A Guide to Kiawah Island
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Good to Know…
Language: English, with a pleasant Southern accent.
Currency: US Dollar
Plugs: Type A and Type B are both used. The standard voltage is 120 V at a frequency of 60 Hz.
Recommended Health Precautions: The tap water is safe to drink… however, I personally found the water to be extra salty, so have some bottled or filtered water on hand! Wear bug repellent as mosquitos and other bugs can be rampant here!
Recommended Vaccines Other than Routine Vaccines: As with travel to most other countries, Hepatitis A & B are recommended.
Getting Around: Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Public transportation such as taxis and Uber are available.
Why Kiawah Island?
I love the beach. I love beaches of all kinds, and no matter where they are located! That being said, sometimes it is nice to find a beach that is a little more quiet. Peaceful. Less crowded… or not crowded at all! Kiawah Island Beachwalker Park checked all the boxes for me. Add family-friendly and convenient to that list! And Kiawah Island itself? Gorgeous and with plenty of things to do, it was a dream for me! My family loved it too. What more could I ask for?
Where to Stay on Kiawah Island
It can be a little overwhelming when you first start trying to decide where to stay on Kiawah Island. Kiawah is divided up into multiple gated communities, and you may have to present your gate pass to two or three gate attendees on your way to your vacation rental. This means you are in a VERY safe environment though! More on that later. The first question you need to be asking yourself is: Do I want to stay on the beach or the marsh? Or both? The second question you need to ask yourself is: Do I want to stay at a resort with amenities or do I want to stay in a detached vacation rental?
The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island
The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island is a luxury beachfront and golf resort. It has all the amenities for adults and children alike, including multiple restaurants, bars, cafes, and an ice cream parlor. An oyster roast and BBQ is held on the premises weekly during the summer as well. If you have children, love to golf, or just need a bit of luxury, the Sanctuary is a no-brainer for your stay on Kiawah Island!
If I had to choose the most family-friendly place to stay on Kiawah Island, it would be Night Heron Park. Night Heron Park is– you guessed it– a park! This area of Kiawah mostly consists of villas and detached vacation rentals. Within the park are the Kiawah Island Nature Center, miles of bike trails, a pool, a disc golf course, a playground, and a fitness center. Kiawah Beachwalker Park is not too far down the road, and Freshfields Village is a short drive away.
Another place to find Kiawah Island vacation homes and villas is through VRBO, which is how I usually find what I’m looking for! I recently stayed in this lovely home on the marsh, and it was amazing!
Where to Eat on Kiawah Island
Jasmine Porch at the Sanctuary
One of the many restaurants on the premises of The Sanctuary, and one of the best! For that delicious, class Lowcountry cuisine, this is the place to be. The restaurant has a beautiful oceanview and a classy vibe to boot, so this would be a great option for a date night!
The Ocean Room
The Ocean Room is also on the premises of The Sanctuary. It has an oceanview as well, and a similar vibe to Jasmine Porch, but offers elegant steakhouse cuisine that any meat lover will appreciate!
The Atlantic Room
ALSO offering an oceanview, I could also compare the Atlantic Room’s vibe to Jasmine Porch and the Ocean Room (must be a Kiawah thing), but residing on the premises of Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The Atlantic Room offers a more varied and fresh spin on American cuisine (so definitely a variety then) and an amazing wine collection.
Cafe Eugenia
Cafe Eugenia is a lovely breakfast and brunch spot, conveniently located in Freshfields Village. It is the perfect place to fuel up for a full day of shopping, or to grab a quick sweet treat to keep you moving.
Hege’s
Located in Freshfields Village, Hege’s is a classy restaurant offering dinner only. I wanted to share the description that the restaurant used to describe themselves because it is just clever, and I loved it! “This restaurant presents French cooking without pretension in a homey, curtain-framed dining room.” So if you are a fan of the French bistro, but could do without all the pretension, then this is the place for you!
