Southern Living magazine fired off its readers’ poll list of Best Island in South Carolina this month, and, unsurprisingly, four of the ten spots on it are taken by islands here in Beaufort County. Two in the northern end of the county, and two in the southern end.
“With 34 barrier and tidal islands peppering its shoreline (more than any other state except for Florida), South Carolina spills over with natural wonders, beautiful beaches, and unique destinations to explore,” SL said. “In our 2024 South’s Best awards, readers voted on some of the very best of them. Here are the best islands in South Carolina, according to our readers.”
Hilton Head came in at #1 on the list, and it’s no big mystery that folks from all over love it there. #7 on the list was our amazing Hunting Island, and we’re quite surprised that it listed as low as #7, but we’re very proud of our local slice of exotic paradise nonetheless.
Daufuskie Island came in at #8, beating out Fripp Island that appeared at #9 on the list.
What Southern Living said:
“With 12 miles of public beaches, more than 24 championship golf courses, and around 250 restaurants, Hilton Head‘s numerical stats alone prove why it’s one of the state’s most beloved islands. But the real magic, of course, belongs to its community—a mix of transplants and born-and-breds who are sure to make you feel right at home, whether you’re sampling local oysters at Hudson’s on the Docks or watching the boats come in at Shelter Cove Marina.”
“Just a 25-minute drive from downtown Beaufort, explore the seaside charmer’s wilder side at Hunting Island State Park (South Carolina’s most popular state park). Here, five miles of unspoiled beaches unfurl along the Atlantic and sandy trails wind through dense maritime forest.”
“As the crow flies, the southernmost of South Carolina’s barrier islands is just miles from Savannah and Hilton Head, but it might as well be worlds away. Daufuskie is accessible only by boat, which is likely one of the reasons its 500 or so residents have been able to so carefully preserve its natural environment and its rich Gullah history. And while the island remains untouched in many ways, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see or do here: Tour the island with sixth-generation Daufuskie native Sallie Ann Robinson for an education in Gullah culture; go for a horseback ride on the beach; shop indigo-dyed goods at Daufuskie Blues; and cap off the day with a plate of deviled crab at Old Daufuskie Crab Company.”
“About 20 miles from Beaufort, Fripp Island is a 3,000-acre designated wildlife sanctuary, home to more than 175 species of birds, plus endangered loggerhead turtles who use its beach as a nesting ground. The private island is accessible only to homeowners and those staying in vacation rentals, but once you’re here, there’s plenty to do, from guided kayak eco-tours to pickleball and golf.”
The full list?
- Hilton Head Island
- Isle of Palms
- Kiawah Island
- Edisto Island
- Sullivan’s Island
- Folly Island
- Hunting Island
- Daufuskie Island
- Fripp Island
- Seabrook Island
Having four of ten spots here in the Beaufort area is a pretty big deal. Look at it this way, out of all the islands that dot the Palmetto State’s coastline, 40% of Southern Living’s readers polled picked a spot right here in Beaufort County.
That’s definitely a big deal. The islands here in Beaufort are pretty amazing.
See what Southern Living said about them all here.
