If you love adventures on beaches or playing golf, then you should visit Kiawah Island. As it is a popular place for the seasonal beaches and golf community. The Island is located in the southwest of Charleston in South Carolina and known for being a family friendly destination. The best things to do in Kiawah Island include numerous activities like bike riding, golf, kayaking and much more. After this you can go for a fine dining collection at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Which offers a vast selection of restaurants and bars ranging from casual cafes to fabulous restaurants. For the stays you have multiple options from traditional to luxurious hotels including the Sanctuary hotel, Andell Inn or the vacation rentals.
Now we are going to discuss more information of what are the Things to Do in Kiawah Island which will help you in planning your trip.
Top Outdoor Things to Do in Kiawah Island
There are multiple things to do in Kiawah Island. Whether you are looking for an exciting or relaxed activity, you can get both with an amazing experience. But you should keep in mind that every activity has its own rules and regulations which you have to follow. Some of those activities are.
Enjoy the Beaches
The Kiawah Island Beach is the best place where you can have thrilling activities to enjoy. It is one of the most beautiful barrier islands in Southern Charleston. Popular for its sand, underwater beauty and numerous species like dolphins and sea turtles which can be spotted at any time. It’s a family friendly spot to visit where you can enjoy with your kids. By doing multiple activities like building sandcastles on the beach, bike riding, beach seining and many more. There is an entry fee depending on the season and you can also freely take your dogs there. Bonfire & fireworks are strictly prohibited on the beach premises.
Go Biking on Scenic Trails
One of the best activities for all the riders, whether it’s a beginner or an experienced. You can find bike rentals on the Island, one of which is the Surfscooter Rentals. They provide bike rentals and gears that are best for your adventures. The bike paths are about 30 miles where you can ride freely and some of the best trails you can visit are the Beachwalker Park Bike Path, Night Heron Park trail, Marsh island trails and more. Each trail gives you a different experience of the ride that is perfect for exploring the natural beauty and attractions of Kiawah Island.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Kayaking is popular as a water sport activity that is done by a narrow watercraft paddling, the watercraft is known as a Kayak. This is one of the fun activities to do, and if it’s your first time then you should start from the Cassique Boathouse and Kayak Duck. Don’t think about how to do as the experienced staff will instruct you all about the route with a water map. Also the staff will provide you with life jackets and paddle before starting your adventure. After this, you can enjoy paddleboarding, which is a popular water activity and also called Stand-up paddleboarding. It’s a brilliant activity that provides full body workout which helps in improving balance, core strength and endurance. Both the Activity offers a scenic view and a memorable experience.
Explore Nature and Wildlife Things in Kiawah Island
To explore the natural beauty & abundant wildlife surrounded by the Atlantic ocean and vast salt marshes, Kiawah Island is the best to visit that offers a mixture of picturesque dunes, water ponds & maritime forests.
Bird Watching
Bird Watching is a premier destination to visit in Kiawah island. Here you will see over 300 species of both migratory and non-migratory birds.including the Eagles, egrets, herons and many more. But you can’t visit bird activities at any time because it varies on different seasons, although you can see few of them near the ponds and tidal creeks all year round. The best time to visit is in the early morning and evenings as this time is best to observe the feeding and nesting behavior of the birds.
Dolphin Spotting
The Kiawah Island dolphins tour is also a great experience as it is a home to the population of several dolphins. You can witness these dolphins frequently in the surf, rivers and creeks on the Kiawah island. Also you will see a group of dolphins engaged in an activity known as Strand feeding which means they bring themselves on the muddy creek to catch fishes. Note that it is illegal to touch the dolphins, and also you are required to keep a distance of at least 500 yards by boats or 15 yards from the beach and keep your pets leashed.
