Chimney Sweep in Folly Beach, SC

Wheels to Surf took over a section of Folly Beach on Saturday as over 40 volunteers and 40 surfers took to the waves. (WCIV)

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCIV) — Wheels to Surf took over a section of Folly Beach on Saturday as over 40 volunteers and 40 surfers took to the waves.

The program is aimed towards surfers who happen to have a disability. The surfers do not let anything hold them back from enjoying the waves.

Brent Rightler has been a part of the program for four years. "The only thing I can't do is hike in the woods." he said cheerfully. When asked why he loves to surf his response was immediate - "life is too short, why not?"

Rightler is one of many surfers who keep returning to the waves, as the program is now on its 11th year.

"This started at home. I wanted to do this where I live." said Brock Johnson, the founder of Wheels to Surf. "Originally the program was meant just for people in wheel chairs. Then I got a call from someone asking if their autistic son could join and after checking I said yes."

Johnson made the choice to start the program after suffering a tragic accident. "I was out on a boat and the sands shifted. I took a dive and broke my neck leaving me paraplegic. I can't move anything from the chest down." said Johnson. "My life is completely different and I had to figure out what to do."

And so he did, and the program has only grown from there, traveling from beach to beach across the world.

READ MORE | "Miss South Carolina High School America uses platform to support disability awareness"

Wheels to Surf opens the doors for others to travel and try new experiences.

Brian Shaw, who is blind, has been an avid surfer for years, and has mastered the waves. "I gotta feel the wave to see if I can stand." he said.

Shaw has been able to travel because of surfing and competes across the country. "I said lets go play out in California. I got third place for my first time out there so I'm not gonna complain."

And for Johnson, getting back into the water over and over again, there is still the rush THAT never leaves. "Even though I have a couple decades of experience, it's still joy to me and that's the best part, is all the joy the participants have," he said.

To learn more about Wheels to Surf or to sign up, click here.

Many of those visiting Charleston know that downtown is a hot spot for restaurants, but where should folks visiting one of the local beaches eat? From barbecue to noodle bowls, these island eateries can offer a wealth of choices for the hungry wave jumper or sunbather.

New to the map: Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. Restaurants are listed geographically, from west to east.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Before a day at Folly Beach, frequent visitors know to hit up Lost Dog for brunch. The cafe has something for everyone on the menu, from huevos rancheros to fresh fruit parfaits. Relax with a mimosa before hitting the waves and sand.

Full of surfers and deal-seekers, Folly Beach stop Jack of Cups offers filling curry mac ‘n cheese, dahl, and Thai meatballs. The menu is a mash-up of different cuisines from across the globe, including nods to the South, which is always good while sipping a few craft beers.

Self-proclaimed “chill ass bar,” Lowlife offers expertly crafted cocktails, queso, local shrimp rolls, double cheeseburgers, and more in a hip and lively beach space. Lowlife also serves brunch every day of the week, so it’s like a vacation within a vacation.

A visit to Taco Boy is all about the experience. The interiors are lively and full of fun details. It offers a long list of tacos with unexpected fillings, like the Korean beef tacos stuffed with kimchi and grilled flank steak or the sauteed shrimp tacos come with ancho chile yogurt sauce and cabbage. On a nice day, enjoy the patio with a few friends and a frozen screwdriver to go with the other selections.

Spanish for "the ugly boy," Chico Feo makes for a super chill stop after a day on the beach. The eatery feels like visiting a friend’s backyard. The menu is a mix-up of warm weather favorites from across the globe, like Cuban beans and rice, bun cha, and plenty of tacos.

Bert’s Market isn’t a restaurant, but it is an icon on Folly Beach. The 24-hour corner store is well known as stop for made-to-order sandwiches and just about everything else you need for a day at the beach. Bert’s puts it best: “Patronized by freaks, surfers, skaters, crunks, retirees, tourists, stoners, day trippers, hippies, hipsters, and regular folk, Bert’s is the rockingest grocery in town.”

Dining at Sullivan’s Fish Camp is like stepping onto a sailboat out of the 1970s. The retro-chic restaurant is one of the stylish on the island. Recently, former Lowland chef Jason Stanhope took over the kitchen to overhaul the menu. He’s planning a slow transition to get back to the roots of a Lowcountry fish camp. Current offerings include lobster roll sliders, local crudo, shrimp fried rice, and more.

