Edisto Beach, SC: Quiet Vacation Spot

If you are looking for a quiet and casual beach vacation, look no further than Edisto Beach in sunny South Carolina. Edisto Island is a quiet barrier island devoid of water parks, putt-putt and flashy resorts. In fact, there are no hotels, only a small handful of restaurants and shops, and one small grocery store. Pack your books to read on the beach and your toys to play in the golden sand!

Beach houses on Edisto Beach range from “beach shabby” to “fancy new.” There are some condominium communities, but it is a better experience to rent a house there. The front beach homes generally are pricier, but the less expensive marsh-view rentals are within walking distance to the beach. No matter which house you pick, you will want to consider renting a golf cart for the duration of your stay. It is a fun way to tour the small community and handy in the morning to grab that cup of coffee and newspaper at the gas station. You also can rent bikes to ride on a bike trail, and on the bike lanes on the back road (Jungle Road).

There are a few neat gift shops here and there, but don’t expect malls, outlets or anything like that. As for restaurants, there are several sprinkled across the narrow strip that makes up Edisto Beach. The Sunset Grille faces the marina and has a pleasant lunch menu - try the fried flounder sandwich! Waterfront Restaurant is a larger outfit and offers standard seafood dishes, though nothing to write home about. The Seacow Eatery is an interesting little diner with more character and tasty food. My favorite is the shrimp salad roll, but my mom loves the cobb salad which is HUGE. If you stop by, be sure to grab a tee-shirt or cap with the Seacow emblem. If you want to change gear from casual living to fine dining, make a reservation at the Old Post Office Restaurant, which is housed in , you guessed it, the town’s old post office.

The biggest draw of Edisto is the beautiful beach itself. There are lots of shells to collect, and you can find shark’s teeth at low tide. Kids love to discover hermit crabs, but be sure to return them to the ocean so they won’t die. You will encounter sandcastles, kite-flying, bocce ball tournaments, walkers, and sun bathers, but the beach never gets that crowded. Since Edisto Beach is not commercialized, it is the perfect place to kick back and/or spend time playing with your kids. Evenings can be spent enjoying meals together and watching a movie or playing board games. Edisto Beach is the perfect location to relax and explore at your own pace.

Look for a house on or near the St. Helena Sound. (This might be the biggest secret of Edisto!) The beach is much bigger there and the waves are calm. Even if you rent a house elsewhere, you will want to drive over to "The Sound" at least once and use a public access to the beach.

If possible, bring at least some basic groceries with you. The Piggly Wiggly is ancient and not always well-stocked.

The tap water tastes different, so you can use bottled water or head down to the "business district" (look for the fire station) with a jug and get free purifed water out of a public tap

There are several geocaching opportunities, so look up the coordinates!

Botany Bay Plantation is a living piece of history that extends to the shoreline and was in recent years opened to the public. Drive on a self-guided tour of the grounds and then park to walk out to the amazing shell-covered beach.

The Education Center at Edisto Beach State Park - Great for all ages! You will have to search for this one that is nestled deep in the woods. This environmental center offers a short educational movie, a touch tank, and many interactive exhibits. Don’t forget to check out the dock out back.

The Serpentarium - A must for reptile lovers! Snakes hanging all over the place, and a fascinating alligator feeding. The snake presentation is very interesting and informative.