Seabrook resort Archives - Seabrook Exclusives Vacation Blog

Only 25 miles from historic Charleston lies a small, secluded, and private barrier island and exclusive oceanfront community immersed in natural beauty, old world charm, warm southern hospitality, and a calming coastal way of life – Welcome to Seabrook Island!

Seabrook Island is a vacation destination that delivers a true island escape with over 2,200 acres of serene Lowcountry splendor, 3.5-miles of tropical Atlantic Coast beaches, dolphin tours, wildlife encounters & eco-adventures, and world-class resort amenities & award-winning sports facilities at the Seabrook Island Club.

Join us as we tour the top island attractions, share our favorite island activities, and discover the best things to do in and around Seabrook Island – winter, spring, summer, or fall!

1. Seabrook Island Beach Club

Start your day with freshly brewed craft coffee and baked breakfast pastries at the Osprey Café – it’s also a great spot to stock up on treats and drinks for a day on the private beach at Seabrook Island Beach Club.

Stop by the Seabrook Shoppe next door for all your summer beachwear, pool toys, sunscreen and branded Seabrook Island swag. The Seabrook Shoppe also offers a selection of to-go snacks and drinks for your beach day.

Plan a pool day! The Seabrook Island Beach Club boasts two sparkling oceanfront pools, expansive sunbathing decks, complimentary towel services for guest convenience, and poolside dining with a casual grill menu and full-service bar at Cap’n Sam’s Grill.

If you haven’t yet switched to island time, the private sandy beach at the Beach Club will do it instantly! Shaded cabanas, umbrellas and sun loungers line the shores, gentle waters are perfect for ocean play, and you’re steps from the luxury resort amenities and oceanfront dining at the Beach Club. While the Beach Club pools are only open seasonally – the private beach can be enjoyed year round.

The oceanfront Pelican’s Nest offers guests the ultimate coastal dining experience with fresh seafood, a full-service open-air bar, live music on the summer weekends, exceptional dolphin spotting, and the best sundowner views on Seabrook. The Pelican’s Nest restaurant & bar are casual (cover ups and footwear required!), and no reservations required.

Visiting Seabrook Island with kids? Camp Seabrook is located on the Ocean Terrace at the Seabrook Island Beach Club with daily kids activities, nature adventures and sports workshops for kids ages 4 to 10. The Beach Club also hosts weekly family bonfire nights and fun pool events through the summer season.

2. Seabrook Island Lake House

The Seabrook Island Lake House is nestled mid-island offering guests a complete change of scenery from the oceanfront Beach Club pools. The Lake House swimming pool overlooks Palmetto Lake with five swimming lanes, a zero entry water play area for children, and a large sun deck with shaded cabanas and sun loungers.

Planning to stay fit on vacation? The Lake House features an indoor lap pool and state of the art fitness center with personal trainers and daily fitness classes – from gentle Pilates, yoga or water aerobics to energizing Zumba dance classes or golf fitness classes to prepare you for Seabrook’s challenging golf courses.

Bring the kids to the Lake House too! Aside from the kiddies pool area, there’s a playground for the little ones, and the older kids (and dad!) can practice their shooting drills on the basketball court.

Take a stroll through the woods on the Lake House Nature Trail. The trail starts near the Lake House playground and weaves through the maritime forest to join the bike path on Seabrook Island Road. A path leads off the trail for a scenic walk around Palmetto Lake.

3. Seabrook Island Golf, Tennis & Pickleball

Seabrook Island is a golfer’s paradise with 36 holes of championship golf on two unique Audubon-certified golf courses, both with US Kids Courses for family play. The Ocean Winds Golf Course and Crooked Oaks Golf Course offer two uniquely different layouts with oceanfront play, marshes, creeks and ponds, an abundance of wildlife, and challenging coastal breezes.

