So, you're ready to go on vacation, but you don't know where to go? Well, I'm going to tell you about a secret hide-away south of Myrtle Beach that is one of the best places it has ever been my privledge to stay at Edisto Island!
Edisto Island is directly southwest of Charleston, S.C. The island is mostly rural and undeveloped, which provides with beautiful scenery for the vacationer. There are marshes and glades, as well as forestes and beaches. Edisto Island is home to the Edisto Beach State Park, which offers premium beach space for families, although there are plentiful beach areas on the island. Edisto Island is better than Myrtle Beach simply because of the natural beauty of the island. The island is not commercialized and so when you walk the beaches at night it is peaceful and calm, without the hustle of the city and the bright lights just one or two blocks behind you.
The island offers various attractions to any tourists. There is the famous Serpentarium, which houses numerous different species of reptile and is open from late spring throughout summer. Every day around noon, the serpentarium feeds their alligators, and it always draws a crowd. The island also offers many natural inlets, which are prime for fishing. It is a great pastime, and you are almost garaunteed to make a catch. Also, during the summer months a free boat tour is given of the Edisto Island coast, courtesy of one of the nature parks on the island. The tour is unique in that the boat stops in the water and throws down a net. The net is then halled back up and the tour guides bring out small tanks to put whatever they catch in to show the children and other people on board. It is a wonderful experience. I was fortunate enough to be on board when they pulled up a baby pufferfish as well as a stingray the size of a hubcap! It is a great way to spend an afternoon. The island also has several bars that offer delicious seafood and grilled meals. Many of the bars and restaurants offer musical guests on a weekly basis. The beaches are at some places covered in shells, which make great souvenirs for any vacationer. The shells at Edisto Island are all very unique. Some are large, some are small, some are bizarre in their shape, and some are brilliant colors. Myrtle Beach can't hold a candle to the shells of Edisto Island! There are also wonderful hiking trails that you can go on through the woods and see some of the most beautiful sights that nature has to offer. Edisto Island also offers a rich history. There are many different historical sites on the island, from plantations to mansions. There is a lot of culture there, just waiting for you to discover it!
Some people may wonder what kind of stores are on Edisto Island, since it is not a heavily commercialized island. The island offers several gift shops, but also offers many craft stores where original pieces of art are displayed for reasonable prices. Also, there is a bike rental that can make getting around on the island while you're there much more enjoyable. Riding a bike to the beach can be a great experience. There are two golf courses on the island. One is open to the public, while the other is for members only. As for groceries, the island has a working grocery store (The Piggly Wiggly). However, if you can't find what you're looking for, there is a Wal*Mart about 30 minutes off the island. For the most part though, the Piggly Wiggly can provide you with whatever your needs may be. Also, for those rare rainy days, there is a video store on the island that has a very good selection of films for the whole family. Almost every rental house has a DVD player or VHS player, so no need to worry about dragging anything along with you.
Edisto Island is only an hour southwest of Charleston, so if the family gets a little sun burnt and you need a day to recover, why not head to Charleston? I'm sure you know about all the attractions that are there, so I won't get too into detail about them, but I will list a few: the open air market, the aquarium, haunted tours, scenic tours, and historical museums.
One thing definetly stands out on Edisto Island more than anything else. The people. Edisto Island is home to the most kind hearted people I have ever met. The people of the island are all honest and trusting. You can leave $100 sitting on your car's dashboard and the keys in the ignition and not a thing will happen to your money or your car. The atmoshpere of the island is just beyond belief. It is a truely wonderful place to be and I encourage you to go.
Edisto Island is a great place to make memories, either as a couple or as a family. Go ahead and visit this southern paradise, that until today, you may never have even known was there!
This is a shot I took from a hand-made tree house that overlooks some of the marshes.
A dock just waiting for you to spend an evening on.
