Family Beach Vacation South Carolina
Vacations are often a chance to relax, explore new areas and have some fun in the sun. This is especially true for family vacations. If you decide on a family beach vacation, there are many great places to check out in South Carolina.
Sand. Sun. Sea. Surf. If you’re ready for some sun and even more fun, a beautiful beach vacation awaits you in South Carolina. The perfect place for a family vacation, South Carolina is home to some of the country’s best beaches including Edisto Beach – said to be one of America’s most beautiful — to beautiful coastal wonders such as Hilton Head Island and the famed Kiawah Island Resort.
The family beach vacation – it’s something we all look forward to, and your entire family deserves to relax and have a little fun in the sun. So if you’re thinking about where to go, start your search with these five great locations for an awesome family beach vacation. In no particular order, here are our top picks! The South Carolina coast offers some of the best family beach vacation spots in the country.
Family Beach Vacation South Carolina
Every day is beach weather day at the best family beaches in South Carolina!
Soaking up the sun, laying on soft, fine sand, and swimming in crystal-clear water is the perfect way to spend your free time together with your kids.
From awesome nature trails where you can ride bikes or horses, to salt marshes for paddle boarding and kayaking, there are tons of activities you and the family will enjoy.
Take a dip in some of the Palmetto State’s bluest, cleanest oceans and create fantastic memories with the entire family!
1. Sullivan’s Island – Sullivan’s Island Beach
2056 Middle Street
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
(843) 724-7420
Sullivan’s Island is a town-island in Charleston that’s home to the most beautiful, non-commercialized beaches in the state.
Families with children can unwind on long stretches of peaceful shores or head to any one of its many indoor play places for kids.
You and your kiddos can go kayaking, sailing, and kiteboarding.
13 Best Family Beaches in South Carolina
Play Video
You can also take your youngsters to Monkey Joe’s for indoor rides on a Viking Ship, or to Little Palm’s Play Garden for arts and crafts, and tree-planting games.
There are no age restrictions on the beach.
However, the kid’s play places are only for toddlers and below.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
Related: The Best Family Resorts in South Carolina
2. Myrtle Beach State Park – Myrtle Beach
4401 S Kings Hwy
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
(843) 238-5325
Along Myrtle Beach is the famous Grand Strand coastline— a shoreline-arc that spans 60 acres and is connected to the magnificent Atlantic Ocean.
But more than its magnificent clear-water beach, this state park has a number of family-friendly nature trails and camping grounds.
Enjoy surfing with your kids on Myrtle beach’s child-safe, average-sized waves.
Additionally, you can drop by the state park’s fishing pier and catch your own fish such as mackerel, trout, and flounder.
Afterward, have a bird-watching session along the park’s nature trails.
Guests of any age are welcome in Myrtle Beach State Park.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: DoubleTree by Hilton Myrtle Beach
Related: Best Beaches in South Carolina
3. Burkes Beach – Hilton Head
60 Burkes Beach Rd
Hilton Head, SC 29928
(843) 341-4757
Burkes Beach is a family beach that has a gorgeous shoreline with various even-surfaced boardwalks for you and your kids to go biking on.
Aside from this, you’ll see vast fields of green picnic grounds and other paved trails in the Chaplin Community Park.
Apart from taking your bikes around the beach area, you can also ride horses on the shore itself.
Don’t fret if this is your first time horseback riding.
Horse guides will be with you along the way.
Moreover, the park has outdoor courts for playing tennis, basketball, and more.
Anyone from ages 0 and above can set foot on Burkes Beach, Hilton Head.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa
4. Folly Beach County Park – Folly Beach
1100 W Ashley Ave
Folly Beach, SC 29439
(843) 762-9960
Just south of Charleston, Folly Beach County Park belongs to the state’s string of beaches in the south that’s reviewed as the most quiet, because they’re not commercialized.
The Folly Beach Pier is a great spot for sightseeing and for taking pictures of astonishing panoramic views of the sea.
