Chimney Sweep in Sullivan’s Island, SC

It's only 12 miles south of Charleston's historic homes and manicured window boxes, but the salty little town of Folly Beach ditches the Holy City's refinement in favor of an easygoing, barefoot sensibility that feels a bit more California than Carolina. Known to locals as the Edge of America, Folly is everything a beach town should be. Surf shops line the main drag; cover-ups count as appropriate lunch attire; and nobody takes themselves too seriously (they drop a pair of LED-lit flip-flops to celebrate New Year's Eve). Here's where to stay, eat, relax, and play in South Carolina's super chill surf town.

Where To Stay

For a feels-like-home experience coupled with the charm and convenience of a boutique hotel, book The Regatta Inn. Complimentary breakfast and happy hour are provided daily, plus a free shuttle to the beach. Its best amenity of all, though, is the view: a spectacular vantage of Folly River and the surrounding marshland.

Every single room at Tides Folly Beach comes with an ocean view. Perched at the end of Center Street, the town's main thoroughfare, the hotel is steps from both the beach and an array of local shops and eateries. There's plenty on-site for a relaxing getaway, including a heated oceanfront pool, tiki bar and lounge, and a beach bar and grill.

Looking for a stay with a kitchen and living space that feels like a home away from home? For families looking to stretch out a bit more, there are a boatload of rentals to choose from: Opt for oceanfront properties that will sleep a crowd or cozy cottages with marsh and Folly River views. And for people who wouldn't dream of traveling without their four-legged companions, there are plenty of pet-friendly rentals too.

Where To Eat

You won't go hungry on this island. Fuel up for the day at Lost Dog Café, a local staple that serves coffee and all-day breakfast (so you can sleep in as long as you'd like). Don't miss their eggs Benedict, which they top with fried green tomatoes.

Fish tacos, Vietnamese-inspired lettuce wraps, and Cuban sandwiches all have a place on the colorful menu at Chico Feo, where the vibe is equally colorful. Its menu focuses on food from local farmers and fishermen. If you're in town for the wave riding, be sure to check out their website's Surf Report, complete with a live video stream.

Don't let the easygoing atmosphere fool you: Rita's Seaside Grille is serious about its food and its cocktails. Order casual beach fare like burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and nachos, or opt for splurge-worthy entrees like steak, salmon, and seafood. Try one of the Signature Crushes, fruity sippers with flavored liquors that pack a punch.

End the night at Sand Dollar Social Club, a dive bar where you're invited to come as you are, so long as you're a member; membership costs $1, so bring your cash (you won't find a credit card machine here). Order from the bar, play pool or Ping-Pong, and take in the live music.

Though technically not on Folly (it's about two miles away), you'd be remiss to make a trip all this way without carving out time for a meal at Bowens Island Restaurant, a family-owned joint where the walls are graffitied and the oysters are locally harvested. Start your meal with Southern favorites like pimiento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and boiled peanuts. Seafood platters are served with fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw.

Where To Relax

The island's six miles of beachfront are its main attraction, and it'd be easy to while away a week with no plans beyond putting your toes in the sand. Spend a day shelling, sunning, surfing, or searching for shark teeth. The Folly Beach County Park has everything you need for a day at the beach: parking, restrooms, changing areas, a boardwalk, accessible ramps, a picnic area, and a snack bar.

At the northern end of Folly Beach, the Morris Island Lighthouse provides a stunning backdrop from the shore. Get a closer look from the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve or via kayak. Several guided tours leave from Folly Beach to visit Morris Island for shelling, photography, and lighthouse history. The historic lighthouse is not open for viewing. How close you can get to the lighthouse depends on the tides.

Where To Play

Pack your fishing poles (or rent one) to test your fishing luck off the beloved Folly Beach Pier, which reopened in December 2022 after extensive renovations. If you're visiting in the summer, put on your dancing shoes—flip-flops count—and head back to the pier for one of the Moonlight Mixers, a music-filled family event held once monthly May through September.

For those looking to build an action-packed itinerary, there are plenty of activities that highlight the destination's natural beauty: Book a guided kayak tour with Charleston Outdoor Adventures, rent a stand-up paddleboard to explore the tidal creeks, or hop on a boat to discover uninhabited beachfront, where you can look for sharks' teeth and other fossils. You can also book a fishing charter or tour a Charleston oyster farm.

Stop by McKevlin's Surf Shop, South Carolina's oldest surfing outfitter, to peruse their selection of gear. You can also rent a surf or body board from the shop if you don't have one of your own; first-timers should consult their recommended list of surf instructors for lessons before heading out. Once you've got it down, catch some of the area's best waves at The Washout, a favorite local surf spot, or take a seat on the beach and see how the local pros do it.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND — A former National Park Service employee spent four decades at Fort Moultrie, transforming how the national historic site conveyed the stories of the Revolutionary War-era grounds.

But in light of recent directives from the Trump administration, he's worried that effort could be undone.

Michael Allen worked at the Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter historical sites for roughly 40 years. His work shaped much of how the National Park Service site looks today.

Recently, signs were posted at all National Park Service sites seeking feedback from visitors. The signs ask for comments related to any areas that need repair or services that need improvement.

