Neighborhoods
Charleston Beaches
Sullivans Island
Guarding the entrance to the Charleston Harbor, Sullivan’s Island gives residents amazing skyline views of the big city. One of Charleston’s most intimate beach communities, the 3.3 square mile island is just a ten mile drive from downtown. Historically linked to authors and artists, the Island has a quaint downtown area with restaurants and bars. A large proportion of its 2,000 residents live here year-round and it is the only local beach with no hotels and limited vacation rentals. Historic wood-frame homes with metal roofs and wide porches sit amongst larger modern dwellings and remnants of old military forts.
Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms is a great beach community located next to Sullivan’s Island, convenient to Mt. Pleasant and downtown Charleston. Thanks to gorgeous beaches, an Intracoastal Waterway marina and a seaside resort, Isle of Palms offers a wide range of activities including water sports, fishing, boating, surfing, golf, tennis, shopping and dining. The population of over 4,000 residents doesn’t account for the thousands of visitors that flock here each summer to enjoy the relaxed resort-like vibe. The beachfront main drag offers surfboard rentals, ice cream shops, beach stores, restaurants and dive bars with live music.
Folly Beach
Located off the farthest point of James Island, Folly Beach is one of the most laid back and eclectic spots in all of Charleston. Surfers flock here for the best waves in the area on this island dubbed “The Edge of America”. The main drag, Center Street, is full of boutiques, beach stores, bars and restaurants in a funky and fun atmosphere. Folly has a beachfront county park as well as a 1,050 foot fishing pier. Home to a year-round population of nearly 3,000 residents, the island has everything from classic beach houses to newly constructed condominiums.
Edisto Beach
At the southernmost tip of Edisto Island lies Edisto Beach, the least developed beach community close to Charleston. In 1925, the tiny island was first developed for vacationers and in 1935 the Conservation Corp built Edisto Beach State Park. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that the island was developed to accommodate year-round residents and a golf course was put in. Now there are several shops and restaurants, a beachfront pavilion and a marina--but many streets remain unpaved. Unlike its neighbors, Edisto Beach has purposely resisted big development and holds on to its sand-in-the-sheets beach town feel.
Neighborhoods
Resort Communities
Kiawah
Kiawah Island is a residential community incorporating a world-class resort and a unique, vibrant shopping village within a natural maritime setting. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, host of the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championship, also boasts 5-star accommodations and over a dozen restaurants. Kiawah residents have lots of entertainment and recreation options from water sports, biking and tennis to great shopping and dining. The resort is undergoing an expansion, adding additional villas, tennis courts and new conference facilities. Properties here range from grand oceanfront homes and vacation villas to waterfront condominiums and cottages.
Seabrook
Seabrook Island is a private gated community located about 25 miles from downtown Charleston. Surrounded by scenic marshlands and four miles of wide sandy beaches, Seabrook Island definitely delivers on its promise of unparalleled coastal living to its 2,000 residents. The community also boasts an impressive list of resort-style amenities, including world-class golf courses, tennis courts, pools, fitness centers, an equestrian center as well as nearby Bohicket Marina. Seabrook Island has properties ranging from beach cottages to luxury oceanfront properties. Seabrook is a carefully designed community with a diverse selection of single-family houses, townhomes, and luxury vacation villas.
Wild Dunes
Wild Dunes Resort is a 1,600-acre gated beachfront property on the northern tip of the Isle of Palms. For homeowners envisioning easy access to the Atlantic Ocean--along with ample recreation options--less than half an hour from downtown Charleston, Wild Dunes Resort is a dream come true. Numerous pools, a fitness center and spa, tennis courts, two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses, five miles of walking trails and a handful of restaurants make fun easy to come by. This sprawling private resort encompasses several types of accommodations, including condominiums, villas and single-family homes.
Historic Lower Peninsula
Historic Upper Peninsula
