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! ♡

Micro Weddings in Charleston, SC

If you are wondering what constitutes a micro wedding in the Charleston, South Carolina area; Think of a micro-wedding as a cross between an elopement and a big, traditional wedding. It might just be the perfect compromise to suit your style. Smaller weddings have become very popular in Charleston in the past few years.

Here are a few Micro Wedding Venues in the Charleston area:

Emeline

The Vendue

Tides Folly Beach

The Carolina Girl Yacht

Seabrook Island Club

The Cooper River Room

The Dewberry

While a micro wedding can save you money, many couples are turning it into a macro experience. According to The Knot 2019 Real Weddings Study, the average overall guest count was down, while the average cost per guest went up. Couples can save money by going the route of micro weddings, though many decide to spend their full budget, only on fewer people.

My associate photographer Larry is now photographing Micro weddings. He is familiar with all of the venues above and more. We still have 2022 dates available, so reach out if we can help.

Principal Photographer: Kate Thornton

Second Photographer: Larry Dennis II 

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

Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island Vacation Guide

The IOP, as it's better known, is one of my favorite beaches. I lived on the Isle of Palms after college for a few years. Its neighboring Island, Sullivans, is the most expensive location to live in South Carolina. Take a bike ride along Ion Avenue between Station 18 and 17, and you'll be sold too. 

The beach at Fort Moultrie overlooking the Charleston harbor

Don't Miss These Area Restaurants

The Sea Biscuit Cafe is an IOP staple. This cute Lowcountry cafe serves a homestyle brunch. I recommend the crab cakes benedict! If you're going with a group, be prepared to wait for a table or send a family member ahead to wait in line for the group. 

https://sea-biscuit-cafe.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

Home Team BBQ on Sullivans Island is our family's favorite restaurant. We like the chicken wings with Alabama white sauce. This is also a great place to grab a beer and watch the game. 

https://hometeambbq.com/

Obstinate Daughter on Sullivans Island is a great place for the family or a date night. Their farm-to-table menu features Lowcountry dishes with a twist. Make sure you save room for ice cream downstairs at the Beardcat's Sweet Shop. 

https://theobstinatedaughter.com/

https://beardcatsweetshop.com/

What to do on the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island 

Fort Moultrie is a Revolutionary War relic that is perfect for entertaining the kids for a few hours. It has a small museum and gift shop to breeze through. Then spend time exploring the bunkers, let the kids climb on the canons, and enjoy a great view of the cargo ships arriving in the Charleston harbor. 

https://www.nps.gov/fosu/learn/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm

Go to the library! That's right; Sullivans Island Edgar Allan Poe Library is an underground bunker. It's a former Spanish-American War gun battery. 

https://www.ccpl.org/branches/sullivans-island

The Isle of Palms Marina is a great launching pad for getting out on the water. The beauty and charm of the Lowcountry are even more elevated by a day on the water. I highly recommend spending time on a boat. There are several different companies that take dolphin tours, fishing tours, and eco-tours, and some take you to neighboring barrier islands. 

https://nature-tours.com/