Lighthouses and seashells, where do you suggest? (Summerville, Beaufort: camping, shop)

[pvjd]

I love lighthouses and seashells. Love the water, though I am afraid to swim in it. Are thee any beaches you would recommend for walking and looking at lighthouses, and collecting shells? Also, do you have sandcrabs there? You know, the little ones that burrow in the sand and come out at night? My son loves those.

[beachme]

Lighthouses..Folly or Sullivan's Island
Shells I don't find them much here but I have seen a few sand dollars.

[pvjd]

Thanks for the input on lighthouses. So you say there are no shells wehre you are. What beach do you go to?

[moneill]

Sanibel Island in Florida :-))).

[SCBeaches]

Beachwalker on Kiawah is by far the best place to go for finding shells and sand dollars! Walk way down the beach away from the swimmer,sun bathers, and lifeguards and you will find all the beautiful shells and sand dollars you want. We used to take our boat out to Morris Island for picnics and found all kinds of starfish and sand dollars there too. (I don't like killing them though, so we usually just put them back after finding and photgraphing them.)

[pvjd]

Sounds great. Are Kiawah Island, and the other island areas, fairly accessible from Summerville? I am wondering how long of a trip it might be.

[SCBeaches]

From Summerville (depending on what part) it might take you an hour to get to Beachwalker County Park on Kiawah Island. I have friends in Legend Oaks and it takes 30-40 minutes to get to their house (depending on traffic), then it is another 20 minutes to Beachwalker from my house on Johns Island.
Coming down Hwy. 61, turn right onto Bees Ferry Rd. just past the Shadowmoss Plantation sign, turn left onto Main Rd. from Bees Ferry Rd.. Cross Savannah Hwy. and continue straight on Main Rd. (which will change names to Bohicket Rd. for awhile, then it will become Betsy Kerrison Blvd. - yes, all the same road!)....this will take you to the Kiawah Island entrance road (you'll see Freshfields Shopping and Newton's Farms on your right after you turn in towards Kiawah.) Beachwalker County Park will be on a little road to your right just before the security gate - you'll see a sign.

Good luck and happy shell hunting! It's a beautiful drive out there, so even if you don't find many pretty shells your first trip it will be well worth the drive and you'll be counting the days until you go back!

[mrpeatie]

Best place to find shells is on Morris Island facing the ocean. You'll need a boat to get there but it's only about a 20-25 minute trip from the boat landing beside the bridge on folly. The view of the lighthouse is also beautiful from there (althought the lighthouse is no longer on the island but in the water thanks to shifting beaches.)

[fqtravlr]

Hunting Island just off Beaufort. Spent the weekend camping there. Best of both in the title.