For those who love the outdoors the Lowcountry has everything you could want. From miles and miles of waterways and extensive hiking, biking and sightseeing opportunities to fantastic world-class golf courses that routinely host major professional tournaments; being outdoors is more than a past time for everyone in the Lowcountry, it’s a way of life.
If your interest lies in being on the water, wow do you have options! Paddleboard through Shem Creek while dolphins lazily swim the creek next to you. Test your sailing prowess on a catamaran in the bay. Charter a fishing boat to visit some local fishing haunts or go further out to sea in search of bigger fish to fry. Wildlife enthusiasts can find a blue or blackwater trail in a kayak or canoe fit for a variety of skill levels to take in a bevy of lowcountry birds and other wildlife. Boaters can take a leisurely ride up the Edisto or Stono River to take in the sunset and wildlife of the Lowcountry or cruise down the Ashley or Wando River and find your way to Charleston Harbor to find friends hanging out on an un-inhabited beach searching for shark teeth. Or put into either of the famous Lowcountry lakes -- Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie -- to try to catch dinner for the evening. The possibilities on the waters in Charleston County are virtually endless!
If it’s golf you are after, Charleston has you covered there as well! Over 20 Championship golf courses are spread throughout the Lowcountry. From the scenic Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort - which recently hosted the PGA Championship - to the Wild Dunes Resort courses on the Isle of Palms and many others designed by famous course architects like Tom Fazio, Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus golf and the Lowcountry have a long and storied history. In fact, the first golf clubs, were imported into the U.S. in Charleston in 1739! No matter your skill level, there is a course here for you -- just be careful if you are searching for a ball that may have strayed away from the middle of the fairway because there are plenty of alligators that make their homes in the water hazards on our courses!
If that last bit scared you off the course, then maybe hiking through one of the numerous parks or strolling through the gardens of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens or Middleton Place is more your cup of tea. Magnolia Plantation is one of the few in the world to hold an International Garden of Excellence designation from the International Camellia Society, and its breath-taking beauty is something you must see to believe. Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and houses America’s oldest Landscaped gardens. This amazing property has remained in the same family for over 300 years! And if live oaks are up your alley, head to Boone Hall Plantation and view the majestic Avenue of the Oaks or take a drive to visit the Angel Oak on Johns Island. This beautiful reminder of days long gone is estimated to be at least 400-500 years old!
Whatever it is that gets you outside, you will be creating life-long memories when you visit. And if you are visiting from a colder climate, can’t you just envision yourself living here year round???