Begin your Seabrook Island golf vacation honing your golf skills at Seabrook Island’s state-of the art practice facility with a 40,000 sq ft practice tee, 2 large putting greens, 5 target greens, and a short game practice tee with 3 bunkers, a short fairway, and a 3,000 sq ft green.

If you’re a beginner to the game of golf (or keen to up your game), Seabrook Island Club offers PGA led coaching sessions with professional private instruction, seasonal programs, and junior coaching sessions for kids as young as 5.

End your round of play in the 19^th hole bar at the Bohicket Lounge, around the fire pits on the golf verandah, or watching the sunset over the Atlantic on the Seaview Terrace at the Island Club House.

It’s time for tennis! The award-winning Seabrook Island Racquet Club is open for year round play with 15 professionally maintained, top-quality Har-Tru courts, including 4 lighted courts for nighttime play. If you’re the only player in your group, the Racquet Club has seasonal round robins, matchmaking services, and computerized ball machines for solo play.

Improve your game and learn from the best on Seabrook Island! The Seabrook Island Racquet Club offers year-round social, competitive and instructional tennis programs for players of all levels to improve their game and have fun with fellow tennis lovers.

Learn to play Pickleball on Seabrook Island. Pickleball is America’s fastest growing game, and the Seabrook Racquet Club has 2 lighted pickleball courts with lessons, equipment and all you need to learn and play pickleball, a fun mix of tennis, badminton and ping-pong!

4. Explore Seabrook Island – On Land

All Seabrook Island beaches are private and offer not only quintessential beach days, but a wild untouched beauty for spectacular wildlife viewing with deer in the seagrass, nesting turtles, frolicking dolphins, and beautiful birdlife. From the calm, family-friendly waters of Pelican Beach to the wilder shores of North Beach, Seabrook Island has a stretch of sand (and activity!) for every beach-goer.

Take a beach stroll along the Atlantic shoreline to watch a sunrise at North Beach, the first place the sun touches on Seabrook Island. Build a sandcastle, beachcomb for shells and coastal treasures, and watch for wildlife, extra active in the early dawn hours.

The Edisto River inlet at the southern tip of Seabrook is teeming with marine life and is a prime spot for surf fishing on Seabrook Island (a saltwater fishing license is required). The tidal creek dock near Creekwatch Villas is another top spot for fishing, or you’ll find plenty of pristine shallow waters to cast a line on Seabrook. For the ultimate fishing experience on Seabrook Island, book a guided fishing charter.

Crabbing is a favorite pastime on Seabrook Island, fun for the whole family – and stone crabs and blue crabs are a delicious catch for dinner! Throw a net from the banks of a tidal creek, or head to the crabbing docks on Cap’n Sams Road. Creekwatch Villas are an idyllic basecamp for nature activities on the waterways.

May-October is sea turtle season on the South Carolina coastline and visitors to Seabrook Island can witness the majestic loggerhead sea turtles gliding through the waters and nesting in the dunes along the coastline and near the mouth of the Edisto River. Please stay off the dunes and do not disturb.

There are few places in the world you can witness dolphins strand feeding – Seabrook Island is one of them! Seabrook has a resident dolphin pod that frequent Cap’n Sam’s Inlet on the northern tip of Seabrook allowing visitors a unique experience to watch the dolphins actively strand feeding from the shoreline. Three hours after low tide is prime time for strand feeding.

The award-winning Seabrook Equestrian Center offers private and group riding lessons (English & Western!), gentle pony rides for the kids, and trail rides through the tidal creeks, marshlands and lush maritime forests. They also offer boarding services if you’re traveling with a horse to Seabrook Island.

Seabrook Island is one of the few places on the east coast where you can horseback ride on the beach! The Equestrian Center has easy walking beach rides for beginners or advanced riders can gallop through the waves along the shoreline of North Beach. It’s a unique Seabrook Island experience not to be missed.

