On our December 2019 trip to Charleston, we also had the chance to visit Kiawah Island. I had never been there. Steve is very familiar with the area as he previously had a house on the island back in 2000’s and currently has a lot there, which we are trying to decide what to do with. He wanted to check in with the realtor which also offered an opportunity to show me around. We ended up going there on two separate mornings, since it rained on our first day on Kiawah. I will be combining it all together for this post.
About Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island, named after the Kiawah Native Americans who once lived there, is a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean. It is just off of the South Carolina Coast, about 25-30 miles southwest of Charleston. Kiawah Island is known for its beautiful beaches and award winning golf courses. It is also a sanctuary for Loggerhead Turtles. Throughout the Island there is beautiful vegetarian including abundant Live Oak Trees with Spanish Moss hanging from the limbs.
Location of Kiawah Island
Mingo Point
Steve first took me to Mingo Point which is right before the entrance to Kiawah Island. This area is a great place for locals to gather as it is along the banks of the Kiawah River and features frequent oyster roasts and BBQ’s. Like most places in Kiawah there are walking trails and access to the beach is never far.
Cougar Point Golf Course
Although I have little to no interest in golf, Steve loves it. This course is located just beyond the first entrance gate. It is the first of 4 public 18 hole courses on the island and is a very scenic course. There is also a newly built club house.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
The Sanctuary is Kiawah’s premier ocean front hotel. It also hosts many shops and restaurants. Steve’s realtor has his office here and we enjoyed meeting with him. This man has such a great knowledge of the island so it was fun hearing about what was new on the island since Steve’s last visit.
With umbrella in hand, I headed to the beach, I wasn’t about to let a little rain ruin my beach day!!!!
The Ocean Course Golf Course and Beach
With much excitement Steve took me to his favorite golf course, The Ocean Course Golf Course. He tells me it has been the home of the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship which I am guessing is a very good thing!! The clubhouse was beautiful. The restaurant smelled wonderful, but we had just had breakfast in Charleston.
This was on our second day and the rain had stopped so we walled along the beach for at least an hour and I even waded in the ocean a bit! It was fabulous. We were the only ones on the beach for as far as we could see. The beach was an expansive, smooth, sandy, and well kept beautiful beach. If we ever come back in good weather, I will be more than happy to let Steve golf all day while I hang out on this wonderful beach.
Osprey Point Golf Course
And yet another golf course Steve knew I would love!! This was another one of his favorites. I really liked this course as the trees along the lagoon and beautiful green grass looked so beautiful in the sunlight. The club house was also stately.
All was well. Until I saw them. Them, meaning the local wildlife Steve thought I would enjoy seeing. There are alligators, many of them. All over. Just sunning themselves at the edge of the lagoon. I didn’t see them at first, and then when I did, they were hanging about 20 feet from the path. I have to admit, the sight of them raised my anxiety level from 0-100 instantly. The most amazing thing is everyone there just kept golfing and doing there thing as if there were no alligators at all.
This was my very first experience seeing alligators that were not at a zoo. One even was swimming under the pedestrian bridge we walked over! I was pretty sure he was just waiting for me to fall in!! Ok, all in all it wasn’t that bad as I know my husband would never put me in direct danger.
The Market at Town Center
Kiawah Island also has a Town Center that has shops, grocery, hotel, rentals, a lake and a park. We did not have time to do any shopping but it looked like a charming area.
Conclusion
Kiawah Island is a beautiful pristine vacation spot, especially for those who enjoy awesome golf courses and love beach life. I was impressed with how well manicured the island is. I also thought the beaches were fantastic and was impressed by the extensive bike trails throughout the island. Next time we are there, I am hoping for better weather!
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You can read about my Charleston posts by following these links
5 Great Places to Eat in Historic Charleston, December 2019
Charleston’s Haunted Jail, December 2019
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon Charleston, South Carolina, December 2019
A Photo Tour of Historic Charleston, South Carolina, December 2019
Having grown up in Houston & Galveston, the wonderful beach vistas (sunny or stormy) are my favs! But gotta give a good look at those alligators & that huge painting on the huge stairwell in the mansion! 😊
I was not crazy about the alligators but the beach was so perfect even if chilly out!! Being from Houston and Galveston area are you familiar with an area called San Leon?
Oh yes, though only casually. The area has changed so much since our time there 😊 lots of great memories of when Stewart beach had what seemed a mile of beach before the water!
My brother and I were both adopted and have lived in Iowa all of our lives. Coincidently in later years we found his biological family were from & still live Galveston & Houston…..and my biological mother lived in San Leon years ago and I believe ended up in Houston. So odd that we both were adopted in Iowa but our roots were in Texas!! Just made me think of it when you mentioned Galveston and Houston!!!
