vickib2

Traveling to Seabrook Island, South Carolina in a few weeks and will be there for 6 days with family members. I've never been there and would appreciate ANYTHING anyone can tell me about it. We're renting a house.

Thanks.

sg92

I'm more familiar with its neighbor, Kiawah Island, but both are fantastic. The beach is beautiful -- uncrowded, wide, with gentle waves and no meaningful riptide or other dangers that some Atlantic beaches have. Between the ocean and the lowcountry marshes, there is a lot of nature to enjoy. Kiawah and Seabrook generally don't feel crowded during the height of the summer -- I imagine it will be very peaceful in October.

If your interest is commercial, there is a neat shopping center just outside of Seabrook's gate (between Kiawah and Seabrook), that has an excellent grocery store (Newton Farms) and a number of local shops and restaurants. Charleston is an easy 40 minute drive, and has wonderful architecture, shopping, and dining.

dove

Kiawah and Seabrook are next door to each other, just a few miles apart. There has been a lot of information on restaurants, etc. on Kiawah. Do a search here and you should find good direction to activities in that area.

Seabrook has a relatively new club with an indoor pool so you should be set no matter the weather. Make a reservation at one of the Kiawah restaurants -- Ocean Course is our favorite -- so you can tour that island as well.

kathleen

Seabrook Island has built a beautiful "Lake House" for residents and I assume for guests who are renting there. (You need to check on this to see if this is included with your rental) The "Lake House" has a full workout gym, indoor and outdoor pools, and I believe, free wifi (you can sit on the porch and access it), and a small cafe for snacks. It's quite a nice building.

But of course the best part of Seabrook Island would be the beaches--wonderful beaches. Enjoy!

sg92

My favorite restaurant on Kiawah is Jasmine Porch, at the Sanctuary. It's the more casual of the two restaurants there, so it doesn't feel stuffy, and yet the service is stellar (simple example: when you order wine by the glass, they bring the bottle to the table), and it's a gorgeous dining room. The whole hotel is spectacular, and worth the short trip from Seabrook even if you don't go to JP.

OurGreatEscape

As the self-proclaimed marketer for Seabrook Island, I'm happy to tell you all about the island

First things first--The Lake House Community Center is available to all property owners and their guests. As a rental guest, most likely you will have to put an $11 refundable deposit on an amenity card that will allow you access to the Lake House.

Here are a couple of video tours of the Lake House on my blog:
http://south-carolina-lowcountry.blo...l/Lake%20House

To use the Lake House fitness center and indoor fitness pool will cost you $15/day/person. Enjoying the Lake House, the small cafe inside, all the quiet spaces (yes, free WIFI), and the outdoor zero entry pool are *free*. You will need to show the amenity card.

Seabrook Island has a private club (two golf courses, tennis courts, beach front pools and restaurants). The Club has new facilities as well. You'll have to inquire with the rental company or owner from whom you rented to see if the home has a club membership. Again you will need an amenity card to visit the club's facilities. BUT, and this is a big but, keep in mind not all homes and villas on Seabrook are members of the private club.

The best way to enjoy Seabrook is on a bike. The speed limit is 25 MPH. This makes touring the island relatively easy. Keep an eye out for wildlife.

Be sure to spend plenty of time on the beach. I love to go beach-combing early in the morning. At or near low tide, dolphin can often be found in Cap'n Sam's Inlet (the water between Seabrook's North Beach area and Kiawah).

Watch for eagles! A friend sent me a fab photo of an eagle she spotted near Cap'n Sam's late last week.

I'm happy to share more...

Special interests?? (I've got a GREAT kayaking guide. Took my first trip this summer and fell in love with kayaking...so very peaceful and relaxing).

Ages of family traveling in your group?
Restaurant requests?

vickib2

My husband and I are in our late 50s. Traveling with us will be our daughter and son--in-law, and their children ages 2 and 3-1/2. Also with us will be our son and daughter-in-law, and their 18-month old daughter. This will be our grandchildren's first trip to the ocean.

