9 Best Sights in Charleston, South Carolina

This 1,255-acre park includes a 1½-mile-long beachfront with some of the area's best shelling, marshland, and tidal rivers as well as a lush maritime forest with 7 miles of trails running through it. Trails are hard-packed shell sand, suitable for bikes (4 miles are ADA accessible). The park's Environmental Learning Center features animal exhibits and a touch tank, and a small ranger station has fishing poles to lend and firewood for sale. Pets on leashes are allowed. This is an excellent jumping-off point for exploring the natural history of Edisto Island and the surrounding ACE Basin. Amenities: none. Best for: sunrise, walking, sunset.

Charleston's most laid-back beach community fills up on warm-weather days (especially summer weekends), so start out early to avoid traffic, especially if you're visiting on a Saturday. Head out on the Folly Beach Fishing Pier to see what anglers have hooked or to the northeast end of the island to see Morris Island Lighthouse that awaits just offshore. Surfers flock to the Washout, where small but consistent waves rule. Families tend toward the southwest end of the island, with its lifeguards and county park amenities. Neighborhood streetside parking is free, but to avoid a ticket, all four wheels have to be off the pavement. Stock up on snacks and sandwiches at Bert's Market on East Ashley Avenue or grab a taco with the locals at Chico Feo across the street. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers and toilets (at the Washout, pier, and county park). Best for: surfing; swimming.

This county park 25 miles southwest of Charleston is often ranked among the country's best. Stunningly beautiful Kiawah (named for the native tribe that first called the area home) is one of the Southeast's largest barrier islands and is ringed with 10 miles of immaculate ocean beaches. You can safely walk for miles here, shelling and beachcombing to your heart's content—especially on the Atlantic-facing side. At its westernmost end, the beach fronts the Kiawah River, where lagoons filled with birds and wildlife and golden marshes make the sunsets even more glorious. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.

If you crave pristine dunes, charming beach paths, miles (2½ to be exact) of oceanfront beaches, and an expansive, wild maritime forest, Sullivan's Island is calling. The only downside? There are no beachside amenities like public toilets and showers, formal parking, and rentals. There are, however, a number of good small restaurants on Middle Street, the island's main drag. Approximately 30 public-access paths lead to the beach; three of these are wheelchair accessible; the town also loans out beach wheelchairs. "Sully's" is a delightful island with plenty to see, including the Fort Moultrie National Monument. Regarding parking and directions: note that neighborhood blocks are referred to as "stations" here. Station 28.5 is a primary kitesurfing destination and can be busy on windy days; lessons are available from Sealand Adventure Sports. Amenities: none. Best for: sunrise; sunset; walking; windsurfing.

Edisto's south edge has 4 miles of public beach. At its western end, the beach faces St. Helena Sound and has smaller waves. There is beach access at each intersection along Palmetto Boulevard and free public parking along the road. The beach itself has narrowed due to storm erosion, so you'll have more room to spread out if you time your visit at low tide. These clean coastal waters teem with both fish and shellfish, and it's common to see people throwing cast nets for shrimp. It's a great beach for beachcombing. Alcohol is allowed as long as it is not in glass containers. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset; swimming.

The Folly River and the Atlantic Ocean hug the peninsula of this palmetto-fringed park, 12 miles southwest of Charleston. There are lifeguards in designated swimming areas, and the water is generally calm here, making it the best bet on Folly Beach for families. Depending on the tides, there are often little tidal pools that toddlers can safely enjoy. The sand is the hard-packed taupe variety, ideal for making sand castles. Seasonal amenities include a snack bar, beach chairs, and umbrella rentals. During winter, it's possible to watch the sun set over the water with scarcely another person in sight. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

If you want a party scene and beach bars with live music and dancing, then this stretch of Isle of Palms is for you. Its string of businesses is the only beachfront commercial district in the area. Bicyclists are welcome, as are pets on leashes. Parking regulations are strictly enforced. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee). Best for: partiers; swimming; windsurfing.

Play beach volleyball or soak up the sun in a lounge chair on this wide stretch of sand. This beach is as good as the island's idyllic name. The sands are golden, the waves are gentle, and there's a playground, so it's great for families with small children. Those seeking to avoid the crowds should venture a few blocks northward down the beach. The county park is the only lifeguard-protected area on the Isle of Palms. Amenities: beach rentals; food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.