More than the serene atmosphere this beach is known for, you’ll also discover about 70,000 species of wildlife as you join an eco-tour around the park’s estuaries and marshlands.
Then, your clan can take a boat ride and watch dolphins swim next to you!
This South Carolina County Park is a family beach for everybody of all ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Spectator Hotel
Related: Best Family Vacations in South Carolina
5. Hilton Head Island
1 Chamber of Commerce Drive
Hilton Head, SC 29938
(843) 785-3673
Set foot on one of the largest beaches in South Carolina that’s voted as one of the best tourist destinations in the world!
It’s considered a resort town because of the many luxurious resorts and golf courses right on the beach. However, it’s also an excellent place for enjoying nature and museum tours with your youngsters.
Head over to the Sandbox Children’s Museum where they can learn about sea creatures through a magnetic aquarium exhibit.
Next on your list is Adventure Cove for rounds of mini-golf.
Afterward, book a tour in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve to gaze at unique plants and wildlife up close.
Everybody’s invited to Hilton Head Island.
Age won’t be a problem at all.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa
Related: Restaurants: Hilton Head
6. Isle Of Palms County Park – Isle Of Palms
1 14th Ave
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
(843) 795-4386
The Isle Of Palms County Park is one of the best beaches in South Carolina that’s perfect for beach strolls because of its clean and peaceful boardwalks.
Also, its shores are lined with family activity areas for games, picnics, and grills.
Your family can join an eco-tour around this Barrier Island where you can experience crabbing or fishing. Next, hop on a cruise and have a glimpse of the local marine life around said island.
And at County Park, families can have their fill of volleyball in a sandpit, while the toddlers cam swing and climb about in the children’s playground.
The entire family, from ages 0 and up, can visit this County Park.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston – Mount Pleasant
Related: Fun Things to Do in South Carolina with Kids
7. Kiawah Beachwalker Park – Kiawah Island
8 Beachwalker Dr
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
(843) 762-9964
Some of the country’s most stunning beaches and barrier islands are south of Charleston.
And that includes the Kiawah Beachwalker Park.
Your little tykes can swim safely through the water’s gentle waves.
Further, you can trek around its 11-mile shoreline that twists beautifully through plots of a variety of oak trees, yucca plants, and palmettos.
If you and the kiddos want to move inland and away from the sea for a bit, you can rent a bike and tour the rest of the island.
Alternately, chariot rentals are available, too.
How about fishing in the inlet with pro fishing gear through Lil Darlin’ Fishing Charters?
And for yummy meals, stop by any restaurant of your choice at Freshfields Village.
Age restrictions?
None whatsoever in Kiawah Beachwalker Park.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Restoration Hotel
Also See:
Best Beaches Near Myrtle Beach
Best Beaches in Charleston
8. Seabrook Island
2001 Seabrook Island Road
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
(843) 768-9121
Seabrook Island is a barrier town whose larger area is mainly residential.
For this reason, most parts of the beaches are not overpopulated, so you and the tribe can have a serene swim in the ocean.
The sand is perfect for building sandcastles with your youngsters!
After you’ve built your sand masterpieces, have a boat tour with the Pirates Of Charleston where kids can dress up as pirates, have their faces painted, and learn about the island’s history.
Later, try paddleboarding and kayaking in the island’s salt marshes.
You’re invited to bring everyone in the family, from your babies and up, to Seabrook Island.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hotel Bennett Charleston
9. Murrells Inlet – Georgetown County
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 357-2007
Once a historic fishing village, Murrells Inlet is a quaint attraction most popularly visited for its lush marshes.
Along with this, you can take a short drive and catch sight of colorful flowers in Brookgreen Gardens, as well as sea creatures in the freshwater lake in Huntington State Park.
Steamboat or kayak your way through the marshes, have a deep-sea fishing adventure, or have a thrilling ride on a banana boat!
Not only that, but you can also tour the Vereen Memorial Gardens where the boardwalks and trails are filled with greenery and, from time to time, wildlife.
Murrell’s Inlet is for visitors ages 0 and over.