Are you trying to figure out which South Carolina beach is the best for that next weekend getaway? We asked our readers to vote in our inaugural Summer Family Favorites contest, and these are the beaches they voted as the best in SC.
Are you looking to just relax and listen to the waves crash, are you looking for a coastal adventure to write home about, or maybe a little of both? These top 5 South Carolina beaches include the perfect beach for any type of family.
During our first Summer Family Favorites contest, we had readers vote on three different categories:
- Best Frozen Treat
- Best SC Beach
- Best Indoor Fun to Beat the Heat
For more family-friendly beach locations in the Southeast, check out this guide to The Top Beaches Located in the Southeast
1st Place: Best South Carolina Beach (Summer, 2021)
Hilton Head Island
4 hours and 15 minutes from Greenville
The picturesque seaside town of Hilton Head offers families lots to do in the way of vacation activities! It’s Kidding Around Contributor, Kristina’s favorite salty South Carolinian destination.
It’s not hard to see why Hilton Head Island was The Kidding Around Family Favorites Winner For Best South Carolina Beach! We’re sharing some of the things the coastal town of Hilton Head provides and why readers love vacationing there, so you can plan a trip to see for yourself.
Things to Do at Hilton Head
We know all about the great things to do in Hilton Head Island, but don’t take our word for it! Check out what readers had to say about some of the most popular things to do when visiting Hilton Head Island.
Make Your Mermaid Dreams Come True On This Magical Boat Tour in Hilton Head Island
We just loved the Mermaid of Hilton Head cruise – the kids were mesmerized by seeing a **real** mermaid!
Kristina HernandezTake Your Family To See Dolphins and Explore a Vanishing Island in Hilton Head
We did their tour and it was great – 2 parents, 2 Grandparents, and 4 kids and we got the boat to ourselves. The captain was so nice to all of us and we loved it.
Shawn Murphy KendrickIf you have young children, the pirates of Hilton Head is a blast! Before you board their boat that looks like a pirate ship, the kids get face paint, a pirate name, pirate attire, and they teach them how to talk like a pirate. Then on the boat, there is a store line and they are trying to find treasure in the water. A sneaky pirate comes up in a small boat who has stolen the keys and the kids get to blast him with water cannons. It’s such fun!!
Dawn Thorpe SabeanTake Your Family To Some Of Our Favorite Family-Friendly Things to Do on Hilton Head Island
Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf of Hilton Head Island is our favorite (and veteran owned) mini golf course. Coligny Plaza is a great place to shop, eat, and relax. We especially love getting ice cream from The Ice Cream Cone it is the best place to get ice cream – expect a line, so worth it! The Sandbox Children’s Museum is fun for the littles. The Crazy Crab Hilton Head is so so good! If you like crab legs, get their low country boil. It’s the only place I’ve ever been able to say that I was full from crab legs. The Salty Dog is a must! There are so many outlets to shop. HHI is our favorite beach to vacation at! You can get some really great, oceanfront condos on airbnb & VRBO
Jessica ThompsonWhere to Stay in Hilton Head
Finalists: Best South Carolina Beach (Summer, 2021)
Edisto Island
4 hours from Greenville
The Kidding Around Visitor’s Guide to Edisto Island can help you plan a family trip to this non-commercial beachfront destination. This is the perfect spot to head when you just want to listen to the sound of the waves and your kids playing in the sand to be on the itinerary.
They are one of the few beaches that are family driven and not commercialized. They also have been the least effected by erosion in the past years.
Where to stay near Edisto Beach
Surfside Beach
4 hours and 30 minutes from Greenville
Close enough to the attractions of Myrtle Beach but quiet neighborhoods to relax
This beach just minutes from Myrtle Beach is known as “the family beach”. It offers visitors several beach access points, with lifeguards and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Your next family beach trip awaits at the Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort
The Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort towers right over the beach with stunning views of the ocean out of the rooms overlooking the water. It’s closer to the South end of Myrtle Beach and 40 minutes north of Huntington Island State Park. It took us just over four hours to get there from Greenville and we never even got back in the car while at the resort until it was time to go home, since everything we did was within walking distance.
KristinaWhere to Stay Near Surfside Beach
Kiawah Island
4 hours and 15 minutes from Greenville
This island on the coast of Charleston, SC is home to one of the nation’s top-rated beaches Beachwalker Park.
There is such a relaxing atmosphere but still lots to do with the family.
It’s quiet, not crowded, and plenty of space for the kids to run around!! Also, it’s always felt very safe.
Secluded, private, upscale, and remote.
Where to Stay Near Kiawah Island
Sullivan’s Island
3 hours and 40 minutes from Greenville
This Charleston beach is not only a great place to swim but also is in close proximity to several historic sites. It’s a less crowded beach that has lots of parking.
Things to Do, Places to Eat, and More at Sullivan’s Island
Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island
Where to Stay Near Sullivan’s Island
RELATED:
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best Indoor Spot To Beat The Heat
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best Place To Get A Frozen Treat
