Location: Kiawah Island
Top Things to do in Kiawah Island
Top Restaurants in Kiawah Island
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Top 10 Things to do in Kiawah Island, United States
Nature lovers unite on this barrier island on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean 21 miles south of Charleston. Brimming with lush foliage at every glance, Kiawah Island has ten miles of wide sandy beaches, 123 acres of parks, 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, and world-class golf courses. To get a true sense of the beauty of Kiawah Island venture to Marsh Island Park where you’ll be rewarded with stunning scenic views atop the Marsh Island Lookout Tower of the Kiawah River, saltwater marshes, and island hammocks. For animal lovers, don’t miss the Heron Park Nature Center where you can participate in nature tours and programs, birding walks, butterfly walks, and alligator walks. Bird admirers love the Great Egret Rookery, a spot where you can typically see several dozen of the magnificent white birds in trees over a lagoon. For an exceptional picnic area head to Beachwalker Park, which has a wide boardwalk that winds through palmettos, oaks, and pines. Golf on Kiawah Island is not just any recreation amenity, it’s a way of life. There are five championship courses on the island highlighted by the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course site of the 1991 Ryder Cup matches and 2007 Senior PGA Championship. In 2012, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the 94th PGA Championship. Other courses to play include the Jack Nicklaus designed Turtle Point and Gary Player designed Cougar Point courses.
Restaurants in Kiawah Island
1. The Ocean Course
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 237 reviews
Highly recommended golf course with dramatic views of the Atlantic.
Reviewed By Tochdown - Atlanta, Georgia
We teed it up at the Ocean Course on a Saturday morning and had a great experience. The corse was in excellent shape. The layout was better then I imagined. The property lies in a lowlands marsh area along the Atlantic Ocean. This gives it unique views from every hole. No out of bounds and no bunkers, just waste bunkers made it fun to play as well. Unless you hit in water, you can normally find the ball with the great caddie help. If not, it is played as a lateral to speed up play. It truly is one of my favorite courses. It helps that I broke 80 too!
We played Osprey point that afternoon and enjoyed it as well. The island has a private feel and if you are lucky to play on a not so busy day, it felt like you are playing at a private club. 50 minute drive from downtown Charleston where we ate great dinners every night.
2. Pirates of Charleston
Overall Ratings
5 based on 329 reviews
Take your kids on a swashbuckling adventure on this thrill seeking, high seas voyage into the North Edisto River. All ages are invited though! Once aboard the Black Ghost every child will be transformed into an official member of the Black Ghost Crew. The activity is nonstop with songs to sing, , water cannons to blast, treasure to find and maps to read, there is no time for lolligagin!
Reviewed By yjk2016 - New York City, New York
This was such a treat for our family! A wonderful adventure that continued for many days afterwards, as the kids could not stop talking about how much fun they had. I cannot say enough about this adventure and the crew that operates the pirate ship. They were amazing! This was money well spent and I highly recommend this to all families.
3. Charleston Tea Plantation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The Charleston Tea Plantation is the home of American Classic Tea, tea grown in America. It is located on picturesque Wadmalaw Island in the heart of South Carolina's Lowcountry. Its grounds include 127 acres of Camellia Sinensis tea plants, a working Tea Factory and a charming Plantation Gift Shoppe. Also available to guests is an adventurous and educational Trolley Tour that explores the scenic grounds that produce American Classic Tea. Complimentary tea is served to visitors throughout the day
Reviewed By Kay R - Minnetonka
A wonderful tour, affordable, and only an hour or so. Lots of fun information by a local guide with lots of stories. Highly recommend as a short alternative to the larger plantation. Also, its near the Angel Oak (another great site).Hi Kay, thank you so much for your kind review! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit and found our tour guide fun and interesting. We hope you'll come back to visit us again soon!
4. Angel Oak Tree
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By cumberlandga - Fernandina Beach, Florida
I love Live Oaks and Spanish Moss, so it was a real treat to see the tree in person. It is definitely worth a visit if you are anywhere in the area. Truly a wonder and I am so happy I got to see the tree up close and personal.
