When you just can’t seem to find your family’s pause button on days that move by in a blink, create your own. Edisto Beach, South Carolina, is a welcome respite to unplug from the hustle and bustle of every day for the effortless family vacation you’ve been after.

A Scenic Start

You begin your vacation on the way into town – after all, getting there is half the fun, right? As street signs become sparse, travel across the National Scenic Byway where sprawling areas of preserved land paved with live oaks usher you over the inter-coastal waterway and onto Edisto. While many agree anytime is the best time to visit, consider spending your Spring at Edisto to experience cooler temperatures, less-busy crowds, and seasonally inspired events.

Laidback Beaching

Once on the island, Edisto Beach offers a 5-mile landscape that is the focal point for the most laidback vacation you’ve ever taken. Kids and adults alike will delight in strolling the beach, collecting shells of their fancy. Botany Bay is touted as one of the most unique destinations on Edisto. Thousands of acres of preserved and protected land are home to historical buildings including two sites listed on the register of historic places, maritime forests for hiking or biking, and freshwater ponds for exploring at your own pace. Sun-bleached standing and fallen trees line the beach at Botany Bay, contributing to its “Boneyard Beach” nickname. While you’re there, be sure to check out Jason’s Lake for an ideal spot to take your little ones for catch-and-release fishing fun.

Just over half a mile from the beach, you’ll find Edisto Beach State Park, home to over 4 miles of ADA accessible trails for hiking and biking. Six different trails lead to picturesque views of the ocean, perfect for a well-timed break before turning back the way you came. Before you leave, bring the family by the Environmental Learning Center to become better acquainted with the area through youth and adult programming, including hands-on exhibits that allow curious minds to experience the area up close and personal.

Keep It Easy with Edisto’s Rental Options

To avoid the clunk and clutter of transporting your family’s vacation equipment, numerous vendors are available – whether you prefer to scoot around by land or by water. Edisto Bike Rentals offers complimentary pick-up and drop-off of their bikes and golf carts. Island Bikes and Outfitters rent kayaks, golf carts, and standup paddleboards to visiting adventurers. Edisto Essentials offers tow carts, kayaks, beach chairs, and other vacation essentials for rent. Edisto Water Sports and Tackle even offers excursion tours in addition to equipment rentals. And speaking of rentals, did we mention that all rentals in Edisto are beach homes or condos to accommodate your family? Because, after all, the family that vacays together, stays together—and home-away-from-home accommodations take your Edisto escape to the next level.

If you have one call to make your experience even more carefree and Edislow, make it to Edisto Beach Services. From doing your grocery run to setting up beach equipment, Edisto Beach Services exists to make vacationing truly trouble-free. Edisto Beach Services will even buy fresh and local oysters, shrimp, and fish from Edisto Seafood, Edisto Beach’s beloved local seafood market, and come to your condo or beach house to prepare the feast for you!

Edisto Charters Make the Trip Even More Charming

Charter experiences abound at Edisto Beach! Taking your mini-me on his or her first fishing trip is one to remember and easy to do with several charter options leaving from The Marina at Edisto Beach. Contact the Marina to secure a private tour of dolphin sightings and sunset cruises which can be customized with your tribe in mind. For an action-packed experience, let Charles Yeomans with Single Shot Guide Services, a full-service fishing and hunting agency, plan all the details for a day in the great outdoors with your family with zero prep work. Fontaine Charters is Lowcountry fishing at its finest and will be a fun experience for beginners and expert anglers alike. Hop onboard with Cal Young at Edisto Watersports & Tackle for fishing charters, ACE basin river cruises, and kayak tours. If you’re visiting the Edisto Beach State Park, Plot Twist Charters has made it easy with their tours leaving straight from the State Park and offers personalized tours so you and your family are sure to have a good time. No matter if you aspire to catch the largest fish of your life or desire a relaxing day drifting on the water, there’s an Edisto charter waiting for you.

To lose your sea legs and sneak in a quick round, the Plantation Course at Edisto is the sole golf course on the island, offering a natural experience free from traffic lights and congestion and high in serene, natural beauty.

Great Eats

After a perfectly slow day enjoying family and your surroundings, keep it on easy street for dinner. Edisto is home to over 10 restaurants that make the question of “what’s for dinner?” an answer packed with excitement rather than a statement to dread. Flowers Seafood Company offers to-go seafood baskets and sandwiches as well as chicken tenders and hot dogs for more picky kiddos. Briny Swine, Edisto’s only combination smokehouse and raw bar, offers authentically local favorites, including house-made smokey pimento cheese and pork rinds. Whaley’s Restaurant and Bar is an area staple and self-proclaimed “Home of the Ugly Fish.” Just a few bites of crab cake or mahi-mahi solidifies their reputation of being one of “South Carolina’s Best Seafood Dives.”

Experience Effortless Vacationing in Edisto

Whether it’s a barefoot stroll on the sand, a bike ride along the beach, or a seafood boil at your cozy coastal rental home, the Edislow lifestyle is calling your name. A vacation in Edisto, South Carolina, is sure to become a family favorite you’ll want to return to again and again. Read more about our recommended kid-friendly activities on Edisto.