti everywhere along the path through the marine forest. There is a beach at this end of Folly, perfect for viewing the lighthouse or dolphin watching, but you do not want to swim here. The east end of Folly has deadly currents and sharks. Bring your bug spray as well.

http://savethelight.org/

Learn to surf with an instructor. I recommend taking a lesson at Shaka Surf School or Isla Surf School over renting a board on your own. A lot goes into reading the waves and popping up at the right time. Surf schools provide big foam boards that make it easier to stand up on the wave and safer when you fall.

http://www.shakasurfschool.com/

https://www.islasurfschool-charleston.com/

Visit Bert's Market on Folly for some incredible people-watching and snacks. This 7 Eleven style market got a facelift a few years ago and is a great place to grab a sandwich, shop for local beer, and buy some Doritos. Berts is the local's favorite place to shop; you will find beach bums, surfers, college students, and families running earns here.

http://www.thebusiness.company/bertsmarket/phone/index.html

A view of East Ashley Avenue from the top deck of Taco Boy