Nature Tour
Every view of Kiawah Island is so stunning, but for getting a beautiful view of nature. You should visit the Treehouse activity center, which offers a large area to connect with the wildlife. The island is preserved for the nature sanctuary, abundant wildlife and eco-friendly resort amenities. In the island you can find many different species and animals including deer, bobcats, racoons and such more.
Golfing Experiences
Golfing, one of the most popular activities to be done in the South Carolina Lowcountry. For a luxury golf and beach vacation you can go to the Kiawah island Golf Resort. Where you can have the world class resort amenities, award-winning recreational activities, and some of the most respected golf courses in the nation.
There are multiple golf course spots available and some of those include the Osprey point golf course, River Course clubhouse , Cassique clubhouse and golf course. Apart from this there are some best golf gear rentals that are also available in Kiawah island. Here travelers can visit several nearby shops that offer a wide selection of all equipment at reasonable prices. Closer to the Kiawah Island, Seacoast Sports and Outfitters provides golf gear alongside equipment for non-golfers from bike rentals to coolers, they have got you covered.
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Kiawah Island
The Kiawah Island is one of the best place for all ages.You can visit in numerous places like on the beach
Spend a day at Freshfields Village: You can visit the freshfields village which is a luxurious destination with 50 shops, dining and events as well as a spa and boutique hotel. The village is located on John’s island offering jewelry, clothing, gift items and all. It is not only famous for. shopping, it’s also popular for its vibrant events that occur throughout the year.
The Turtles’ Nest Art Studio: This is one of the best things to do for a family night. The art and crafts offer different canvas painting, pottery paintings, glass fusing, tie dye and more.
Book a family portrait session: One of the most popular activities to be done in the Kiawah island is family photoshoot. As it’s a beautiful place to capture every moment with your family on the beaches.
Hidden Gems in Kiawah Island
Observation Tower: The beautiful Blue Heron Pond tower located in the Vanderhorst Plantation. From where you can see a 360 – degree marsh and nature views. The other, Marsh view tower located in the west beach at the end of the Marsh Hawk lane.
Night Heron Park : This park is a home to nature center, basketball courts, Nest market and the pools. It is called as a home to nature center because of the local animals including snakes, alligators, turtles and birds. You will also see the interactive displays and information about ecosystems by the trained employees to help answer your questions.
Bass Pond Fishing Dock: It’s a prime location for fishing in the Vanderhorst community and also offers opportunities for photography. For the perfect wildlife view , with many birds and fish species, the dock is itself a perfect spot.
Cinder Creek Pavilion and Docks: This hidden gem of one of the most picturesque locations on the island and is a local favorite. The place offers multiple opportunities for outdoor activities and wildlife view. For any events or small gatherings there’s a pavilion available and also a dock for activities like kayaking and paddleboarding.
Tips for Planning Activities
- Create a Vacation wish list so can’t miss any activities or fun. As the Kiawah island is a family oriented destination with outdoor activities so plan everything where to visit, best place to stay and play, selection of restaurants and cafes.
- Rent your vacation gear in advance for all your beach vacation needs including the bike rentals, water sports and electric carts.This will help to spend less time planning and more time playing on the Kiawah island.
- Pack your basics things for the beach resort vacations like swimsuits, sandals, some shorts and shirts or tennis and golf if you plan to play.
- The most important thing before getting to and around Kiawah island. If you want to go with a friendly budget, you should go by an easy drive. Kiawah Island is located approximately 30 miles south from the historic Charleston . For a budget friendly trip you should go by an easy drive from the Charleston airport. The taxis operate from 5 am until after the last flights, so you can reserve a ride with island transportation.
Final Thought
Hope you get all the information regarding Things to Do in Kiawah Island. The island is a beautiful destination where you can enjoy with your family and friends as it’s a place for all ages. Also you can enjoy the peaceful nature view and wildlife. It is not so popularized for its beaches and the wonderful activities, but also because of its Golfing experience, Bike riding and such more fun adventures. Therefore, to truly experience the beauty of this Island you must visit it for yourself.