Diners can eat pizza, pasta, and fresh seafood just a few steps from the ocean. From the skilled hands of executive chef Jacques Larson, the Obstinate Daughter offers a stunning dining room to spend visit for lunch, brunch, or dinner. Visitors should order a craft cocktail, a few oysters, and try the ricotta gnocchi with short rib ragu at least once.

Home Team BBQ on Sullivan's Island is always packed with friends and families ordering pulled pork plates and catching a game on the televisions. The smoked wings with Alabama white sauce are addictive, as are the frozen boozy Gamechanger cocktails.

Cozy bistro High Thyme offers a more upscale experience than most beach-goers expect. Guests visit this Middle Street restaurant for celebratory dinners and Sunday morning brunches. Find dishes like mussels in a coconut chili broth, cioppino, three-meat bolognese lasagna, lamb meatballs, and more comforting dishes.

Using only sustainable seafood, Acme Lowcountry Kitchen offers a taste of the East Coast. Where the kitchen really shines is the extensive shrimp and grits offerings — choose from plates like jerk shrimp with peaches and cream grits and pineapple salsa or more traditional sauteed shrimp, with tasso ham, peppers, onions, and red eye gravy.

Contemporary Italian eatery Coda del Pesce sits right on the beach at Isle of Palms. Customers can watch the ocean while ordering from chef Ken Vedrinski’s seafood-filled menu. Make reservations early for dishes like the snowy grouper with peanut potatoes, grapes, and Castelvetrano olives.

Before a day at Folly Beach, frequent visitors know to hit up Lost Dog for brunch. The cafe has something for everyone on the menu, from huevos rancheros to fresh fruit parfaits. Relax with a mimosa before hitting the waves and sand.

Full of surfers and deal-seekers, Folly Beach stop Jack of Cups offers filling curry mac ‘n cheese, dahl, and Thai meatballs. The menu is a mash-up of different cuisines from across the globe, including nods to the South, which is always good while sipping a few craft beers.

Self-proclaimed “chill ass bar,” Lowlife offers expertly crafted cocktails, queso, local shrimp rolls, double cheeseburgers, and more in a hip and lively beach space. Lowlife also serves brunch every day of the week, so it’s like a vacation within a vacation.

A visit to Taco Boy is all about the experience. The interiors are lively and full of fun details. It offers a long list of tacos with unexpected fillings, like the Korean beef tacos stuffed with kimchi and grilled flank steak or the sauteed shrimp tacos come with ancho chile yogurt sauce and cabbage. On a nice day, enjoy the patio with a few friends and a frozen screwdriver to go with the other selections.

Spanish for "the ugly boy," Chico Feo makes for a super chill stop after a day on the beach. The eatery feels like visiting a friend’s backyard. The menu is a mix-up of warm weather favorites from across the globe, like Cuban beans and rice, bun cha, and plenty of tacos.

Bert’s Market isn’t a restaurant, but it is an icon on Folly Beach. The 24-hour corner store is well known as stop for made-to-order sandwiches and just about everything else you need for a day at the beach. Bert’s puts it best: “Patronized by freaks, surfers, skaters, crunks, retirees, tourists, stoners, day trippers, hippies, hipsters, and regular folk, Bert’s is the rockingest grocery in town.”

Dining at Sullivan’s Fish Camp is like stepping onto a sailboat out of the 1970s. The retro-chic restaurant is one of the stylish on the island. Recently, former Lowland chef Jason Stanhope took over the kitchen to overhaul the menu. He’s planning a slow transition to get back to the roots of a Lowcountry fish camp. Current offerings include lobster roll sliders, local crudo, shrimp fried rice, and more.

Diners can eat pizza, pasta, and fresh seafood just a few steps from the ocean. From the skilled hands of executive chef Jacques Larson, the Obstinate Daughter offers a stunning dining room to spend visit for lunch, brunch, or dinner. Visitors should order a craft cocktail, a few oysters, and try the ricotta gnocchi with short rib ragu at least once.

Home Team BBQ on Sullivan's Island is always packed with friends and families ordering pulled pork plates and catching a game on the televisions. The smoked wings with Alabama white sauce are addictive, as are the frozen boozy Gamechanger cocktails.

Cozy bistro High Thyme offers a more upscale experience than most beach-goers expect. Guests visit this Middle Street restaurant for celebratory dinners and Sunday morning brunches. Find dishes like mussels in a coconut chili broth, cioppino, three-meat bolognese lasagna, lamb meatballs, and more comforting dishes.