Java Java Cafe
Another great breakfast place in the middle of Freshfields Village is Java Java. I did not get to eat here, but the reason I am including it here is because I tried to eat here multiple times and they were always so busy and the lines were so long… every time! So it must be that good, huh?? They offer a variety of breakfast favorites, sandwiches (including egg salad which is awesome), paninis, salads, and a great line-up of coffee drinks. Hopefully one day I’ll get to try it, and maybe you can too!
The Co-Op
When one door closes, another door opens. One great thing about not getting into Java Java was being able to try the Co-Op, another wonderful sandwich and coffee shop. Breakfast was so delicious, and I loved the cute flamingo theme. They also make a wonderful frosé here.
What to Do on Kiawah Island
There are many reasons to come to Kiawah Island, and a lot of times people are just looking for some peace and quiet. Kiawah is the perfect place to achieve this, whether you spend your time on the beach or the marsh. Kiawah is also SAFE! It is incredibly gated, and you must have a pass for access. It is the only place that I have been to recently that I would feel safe letting my child run free and rampant… in the dark! Safe, quiet, peaceful, and wholesome.That’s not to say that there isn’t anything to do though!
The ultimate (and only) place to shop on Kiawah Island. Featuring a variety of clothing, gift, and home decor shops, you could shop for hours in this cute, classic village. There is also a dentist, a veterinarian, the cutest post office, salons, spas, dry cleaners, book store, and many restaurants! It honestly seems like a place straight out of a Hallmark Channel movie, but also provides familiar spaces such as Palmetto Moon and Vineyard Vines. Also, as a side note, the only grocery store on Kiawah, Harris Teeter, is located in Freshfields Village.
Day Trip to Charleston
Kiawah Island is about 35 minutes away from Charleston. This makes it a great day trip from Kiawah. Charleston is a gorgeous city and ties with Savannah, GA as my favorite city in America. There is so much to do and see in Charleston, and the fact that it has become one of the top foodie destinations in the world makes it all worthwhile!
Marvel at the Angel Oak Tree
About 20 minutes away from Kiawah Island on John’s Island is the magnificent Angel Oak Tree. You may be wondering why you would want to drive 20 minutes to see a tree? This is not any ordinary tree. The Angel Oak is over 60ft tall (and still growing) and 400-500 years old. If you aren’t impressed with that, then know that its longest branch spans 187 ft in length. That’s longer than a commercial airplane! The branches are so long that some of them have to be supported by a combination of poles, anchors, and wires. It is absolutely beautiful and majestic to see in person. A must see!
Kayak at Mingo Point
There are many options for kayaking on Kiawah Island, but the most popular would be from Mingo Point. You can kayak the Kiawah River, witness dolphin strand feeding at Captain Sam’s Inlet, or explore neighboring Seabrook Island a little more. When it’s all said and done, enjoy the oysters and BBQ at Mingo Point.
Golf
If you are an avid golfer, then Kiawah Island will be a dream for you! Kiawah Island is home to many golf courses, seven of which are award-winning. You will 100% want to stay at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, from which you can access five of these award-winning golf courses.
Beach
Kiawah Island has ten miles of beautiful, unspoiled, and uncrowded beach. Every day that I’ve gone to the beach here, there have been very few other people around, even when you enter from the main entrance to Kiawah Beachwalker Park. You can enter the beach via private access from your vacation rental, or via public access through Kiawah Beachwalker Park. You can also bike to many beach entrance points along the biking trails. Kiawah Beachwalker Park is very convenient in that it provides bathrooms, changing rooms, rinsing stations (for humans and dogs), and picnic areas. The beaches on Kiawah are also dog-friendly, so be sure to bring your favorite buddy along!
Bike
So far, Kiawah Island has been my favorite place for biking! With 30 miles of bike trails that wind amongst marshes, golf courses, and beautiful neighborhoods lined with live oak trees, it truly feels like you’re riding through a different country. I’ve seen so much wildlife on my rides, including alligators (in the water only, no worries)! The ride will be peaceful, and you won’t run out of new areas to explore. There are a few options for bike rentals on Kiawah, but I can personally recommend Seaside Cycles.