You can bike everywhere on Seabrook Island and it’s truly the best way to get a feel for the island! Rent a bike (delivered right to your vacation rental!) and cruise the beaches and bike paths though Seabrook’s Lowcountry landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Bike paths connect Seabrook’s top amenities – the golf courses and Island Club, Beach Club, Lake House, Equestrian Center, Racquet Club and Freshfields Village.

Take the kids on a nature walk along the Old Drake Nature Trail near the Seabrook Island Equestrian Center. The trail is easy with benches along the way, towering pines for shade, and scenic marsh views. Little bird watchers will have lots of opportunity to spot Seabrook Island’s birdlife.

For a quiet coastal walk on Seabrook Island, the Bobcat Dune Nature Walk leads from the Seabrook Island Community Center in North Beach along a sunny boardwalk with coastal views, ocean breezes, and on to the shores of North Beach, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Six Ladies Nature Trail (across the street from Bobcat Dune) is the most rugged nature trail on Seabrook Island winding through forests, traversing ancient dunes, and leading to a lookout with views of Captain Sam’s Creek and the vast sea island marshlands. Pack a picnic to refuel and enjoy at the lookout and bring your camera and binoculars for awesome birdwatching and wildlife viewing. (You never want to leave them behind on Seabrook!)

The Hidden Oaks Trail is the most popular nature trail on the island, bordering Camp St. Christopher near the Seabrook Island Beach Club. The trail is easy (with steps to negotiate the steep sections) and leads through the oaks to a small lagoon with lots of wildlife and birdlife. Look out for the Kissing Tree, a beautiful live oak with a kissing mouth at the back of the tree.

A Lightning Bugz low speed vehicle (4-seater & 6-seater options) is a fun way for the whole family to buzz about the island golf-cart style. Unlike normal golf cart rentals, Lightning Bugz are licensed for night driving on Seabrook Island too!

Watch a vivid island sunset from Pelican Beach (aka Sunset Beach), While Seabrook Island’s oceanfront restaurants offer front row seats to a Seabrook sunset, there’s nothing like packing a picnic and ending your day island style – toes in the sand, waves lapping the shore, and picture perfect sunset views.

5. Explore Seabrook Island – On the Water

Seabrook Island has 3.5-miles of Atlantic coastline with wide sandy beaches, soft waves, and gentle currents for ocean play. You’ll be sharing the ocean with our local friendly dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles and beautiful marine life.

A dolphin watching eco-tour is the best way to encounter these friendly (and super intelligent!) mammals in their natural habitat. You’ll find a wide choice of dolphin encounters on Seabrook Island ranging from family-friendly adventures to romantic sunset cruises.

Seabrook Island has guided on the water eco-adventures for all ages. Learn to kayak and SUP or head out with an experienced tour guide to explore the salt marsh estuaries, tidal creeks, and Lowcountry waterways while learning about Seabrook Island’s history, wildlife and diverse ecosystems. Keep your eyes peeled for the rare Piebald Deer, regularly spotted on Seabrook Island.

Prefer to adventure alone? Bring your own SUP or kayak to Seabrook or rent one locally. There are plenty of places to get on the water with light currents for newbies and spectacular opportunities for wildlife viewing on Seabrook. Top spots for kayaking and SUPing are Cap’n Sam’s Spit, Bohicket Creek, Kiawah River, Deveaux Bank Heritage Preserve (only accessible by SUP, kayak or boat) and the vast Atlantic Ocean.

Catch your own seafood on a Seabrook Island fishing charter! Book an inshore or deep sea charter with an experienced captain from Bohicket Marina, a deep-water marina located just outside the gates to Seabrook Island.

Bohicket Marina is your basecamp for Seabrook Island water activities and adventures. Create your own adventure, rent a boat, and be your own captain for a day! Bohicket Marina has a variety of rental options to get you on the water.

End your day with a sunset sail on Seabrook Island – champagne in hand, the sounds of nature, dolphins frolicking alongside, Lowcountry scenery and an abundance of wildlife along the banks of the North Edisto River – a picture perfect sunset cruise on Seabrook.

