With sandy beaches, delicious seafood and a charming coastal community, Isle of Palms makes a fantastic family vacation spot.
Spend a lazy day in the surf and sand during your Isle of Palms stay. Book a vacation property walking distance to the Atlantic or visit Isle of Palms County Park on 14th Avenue. Centrally located in Isle of Palms commercial district, Isle of Palms County Park offers beautiful oceanfrontage with lifeguards on duty seasonally along a beachfront designated swimming area.
Discover Splash Island, tucked in Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park, a short drive over the bridge from Isle of Palms. The kids will love the waterpark, which includes a 200-foot body flume, 16-foot otter slide, sprays and waterfalls, a cyclone swirling water ride and more. Lifeguards are on duty at the seasonal attraction, and the park offers showers/changing areas, locker rentals, lounge chairs and concessions.
Bicycle the seven-mile Awendaw Passage, part of the Palmetto Trail, as a splendid way to spend a day. Bike riding is fun for all ages, and the Isle of Palms is home to a network of bike trails winding through the dunes and forests.
Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Wild Dunes Resort offer a range of activities for water sports enthusiasts. Sign up for a guided kayak tour with an outfitter like Coastal Expeditions to get close to wildlife like dolphins.
Rent a stand-up paddle board from IOP Beach Chair Rentals for an ideal day on the water. You haven’t truly experienced the coast until you see it from the water.
Head to Shem Creek Park, Pitt Street Bridge or Mount Pleasant Pier for crabbing, a favorite kid-friendly activity. How many of us remember using a line, chicken leg, and a swoop net on a pier or dock for hours of fun on the water? Local bait and tackle shops will have what you need.
Visit the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center on Sullivan’s Island, open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, where you can pick up a self-guided brochure and make your way through interpretive wayside exhibits.
Kids enjoy exploring the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, where they get a hands-on history lesson. The centerpiece is the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier. Other exhibits include military aircraft, a Vietnam Experience and the USS Laffey destroyer. It’s worth the drive.
And if you'd like to tour more of the Coast on the water, check out Barrier Island Eco Tours, for family fun, nature led tours, wild life exploration, sunset cruises and more.