Kiawah is a beautiful island that holds a very special place in both of our hearts. We love the abounding nature of the island's marshland and beaches. In addition to the birds, fish, and other island wildlife, Kiawah has world class golf and great facilities to enjoy the outdoors. We think Kiawah has a little something for everyone and are so excited to share one of our favorite places with all of you!

Kiawah is a nature reserve home to a number of incredible bird species in addition to being a migratory destination. We love to walk the beaches and marshes to see the egrets, pelicans, herons, piping plovers, and other birds that grace the skies. Be mindful of the marshes, as hundreds of alligators also call Kiawah home. One of the best ways to enjoy the Kiawah River is taking a kayak through the marshes. We recommend kayaking at both high tide and low tide to see how the island transforms every day! We also love fishing through an arranged fishing charter or boat excursion for longer trips on the Kiawah River and coastal waterways. The Resort has a full list of activities available for guests on the island. Look at the Daily Activities section of the Resort website for specific offerings, but be sure to plan ahead and make reservations as activities book up quickly.

Kiawah is home to many amazing golf courses. We suggest getting in a round if you have time. It’s important to reserve tee times in advance as they book quickly. Courses include: The Ocean Course (home of the 2021 PGA Championship), Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Cougar Point, and Oak Point.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort (kiawahresort.com)

Kiawah's beach is incredible and has a number of public access points across the island. If you want to reserve chairs or umbrellas for a day, you can contact Island Services and they will set them up at the nearest beach access point to your villa with your name on them. When you’re are done you can just leave them and they’ll collect them at the end of the day.

Kiawah is an amazing place to bike and is one of the best ways to get around the island as parking can be limited near beach access points. Kiawah offers bike paths around the island and biking on the beach is a great way to do some sightseeing. Below are a few rental options to rent in advance of your stay. If you are staying at the Sanctuary, bikes will be made available to you through the hotel. If you are renting a home or villa, rental bikes can be delivered to your location from the Kiawah Resort (kiawahresort.com/recreation/bike-rentals/), Island Bike and Surf Shop (islandbikeandsurf.com), or Seacoast Sports (seacoastsports.com).

Home and villa rentals on the island typically have fully equipped kitchens and we highly recommend guests stock some groceries at Freshfields Village to make dining more flexible during your stay.

There are great restaurants all throughout Kiawah Island. Each golf clubhouse on the island offers different dining options including Modern American, Italian, and Barbeque. A notable destination is the Ryder Cup Bar at the Ocean Course clubhouse. This is a great place to grab a drink or light snack and soak in the gorgeous views on the veranda or back green, particularly if you enjoy watching the sunset from the 19th hole.

Freshfields Village, which is just outside the front gate, has great coffee, lunch, and dinner options.

Johns Island also has great dining options for a slightly further drive. Our favorites are Low Tide Brewing, The Royal Tern, Wild Olive, and Lost Isle.

The Nest Market on Kiawah offers coffee, food, and upscale convenience store items.

165 Village Green Lane

Kiawah Island, SC 29455

(843) 768-6491

Freshfields is the closest town center to Kiawah and is located just outside the Kiawah main gate. Freshfields has all the necessities you may need while staying on the island including restaurants, a wine bar, grocery store, wine & liquor stores, nail salon, and some great shops. Freshfields website has a detailed list of all restaurants, shops, and salons.