7 Amazing Things To Do While Visiting Folly Beach

It’s no key I’m a lover of South Carolina. Perhaps which is for the reason that I are living in Minnesota and any crack from cold and snow is a very good a person. Probably it’s for the reason that, even though we stay in the land of 10,000 lakes, there’s something to be said for peering out more than the extensive Atlantic Ocean. Or it’s possible it is for the reason that there is a thing special about the barrier islands and seaside towns on the east coastline. Scenario in point: Folly Beach front.

A couple of years back when my partner Dean and I started off trying diverse snowbird places, a person locale we explored was Folly Beach, which is about 12 miles south of downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

This coastal seaside town built a lasting impact and we adore it as our household foundation to explore the space. Right here are a several of our favourite issues to do.

1. Folly Seashore

The star of the show is Folly Beach, the namesake of the town alone. It is a gorgeous, expansive seaside correct on the Atlantic that has miles of good walking and discovering — or leasing paddle boards, relaxing with a very good book, seeing an informal sport of seashore volleyball, or hearing the laughter of kids making sandcastles. In shorter, Folly Beach front checks all the boxes on motives why folks really like the seashore! Viewing dolphins swimming appropriate offshore was one more bonus to our Minnesota eyes.

Pro Idea: In addition to road parking, the greatest parking whole lot can be found at the conclusion of West Ashley Avenue at Folly Seashore County Park. You are going to pay a parking payment (not uncommon for this area), but considering that most activities, retailers, and dining places are more east, the seaside is also quieter listed here.

2. Folly Seaside Fishing Pier

The freshly changed Folly Seaside fishing pier is at the coronary heart of the beach, and it’s a fantastic location for ocean sights, or to watch hopeful fishermen check out their luck, scan the waters for dolphins, or catch the dawn. It was an effortless wander from our beachfront apartment rental.

Professional Idea: Folly Seashore is a seashore town as a result of and by way of, with surf stores and rentals of all types. A popular supply for rentals, from umbrellas to beach chairs to kayaks (and additional), is Folly Seaside Adventures.

3. Loggerhead Turtle Nesting Area

Folly Beach is a loggerhead sea turtle nesting location. We were there in March, but a indicator in our rental instructed us about laws in result from Could to Oct, from dusk to dawn: “Close curtains and blinds, change off all lights that illuminate the seashore.” Baby loggerheads that hatch on Folly Seaside need to have a darkish beach so they can use the moon to discover their way to the ocean. It’s 1 far more explanation to adore Folly Beach.

Pro Idea: Regard for the uniqueness of this space can also be viewed in the grassroots preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse, positioned just off the northern finish of Folly Seashore. Look at out their “Save The Light” hard work that salutes maritime heritage listed here.

4. Eating places In And Close to Folly Beach front

Loggerheads Seashore Grill

If you are looking for a terrific place with a informal vibe, Loggerheads Beach front Grill is a terrific location for seafood, burgers, and cocktails with a large outdoor deck and additional seating within.

The Dropped Dog Café

The Lost Dog Café is a laid-back again and delightful choice for breakfast and lunch. Their breakfast menu is crammed with fantastic points like homemade muffins, breakfast burritos, and cinnamon rolls, and their lunch solutions are equally tempting. We appreciated their shrimp po’ boy sandwich and a typical burger and French fries.

The Washout And The Crab Shack

Seafood is plentiful on Folly Seashore, and two areas we did not get to but are pretty well-known are The Washout and the Crab Shack, the two positioned on Middle Road.

Seafood tacos are popular beach front fare, and The Washout’s blackened mahi tacos and grilled shrimp tacos are regional favorites. Examine their nightly calendar of events — every little thing from cornhole to oyster roasts.

The Crab Shack has been an island staple for 20 a long time. I would like we had identified what their site suggests, “the locals will explain to you is the very best cafe on the beach,” since we would have been “all in” on providing their seafood baskets or steamed buckets a try.