Using only sustainable seafood, Acme Lowcountry Kitchen offers a taste of the East Coast. Where the kitchen really shines is the extensive shrimp and grits offerings — choose from plates like jerk shrimp with peaches and cream grits and pineapple salsa or more traditional sauteed shrimp, with tasso ham, peppers, onions, and red eye gravy.

Contemporary Italian eatery Coda del Pesce sits right on the beach at Isle of Palms. Customers can watch the ocean while ordering from chef Ken Vedrinski’s seafood-filled menu. Make reservations early for dishes like the snowy grouper with peanut potatoes, grapes, and Castelvetrano olives.

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We asked our readers to vote for their favorite spots for fresh catch and local shrimp in the Palmetto State—here are their picks.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in South Carolina, find the nearest seafood dive and tuck into a platter of fried shrimp—preferably one served with an ice-cold beer and an unobstructed view of the water. While you can take to Google or a guidebook to determine where to go for steamed oysters or shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry, we decided to consult the folks who care about good Southern seafood as much as we do: our readers. Here are the 10 best seafood spots in South Carolina, as voted by Southern Living readers.

Lee's Inlet Kitchen

When you’ve been around for more than 75 years, you’re bound to be doing something right. At this beloved institution in the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, try not to load up on the hot hush puppies they bring to the table on arrival—though it's awfully tempting. There's still so much more to savor, like the hand-peeled, cold-boiled shrimp pulled from the waters of nearby McClellanville or the thin and crispy onion rings—Lee’s is as famous for those as it is for the seafood.

Order: The Shrimp Salad ($28.95), made with boiled fantail shrimp and Duke's mayo, is another house specialty.

4460 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; leesinletkitchen.com

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Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

It doesn’t get much fresher than this Hilton Head Island mainstay, where 90% of the seafood served comes directly from the surrounding waters. Because of its enviable position on the edge of Port Royal Sound, guests can watch a local fishing fleet (one of only two on the island) unload the day’s loot, which could include anything from white shrimp to soft-shell crab.

Order: From September through April, opt for the steamed local cluster oysters in the shell ($12 for a half bucket); the restaurant farms and harvests them.

1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29926; hudsonsonthedocks.com

Bowens Island Restaurant

Should you find yourself in the Holy City, make the worthwhile dirt-road detour to this family-owned restaurant that’s been a rambling fixture along Folly Creek since 1946. With its graffitied walls and worn-in wood floors, it doesn’t beg for attention, and it doesn’t need to. Deemed an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, the Lowcountry seafood joint shovels fresh-steamed oysters onto trays September through the first half of May and dishes fried shrimp and hush puppies year-round. It’s all delicious—and it's made even more so if you snag a seat on the waterside deck.

Order: The shrimp (served boiled or fried) and fried fish platter is served with the seafood-dive-side-dish trifecta: french fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw.

1870 Bowens Island Road, Charleston, SC 29412; bowensisland.com

The Crab Shack

Situated on the main drag of the freewheeling beach town just 12 miles from buttoned-up Charleston, The Crab Shack is as family-friendly and flip-flop casual as its surrounds. Start with the the she-crab soup, but save room: The value seafood baskets—which you can order with flounder, shrimp, or scallops (or a combination of all three)—are generously portioned. Catch them at another location in Charleston as well.

Order: The marquee offering, The Charleston Steamed Seafood Bucket, includes two snow crab clusters, large domestic shrimp, and steamed oysters (market price).

26 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439 and 8486 Dorchester Rd, Charleston, SC 29420; crabshacks.com

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Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop

Housed in a reimagined garage on Upper King Street, the Brooks Reitz-helmed restaurant turned 10 in 2024, but it’s been a neighborhood favorite from the start, thanks to a menu of mouthwatering fried chicken, expectedly fresh oysters, and surprisingly craveable salads. Add to the clever mix soft-serve ice cream and buckets of Miller High Life ponies, and you’ve found yourself one of the best meals in this restaurant-proud town.

Order: Even the bivalve-averse crowd may develop a taste for oysters after sampling Leon's char-grilled take, which swim in a melty swirl of lemon and butter and are topped with a generous sprinkle of parmesan. The "old-school" scalloped potatoes are also not to be missed.

