Are Low Country Beaches Nice? (Charleston, Isle of Palms: rentals, condo, restaurants)

[theary11]

I'm interested in vacationing at the beaches on Isle of Palms or Folly Beach. I've seen other posts where people describe the beaches in unflattering terms with descriptions of the sand and water as muddy and murky. Is this true? Even here up in the north of the USA the beaches are comprised of nice sand and the water is not muddy. I had always thought that the further south you went along the U.S East Coast the water got more clear. How would you describe the beaches around Charleston? Nice water? Maybe a little murky right nearshore from wave energy, but nice blue color offshore? Should I just bag it and go to Florida?

[JimmyGinSC]

As thousands of visitors that keep coming back year after year can attest, Folly, IOP, Sullivans, Kiawah, Seabrook, etc. all have very nice beaches. The water is similar to the east coast of Florida. It's not clear like the water near some carribean island, but it certainly isn't muddy or murky.

[Geechie North]

Depends on where you're using as a baseline.

Charleston beaches have similiar water clarity to other continental beaches in the SE, including the yankee nirvana of Florida.

I once had a guy from Grand Bahama tell me he loved vacationing in Charleston, but would never swim at the local beaches because the water is so muddy.

But that's a continental vs an open-ocean island thing.

[jesposito]

i grew up in Miami and prefer the beaches here over S Florida

[moneill]

I grew up in Bermuda -- the beaches aren't as nice in the Charleston area as Bermuda but it's a beach. It's not like the panhandle of Florida with emerald green water and white white sand...but it is the ocean.

Everyone says Isle of Palms is nicer than Folly Beach. I didn't think there was that much of a difference in the beaches.

[SCBeaches]

Originally Posted by moneill

I grew up in Bermuda -- the beaches aren't as nice in the Charleston area as Bermuda but it's a beach. It's not like the panhandle of Florida with emerald green water and white white sand...but it is the ocean.

Everyone says Isle of Palms is nicer than Folly Beach. I didn't think there was that much of a difference in the beaches.

Well, maybe some say this, but just about everyone I know prefers Folly over Isle of Palms. Folly Beach has something for everyone, there are areas which are more family-friendly, areas that are more teenager/surfer-friendly, some areas where you see more people fishing, and some areas where you see more people walking and hunting for shells and sand dollars. If you walk far enough in one direction you can view Morris Island Lighthouse and sit on the rocks or you can drive down to the county park where there are life guards, showers and bathrooms, concession stand, and beach rentals. In town, you can walk out on the pier to fish or just sit and enjoy the salty breeze, swim in the water, or eat at one of the restaurants and shop in the local shops. Folly Beach is eclectic and full of character....I love to go out on the pier in the evenings for the shagging and music.

[moneill]

That's my opinion of Folly Beach as well -- but quite a few folks here have said they prefer Isle of Palms.

[Geechie North]

The Isle of Plams has been a cluster f** from the get-go:

First they built the jetties; it killed the wave action so surfing was kaput.

Then thanks to Wild Loones (or Dunes, but the dunes were removed by the developer, "So the yankees could see the ocean."), which left only the loonies, who paid for that initial decision and they're farcical ignorance, during Hugo.) came the condo conmmandos, an invasive species which sucks the life out of everywhere they nest.

Now has come direct access via the eastern spur of the Mark Clark which completely finished the joint, rendering it less of a beach than a suburban sprwal temporarily klinging to a barirer island.

[KarynO]

Originally Posted by Geechie North

The Isle of Plams has been a cluster f** from the get-go:

First they built the jetties; it killed the wave action so surfing was kaput.

Then thanks to Wild Loones (or Dunes, but the dunes were removed by the developer, So the yankees could see the ocean."), which left only the loonies, who paid for that initial decision and they're farcical ignorance during Hugo.) came the condo conmmandos, an invasive species which sucks the life out of everywhere they nest.

Now has come direct access via the eastern spur of the Mark Clark which completely finished the joint, rendering it less of a beach than a suburban sprwal temporarily klinging to a barirer island.

God...you're like drinking vinegar.

[KarynO]

Originally Posted by SCBeaches

Well, maybe some say this, but just about everyone I know prefers Folly over Isle of Palms. Folly Beach has something for everyone, there are areas which are more family-friendly, areas that are more teenager/surfer-friendly, some areas where you see more people fishing, and some areas where you see more people walking and hunting for shells and sand dollars. If you walk far enough in one direction you can view Morris Island Lighthouse and sit on the rocks or you can drive down to the county park where there are life guards, showers and bathrooms, concession stand, and beach rentals. In town, you can walk out on the pier to fish or just sit and enjoy the salty breeze, swim in the water, or eat at one of the restaurants and shop in the local shops. Folly Beach is eclectic and full of character....I love to go out on the pier in the evenings for the shagging and music.

OK...I know what "shagging" is to me, and I don't think you're doing it on the pier...so please educate me, lol.