Vacationing at Kiawah Island

Where is Kiawah?
Kiawah Island is located in South Carolina about thirty minutes south of Charleston. The "Island" is only considered so because the narrow Kiawah River carves out this inter-coastal landmass from the east. Just about all of Kiawah is gate accessible with the exception of the public park/beach that can be reached right before proceeding to the gate.

Natural treasures on Kiawah Island
There are plenty of things to do once you get to the Island. Once the vehicle is unloaded, everyone walks straight out to the beach. Kiawah offers up ten miles of pristine beach that caters to all sunbathers, swimmers, joggers, and shell collectors. The beach is sparsely populated even in the busy season so there is plenty of room to roam, read a book, or build that masterpiece sand sculpture. The beach can run pretty wide during most of the day but seems to get narrow once the evening tide rolls in. The tide usually brings in a variety of different sea shells to choose. It isn't uncommon to find a sand dollar or conch shell during an early morning jog. Occasionally, one will spot a pod of dolphins swimming up and down the coast sometimes as close as forty to fifty feet from the shoreline. Beachcombers will also witness sand pipers and other coastal birds lurking a crab or two roaming the sand. I really can't comment too much on the swimming since I only go into the ocean up to my knees (having a phobia of sharks). The kids usually like to play in the small salt water pools formed by the tides.
If the beachfront isn't enough, there is an extensive network of bike and jogging trails throughout the island. Going for a bike ride on the trail is a great way to see the natural inhabitants of the island as well as see some really beautiful coastal homes. The trail ride takes you along scenic parts of the island where you can usually see alligators, osprey, turtles, herons, and deer. The bobcat is also indigenous to the area, but I still have yet to find one

Kiawah Island Activities.
Golfing is the premier sport on the island. The island boasts five public courses and one private course. All five public courses will challenge just about any skill level of play. The courses offer some of the most spectacular views of the ocean, river, and inter-coastal marshes. I try to find time to play at least once when visiting.

Bicycling
The other fun thing to do when on the Island is to rent bicycles. Bicycles as I mentioned above are the best way to navigate around the Island. The bicycles are even allowed on the beaches which is a great workout. I never thought one could bike on sand, but it is certainly possible with these bikes. You can also rent a trailer to pull the tots around. They seems to occasionally fall asleep from the ocean air when I take them for a ride.

Tennis
The island has several tennis courts for use to all ages and skill levels. My tennis game is pretty poor so I have not taken advantage of using these excellent courts.

Fishing/Crabbing....There are several points to fish from, whether you want to charter a deep sea boat or cast a line from the shore, or even fish the inter-coastal. There are several species waiting to be hooked or trapped: (red snapper, grouper, and blue crab). The Bohicket Marina offers all these services to the tourists.

Shopping, Dining & Accommodations
The main shopping hub on Kiawah is Newton Farms. Newton Farms is located between Kiawah and Seabrook Islands. The shopping center boasts several amenities such as a fresh market, pharmacy, clothiers, confectionery, ice cream parlor, and the resort rental office. For expanded shopping interests, the tourist is best served taking a half hour ride into historic downtown Charleston where the shopping experience is much more rewarding.

Dining
Kiawah Island offers a small dining selection. The island has several restaurants located at the golf courses and the hotel (The Sanctuary). There is also a restaurant located within the Bohicket Marina (Seabrook Island). However, if you really want to get the most out of dining in the low country, check out the Charleston restaurants. I have tasted some of the best seafood and barbecue in this beautiful city.

Accommodations
The accommodations on Kiawah consist of numerous rental condos or "villas" as well as homes located throughout the island. You can choose from ocean view, golf course view, tennis club view, etc. The other option for vacationers would be to stay at the first class hotel on Kiawah, The Sanctuary.

Kiawah in a nutshell
For families interested in the aforementioned activities, Kiawah Island really is the place to go for great family retreat without the long waits in lines to be entertained. My first trip to Kiawah was seven years ago, and the family and I have visited every year since. My daughter holds Kiawah to a higher standard than Walt Disney World, which is hard to believe. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful, commercial free vacation, I highly recommend you visit this coastal Carolina jewel. For more information please visit my blog at www.lowcountrytourist.blogspot.com

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