For the ultimate serene and secluded sunset on Seabrook, book a sunset paddle tour and adventure with friends and family along the scenic creeks and salt marshes. Sunset is the best time to spot dolphins!

6. Eating & Drinking on Seabrook Island

Explore a wide variety of dining options at Freshfields Village with sushi bars, sports bars & grills, pizzerias, upscale French bistros, and a setting for every occasion and a plate for every palette.

The FortyEight Wine Bar & Kitchen in Freshfields Village has wine bingo, elegant wine pairing events and daily wine tastings with an added touch of techno! Pick up a WineStation SmartCard and work your way around the amazing WineStations with a selection of 48 wines, three pour sizes, and loads of fun!

Bourbon more your style? Kiawah Spirits in Freshfields Village has a wide selection of small batch bourbon and ryes, single malt scotches and exclusive barrel selects, with barrel select tastings every Friday and Saturday, from 3:00PM – 9:00PM.

Spin on a classic swivel stool and sip on an old-fashioned soda float or vacation Sundae at Vincent’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain in Freshfields Village. It’s old-school, cool, and a must on your Seabrook vacation!

Looking for live music on Seabrook Island! Every Thursday from 6:00-8:00PM you’ll find vacationers and locals sipping sundowners, savoring light plates, and unwinding to live jazz at the Porch Bar overlooking the lake at Freshfields Village.

Savor the flavors of the Lowcountry! You’ll find fresh oysters year-round on Seabrook Island! Winter is the prime season for traditional oyster roast events and if you’re visiting Seabrook in summer – the Mingo Point Oyster Roast is a Seabrook Island event that visitors return for year after year.

Another favorite pastime on Seabrook Island is to watch the boats come in and out the marina at Bohicket Marina from the open deck at the famous Salty Dog Café. The sundowners are cold, the seafood is fresh, the atmosphere is great (live weekend music in the summer!), and the sunsets over Bohicket Creek are perfect.

Avid foodies need to explore the amazing culinary scene in historic Charleston. Charleston offers everything from creative food trucks and food artisans at farmers markets to intimate outdoor courtyards, trendy culinary hot spots, and classy award-winning restaurants.

7. Health, Wellness & Retail Therapy

The open-air shopping market at Freshfields Village offers the ultimate retail therapy on Seabrook Island, with a selection of high-end boutiques and stores, loads of eateries to rest your feet and refuel, and fun shopping events like Sip & Shop, and Sidewalk Saturdays. Stop by the Village Market to stock up on your vacation essentials.

Art lovers will find endless tranquil settings on Seabrook to paint a picture or can book a private or group art lesson with a local artist at the Patricia Reno Huff Gallery & Art Studio in Freshfields Village.

Go home with Seabrook Island swag! The Seabrook Shoppe at the Beach Club and Island Mercantile in Freshfields Village are well-stocked with a fun selection of branded swag including clothing, toys, ornaments, gifts and souvenirs.

Fancy something a little more personal? You can create your own personalized scent, design your own label and take home a customized candle, scent diffuser, room spray, or even body products at Freshfields Village Palmetto Scent Studio. Walk-ins welcome!

Browse the local Seabrook Island Farmers Market – you’re sure to find fresh local produce and seafood to prepare tasty vacation meals in your Seabrook Exclusives gourmet kitchen, as well as unique arts and crafts to take home.

A Seabrook Island vacation gives you ample opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and return home restored, but a little pampering is always nice. The Synergy Day Spa overlooks the waterfront at Bohicket Marina in a perfect setting for a deep tissue or hot stone massage after a day of outdoor activities on Seabrook.

For an exclusive spa experience, go all out on an indulgent spa treatment or full day of pampering at The Spa at the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, a luxury Forbes Five-Star spa for a complete escape.