698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403; leonsoystershop.com

The Sea Shack

Don’t let inevitable line out the door during summertime scare you off. This treasured counter-service spot with just 40 seats is an area favorite thanks to its wide array of offerings, from conch fritters to flounder sandwiches. It’s all made to order and to your liking—fried, grilled, or blackened. Wash it down with a glass of what they declare to be the best sweet tea on the island, and finish with a slice of strawberry Key Lime pie (when it’s seasonally available) or a cup of banana pudding.

Order: Hearty appetites should try the Shack Attack Combo ($17.95 for lunch, $19.95 for dinner), which combines a crab cake, fish, shrimp, scallops, and oysters on a giant paper platter. Homemade tartar sauce is the traditional accompaniment, but we think the brandy-infused gator sauce makes an even better platter slather.

6B Executive Park Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; seashackhhi.com

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Sullivan’s Fish Camp

With its lofted ceilings, lacquered-wood booths, and commitment to retro branding, this Sullivan’s Island joint feels like it’s been there forever. In reality, it’s a newcomer—a spring 2022 top-to-bottom overhaul of a restaurant that had called the same spot home for 30 years. And while the nostalgically striped, umbrella-shaded patio is painfully charming, the takeaway window makes a strong case for a to-go lobster roll savored on the beach just a few blocks away.

Order: The shrimp fried rice ($24) puts a fresh coastal twist on a takeout mainstay. We also love the Key lime pie.

2019 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482; sullivansfishcamp.com

explore Sullivan's Island

The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene

So named for the trawler that was tossed ashore on the same spot during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, this dinner-only, no-reservations establishment on Shem Creek shrugs off formalities in favor of its dynamite views and deliciously simple seafood. The best seat in the house belongs to the wooden dockside bar, where sunset views and local craft beers are just an arm’s length away.

Order: Complete with red rice, coleslaw, a hush puppy, and a fried hominy square, the shrimp platter (from $17.95) is a true taste of the Lowcountry. The deviled crab is also worth a try.

106 Haddrell Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464; wreckrc.com

Shrimp Shack

This family-owned lunch spot has been an island institution since it first opened its doors in 1978, and its magic belongs to its simplicity. They're only open for lunch, and you order through a carry-out window—though you don't have to take your food home. Snag one of the picnic tables on the porch for an especially satisfying alfresco dining experience.

Order: Given the restaurant's name, it's obvious you can't go wrong with shrimp here, but the shrimp burger ($9.30), served on a bun with tartar sauce and mayo, is a true crowd favorite.

1929 Sea Island Parkway, Saint Helena Island, SC 29920; facebook.com/shrimpshacksc

Mr. Fish Restaurant

There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu at this landmark Grand Strand restaurant and seafood market owned by a fisherman father and his culinary school-trained daughter. Choose a South Carolina classic, like the Lowcountry boil, or make the most of the raw bar and order a sushi roll or two. Stretch mealtime into a full-fledged Mr. Fish experience by reserving a ride to and from dinner in the Mr. Fishmobile, a bright blue school bus that hits all the nostalgic high notes.

Order: The seafood tacos ($15) are made with your choice of mahi, tuna, or shrimp and are topped with chipotle-lime sauce.

6307 North Kings Highway, Suite B, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572; mrfish.com

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FOLLY BEACH — Getting to the "Edge of America" will look a little different this season as the city overhauls its stormwater drain system on the island, including via the single main road used to access it.

Folly Beach will begin work this month to replace its underground drainage systems on Center Street and several flood-prone side side streets. The new drains will more than double the capacity of the city's stormwater pipes, reducing the lasting pools of rainwater on the streets that accumulate during storms.

The project is funded by a roughly $8 million South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program grant awarded to the city from the state's Rural Infrastructure Authority in 2023.

The entirety of Folly Beach is in a flood hazard area, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The city's current stormwater system is nearly 80 years old and can't adequately handle the rising volume of flooding and increased frequency of named storms.

An island-wide drainage study revealed that portions of the city's drainage are inadequate for managing flooding from king tides and that side streets on the east side of the island are hotspots for flooding.

"The crux of the issue is in Center Street; the storm drains and piping underneath the street that go out to the (Folly) River are severely undersized for the type of rain events we get these days,” said Eric Lutz, the city’s director of public works.

Installing larger drains, more inlets and above-ground improvements will ideally reduce the amount of standing water that collects on the island, Lutz said.

Drains and inlets will be installed on East Huron Avenue, East Erie Avenue, East Cooper Avenue, East Ashley Avenue and a small portion of East Arctic Avenue. The pipes will connect to the larger system that runs below the entirety of Center Street.

