The Sandy Side Of The Charleston Lowcountry Experience--World Class

There are a boat load of reasons why people choose Charleston, SC as their vacation destination. For one, it's the accolades. The readers of Conde Nast Traveller have named the Holy City the top tourist destination in the U.S. three years running. That is momentous. However, the preeminent reasons that have people raving about it is its illustrious history and distinctive character. Its world class restaurant's are sumptuous. Its Lowcountry cuisine is scrumptious. Its Southern hospitality is courteous. Its antebellum charm is gracious. Its American history is glorious. This is the brick and mortar side of Charleston.

But there is more, another side to Charleston. For a cohesive aggregate, you need water and sand. And Charleston is richly blessed with an abundance of the wet and grainy stuff. The Charleston Lowcountry is beautifully framed by water soaked, sandy beaches, all of which are located on nine different barrier islands fronted by the Atlantic Ocean from Edisto to Awendaw. Some have easy access by way of bridges, some are private, and some are remote, uninhabited sanctuaries that can only be reached by boat or ferry.

Grab your beach towels, spread your blankets, place your chairs, stick your toes in the water or take a tour. Here are some of my pictures that showcase the beautiful beaches of the Charleston Lowcountry.

Edisto Beach and the Pavillion Restaurant and Lounge--Looking for a nice vacation rental on Edisto try the Sea Island Cotton Cottage.

Botany Bay Beach on Botany Island--Botany Bay Plantation Personifies The Reasons Why I Love Charleston And The Lowcountry-A Must-see

Boneyard Beach on Capers Island--A Charleston Barrier Island Tour Highly Worth A Trip To The Past

Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island--The Trials And Triumphs Of A Lowcountry Walkabout

Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier on Folly Beach--Charleston's Barrier Islands-Beautiful Beaches, Abundant Wildlife, Great Stays, And Pleasure Packed

Isle of Palms Front Beach--Charleston's Barrier Islands-Beautiful Beaches, Abundant Wildlife, Great Stays, And Pleasure Packed

Sullivan's Island near Poe's Tavern--Charleston's Barrier Islands-Beautiful Beaches, Abundant Wildlife, Great Stays, And Pleasure Packed

Edingsville Beach is located between Botany Bay Beach and Edisto Beach. It is private, but has a great story--Now Barely A Whisper In The Wind With A Ghost Of A Story, Edingsville Beach Was A Haven Of Grandeur And Extravagance

Folly Island near Morris Island Lighthouse--Five Top Places For Being Knee Deep In The Water On A Beach Somewhere In Charleston

At the present time, I do not have pictures of Bulls Island. I plan on taking the beach drop tour this spring. The island can only be reached by ferry or kayak. It is part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Preserve. If you want to learn more about Bulls Island go to Bulls Island Ferry, Charters and Kayaking. Dewees Island is private and can only be reached by ferry. You can rent homes on Dewees Island. For more information, go to Dewees Renntals. Seabrook Island is also private. For more information on rentals, go to Seabrook Island Vacation Rentals.

The Trials And Triumphs Of A Lowcountry Walkabout

Sunday, I went on a Lowcountry walkabout. The day began with plans of fishing at Bulow Landing. A friend told me about the place and shared stories of the fish he caught there. The ideal time is two hours before high tide and two hours after. I packed a couple of sandwiches, a drink, got in my truck and headed to Bees Ferry Rd and Savannah Blvd where I searched for shrimp. After trying to locate a bait place, I ended up purchasing a half-pound at the Publix off of Savannah Blvd.

Bulow Landing is a paved boat ramp on Rantowles Creek, also popular with paddlers. When I arrived, the tide was already heading out. The ideal time was missed. Despite this set back, I decided to make the most of it. I baited my hook and tossed it into the fast moving current. It moved swiftly up the creek, making it necessary for me to reel it back. I tossed it in a second time. On this attempt, it got hung up on an oyster bed. My only option was to break the line. In the process, my rod tip broke off. In this short span of time, things were not exactly working out for the best. I rebaited and tossed it in again. It started to rain. After a few more casts and somewhat wet, I packed it in and headed out back onto Savannah Blvd.

I recalled seeing a sign pointing the way to Kiawah, Seabrook and Beachwalker Park while searching for bait earlier. It was at that moment I decided to turn at recalled sign onto Main Rd and follow the gray snack to wherever it would take me.

The spotty rains had passed for the moment and the sun was shining. The first notable landmark I ventured onto was the Limehouse Bridge over the Stono River. I was tempted to make the turn to Limehouse Landing located just below the bridge to try my luck again, but I resisted and pressed on.

