To say that sea kayaking is the fastest growing adventure sport in the United States is an understatement. For decades, the sport was mostly centered in the Pacific Northwest and in Maine, but in recent years, the burgeoning sport of kayaking has hit the Lowcountry of South Carolina with a thunderbolt of enthusiasm. Outfitters are renting and selling kayaks, and equipping paddlers for guided and self tours. There are even places in the area to train beginning kayakers, as well as sharpen the paddling skills of experts.
But it was only a matter of time. After all, South Carolina has more estuaries than any other state, except Louisiana, and more barrier islands than any other state, except Florida. The unique combination of the two has catapulted South Carolina right to top in the world of kayaking. Plus, the Charleston area's generally calm surf is making open-ocean kayaking a growing sport here, as well.
Kayaking is growing so much here that a visitor's Lowcountry connection to the sport can be tailor-made. For those looking to mix their accommodations with their interest in kayaking, some Charleston hotels and resorts feature kayak tours, lessons and training.
One prominent example is Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, which has its own top-rated recreation program called Island Adventures. Island Adventures partners with Coastal Expeditions of Mount Pleasant year-round to provide kayaking excursions for their guests.
"We have a location on the Isle of Palms with Wild Dunes," says Coastal Expeditions owner Chris Crolley. "What is outstanding about that location is our 'livery squad' with expedition-sized kayaks."
Expedition kayaks are larger, more heavily equipped kayaks, featuring rudders and even outskirting. Also an outfitter, the company sponsors a wide range of charters, field trips, and a kayak camp. "The highest value thing we offer are the guides," says Crolley. "It's an introduction to Kayaking 101."
Coastal Expeditions also has a mission of "preservation and environmental education." Along with its staff of expert instructors and lifeguards, the company is a member of state environmental and marine-educators associations.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort also offers its guests a variety of canoeing and kayaking opportunities including guided tours, family kayaking and ocean kayaking through the resort's Heron Park Nature Center. For example, paddling enthusiasts may join the resort's naturalists for an interpretive paddle through the idyllic ebb and flow of Kiawah's salt marshes; enjoy a breathtaking perspective of Kiawah Island through a coastline expedition; or schedule a personalized and private excursion that leads down the Kiawah River to the southwestern tip of the island and Captain Sam's Inlet.
A kayaking accommodation a little further inland awaits at Palm Key Nature Getaway in Ridgeland, S.C. Family-oriented day trips include kayak and paddle rental. Package rates are available for overnight lodging. Paddlers are encouraged to bring their binoculars for a pristine "blackwater" nature experience.
There's another type of kayak adventure for the more experienced sporting visitor to Charleston...open-ocean kayaking. Ocean Air Sea Kayaking on Folly Beach is helping its more cutting-edge clients explore this growing sport. Ocean Air boasts certified American Canoe Association and British Kayak Union instruction, along with a wide range of guided tours and rental craft. Ocean Air says its guided tours range from two-hour getaways for anyone to "intense" BCU Four Star journeys for the truly expert kayak enthusiast.
Charleston County PRC holds classes for beginner, intermediate and expert kayakers. The courses go for as little as two hours for the Sampler Class. Two, four, and even six-day course sessions are aimed at greater levels of interest and expertise. They run the gamut from basic instruction to "stroke refinement" for those who have had their paddles in the water many times before.
Hall says the emphasis on safe kayaking is all part of the County PRC's offerings. Cost ranges from $25 for the Sampler class to $75 for the 18-hour Fundamentals of Kayaking class. All necessary gear is provided.
For those who already have their craft and paddle and just want to meet up with a group of fellow kayak enthusiasts, the Lowcountry Paddlers Club has been gathering kayakers of all ages and skill levels for the last 20 years. The club meets once a month, year-round. Go to the club's website for postings of Show-N-Go sessions, which are open to anyone who shows up for an excursion into the Lowcountry's most scenic waterways.
No longer limited to the most adventurous sportsmen, kayaking is swiftly becoming a featured recreational pastime-and Charleston is becoming one of recreational kayaking's prime destinations.
Other Outdoor Adventures
Golf
To many in the know, it just makes sense that one of the country's most historic cities traces its golf roots to the mid-1700s. In fact, Charleston has been called the birthplace of golf in American. The South Carolina Golf Club—now chartered as the Country Club of Charleston—was founded in 1786 and has been recognized by no less an authority than GOLF Magazine as the nation's first golf club. With two resort properties serving as cornerstones, the Charleston area offers more than two dozen golf courses, the majority of which are open to public play. As the competition increases, so does the quality of the individual offerings. Three area courses have earned "Top 100" status from various national publications and several of golf's governing bodies have staged important national and international championships over Lowcountry fairways.