8. Seabrook Island Events

Shag dancing was born on the beaches of South Carolina and is the state’s official dance! If you’re visiting Seabrook Island in Spring, you can dust off your shag swag or learn the Carolina Swag at Freshfields Village spring Shag Night on the Dock.

You don’t have to love cars to enjoy Freshfields Village monthly Cars & Coffee on the 3^rd Saturday of each month. Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Java Java, and view a collection of antique, vintage and classic cars on the Village Green.

Freshfields Village comes alive in the summer months with weekly Music on the Village Green. Bring your chairs and blankets, pack a picnic (or pick up to-go from a Freshfields Village restaurant) and spend an evening under the stars with live music, dancing and loads of family fun!

The best thing to do on Seabrook Island is book your stay with Seabrook Exclusives! Our selection of Seabrook Island vacation homes, villas and cottages are scattered throughout the island with a choice of ocean views, wooded views, or golf course views of Seabrook Island’s tranquil fairways. If you’re traveling to Seabrook with your pet, we’ve got you covered too!

Reserve your amenity card. A Seabrook Island Club Amenity Card is required to access all Club (golf, tennis, dining, and facilities) and SIPOA Lake House facilities. While most of our Seabrook Island vacation rentals include amenity cards, there are a few that don’t. This is advertised clearly in the property description. If an amenity card is not included, please contact our team to purchase a card to ensure you have access to the world-class amenities at Seabrook Island Club during your stay.

Come and embrace the holiday season on Seabrook Island, a private, pet-friendly paradise where sunny shores, serene landscapes, and stress-free days in nature redefine your seasonal celebrations. Unlike the traditional winter scenes in many parts of the country, this coastal haven promises a winter holiday filled with warm weather, beach bonfires, delectable seafood feasts, and a multitude of festive holiday events. If you need a change of pace, consider planning an easy day trip to Charleston, where the city’s vibrant charm adds a delightful twist to your holiday experience.

Join us as we explore 7 reasons why Seabrook Island should be your chosen destination for this year’s festive season.

1. Warm Weather Beach Days

While much of the country is shivering with cold, the coastal islands of South Carolina promise a different kind of winter experience. South Carolina’s Seabrook Island embraces visitors with mild temperatures and consistent sunshine in the winter months, offering a welcoming escape from the cold. Over the holidays, expect lows around 40⁰F and highs up into the mid-60s, perfect temperatures for outdoor activities and winter beach days. The water may be too chilly for a swim, around 60⁰F, but the beaches are wide open for kite flying, beachcombing, sandcastle building, beach walks, or simply laying on a cozy blanket with a good book, soaking in the soothing ocean views and rhythmic sounds of the waves. The perfect recipe for a serene holiday escape.

2. Seek Solace From Seasonal Stress

Speaking of serenity, Seabrook Island is shielded by the privacy of its gated community and offers the ultimate opportunity to retreat to calm amidst the holiday chaos! Here, you’ll find no bright lights or bustling crowds, only pristine beaches, enchanting maritime forests, and free-roaming wildlife. It’s a destination where you can truly seek solace from seasonal stress and connect with the peace that only nature can provide.

That doesn’t mean you’ll be bored! Seek solace hiking and biking the island’s nature trails, teeing off on Seabrook’s Audubon-certified golf courses, horseback riding on the beach, paddling the waterways, mastering the art of pickleball, or having fun reconnecting as a family with games, movie nights, and holiday feasts in your coastal holiday home.

3. It’s Seafood Season

While it’s always seafood season on the South Carolina coastline, the best oyster harvests happen in the winter when the water is cooler. Imagine leisurely waterfront meals of succulent shrimp fresh from the Atlantic, tender blue crab plucked from the pristine tidal marshes, and Bluefin Tuna caught at their peak of flavor. Keen to catch your own? Winter is a great time to book a guided Lowcountry fishing charter!