Main Rd became State Rd, which ended at a traffic circle where Kiawah Island Pkwy led to Beachwalker Dr and the beach access. To my dismay, parking was $8, but I made a deal with the person at the parking booth and was able to park for free. I told her I would only be there a 1/2 hour at most. From the parking area, the view of Kiawah River was beautiful. The wooden walkway to the beach was picturesque. The beach was spacious, and this should be of no surprise, excellent for beachwalking, but I wasn't there to beachwalk. I stuck my feet in the water and took pictures. On the way off the beach, I stepped on some nasty beach prickers while trying to get one more good shot of the river. Ouch. I exited with a wave of thanks to the booth attendant. Next stop, Freshfields Village.

The Village is an eclectic island oasis of shops and restaurants located at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Island. There are 500 large trees, including over 200 palm trees adorning its streets and landscape. All of the trees were transplanted from the Coastal Islands. It has a man-made lagoon stocked with two alligators considered village "mascots". At present, The Andell Inn is under construction and slated to open early 2014. The hotel will have 100 rooms starting at $250 a night. I just might consider a stay during its grand opening.

Driving back from Kiawah, cruising in and out of the broadening shadows of the old live oaks lining the road, I made a quick stop at Angel Oak. While I was taking pictures, a young man standing nearby in awe of the sprawling tree summed it up when he said, "I have never seen anything like it." Angel Oak looks like a giant octopus covering 17,200 square feet of real estate and from tip to tip its longest branch is 187 ft. At 500 yrs young, it has survived hurricanes, civil war and everything else the Lowcountry has been able to throw at it.

On the road again, I finally did make the turn to Limehouse Landing. I fished with an watchful eye on the horizon. Dark clouds relentlessly moved in from the southwest with lightning and the threat of heavy rains. No luck fishing. It was 5:30 pm. It was the end to my triumphant Lowcountry walkabout.

PGA Week In Charleston-The Number One Destination Showcasing Its Attraction

Kiawah Island Ocean Course

The rains have been descending upon the Lowcountry these early August days like a swarm of mosquitoes descending on a spottail fisherman in the backwaters of Gray Bay. Dodging the raindrops running from one destination to the next and arriving in dry clothing has become a challenge. There seems to be a definite daily pattern taking hold. The day begins sunny, the clouds build as the morning progresses, by afternoon the rains pour down, and in the evening the skies clear out. It's mid-summer in the Lowcountry. High humidity equates into precipitation as the heat of the day builds in an unstable atmosphere and voila(pardon my French), you get rain. How's that for a weather analogy Al Rocker.

The PGA's top golfers have been likewise descending upon the Lowcountry these early August days, by air and by sea. Walking from hole to hole with the least amount of strokes will be their challenge starting on the 9th. The extended forecast is calling for the possibility of rain and wind for the entire tournament. The Ocean Course already has a reputation for being dominated by fickled breezes. The capricious winds will show no favorites and figures to play a significant role in being a spoiler. Arriving at the 501 yard, 18th hole on par with dry clothing will be an added challenge for the golfers. An anticipated 200,000 hearty spectators will swamp the course through the week, but the Sunday crowd will see the final putt of the tournament. Drive for show, putt for dough. Will it be won by a Bubba Watson miracle shot or a Tiger Woods off the green chip in. One thing is for sure, Tiger will be feasting on Charleston's oysters, Casanova's favorite aphrodisiac. Come on, play fair.

Just for fun

You can bet a bucket of oysters all those spectators will be spending some money while they're in town. The PGA and the College of Charleston Office of Tourism Analysis forecasts that the championship will generate a downpour of some $193 million for South Carolina. Charleston will be close to all the action. Its renowned restaurants will be cooking up a storm of their own as they cater to the thousands of expected visitors here for the tournament. Some of the featured restaurants during PGA week are Bowens Island, Melvins, Slightly North of Broad, Fig, Husk, Red Drum, Charleston Grill, Martha Lou's, Red's Ice House, and Hominy Grill. Beautiful accommodations, informative historic tours, and a lively nighttime scene is all a part of the package.

Since it is PGA tournament time in Charleston, the area golf courses will be benefiting from all of the hype it generates. After watching the pros, the amateur golfers in the Lowcountry will be wanting to test out their own skills. At least, that is the way it is for me after watching any sporting event. Historic Charleston is surrounded by courses of exceptional variety from breathtaking coastal terrains to tree-lined forest fairways. As already mentioned earlier in this article, the Kiawah Island Golf Resorts Ocean Course is one of those courses.