Bowen’s Island Seafood

For genuine Lowcountry fare, search no more than Bowen’s Island, about 3 miles inland of Folly Seaside. This no-frills place is a finest-kept top secret due to the fact it doesn’t look like much, but it’s all about the clean seafood.

Due to the fact 1946, they’ve been serving regionally harvested oysters, shrimp, hushpuppies, and Lowcountry boil (also termed Frogmore stew). I overdid it with a seafood platter of fried shrimp, fish, hushpuppies, French fries, and a aspect cucumber/tomato/onion salad, but that meant plenty of leftovers for the future day. We beloved feeding on out on the deck struggling with the tranquil river and marsh views.

Professional Tip: Evening meal is initial come, initial served, and they don’t just take reservations. Verify the web-site for several hours and go at an “off hour” to minimize the wait around.

The Tattooed Moose

A different element of the Folly Island culinary knowledge can be observed at The Tattooed Moose on close by John’s Island. It is popular for duck fat fries. Not lovers of duck, we handed on that option and requested Rueben and pulled pork sandwiches. The foodstuff was great, but I simply cannot aid but feel we skipped the boat on the fries. When you go, probably you will be eager to give them a try out!

5. Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Charleston

Just a brief push from Folly Beach front, Charleston is complete of excellent items to do. We appreciated Joe Riley Waterfront Park with great stores, flowering bushes, myrtle trees, sailboats in the harbor, little ones taking part in in a kiddie fountain location, and a very long pier. We noticed dolphins listed here, much too.

Pro Idea: When out checking out, know that Folly Highway/Freeway 171 is the just one principal highway to Folly Beach, which can guide to some site visitors back-ups. When doable, avoid well-known generate situations to lower traffic congestion.

6. Patriots Place Naval And Maritime Museum

Mount Pleasurable

Patriots Position Naval and Maritime Museum is a single of the largest fleet museums in the environment. Located in Mount Nice just throughout the Cooper River from Charleston, it is an simple travel from Folly Seashore.

The walkway lined with American flags drummed up a feeling of patriotism in me. Normal admission incorporates self-tours of a few historic ships, the plane provider USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Laffey, some 28 historic aircraft, the Medal of Honor Museum, and an outdoor show called the Vietnam Encounter.

The USS Clamagore

We toured Patriots Point’s iconic Cold War submarine, the USS Clamagore, the only GUPPY III submarine preserved in the place. As we walked through it, indicators defined daily life on the sub. On a field trip, some older elementary college small children were being going for walks ahead of us, and I overheard a person of them say she could not consider dwelling on anything like this! I imagined it was sort of amusing right until I recognized I definitely couldn’t either.

Pro Suggestion: Tickets can be bought on the net or at their ticket window on-web page. On line tickets are valid on any date for 1 whole yr from the day of purchase.

7. Mount Enjoyable Memorial Waterfront Park

Mount Pleasant

Also minutes from Folly Beach, the Mount Pleasurable Memorial Waterfront Park was curious mainly because it is developed partially below Charleston’s Arthur R. Ravenel Bridge. It has a nautically encouraged playground for kids, heaps of attractive landscaping with flowering bushes (azaleas everywhere you go), outlets, restaurants, and a prolonged walkway out to the water.

The spotlight for me below was the War Memorial spot, with emblems of each military services department and a putting bronze sculpture of a female with a tri-folded flag in her left hand and resting her proper hand on a Earth War II helmet, supported by a rifle. I read through that she signifies contrasting thoughts of hope and reduction. At the foot of the statue, we study, “On behalf of a grateful nation.”

What is Not To Adore?

Folly Beach is a lovable position. With its unlimited seashore, remarkable sunrises, bustling pier, curious loggerhead nesting spots, good eats, and proximity to the good enjoyable and fantastic food items in Charleston, what is not to love? Ignoring this a person would be pure folly.