For the ultimate holiday highlight, indulge in a traditional Lowcountry oyster roast. For a seafood extravaganza local to Seabrook Island, we suggest the world-famous Salty Dog Café at Bohicket Marina for a casual setting, the Jasmine Porch at The Sanctuary for authentic Lowcountry charm, or The Atlantic Room at The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s signature seafood restaurant. Our guide on Where to Eat Oysters on Seabrook Island has all the local scoop!

4. Beach Bonfires & S’mores

Immerse yourself in the magic of the holidays on Seabrook Island with a heartwarming beach bonfire experience. Step out from your oceanfront vacation rental and create cherished memories of storytelling, stargazing, and roasting s’mores over crackling flames as the waves gently lap the shore. While you’re guaranteed a good time, remember to respect the rules to preserve the island’s fragile ecosystem – leave only footprints and take away only memories.

To make this magic happen, you’ll need to secure a permit from the Seabrook Island Security Gatehouse. It’s a simple process, and well worth it! Click HERE for a Beach Fire Permit Application.

5. Holiday Fun at Freshfields Village

Just a leisurely bike ride from Seabrook Island, Freshfields Village is the hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment for Kiawah & Seabrook, and the beating heart of holiday joy! This charming village offers a delightful holiday event calendar with strolling carolers, live music, and fun family festivities that capture the true spirit of the season. Kids can deliver their wish lists to Santa on the Village Green, families gather under the stars for outdoor movie nights, and holiday shoppers find themselves in retail heaven with a diverse selection of boutique shops, galleries, and markets to pick up Christmas gifts.

When it’s time to dish out festive feasts, Freshfields Village has everything from old-fashioned soda fountains and mouthwatering burgers to fine French bistros with southern-inspired cuisine. Whether it’s a joyful family reunion or a cozy couples’ escape, Freshfields Village offers endless opportunities to make your holidays memorable.

6. Holiday Happenings In Charleston!

The Holy City comes alive with hundreds of holiday happenings that promise to capture your festive spirit. From cozy carriage tours and harbor cruises highlighting Charleston’s top attractions to festivals of lights, magical holiday markets, and Christmas shopping on King Street, Charleston offers a multitude of enchanting experiences easily enjoyed on a day trip from Seabrook Island.

With Charleston’s holiday attractions only a scenic drive away, your vacation home on Seabrook Island provides a peaceful coastal haven to recharge after your city adventures.

7. Lowcountry-Inspired Coastal Holiday Homes

Your coastal home for the holidays awaits with Seabrook Exclusives – a holiday home inspired by the surrounding Lowcountry landscapes, adorned with luxury amenities for an unforgettable holiday, and a stone’s throw from the exclusive resort amenities reserved for Seabrook Island residents and guests.

Whether you choose to revel in the lush fairways of Seabrook’s golf courses, immerse yourself in the tranquility of Lowcountry marshes, or soak up sea breezes and ocean views on Seabrook’s shoreline, our exclusive collection of luxury rentals offers an irresistible reason to spend the holidays on Seabrook Island. Seeking a longer snowbird escape? Our monthly rentals offer the perfect opportunity to extend your winter stay on Seabrook Island.

WHERE TO STAY ON SEABROOK ISLAND

Our selection of private vacation homes and island villa rentals are located in the most desirable communities on Seabrook Island, giving guests the option to customize their Seabrook Island vacation – a weekend in nature, a beach retreat, a golf getaway, tennis weekend or a romantic weekend in seclusion. Stay steps from the ocean and Seabrook Island Beach Club, on the fairways of the Ocean Winds and Crooked Oaks Golf Course, waterfront on Bohicket Marina, near the Equestrian Center and Racquet Club, or in a tranquil Lowcountry setting overlooking Captain Sams Creek.

Contact our team at Seabrook Exclusives to plan your vacation to Seabrook Island, a coastal paradise waiting to be discovered!

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Top 8 Ways To Experience Seabrook Island