5. Kiawah Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 489 reviews
A major golf course, beautiful beaches and miles of conservation land make this private island a desirable attraction.
Reviewed By ChrisFromCincinnati - Cincinnati
Kiawah is a beautiful, heavily tropically-wooded island about 30 minutes south of Charleston.
It's mostly an island of just homes and world class golf courses. A top end hotel and a shopping village called Freshfields.
Endless beaches that are never very busy with sand so firm you can ride bikes on it!
A lovely bucolic spot of paradise!
6. Water Dog Paddle Co.
Overall Ratings
5 based on 108 reviews
the Stand-Up Paddleboard specialist for Kiawah, Seabrook & Johns Islands. Located at beautiful Bohicket Marina, a short drive from Charleston, S.C. Water Dog Paddle Co. offers guided dolphin tours, rentals, sales, private instruction, paddle surfing, off-site excursions & private paddles. Come experience the fastest growing water sport in the world. Anyone can do it! WOOF!!
Reviewed By David A - Singapore
We took a group aged 11-48 for the 6:45am paddle and it was wonderful. A perfect cloudy day (cool, for August). Our guide made sure we knew what we were doing, as we were all novices. We saw amazing wildlife - birds, crabs, Stingrays, dolphins - with just enough naturalist info to keep us learning while having fun. A very professional outfit - highly recommended!
7. Kiawah Beachwalker Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 194 reviews
Reviewed By Tracy D - Houston, Texas
Loved this beach on Kiawah Island!! So clean, peaceful and not crowded. Compared to Sullivan's Island, Kiawah is so much more secluded and nice. The sand is soft, water is pretty clear and you don't feel like tourists have taken over! $10 for parking and you can bring your own cooler with food/drinks. Restrooms are clean and there are outdoor showers for you to rinse off after. Worth the drive from Charleston- would highly recommend as a must see when in SC!
8. Bohicket Marina and Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Beautiful Marina & Market nestled between Seabrook & Kiawah Islands. Plenty of shopping & restaurants with great eats and amazing sunsets! A great place to visit year round by land or sea! Our Marina is home to over 200 Wet Slips and can accommodate over 100 Dry Storage Boats. Fuel, Bait, & basic supplies are available within the Marina and Ship's Store. In addition we also have a Charter Office that can connect you with one of our great Charter Captains for Fishing or Sailing, Paddle Boarding Tours & Rentals, a GREAT Pirate Adventure for the Kids, and of course Rental Boats! Next time your vacationing on Kiawah or Seabrook Islands don't hesitate to give us a call or just stop on by! There's something for everyone here at Bohicket Marina & Market!
Reviewed By maggiegust - Atlanta, Georgia
Several small restaurants, an ice cream shop, a couple of shops and a lovely view. It's a cute place to take your kids. Probably not the best hang out for twenty-somethings. It is a good but smaller alternative to Freshfields next island over.
9. Freshfields Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Freshfields Village is a perfect (and perfectly charming) mix of shops, businesses and restaurants in a timeless and peaceful setting designed to evoke an era gone by. So much more than a spectacular place to shop, Freshfields Village is where Charleston residents and visitors alike meet to find the perfect gift, enjoy fine and casual dining and share unique cultural events like outdoor concerts, art exhibits and festivals.
Reviewed By Vesver - Charleston, South Carolina
Freshfields Village is a great little shopping center. There are several restaurants, shops and a Harris Teeter. Shopping is not cheap. There are several gift shops with full “retail” prices. Clothing shops were interesting but prices were high. We were there the day after Thanksgiving but walking around was easy. No one was in a hurry nor did they seem to mind if they had to wait in line to make a purchase. It was a delightful area to just walk around.
10. Seabrook Island Equestrian Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By BarbKnowles - Washington DC, District of Columbia
The Seabrook Equestrian Center is outstanding. It's beautiful, well-staffed, and welcoming. I don't own a horse so can't speak to its boarding program (tho judging from the number of horses that live here I suspect it's pretty darn good.) But casual riders couldn't ask for anything better. Great horses and great leaders make trail rides really fun whether you opt for the island trail or head to the beach.
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