Vacation With The Wildlife In Exotic Kiawah Island

Nature rules in exotic Kiawah Island South Carolina where the wildlife roam free and happy and I am their respectful and humble guest.  As I had breakfast while an alligator who watched me intently from the lagoon and walked the trail with a sweet doe and her handsome buck, I could not help thinking that this was a perfect world.

And that was just the first day.  Tiptoe around turtles lazily crawling the grounds and watch as exotic birds fill the skies and hunt for fish.  You can practically come up to the numerous squirrels running around the island. If you listen closely, you might hear a distant bobcat or the call of the Whippoorwill as night falls.

Kiawah Island is an exotic paradise where large tracts of unspoiled beauty is the norm. The island is an oasis of tropical wooded forest, richly vegetated and inhabited lagoons and marshes and spectacular beaches.

I literally hummed the Gilligan’s Island theme song the entire time.  Could not get it out of my head.

Anyway, speaking of beaches,  they are absolutely gorgeous on Kiawah.  High condos are no where to be found and the waves are great for body and boogie boarding.

There are beautiful beaches available for use in connection with those who are staying in accommodations on the island however, there is also a public beach for those wanting to spend a day.  This is actually how we found Kiawah and knew we wanted to come back for a longer visit.

We were staying in Charleston a couple years prior and decided to visit Kiawah for a beach day so we went to Kiawah Beachwalker Park which is a public beach on the west end of the island.  Rather then going through the gate that leads to the rentals, you turn right and this will take you to the park.

There is a parking fee that varies, typically around $10 a vehicle during the week and $15 on weekends but this is subject to change.  There are beach chair rentals, restrooms, snack vendor and wheelchair beach access.

I do recommend spending a day exploring and enjoying this island when you are staying in Charleston or in an outlying area.  It is a treasure.

We found our 5 days on this barrier island on the Atlantic coast full of unparalleled beauty, surprising adventures and lots of never-gets-old beach loafing.  Even though we went right after the 4th of July, in the heart of summer, huge crowds were not a problem making for a very relaxing time.

There are many beautiful vacation rentals on the island with choices of either beach front villas and homes or cozy stays hosting stunning views of tropical lagoons and lakes.  Another option and only an 18 minute drive from Kiawah is Seabrook Island, South Carolina.

We chose Mariners Watch Villa on Kiawah which was a treat.  Perfectly located a short and gorgeous walk to the stunning beach, this villa was an added icing on a delicious cake for us.  One of my favorite things to do here was to stroll the paved path located just outside our balcony and to enjoy the beauty of the waterway, the wildlife and the lavish forest running parallel to the path.

Whether you chose a beachfront or a lagoon stay, they all offer easy access to the beach and to the popular and hopping Night Herron Park.  Both of which offer stunning walks along scenic paved trails winding under heavy forest.

Night Herron Park is a 21 acre, centrally located greenspace filled with sprawling moss covered oaks and teeming to the brink with gorgeous wildlife.  There is soccer field, volleyball and basketball court and a sizeable playground for kids. There is a nature center, picnic tables and grilling options and many activities such as nature tours and Kamp Kiawah for children ages 3 to 15.

Night Herron Park also hosts live bands so be sure to check this out.  This was a short walk from our stay at Mariner’s Watch Villa, we could hear them playing some pretty awesome music from our balcony.

For really excellent bike riding, Night Heron Park is the spot for breathtaking scenery.  You will ride along  a lovely paved path that meanders under huge romantic live oaks, glides by alligator marshes and waterways and exposes you to the best smells ever of slightly salty Carolina jasmine.

Bike trails on Kiawah Island are some of the best around with 30 miles of paved bike paths plus 10 additional miles of riding on the beach.  

Usually my bicycle goes everywhere with me however, I left it behind this time but everything turned out ok thanks to great bike rental companies on the island.  A popular bike rental company on the island is Alligator Bike.  Also, SeaSide Cycles is a family owned company servicing Kiawah and Seabrook Islands.

If you love golf, Kiawah Island has some of the best courses in the entire country.  Kiawah has hosted the PGA Championship numerous occasions and has gained notice for their exceptional golf courses.  The best public golf courses are The Ocean Course (labeled the toughest golf course in the nation), Cougar Point (gorgeous views), Osprey Point (spectacular landscape), Turtle Point (designed by Jack Nicklaus) and Oak Point (new and improved).

We visited stunningly beautiful Osprey Point in search of dinner which proved to be a brilliant idea for, not only did we enjoy the elite manicured grounds, exquisite clubhouse and the golf course, Cherrywood BBQ and Ale House was a hole in one.  I highly recommend an evening meal at this spectacular location or, if you want take out, we found the Combination Platter For 4 deliciously excellent. (Expect alligators to be lazing around the property!)

In my Vacation Lifestyle Shopping  page, browse popular merchants such as ETSY that can help you get ready for your trip.  Also check out ONE Of THE BEST GOLF SUPPLIERS IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY : SCOTTSDALE GOLF

Freshfields Village is a convenient small and endearing town located on the island just 2 miles drive from Mariner’s Watch.  This charming village is a must to visit at least once while you are on the island.  The beachy small town charm of the buildings and landscape are precious and the fun laid back vibe enchanting.

I absolutely loved walking around Freshfields.

Freshfields Village provides a premium open air shopping experience.  Whether you need everyday amenities such as groceries, clothes/shoes, pet supplies, books, gifts or you lost your boogie board to the ocean, you can pretty much find what you need at this fun town.  There is banking, regularly scheduled events and concerts, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream as well as excellent dining options.

Andell Inn is a new boutique village hotel within Freshfields Village offering luxury accommodations, full kitchens and a salt water pool. Also Andell Inn TripAdvisor

For more options with homes and cottages VRBO (VACATION RENTALS BY OWNER) may have what you’re looking for.

Close by is the ever elegant old lady of the south, Charleston, South Carolina.  I cannot recommend strongly enough a visit to this historic town.

A mere 41 minutes drive from Kiawah, Charleston makes for a brilliant day trip or a visit when heading for home.  It would be ideal if you could spare a few days stay for, you will not regret extending your trip to include this vibrant exquisite town.

Charleston was founded in 1670 and loaded with historic charm cobblestone streets, antebellum homes and ancient graveyards.  Walking the city’s older streets lined with homes dating back to the late 1600’s to early 1700’s is a must and one of my favorite things to do in Charleston.

Restaurants we love to eat in, quaint boutique inns in town, tons of photos and interesting sights are in my article on  Charleston, South Carolina.

John Rutledge House Inn

The Dewberry Charleston

Barksdale House Inn

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