View Larger Map The Ocean Course is located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah island and boasts more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere-10 in all. The raised golf course has unobstructed views of Kiawah’s beautiful Atlantic coastline from every hole. It is no stranger to notoriety. It hosted the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 PGA Tournament, now underway, is the first of golf's four majors to be played in South Carolina. If you are interested in golf packages, visit Kiawah Island Golf Resort's web page. You can stay at the beautiful Sanctuary Hotel. For a complete list of all the packages the resort offers go to Kiawah Vacation Packages. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort has four additional courses.

Five other courses featured this week are Patriots Point Links, The Plantation Club at Edisto Island, Wild Dunes Resort, Charleston National and Crowfield Country Club. All have PGA specials. Patriot Point Links is in the heart of Mount Pleasant with holes overlooking Charleston Harbor and nestled in the shadows of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. The Plantation Club at Edisto Island is offering a charter bus with express access to The Ocean Course and on-board refreshments each day for its guests. The Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms will have a 19th Hole with extra TVs and streaming video on laptops, so if you want to play and then watch the PGA every day, they have that setup all day long. The Charleston National signed up with the PGA to offer a special, where if you bring your PGA Championship ticket or show it on your phone, you get a 10 percent discount. Crowfield Country Club will offer green fees at $40 before noon, $30 after Monday-Friday, and just $5 more on weekends. Seniors can get a $29 rate all day weekdays.

This week an estimated 500 million people in 200 countries will view the tournament on television. The Lowcountry scenery will leave a lasting impression on those visiting as well as everyone watching from afar. Come and see for yourself. Once you come here, you just might want to stay, I did.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort

NASA says, "Don't Worry"-So Charleston Be Happy And Let's Golf

The fireworks have been exploded, the bottles of bubbly have been popped, and the resolutions have been made. Out with the old and in with the new, 2011 has run its course and it is now 2012 according to our Gregorian calendar. A leap year, an election year, a year of unknowns yet to be written, and the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar. We all know what a leap year is and we are mercilessly reminded of the coming election daily, but what is the Mayan Long Count calendar? For those who don't know, it consists of a 144,000 day cycle of which there have been a total of 12 thus far and the 13th will end this year, totaling almost 5,200 years in the Mayan cycle of creation. Still don't understand it, don't fret, it's of little consequence.

Much has been said about the Mayan calendar and much speculation as to what it means ranging from the preposterous to the ridiculous. Some fear and believe since the calendar is ending, the world will end with it. So, if the doomsdayers are to have their way you will need to keep your eyes on the skies. There is one belief a planet called Nibiru is going to collide with earth. Other scenarios include cosmic alignments, solar storms, a flip-flopping Earth, and other cosmic impacts the likes of which was depicted in the movie "Armageddon."

The last real world catastrophe recorded for posterity, according to Biblical chronology in 2370 B.C.E., was the Deluge, but the rainbow's appearance from time to time is God's assurance to all living things a world flood would never happen again. Why should the animals suffer because of man's failures. Besides, there is always the rapture, but I am not going there. People already had a field day on that one in the spring of this past year, which then became October, and nobody flew the coop.

NASA has assured us that nothing out of the ordinary is going to happen December 21, 2012 other than the winter soltice. Now, does that give you a warm fuzzy feeling and calm your fears? With the countries budget crisis moving into 2012, can NASA even assure us they will still be around after all is said and done? My theory on the whole matter of the Mayan calendar is the Mayan's never got a chance to carve out the next calendar because their civilization went extinct. So, there you have it.

Today, January 2, 2012, the sun is shining upon Charleston in more ways than one. "If you build it they will come." Charleston has built a superior reputation for being the most hospitable and appealing city in the country, at least with the folks at Conde Nast Traveler. It was voted the number place of choice to visit going into 2012. The top events are already set in place on the calendar.

This August 9-12 the strongest field in major championship golf will descend upon the Charleston area for the 94th PGA Championship. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the championship with its famed Ocean Course center stage. The 2012 Championship has seen the most successful presale in PGA history, which is both a testament to the popularity of golf in South Carolina and the level of excitement people have throughout the state. It is estimated the 2012 PGA Championship will bring more than 50,000 visitors to South Carolina with an economic impact of more than $92 million.

If you would like to purchase grounds tickets there are some available for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so purchase them now here. If you would like to volunteer there are a limited amount of positions left, 75 per cent have already been filled, volunteer here.

I am going to make a prediction. When December of this year finally does arrive, that is if the world doesn't end before then, there will more than likely be a slew of Mayan calendar doomsday parties. After all, it tis the season to be jolly. Wow, just imagine, if the Earth should flip-flop that means the North Pole will become the South Pole and vica versa. We would then be in the Southern Hemisphere. Well, it's all relative anyway.

