Seabrook Island: Beaches, Nature and Island History

Seabrook Island has nearly four miles of sandy coastline. At North Beach, you can explore tidal pools. Pelican Beach lies near the mouth of the Edisto River and is characterized by gentle waves and a slow Atlantic current. The different coastal features give a clear sense of the island’s beaches.

Beaches, Tides and Wildlife Watching

Dolphins at Seabrook Island more frequently display strand-feeding behavior in spring and fall. This typically peaks within the three hours before or after low tide. This means there are two useful timing indicators: the season and the tide level. The Seabrook Island Dolphin Education Program is a field-based educational program. It informs beachgoers about the local dolphin population and aims to reduce disturbance to it. Program details may change.

The nature trails also offer different experiences. The Old Drake Nature Trail is an easy trail leading to benches overlooking the marsh. Bobcat Dune runs along a sunny boardwalk parallel to the sand dunes at North Beach; along the way, you can spot roseate spoonbills and terns. A nature trail on Seabrook Island loops through the woods around a lagoon and ends back at Hidden Oaks Drive. The trails described therefore include a marsh-side trail as well as routes associated with dunes, birds and a lagoon.

Horseback Riding, Golf and Tennis

The Seabrook Island Equestrian Center offers guided trail rides; rides go to Captain Sams Inlet at North Beach. Advance reservations are required. Check current dates when planning. Golf is available on two different courses, with 36 holes in total. Guests can book tee times up to three days in advance; guest access conditions may change.

The Seabrook Island Racquet Club offers another sporting option: it has 15 professionally maintained clay courts and offers year-round private and group tennis lessons. Facility and access rules, as well as lesson times, may change. Golf and tennis therefore differ not only in the sport itself, but also in the planning information available: for golf, the advance booking window for tee times is specified, while tennis offers private and group lessons.

History and Getting There

Seabrook Island’s history spans the Colonial era and pirate tales, skirmishes during the American Revolution, and the American Civil War. The island’s name comes from a family with a long history whose lineage traces back to Robert Seabrook. He came to Charles Town from England in 1679.

The golf courses also have a specific historical milestone: in 1996, they were accepted into the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf. At the time, they were the first in South Carolina and the 75th in the United States. This information refers to their acceptance in 1996.

Seabrook Island is about 20 miles, or around a 30-minute drive, from the Charleston Peninsula. Actual driving time depends on traffic. If you are choosing between staying on Seabrook Island and on the Charleston Peninsula, the distance is a rough guide, not a fixed driving time. When looking for a hotel on Seabrook Island, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip—such as the beach, wildlife watching or sports—and consider the drive as a separate planning factor.

Discover more destinations: Kiawah Island, Isle Of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Hollywood, Ladson, Charleston, Edisto, Mount Pleasant.

Back to the main travel guide: Charleston.