Everybody knows that Beaufort’s sea islands are the best and Southern Living magazine wants to be sure that absolutely everybody knows that Fripp Island is near the top of the list; so much that the popular magazine has put the gorgeous 3.5 mile land mass at the very end of U.S. Highway 21 on a short list of Prettiest Beach Towns in Every Southern State.
Of course South Carolina is home to some of the country’s most absolutely stunning beachfront towns, from under-the-radar beaches to small towns perfect for a summer vacation. With so many beaches dotting our coast, there is no shortage of beautiful places to relax and unwind in the sun.
But, Fripp Island certainly stands out.
“Only three and a half miles long and about a half-mile wide, Fripp Island is a sanctuary worth seeing,” Southern Living said.
“Located just 25 minutes from Beaufort, South Carolina, here you’ll find the perfect place to put your towel down on laidback beaches, only leaving to visit a handful of restaurants or do something sporty like tennis, golf, or boating.”
And, Southern Living pointed to some of the wildlife on Fripp as well. “You’ll also find a popular trail maintained by the Audubon Club that not only gives great views of land and water wildlife, but of more than 175 bird species.”
Being on a list like this is a BIG deal. Not just because it’s Southern Living, but because of the company that Fripp Island is keeping among the other “prettiest” spots chosen by the magazine.
In being one of the prettiest, Fripp Island is right up there with St. Augustine and Anna Maria Island in Florida, St. Simons and Tybee in Georgia, and Sullivan’s Island here in S.C.
That’s some pretty impressive company.
A few hundred years removed from its history of marauding pirates, Fripp is a wonderful spot to take a family trip any time of the year. With its beautiful beaches, creeks and maritime forest, it’s a spot that many want to spend time in. Including the year round residents of the island, thousands live on island time in over 1,500 homes & villas at the height of the summer vacation season, and the island’s popularity runs very high.
Another part of the appeal of Fripp is the abundance of nature on the island.
Fripp is home to beautiful tropical foliage, a thriving population of gators, friendly deer, sea turtles, and like Southern Living pointed out, home to all those different bird species.
In fact, Fripp Island holds the distinction of being both a National Wildlife Federation Certified Community Wildlife Habitat and also an Audubon Important Area. It was only the 68th spot in the country to earn the distinction from the NWF.
See more about Fripp Island here, and check out a few Fripp vacation rentals while you’re at it.