Charleston's Golf Courses Are High On The List For Golf Destinations

Mark Twain once said, "Golf is a good walk spoiled." Now, I don't know if Twain ever golfed, and it appears he had or he wouldn't have said this, he must have set his expectations too high to arrive at this negative conclusion because another quote recalls it this way, "A bad day of golf is better than a good day at work." Twain was a rather cynical man and he knew how to turn a humorous phrase.

Golf can be rather comical. On one hand, you can have a big strappin' guy taking his wacks at that tiny white ball sending it 300 yards in all different directions, and on the other hand, a little old lady methodically hitting the ball a little distance at a time up the fairway. More times than not she will arrive at the green with less strokes and more balls. I'm being somewhat facetious.

Here is another quote you hear me often repeat, "You drive for show, you putt for dough." Finally, this quote is rather Mark Twainish, but not of his making, "Golf is a poor mans simple pleasure and a rich mans aggrevation." You have to think a bit on that one.

Some of the top destinations for golf in North America according to golf.com are right here in the Southeast. Topping off the list are places like Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Ocean City, and Pinehurst. Golf courses in Myrtle Beach are as numerous as the Northeners who visit the Grand Strand. The area is home to more than 100 courses. If you are looking for a challenge the five toughest courses are Barefoot Golf Resort (Dye Course), Rivers Edge Golf Club, Pawleys Plantation, Dunes Golf and Beach Club, and Grande Dunes (Resort Course).

Orlando has been voted "North American Golf Destination of the Year 2010" by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. It has over 75 courses to choose from. Ginn Reunion Resort, Florida designed by such legends as Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus is located just minutes away from Walt Disney World Resort and the Orlando International Airport.

Golf Digest readers named Hilton Head Island No. 10 on its list of the world's best golf resorts. If you are looking for a specific category such as most challenging, most scenic, and most player-friendly Hilton Head has it. Other notables near Hilton Head are The Melrose Course at Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa, a championship Jack Nicklaus “signature” layout and Bloody Point Course at Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa’s.

One of the top courses in the country is right here in our own backyard. Readers of Golf World Magazine voted Kiawah Island Golf Resort "#1 Resort in the U.S." where Kiawah Island Resort (Ocean Course) is located. Also was ranked No. 4 in the Top 100 list on golf.com and notibly home of the 2007 Senior PGA. Golf enthusiasts of Charleston are happy to know August, 2012 the 94th PGA Championship will be held at the Ocean Course. Another top Charleston area course is Wild Dunes Links Course consistently ranked by Golf Digest and Golf magazine as one of "America’s Top 100." Patriots Point Links right on Charleston Harbor offers spectacular views of the city and Fort Sumter. Coosaw Creek Country Club accolades include a "Must Play" by Golf Magazine, and a "4 Stars" from Golf Digest. These are just a few of what Charleston offers to the golfer.

So, the only thing a golfer needs is more daylight, and money. In closing, maybe you will appreciate this observation- The difference in golf and government is that in golf you can't improve your lie. A travel note of significance- Southwest Airlines will start serving Charleston on March 13th. Now there are seven new direct flights to CHS. Remember golf bags fly free! Get out and golf.

Kiawah Island at its Best-The Sanctuary

The setting is truly extraordinary. The Sanctuary is just 50 yards from the beautiful Kiawah Beach. The natural surroundings are both exclusive and private, in fact you can see the waves of the ocean from almost everywhere in the hotel including the 2 dining rooms, both bars, The Grand Lobby, and even the beautiful pools, which are only steps from the beach. The Sanctuary offers 255 spacious rooms and suites, including the 3000 square foot Presidential Suite. The resorts king rooms are among the largest on the East Coast. If you are looking for a weekend getaway, a luxury spa indulgence or championship golf outing, it’s just a short drive. The Sanctuary was awarded the Mobil Five Star Award #1 U.S. resort hotel by Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report and #1 family resort in U.S. and Canada by Travel+Leisure Family. Kayaking, bicycles, and miles of trails are available to explore. Enjoy Tennis or golf at the Ocean Course, which offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean from all 18 holes. Named "#1 Golf Course in South Carolina" by Golf Digest. Information brought to you by Vacation Rick Travel.
Some area attractions:

• Fort Sumter 35 mi
• Historic Charleston 21 mi
• Middleton Place 25 mi
• North Charleston Coliseum 35mi
• Patriots Point 40 mi
• South Carolina Aquarium 25 mi