October Beach of the Month: South Carolina's Low Country

South Carolina's Low Country includes the towns of Beaufort, Bluffton, Walterboro, Ridgeland and the Sea Islands, Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island and Edisto Beach.(Some lists include Charleston, also) It's a treasure trove of beauty. It 's beaches, marshland, low country cuisine, history and trees dripping with Spanish Moss. It's the home to Marines at Parris Island, the backdrop for movies such as Forrest Gump and The Prince of Tides and festivals in every month of every kind. And it's where I put my toes in the sand for my Beach of the Month for October.

Beaches
Hunting Island State Park

There are beaches in the Low Country at places like Hilton Head, Edisto, St Helena Island, and the private Harbour Island. I put my toes in the sand at Hunting Island State Park - a 5000 acre semi-tropical barrier island 15 miles from Beaufort. It holds the honor of being the most visited state park in South Carolina - and with good reason. There are 5 miles of pristine beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and forest, a lighthouse, camping and a nature trail. And of the 20 years I've lived in the Southeast, I'd never visited Hunting Island. Wow - was I missing out. I visited on a sunny fall day and immediately fell in love with the tropical feel of the beach. Simply stunning and not crowded, I could foresee a visit for a full beach day. I'll be back.

Where to Stay
Palmetto Bluff - Bluffton
A luxurious collection of rooms, suites, cottages and vacation homes, along the May River in Bluffton, Palmetto Bluff is a 20,000 acre community with golfing, a marina, restaurants,walking trail and a nature reserve. The place to stay if you want luxury and to spend the big bucks.

The Rhett House Inn in Beaufort
4 Star Bed and Breakfast in an historic low country antebellum mansion in Beaufort with antique decor. THE place to stay in Beaufort.

Greyhound Flats in Beaufort
An annex of the popular Beaufort Inn a few blocks from the water in an old Greyhound Station. Free breakfast, wifi and parking. Your choice if you prefer a more contemporary vibe.

There are also your usual chain hotels - Holiday Inn, Hampton and Choice Hotels along with Air BnB and Vrbo.com



What to Do
Take a Tour
Go on a tour - horse drawn buggy, kayak, or boat tours are available in Beaufort and the surrounding area. I took a buggy ride through the historic district of Beaufort learning about not only the history of the city but also some of the celebrity residents who have lived there.

Shopping
Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head all offer plenty of shopping including boutiques, home stores and souvenir shops that are locally owned. Try the Chocolate Tree in Beaufort if you'd like some delicious chocolate that Tom Hanks likes.

Port Royal Observation Tower and Boardwalk
Take a walk along the Port Royal boardwalk and then climb the observation tower to get a view of the surrounding marshland and intracoastal waterway. You can even try your hand at fishing or crabbing while you're there.

Visit a Festival
There's gajillions of festivals in the Lowcountry. I happened upon the Bluffton Oyster Festival and Art Walk with live music, open art galleries and booths selling crafts and art. You can attend Water or Shrimp Festivals in Beaufort, or a Beach Music and Shag Festival on Edisto Island

Visit Historic Sites
Freedman's Cottage in Bluffton
Guided tours are available of the Garvin-Garvey Freedman's Cottage in Bluffton on Tuesdays & Thursdays. (Cyrus Garvin, a Freedman, built this cottage on the May River and 54 acres after being freed from slavery)

The Old Sheldon Church Ruins 
The Old Sheldon Church Ruins is an historic site of Prince William's Parish Church built between 1745 and 1753. Prince William's was supposedly burned by the British in 1779 during the Revolutionary War and later rebuilt only to be burned again in 1865 by Sherman in the Civil War. Today the property is owned and maintained by St. Helena's Church in Beaufort but visits are allowed along as you treat the property according to the rules posted. Popular as a photo site - there were family photos being taken when I was there - this is a very, very cool place to awash yourself in history. Be warned: bring bug spray - they're pretty fierce here.

Where to Eat
Plum's in Beaufort
A  very popular seafood and American eats restaurant right on the water in downtown Beaufort.

She Crab Soup

Panini's on the Waterfront in Beaufort
Panini's is in the historic bank building in Beaufort on the water with patio dining and serving Italian cuisine including brick oven pizzas.

Captain Woody's in Bluffton
Built of scrapped wood from old buildings ( and an old church door from Pennsylvania), Captain Woody's in Bluffton has screened porch and rooftop dining while their Hilton Head location has an outdoor deck. Sandwiches, salads, and seafood served along with weekend brunch.

The Bluffton Oyster Company
A restaurant and seafood company, Bluffton Oyster Company sells fresh local oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, fish and crabs out of their historic building in Bluffton, caters and serves dinner at their Toomer Family Seafood House. 

Oyster Shell walkway

How about you? Have you been to the South Carolina Low Country?

Linking up with: Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global, The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party, The Weekly Postcard at California Globetrotter and Sharon's Souvenirs!