Tennis
As beachside resorts began cropping up along the Lowcountry coastline, the construction of world-class golf courses often went hand-in-hand with first-rate tennis facilities. As Charleston's golf courses began racking up national recognition, so did its tennis courts. First Wild Dunes Resort earned a spot on the "Top 10 Tennis Resorts," named by Tennis Magazine. Soon the national spotlight fell on the tennis programs at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, earning it a number of the sport's highest accolades. In the spring of 2001, tennis in Charleston took on a whole new life with the opening of the Family Circle Tennis Center, the new home of the Family Circle Cup. The Center is a state-of-the-art facility that serves as the centerpiece to an amazing 32-acre tennis complex on Daniel Island. Featuring one of the most qualified teaching staffs in the country, the Center provides residents and visitors with a diverse tennis program aimed at pleasing every age and skill level.
Fly-Fishing
What fly-fishing enthusiast can resist packing up their rods and reels, their nets and creels, their flies, leaders and tippets, along with their favorite worn fishing hat and vest and heading down South Carolina's coastal Highway 17 for a fishing adventure? The region from Cape Romain to the ACE Basin, with Charleston at its heart, has caught the attention of enthusiasts of this sport from across North America and Europe. In fact, the Charleston area now ranks as a premier destination fishery.
Hiking
Charleston is rich in hiking opportunities. Those wanting to experience the great outdoors should check out the Palmetto Trail. When completed, this 425+ mile recreational trail will traverse the state of South Carolina, connecting the mountains to the sea, forming a spine for a network of trails, the genesis of a statewide trail system. The Palmetto Trail will consist of several connecting passages that showcase the unique history, culture and geography of the state. The trailhead, just north of Charleston on Highway 17, is open and welcomes hikers year-round.
Tommy Condon’s has made his name by becoming one of Charleston's favorite local spots to serve up Lowcountry specialties such as shrimp and grits and fish and chips. Tommy runs a family-oriented establishment where children are welcome as they are. A special children's menu is available for "little leprechauns."
Learn the artistry of Lowcountry cooking from the area’s top chefs, or rub elbows with guest chefs from world-class restaurants. Add the most delicious secrets to your cooking repertoire – in a friendly atmosphere that’s pure fun. Each month’s schedule is packed with informative classes on techniques, tips and food specialties.
Since we began five years ago, Carriage Properties has gone from zero to more than $160 million in sales. Our success comes from a team of agents with unmatched experience, professionalism and determination. It’s the success of our clients that counts most. We do whatever it takes to find whatever they’re looking for.
To say that sea kayaking is the fastest growing adventure sport in the United States is an understatement. For decades, the sport was mostly centered in the Pacific Northwest and in Maine, but in recent years, the burgeoning sport of kayaking has hit the Lowcountry of South Carolina with a thunderbolt of enthusiasm. Outfitters are renting and selling kayaks, and equipping paddlers for guided and self tours. There are even places in the area to train beginning kayakers, as well as sharpen the paddling skills of experts.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort also offers its guests a variety of canoeing and kayaking opportunities including guided tours, family kayaking and ocean kayaking through the resort's Heron Park Nature Center. For example, paddling enthusiasts may join the resort's naturalists for an interpretive paddle through the idyllic ebb and flow of Kiawah's salt marshes; enjoy a breathtaking perspective of Kiawah Island through a coastline expedition; or schedule a personalized and private excursion that leads down the Kiawah River to the southwestern tip of the island and Captain Sam's Inlet. 
Tommy Condon’s has made his name by becoming one of Charleston's favorite local spots to serve up Lowcountry specialties such as shrimp and grits and fish and chips. Tommy runs a family-oriented establishment where children are welcome as they are. A special children's menu is available for "little leprechauns."
Learn the artistry of Lowcountry cooking from the area’s top chefs, or rub elbows with guest chefs from world-class restaurants. Add the most delicious secrets to your cooking repertoire – in a friendly atmosphere that’s pure fun. Each month’s schedule is packed with informative classes on techniques, tips and food specialties.
Since we began five years ago, Carriage Properties has gone from zero to more than $160 million in sales. Our success comes from a team of agents with unmatched experience, professionalism and determination. It’s the success of our clients that counts most. We do whatever it takes to find whatever they’re looking for.