So, if the homeowner is not a member of the private club, I guess that means that my husband will not be able to golf on Seabrook. Is that correct? Or are their other courses he can play?
Will we be able to drive to Kiawah Island, or is it gate-secured?
Yes, absolutely, we would love some restaurant recommendations. We are interested in casual dining, because (1) we will have three small children with us; (2) my husband and I will probably foot the bill for meals out.

OurGreatEscape, I believe that I have communicated with you on Tripadvisor. I've been trying to collect information on Seabrook for a couple of months now.

Thanks so much.

sg92

Kiawah is gate-secured (as is Seabrook), but a tee time will get you through the gate. The Ocean Course at Kiawah is world-class (will host the PGA Championship in 2012), but is very expensive. There are 3 other publicly accessible courses on Kiawah, which always very well-maintained (and less expensive than the Ocean Course, though still pricey).

I have not played Seabrook's courses, so can't compare for cost or quality.

kiawahvilla

Don't forget Oak Point golf course. It's located just outside Kiawah and Seabrook in a residential area known as Kiawah River Estates. Oak Point is owned and operated by the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, but tee times are usually less expensive than at the other Kiawah courses.

miller20621

If you are renting a home, I would certainly imagine that the owner would have a club membership that would allow access to golf and tennis, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to confirm that fact.

When we go to Seabrook, we plan one day for downtown Charleston, and go to the Splash Zone on James Island (but that is a seasonal attraction).

Renting bikes w/trailers would be a good idea, the area is great for biking.

As for dining, there is outdoor casual dining at the Pelican's Nest until Oct 17th. The other dining options are -honestly- a little pricey for us, and perhaps a group of your size and young ages. We head out to the Bohicket Marina Village complex that is close to the entrance at Seabrook. Both Rosebank Farms Cafe and Red's Icehouse can handle kids, noise, and a budget.

miller20621

If you are renting a home, I would certainly imagine that the owner would have a club membership that would allow access to golf, outdoor pools, and tennis, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to confirm that fact.

When we go to Seabrook, we plan one day for downtown Charleston to do touristy things, and go to the Splash Zone on James Island (but that is a seasonal attraction).

Renting bikes w/kiddie trailers would be a good idea, as the area is great for biking. The Lake House's indoor pool is for laps only, so if your kids want to splash around, you'd want to go to the outdoor Beach Club pool complex, which has a great zero-entry pool. (but the outdoor pools close on Oct 17th, too)

As for dining, there is outdoor casual dining at the Pelican's Nest until Oct 17th. The other dining options are -honestly- a little pricey for us, and perhaps a group of your size and young ages. We head out to the Bohicket Marina Village complex that is close to the entrance at Seabrook. Both Rosebank Farms Cafe and Red's Icehouse can handle kids, noise, and a budget.

sg92

I second the recommendation for Rosebank Farms Cafe!

OurGreatEscape

@vickib2~ yes, I'm around TA too

Not to worry about golf if the home you are renting does not have a membership to the club (there are ~2500 properties on island; the club has ~1700 members. Not every rental offers club privileges. Currently, I'm one who does not offer club access ).

Your hubby can secure a tee time/s at Kiawah. I second kiawahvilla's suggestion of Oak Point. My husband's favorite course on KI is Osprey. He does play frequently at Oak Point with friends.

If your husband's interested in other area courses, I've compiled a list: http://seabrook-island-rental.com/golf.html

Reading through @miller20621's post, I feel I must clarify some things.

*Beach Club pool complex and the Pelican's Nest are part of the club. Thus, that club amenity card is needed ( I can't repeat it enough...not all properties on SI offer club access).

The Lake House indoor pool is a fitness pool. Yes, it does have lanes for laps. But there is a section that can be used for "open swim" (I believe it is the side of the pool closest to the outdoor pool). The fitness center including the indoor pool will cost you $15/day/person.

