Beaches in Charleston, South Carolina

Keep your distance from other people

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Photo by John Getchel About Charleston, SC Charleston, a port city in South Carolina, is the state’s oldest city. Founded in 1670, this city is situated on Charleston Harbour, which is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean where the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando Rivers meet. Charleston is known for its history, architecture, food, hospitality, and captivating waterfront. At Charlston’s coast, you’ll find tidal salt marshes, tidal creeks, and a chain of barrier islands. With its harbour, soft and sandy beaches, lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, wetlands, and marshes, Charlson has a seemingly never ending amount of coastal water to explore. Inland, the northern region of Charleston features wooded wetlands while the southern region, once forested swamp, was cleared for farming in the 1600s. Swimming Water Quality in Charleston The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) monitors the level of enterococcus bacteria at 122 sites along South Carolina’s coast including around Charleston. Water is also monitored by Charleston Waterkeeper’s Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program. Water is sampled on Wednesdays during the months of May through October and is tested in several local tidal creeks and other popular places for recreational water activities. Water Sports and Activities in Charleston Charleston’s waters and shoreline are prime locations for spotting wildlife such as shorebirds, starfish and crustaceans, sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks. Kiawah Island is a cherished spot for wildlife watching, due to its maritime forests, marshes, and sand dunes inhabited by alligators, seabirds, and sea turtles. Other popular activities include fresh and saltwater fishing, crabbing, swimming, sunbathing, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, kiteboarding, waterskiing, parasailing, and tubing. Kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and motor boating are also favourite activities in this destination. In fact, there is estimated to be one boat per every twelve people in South Carolina. In this city, Ocean Rescue Lifeguards oversee about one and a half miles of shoreline along Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, and the Isle of Palms. Folly Beach, called the “Edge of America” by locals, features almost 10 kilometers (6 miles) of sandy beach that welcomes surfers, paddleboarders, kayakers, sailers, surf fishers, foodies, and photographers. Only fifteen minutes from the heart of downtown Charleston, Folly Beach is the perfect place to watch a sunrise or sunset, or spot loggerhead turtles nesting or dolphins playing in the surf. If you’re at the Charleston Harbour at Battery Beach, check out The Battery, a landmark promenade and defensive seawall on shores of the Charleston peninsula. Weather in Charleston You can look forward to short, mild winters and long, hot, and humid summers in Charleston. Although rainfall is common throughout the year, summer is the rainiest season. Nearly half of the city’s annual precipitation falls between June and September, but don’t worry–these thundershowers often don’t last long. Charleston is warmest from May to September with the mean maximum temperature ranging from 28-37°C (83-98 °F). In Charleston, waters are most inviting from June to October, with monthly maximum averages ranging from 28-30 °C (82-86 °F). Significant parts of Charleston lie near sea level, which has made the city susceptible to flooding. Other issues facing Charlston’s waters are rising sea levels and increasingly common and violent storms (which lead to contaminated flood water that ends up in tidal creeks and rivers), polluted coastal waterways, and microplastics. Charleston Waterkeeper advocates for keeping its waters healthy by calling for a sea level rise plan, protecting tidal creeks systems, supporting local research, and mobilizing communities to clean local waterways.