If you enjoy fresh seafood, clean beaches, and beautiful marshlands, you can appreciate the importance of the diverse ecosystems that make up the Charleston coastline. There are several ways to learn more about these amazing ecosystems and how they each contribute to the overall health of the coast.
One way is with an eco-tour. Several local outfitters provide specialty trips that are both fun and educational for the whole family.
Barrier Island Eco Tours offers a variety of tours that offer an up-close view of the beauty and wildlife of the region, leaving from Isle of Palms. Venture to Capers Island Heritage Preserve for the 3.5-hour Capers Island Wildlife Exploration tour. This pristine barrier island is only reachable by boat. A naturalist guide explains the local ecology and points out wildlife along the way. Common sightings include bottlenose dolphins, bald eagles, and numerous shore and wading birds. Explore the island’s Boneyard Beach, trails, and ponds.
Blue Crabbing Excursions are another way to immerse yourself in nature. The tour cruises through winding tidal creeks to find diverse wildlife living in this salt marsh environment. Along the way, a guide pulls a few crab traps to teach passengers about blue crab and stone crab. Then, when you arrive at Capers Island, guests go crabbing the old-fashioned way, with a hand line and net. The grand finale is a crab boil where fresh steamed crabs bought from a local crabber are dumped on the table and served with butter and Old Bay seasoning.
Coastal Expeditions is another tour company, departing from the Isle of Palms Marina. This gateway leads to the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline on the Eastern seaboard, literally on the edge of ocean wilderness. Take a sunrise kayak tour as a special way to start the day or a full moon kayak tour as a way to end it. Both excursions are family-friendly and offer an opportunity to paddle local tidal creeks and see local wildlife like laughing gulls and dolphins.
If you booked a Kiawah Island stay, book with Tidal Trails, which offers guided nature tours, and can customize a tour for visitors. They offer Power Boat Tours that allow you to take in the sunset over the salt marsh while enjoying a cocktail. Or take a family fishing excursion where kids can learn to throw a cast net and go crabbing and fishing.
For a more leisurely time on the water, Tidal Trails also offers Kayak Safari Tours. Explore the winding tidal creeks around the island from a secluded and unique location. Learn more about the majestic natural inhabitants that play and feed here, while enjoying the wonders of the saltmarsh. Relax and unwind as the tour paddles past beautiful hummock islands and elegant wading birds. Keep a lookout for bottlenose dolphins.
Prepare to be amazed when you take a nature tour during your visit coast beach vacation.