Do you love spending time on the coast? The beach is one big playground with an array of fun activities to keep you and your family busy.
Splashing into the Atlantic Ocean is a great way to keep cool on those long summer days. It doesn’t take much imagination to enjoy a day in the water. Bring a plastic bucket and shovel for the little ones. A small net can provide hours of entertainment as older kids investigate tidal pools and small creatures found along the shoreline. Of course, you can sit and soak up the sun.
A picnic is another favorite activity. Pack a lunch, head to a picnic table at Isle of Palms County Park or Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, or throw a blanket on the sand.
Cook up an amazing meal in your rental property’s kitchen with your haul of local produce from the Isle of Palms Farmers Market, open 4-7 p.m. on July 20 and Aug. 17 at 24 28th Ave. Fresh fruit like sweet watermelon is always a winner in the summertime. Enjoy live music and pick up some ready-made, local products while you’re there.
Cut the rug (or grass, in this case) during Music on the Green, held from 6-9 p.m. each Friday at Freshfields Village. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy these free, family-friendly concerts where regional bands perform Motown, Top 40, country music, and more.
Attend the 19th Sweetgrass Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 22 at the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. The free fest celebrates the Gullah Geechee culture and traditions, including the sweetgrass basket art form.
Take part in the IOP Beach Run on July 29. The 5K/10K Run & 5K Walk start at 8 a.m., and youth fun runs begin at 8:30 a.m. Register here or at the IOP Rec center by noon on July 26. The Windjammer serves as the Race Day Location and all events occur on flat, wide, and hard-packed sand.
An unusual Isle of Palms event is the Half Rubber Tournament, set for Aug. 12 at the IOP Recreation Department. Games begin at 8 a.m. If you don’t want to participate, it’s a hoot to watch. Similar to baseball, the sport is nearly a century old and exists almost exclusively in the coastal regions of Charleston and Savannah. A half-sphere “ball” and mop-handle thin “bat” are used. Check it out.
Other activities take place all summer long, including boat charters, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing excursions. Take your pick and enjoy a Charleston beach vacation!