Crews will begin work on the eastern side streets in May, before moving to the island's main artery in August to September. The underground work will consist of removing the old pipes and replacing them with newer, larger pipes along with roughly 40 inlets or points for stormwater to get underground and into the drains.

Thirty-nine parking spots that are paved with materials that allow water to pass through, rather than gather on top, will be created as part of the project. Crews will also plant trees and install rain gardens along Center Street to aid in absorbing water when it floods or rains.

Project may impact local businesses

The work will require closing streets and pedestrian walkways on the island’s main stretch toward the end of the peak beach season. Lutz said crews will work one block at a time, so the stretch of road will never be completely shut down.

Chris Pyman, a project manager with engineering and design firm Weston and Sampson, said at an April community meeting they expect to maintain two-way traffic by utilizing the center lane of Center Street.

Much of the work will be limited to weekdays and is expected to wrap up in June 2026.

Still, the imminent construction will come with traffic detours and delays. The prospect has worried some employees at the shops and restaurants that line the main road.

Sitting behind the counter at the Ocean Surf Shop, Claire Gregson and Lily McAlpin were concerned that the construction would impact the foot traffic the store will see. Though the Center Street work isn't expected to start until August, the women said their store remains busy until October.

Jessica Goodman briefly paused her work folding shirts at the register of Native, a gift shop on Center Street, when she learned of the upcoming construction.

"We’ll see," Goodman said. "I hope it doesn't affect people."

She said she already struggles with the beach season commute, preferring to work earlier or later shifts to avoid the traffic.

Christian Swain, a manager at Coconut Joe's on the corner of Center Street and West Ashley Avenue, said the summer seemed an odd time to start roadwork, noting traffic during peak season is already a challenge for himself and his coworkers.

"It'll impact our staff trying to get to work,” Swain said. "It's already bad enough in the summertime, we have to leave an hour earlier to beat the traffic to get here."

Reach Anna Sharpe at 843-806-6790.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina’s sea turtle nesting season has begun a couple days earlier than normal with a loggerhead nest reported in Folly Beach.

Trained volunteers with the Folly Beach Turtle Watch program located the nest this morning while walking the beach (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources permit number MTP524). They are among the team of over 1,500 volunteers and biologists that will regularly patrol South Carolina’s beaches through October to count, monitor and protect sea turtle nests.

May 1 traditionally marks the beginning of sea turtle season in South Carolina, but recent sea turtle activity indicated nesting might begin early this year. Seabrook Island has already seen the first 2 ‘false crawls’ of the season as of this morning, made by loggerhead females who came ashore but returned to sea without successfully nesting. Other early nest years include Garden City on April 29 last year, Kiawah Island on April 26 in 2019, and Folly Beach on April 29 in 2002.

“With warmer winter conditions and increased observations of loggerheads being reported in our waters, there was some expectation that nesting would begin soon,” said biologist Michelle Pate, who oversees SCDNR’s sea turtle nesting program. “We ask that beachfront residents and visitors recreating on our coast turn off lights at night as sea turtles begin this annual ritual of nesting.”

Nesting requires a great deal of energy, so female sea turtles do not lay eggs every year. This cyclical pattern of nesting results in fluctuating nest numbers from year to year. It’s not unusual for record-breaking years (like 2019; 8,795 nests) to follow low nesting years (like 2018; 2,766).

Overall, sea turtle nest numbers across the Southeast have trended up over the past decade, making biologists across the region optimistic that these threatened reptiles are beginning to recover after several decades of conservation efforts.

South Carolina Sea Turtle Nest Numbers

Four sea turtle species nest on South Carolina beaches: loggerheads, greens, Kemp’s ridleys, and leatherbacks. All four species are classified as endangered or threatened and are protected under the Endangered Species Act in addition to state law. Loggerhead nests comprise the majority of the state’s total number each year.

Sea turtle clutches average 120 eggs and hatch after approximately 60 days. Nesting females may remain in South Carolina waters and continue to nest every two weeks, laying up to six nests per season. Throughout this stressful time, the turtles also abstain from eating.

South Carolina beachgoers can help the state’s sea turtles by keeping beaches clean, turning beachfront lights out to avoid disorienting turtles, and giving all sea turtles and nests a wide and respectful berth when encountered on the beach.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Reminders

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–SCDNR