Restaurants~ Red's Ice House can accommodate children as well as King St. Grille over at Freshfields.

Rosebank Farms Cafe offers casual dining. **Do not miss the triple chocolate oatmeal brownie. I've been trying to get the recipe from Julie Limehouse for years...old family recipe and she's not giving it up

The Bistro at Bohicket is good too. You can order pizza to go and enjoy it on the patio overlooking the marina (if you decide to stick around for a meal at The Bistro, look for the deep-fried oreos! What a diet splurge!)

La Tela Pizzeria back over a Freshfields is another casual dining option.

Newton Farms Grocery has many prepared foodstuffs. They will steam shrimp for you too.

Kiddo Activities: Here's what my girls insist on doing every trip (they are now 20 and 15)--Visit the Lollipop Shop in Freshfields. We always look for to visiting with Candy, the owner (yup, that's her real name).

No trip to Seabrook is complete without at least two visit to Rosebank Farms Produce Stand. I enjoy visiting the old school house out back. The girls, they can't get enough of Mr. Sidi's animals. Chickens, rabbits, goats, "I D Clare" the mini cow (we were there when she first arrived at Rosebank many years ago). Take some quarters to buy goat food. These goats climb stairs for food

Enjoy your visit. I'm counting the days til I get back to Seabrook...58!

dove

Bad news for OurGreatEscape. The candy shop at Freshfields closed on Labor Day. No longer in business. No word yet on what will replace it but it will not be a candy shop.

sg92

I disagree with the recommendation of Oak Point for golf -- it is the least expensive of the Kiawah Golf Courses, but justifiably so. Some of the holes are very poorly designed, likely because they didn't allow quite enough land, and "condo canyons" surrounding most holes. Like all of the Kiawah courses, the conditioning is generally excellent, but it was not a great overall golf experience.

suewoo

OGE gimme a shout when you get here. You can go out to eat with us. kiawahbeth, kiawahvilla and I went out a couple of weeks ago-FUN.

OurGreatEscape

@dove--you got a huge, "oh, no! all the way from AR!" Guess I wasn't buying enough chick-o-sticks from The Lollipop Shop.

It does go to show you, some things do change rapidly in the (s)Lowcountry. Restaurants and retail shops open and close daily. Always call ahead.

@suewoo--Will call.

vickib2

Thanks for all your advice. I will pass on the golf tips to my husband.
I'm hoping the weather is still good when we get there in 2 weeks. It's chilly today in Tennessee. I wish we had scheduled our trip sooner....we wanted to come in Sept. to escape the extreme heat, so the grandchildren could enjoy the beach, and somehow we couldn't work out with everyone's schedule until early October.
Someone mentioned above that the outdoor pool closes Oct. 17. I hope it won't be too chilly to use.
I'm also bring along my dachshund, Oscar. We were lucky to find a rental that allows pets. Actually, I'm more concerned about the grandchildren making messes in the house than I am Oscar. I'm going to stress to my adult children that there must be NO eating while they sit on the couch, like they do at home!!! And no sippy cups carried through the house.

vickib2

Just a few more days until we leave, and we're just now starting to think about FOOD.

Should we grocery shop before we get there or will we be able to buy lunch meat, frozen lasagne, orange juice, etc. close by? I have read that there is a Piggly Wiggly relatively close -- is it a large store?
Thanks!

kiawahvilla

Newton Farms Market, owned by PigglyWiggly and located in the nearby Freshfields shopping center between Seabrook and Kiawah, has excellent lunch meats, prepared foods, and anything else you will need.

A larger PigglyWiggly is 12 miles away in the shopping center at intersection of Bochiket Road and Maybank Highway. The "Big Pig" may have some better buys on grocery items. If you are buying large boxes of cereal, cases of soft drinks, etc., stop at the Big Pig on your way to Seabrook. Otherwise, Newton Farms is great.