They also instruct visitors to report any "signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans," including messaging that fails to "emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features."

The first two requests are standard, Allen said. It's the third and final line on the signs he has trouble with.

"Being in this environment and climate that we're in now, I'm concerned," Allen said.

He said he's worried the feedback could be used to remove installations about people and events that have often been untold.

Allen helped push for the inclusion of information on the experiences of enslaved Africans who were brought to the United States and quarantined in pestilence houses in the 18th century.

A bench was installed at the site in 2008, placed and maintained by the park service to provide a space for visitors to reflect on the arduous journey from Africa to Charleston that hundreds of thousands were forced to take.

SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - As Saturday marks Carolina Day, it also marks one step closer for America to gain its independence.

A commemorative event, The Fighting for Independence, was held on Sullivan’s Island at Fort Moultrie for a day of history and celebration.

“It helped make America and if it wasn’t for all these people, we wouldn’t be here today,” attendee Nate Fine said.

A Georgia man took a trip to the Lowcountry to see where the historic battle took place at Fort Moultrie.

Given the kind of power behind the British navy, it wasn’t expected for the fort to stand strong 249 years ago.

“The guy that was in charge, Commodore Sir Peter Parker, has literally had his pants blown off. The reports say that his backside was laid bare,” Park Ranger, Christopher Reid said. “So, they have to turn around and leave. And we’ve been celebrating that victory ever since.”

The battle on Sullivan’s Island at Fort Moultrie is a historic moment, not just for locals in the Lowcountry but for the nation as a whole.

“There are things that everyone can relate to. An underdog story is one of them. Victory, loss, war is still a thing that we talk about and people can find a connection to it,” Reid said.

He also added that the interactive history lessons and the reenactments help find that connection.

“Having something for everyone helps step back in time and helps you kind of see what was happening rather than just having someone tell you in 1776 and then immediately falling asleep,” he said.

As people from the Palmetto state and out of towners joined Carolina Day, Fine said it was a step towards freedom, something a history junkie will never forget.

“It helps you learn what happened in the past and what all our forefathers did and all those brave men and women that did for our country and freedom’s awesome,” Fine said.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Earlier this week, a national research group released its 'Safe for Swimming?' report regarding water quality at beaches across the U.S.

“All too often there is bacteria at our beaches," said John Rumpler, Clean Water Director for Environment America, the authors of the report. "We compared it to a safety threshold which has to do with the risk of swimmers getting sick. And we found that all too often many of South Carolina's beaches exceeded that safety threshold for bacteria last year.”

It is important to note that the group's safety threshold differs from the one upheld by the state Department of Environmental Services.

In the report, Sullivan's Island is noted as being potentially unsafe for swimming, however SCDES says the water is up to the state's standard.

"That beach was only tested on 12 days last year. Of those 12 days, it exceeded the safety value for fecal indicator bacteria on four of those days, or about one third of the time," said Rumpler.

SCDES says it conducts tests every two weeks on Sullivan's Island between May 1 and Oct. 1.

"The EPA recommends that coastal states' beach monitoring programs use the standard for Enterococcus bacteria of 110 MPN/100 mL. However, SCDES uses an even more conservative standard: 104 MPN/100 mL. This means that South Carolina's beach monitoring program is even more protective of people's health," SCDES said in a statement.

In Environment America's report, the safety threshold measures as the strictest of the three groups, at 60 MPN/100mL.

SCDES said "The Environment America’s assessment approach doesn't align with South Carolina's or the EPA's recommended standards for ocean water monitoring."

Andrew Wunderley, Executive Director of Charleston Waterkeeper, says water quality varies with the weather.

"Bacteria levels spike after rains and floods. And so, what's happening during those events? You have sewers overflowing, you have septic tanks that get washed out, dog waste, pet waste, wildlife, all that gets washed into the water. And when that happens, the bacteria level spike and swimming and other recreational activities can be a risk to your health," he said.

Charleston Waterkeeper shares a weekly Swim Alert with results of bacteria tests from local waterways.

Both Wunderley and Rumpler say infrastructure issues contribute to higher levels of bacteria in water.

"There are communities across the country that are investing in upgrading and fixing their sewage infrastructure, replacing leaky pipes, fixing sewage treatment plants or expanding their capacity, helping homeowners to replace or repair leaky septic systems and also using what we call green infrastructure," said Rumpler.

"We need really resilient, well maintained, well operated, and well upgraded sewer treatment systems," said Wunderley. To reduce levels of bacteria in waterways, Wunderley encourages people to make sure they're cleaning up after their pets and properly maintaining septic systems.

"Nobody wants to go swimming in the water with their family and then have their kid's getting diarrhea and rashes and ear infections. That's just no fun for everybody," said Rumpler. "So, let's pull together and invest in fixing our water infrastructure so our water can always be safe for swimming."

Before you head to the beach, Wunderley suggests people check current available data about the location's water quality online. Both SCDES and Charleston Waterkeeper post bacteria test results online.

If the bacteria level ever exceeds the state’s threshold, SCDES will issue either a long-term or short-term swimming advisory in the affected area.