That’s absolutely amazing, Lori! Ya’ll were definitely meant to be! That’s so wonderful to hear 💕 Galveston, for us, was always at it’s best non-summer, lol! Though the breezes made it much nicer than say inland in Houston! We raised our 3 kids there through the 80s when the city still has a strong working/middle class in the city, while the west end was quickly being developed into weekend homes for folks in Houston. Our oldest girl in Houston goes there “a lot” – to the city, behind the sea wall; lot of her friends still live there, ours too 😊
It sounds like a lovely place!! One of these days I will visit that direction!!! My biological mother passed years ago but it would be fun to see the area she choose to live at!! My brother visits his biological father there almost every year so that is nice for him!!! He likes the area!!
I think you’d really like it; bet your brother can give you more up to date tips than we’d have now; but it’s lovely in “very” early spring, ‘bout mid Feb if a cold front hasn’t bullied it way down there, lol 😂 And late fall into so called winter is really nice too. Only thing is when it does get cold, it’s “very” cold ‘cause of the damp 😊
He usually goes in the summer because he is an at-risk counselor in a school!! He likes the area.
Sounds like a really good person ❤️
One of my fav posts I’ve written ‘bout Galveston was way back in 2011, https://felipeadanlerma.com/2011/05/31/galveston-in-the-21st-century-original-poetry/ . We were spending a year & a half there after retiring in Austin, and getting ready to go to Vermont, my wife’s home state, for another year and a half before returning to Austin (with a 5 1/2 week detour in Paris, lol!) 😊
5 1/2 weeks in Paris!! Wow!! I’m
Very jealous!!!
Ahhahaha, I’m jealous of us too! I wanna go back, at least one more time 😊
😀
On my bucket list
A good one to have in your bucket list!!!
💗
We thought about visiting Kiawah Island a few years ago, but didn’t know much about it. Your pictures make it look like it’s worth a visit though!
I thought it was! Since my husband had a place there some years back he made the perfect tour guide! I was impressed with how clean everything looked and how many natural areas were there.
Wonderful. New to me. The architecture is interesting, unique, beautiful. I, also, like the little shops, at the town. This the way it should be. The huge malls do not match with my type if i may say so. Excellent, Lori. Thank you for this post of yours.
Thanks!! I agree!! I like little shops where you get good service!!! I also like the homey small town feel!!
That beach!
I know!!! Plus no one around!! It was chilly but still awesome to be on an almost deserted beach!!!
It looks absolutely gorgeous!
Liked and shared, of course. Thank you, Lori.
tweet : https://twitter.com/outosego/status/1222943515967131654
Thank you! I do appreciate you!!
You’re welcome Lori. I think this is something the whole wordpress community should do. Especially the people who are connected to different kind of social media. When i see something nice, i share it, so the people out of the wordpress community to able to get a taste, an idea, something different from what the usual typical stream media offer to the public.
Yes!! I need to do much more sharing outside the community! I’m still trying to get organized and a routine to life after retiring!! Lol!!
haha… it is ok. I know you do share. I just wrote the comment for the sake of our discussion per se or so to speak… lol…
I’ve never heard of Kiawah Island. It looks like it has a little bit of everything; beaches, architecture, golf. Great post!
Thanks! I had not heard of it either until I met my husband. It is a pretty nice little gem!!
South Carolina is just cool all the way around!
You are so right!! I fell in love with the Charleston area and can’t wait to return! We are thinking of retiring in the area, but a few more years until then!!!
Yes! If you do, I will FOR Sure see you there!
That would be awesome! We seriously are considering Charleston area and also Wilmington, NC. 6 years!!!!
So pretty! The beach looks glorious!
I was very impressed with the beach. Had it been warmer I would have rented a bike and rode on the beach!!
the beach looks great – but those alligators were enough to let me know I don’t think I want to visit!
I didn’t care much for the alligators either!
You really took a lot of beautiful photos. I am not a golfer, like you, but what a gorgeous place. And if your ball goes in the lagoon, well there it stays with those alligators. They were impressive. Thanks for the great tour.
Thank you! I am not the golfer
Thank you!! I am not the golfer in the family my husband is but he sure does like this place!!!!
👍
This is gorgeous! I have never heard of this place. I have live in Atlanta most of my life and spent a lot of time in Charleston, Savannah and Hilton Head. Pinned and flipped it so others can see this beauty. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!! I had not heard of it either til I married my husband! I love how natural the area is. Thank you for pinning and flipping!!
Great post and wonderful photos. Bravo! Following you! Cheers!
Thank you!!
Last summer, we visited Kiawah for the first time, spending a couple of nights before going home from our annual beach trip to Pawleys. We loved the marshes and wild birding areas. And dinner at sundown at Ocean Course. Your photos are so lovely. Thanks for reminding me that we need to book another weekend there. It’s so natural!
Thanks for following Oh, the Places We See. Glad to have you traveling with us!
Glad to follow you!! My husband had a home in Kiawah years ago. This was my first time. It is so very peaceful!!