Showing posts with label Kiawah Summer Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kiawah Summer Vacation. Show all posts

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Summer Vacation at Kiawah Island


This past June marked my eleventh year of visiting the low country. Of all the visits, this one was the first time I have experienced Kiawah and Charleston in the month of June. My fears of extreme southern heat and humidity were put to rest as we had very agreeable temperatures in the mid eighties all week long. There were actually four days of which my native Chicago area was much hotter than Charleston. The highlight of the trip was enjoying very warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures of eighty degrees. Without a doubt, the kids (and parents) enjoyed the beach and surf every day. The kids had a blast as did I catching waves and riding them back into shore on the little boogie boards. Not sure where the boogie comes in, but these little boards (a mere five dollar item purchased at the dime store) proved to be a fun way to enjoy the waves. As fun as the beach and water was, we found the uv rays to be pretty extreme so I cannot emphasize enough, plenty of sun block and swim shirts! The swim shirts are great as they reduce the amount of time spent re-applying block or sunscreen.

Kiawah 2012 was a fun time for all that included golfing, bicycling and walking the streets of Charleston. The trip was not without the obligatory Thursday visit to Sticky Fingers and also to Bessingers Barbecue. If going to Bessingers with kids, I would recommend visit on Thursday nights as the little monsters get to eat for free! This is the place to go for some delicious pulled pork served in a tasty Carolina mustard based sauce. The commonly ordered sandwich known as the Big Joe has a signature sweet donut battered onion ring served along as a side kick…….to die for.
The other perk to visiting the low country in June was the numerous farm stands positioned off Bohicket road when venturing to and from the Kiawah and Seabrook area. The produce was plentiful whether shopping for tomatoes, melon, or greens. I strongly recommend the locally grown heirloom tomatoes; while not pretty to look at, they are very delicious and full of flavor.

Did I mention we played golf? Yes, kudos to the Kiawah Island golf courses that have a twi-light parent and child rate for around fifty bucks. My father in law and I partnered up with my two children and played nine holds at Turtle point for the low price of $100. The youth and parent format is as follows; play is from a specially marked “youth” tee that is approximately 100 to 160 yards from each hole (depending on the hole). Everyone takes their turn teeing off from a designated youth tee box and the rest is played in best ball format thereafter. Everyone had a blast and the kids really enjoy the ride in the cart and a cold drink. I believe the evening golf was a definite highlight for the kids (aside from playing on the boogie board in the surf all week).

The other fun day trip we squeezed in was a trip to the USS Yorktown. This was a fun and educational visit that merits its own post which I will write fairly soon. I highly recommend this tour. Unlike past visits to the lowcountry, we did not squeeze in a plantation tour, dolphin cruise, or even a ghost tour. We have taken those excursions in the past and prioritized lots of beach time for this trip.

June is one of the best times of the year to visit Kiawah. The water is perfect and the summer extreme heat does not appear until the months of July and August. Just remember to bring the boogie board, a beach umbrella, SPF 50 and golf clubs.