District Home Magazine Fall I 2014 | Page 42

Charleston was ranked the second best city in the world by Travel + Leisure. South Carolina Beaches Many locals you meet in South Carolina will tell you they were raised on the water, and once you’ve visited that should come as no surprise. With resort communities and perennial beach towns sprinkled all along the coast, from the “Grand Strand” of northern beaches to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is a beach destination with a longstanding habit of turning vacationers into residents. The nearly 3,000 miles of pristine coastline offers a wide variety of seaside spots within driving distance of most major east coast cities, and you’re sure to find one that fits the bill for your ideal beach getaway. you are under the impression that one stretch of beach is no different from the next, South Carolina will likely change your mind. Each spot on the state’s shores, along with the surrounding community, has a distinct character you will notice right away. For those dreaming of a classically southern getaway, the handful of locally triedand-true beaches located just outside of historic downtown Charleston will offer clean, family friendly private and public shores along with famed lowcountry culture and cuisine. Upon setting foot in the town of Folly Beach, a community steeped in a love of great waves, a variety of live music, and eclectic dive restaurants and bars, you are instantly absorbed into the pretense-free, laid-back surf town atmosphere. And if your goal is simply to strike the perfect, relaxing balance between swim, golf, shopping, and fine dining, the iconic Kiawah and Hilton Head Island resort lifestyles are unrivaled. If Photos courtesy of Kiawah Island Golf Resort. 42 ISSU E N O. 8 With a seemingly endless summer, most years with temperatures still hitting the 80’s well into the fall months, South Carolina offers plenty of time to embrace the down-south coastal lifestyle complete with blue skies, golden sands, and life that moves a little bit slower. — by Caitlin Moore