Hardwood Flooring in Folly Beach, SC

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Beach season is still in full force, and you don't have to go to California or Florida or put your passport to use in Cancun to enjoy an awesome beach vacation.

Florida seems to steal most of the glory in the South, with Gulf Shores not far behind, but there are more southern coastal destinations well worth a visit.

One of those being South Carolina.

While the historic, charming city of Charleston has become one of the trendiest getaways in the nation, it's the state's beaches that travelers are raving about this summer.

According to Southern Living, these are the top 6 beaches in South Carolina. Plus, stick around to the end to the end for a bonus #7, our editor's top pick!

Edisto Island is a barrier island nearly 40 miles from Charleston.

Definitely not a household name, locals have begun to shine a light on this beautiful beach for its raw, untouched appeal.

Away from the hustle and bustle of more popular beaches, Edisto is perfect for a relaxing getaway for all ages and even includes multiple golf courses.

Go camping, hiking, biking, or lounging in the summer sun away from the crowds.

Many visitors love spending an extended time on the island's State Park by booking a cozy cabin with rates beginning at $185 in August.

One of the bigger names in South Carolina, Hilton Head sees its fair share of crowds, unlike Edisto.

Offering more of what you'd expect from a popular beach town, such as trendy shops, restaurants, and prime hotel real estate along the scenic beachfront, there's never a dull moment on Hilton Head Island.

Not only does this lovely island have 12 miles of beaches, the area is surrounded by waterways made for exploring.

Rent a kayak, take a boat tour, or even go dolphin-watching. Check out picturesque Harbour Town to tick off all these boxes.

Of course, beaches are the main draw at the end of the day. Most tourists agree Coligny Beach is the place to be with ‘beautiful sand dunes' and ‘beautiful views'.

Maybe not a recognized nation, but Isle of Palms is still a local's favorite retreat despite being relatively popular since the 1970's, with classic resorts standing the test of time like Wild Dunes.

Adding to the allure, it's super easy to access as it's only 30 minutes from Charleston.

Sandwiched between the vast Atlantic and the South's standard marshlands, the setting couldn't be prettier.

If there's one thing to know about visiting the Isle of Palms, it's to be prepared to stay put.

The barrier island is only 7 miles long and 1 mile wide, perfect for lovely strolls along the beach.

There's famous Myrtle Beach…and then there's North Myrtle Beach, a whole different world according to vacationers.

In fact, they are 30 minutes apart, technically. North Myrtle offers less razzmatazz for those who prefer similar amenities without the ‘touristy' vibes.

You know, like a giant Ferris wheel on the beach and Ripley's Believe It or Not “museums”. Myrtle Beach isn't known for being outrageously expensive, but North Myrtle tends to offer even more savings across the board.

Check out popular Barefoot Landing for the best eats, shopping and family-friendly fun such as live music.

Kiawah Island is an outdoor lover's dream. Set between the scenic Kiawah River and gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean, visitors have their choice on how to spend their time in nature.

Most choose to hit the sand at Beachwalker Park, the only public beach access here, but the area's 30 miles of convenient biking and hiking trails are second best weaving through South Carolina's beautiful ecosystems.

That is if you choose to leave the posh digs of the immaculate beachfront hotel, The Sanctuary.

Best of all, Kiawah is secluded, unlike, say, Myrtle Beach, where there is virtually no privacy.

Tip: there are only 150 parking spaces that usually fill up in summer months by 10:30am

One of the closest beaches to Charleston is also the best! Taking the #1 spot, this pretty beach just 12 miles away.

Locals have dubbed this beach “the edge of America”, which doesn't quite add up considering it neighbors Kiawah Island, but hey, we'll go with it.

The only thing edgy about it may be the cash-only dive bars. Here, nobody takes themselves too seriously, which is why locals love this place to escape the 9-5 grind with epic surf spots and cozy stays like Regatta Inn, perched waterfront with stunning coastal views.

Hello dear readers! Tyler here, Managing Editor and Travel Off Path's #1 reader ????.

I couldn't let this list come out without raving about another incredible beach in South Carolina, because I literally just left!

The picture above was taken just three days ago at my favorite destination in South Carolina – Fripp Island. (And so was the first photo of the article)

I have been going to Fripp Island every year for about 6 years and will keep going back for many years to come. I always recommend it to family and friends.

Here are some of the things I love most:

I look forward to this trip every single year and can't recommend checking it out enough! If you ever want some tips, always feel free to reach out to me here or on Instagram.

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - Folly Beach hosted its longest-running annual festival over the weekend.

The 33rd Annual Sea and Sand Festival brought hundreds of community members and tourists to the island, ending the weekend with a sand-building contest.

Kathy Hickie, a frequent visitor of Folly and the Sea and Sand Festival, said she loves seeing the contestants with their plans.

“The fact that some people come and, obviously, they come with an idea in mind of what they’re going to make,” she said.

Hickie said she and her husband have been coming to the festival for the last four years or so all the way from Tennessee. She said even though they’ve been several times, this is their first year staying for the sand sculpture portion.

Hickie said she loves seeing the process of each person’s idea. As for the team who won, Jeep Sealife ended up winning best overall.

“There was a fella there with his phone, and he kept checking it as he was working on his castle, so he had an idea. And this mermaid here right next to us, they’ve thought about it—how to use the dry sand, how to use the wet sand. And, you just don’t see that everywhere,” Hickie said.

However, that’s not always the case with all contestants, including Laney Willis.

“And we’re going to do this, and as you can see we’re using pickleball paddles to help us dig it out, so we’re a little under-prepared compared to everybody else,” Willis said.

As their team lead, Willis said they didn’t necessarily plan for their sand boat to be this size. She also said she originally signed up more so as a joke but was happy by the end of it.

“We kind of thought there was going to be more people sculpting for fun and not kind of experienced like the Jeep people,” Willis continued.

The Jeep Sealife team ended up taking home best overall, but Willis said they’re still glad they participated and look forward to next year’s festival.

Best friends Riley Waites and Liliana Elek were among the hundreds of spectators of the sand sculptures.

“I think it’s just so cool because they’re putting all their hard work into this and it’s just cool to see them making it,” Elek said.

They said seeing everyone’s creativity was their favorite part of the day and hope to do it in years to come with this kind of turnout.

One of the judges, Vanessa Oltmann, said a big reason why it was so crowded today was because she used social media hoping it would bring in some more attention.

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