By Jessie Ammons
As the sun rises on an early February morning, temperatures are already approaching 50 degrees. A full day awaits: a round of golf on the course that boasts the most seaside holes in the northern hemisphere, a massage in a Forbes five-star spa, and dinner at an elegant restaurant, hailed by Wine Spectator magazine.
Kiawah Island Ocean Course
But first, there’s time for a bike ride. A half-hour spin along lush tree-lined trails offers both alligator and Bald Eagle sightings; veering off the paved bike path onto the beachfront for the return journey, conch shells and starfish pepper the hard-packed sand.
Amazingly, I am not eons away in an exotic locale but just 20 miles south of Charleston on Kiawah Island, a magical combination of low country elegance and carefree island cheer. It’s a secluded haven for rest, relaxation, and sufficient activity to thoroughly unwind.
A coupe enjoys the view from The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
First-rate History
Named for the Indian tribe that first settled the barrier island in the 1600s, Kiawah Island became privately-owned in the early 18th century. It remained plantation land until the early ’70s when it was sold to a resort developer who paid special attention to preservation and conservation.
In 1993, Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s current owner purchased the resort property, which includes most of the island, after being smitten by its environmental beauty and expansive shoreline. To ensure an unobstructed view of this magnificence for every guest, the site of The Sanctuary, the resort’s sumptuous 255-room hotel, was raised from its original six-feet-above-sea-level to 21 feet above the water.
The Sanctuary Lobby
The hotel opened in 2004 with guest rooms and executive suites, a spa and salon, retail shops, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, two restaurants and bars, ballrooms and landscaped grounds leading to a pristine beach. And that’s just The Sanctuary.
The greater resort is home to five championship golf courses, including the Ocean Course, where the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 PGA Championships were played. The resort also hosts two acclaimed tennis clubs. Dining opportunities are significant with 11 different dining options, and one- to four-bedroom villas and even larger luxury rental homes.
Kiawah Island Ocean Course #6
It suffices to say: a trip to Kiawah Island truly holds something for everyone.
An Accessible Escape
Perhaps the best part about Kiawah Island is its convenience, driveable for all Carolinians. Its location in the southern part of the Low Country, provides a semi-tropical climate that is usually one notch milder than the surrounding area. When combined with its verdant setting and teeming wildlife, Kiawah Island is in a world all its own. A stay at The Sanctuary can be a weekend jaunt although there is ample activity to keep you busy for weeks on end.
What To Do
As a barrier island, Kiawah is not actually separate from the South Carolina coast. Passing through a gated entrance, you cross a Low Country marsh where palmetto leaves seem larger and greener, intermingled with oak branches draped in Spanish moss. Deer are almost as common as people while alligators frequently sun on the banks of ponds. Birders especially appreciate the breadth and bounty of vertebrates on the island which The Travel Channel calls one of America’s Best Wildlife Getaway Beaches.
Kiawah strikes a remarkable balance of privacy and southern hospitality. While golf reigns supreme, followed closely by tennis, the island itself is rich for exploration. Renting a bike is the preferred way to view the ten-mile island via its paved bike paths.
Impressively Renowned
It’s no surprise that Kiawah Island as a destination has received special recognition almost immediately following its opening. Last year Conde Nast Traveler magazine named the Kiawah Island Golf Resort as the No. 2 Best American Beach Resort; Forbes Travel Guide gave it a Five Star Award; and Travel + Leisure named it the tenth best place in the world for a family vacation.
Other accolades include being cited as one of 100 top resort spas in America by Conde Nast Traveler. Golf Magazine rates it as the best golf course in South Carolina while Golf Digest places it as the No. 2 golf resort in the world. Also by Conde Nast Traveler, is now ranked the No. 1 island in North America and No. 2 in the world!
Kiawah Island Ocean Course #11
Such recognition hasn’t changed the Kiawah culture: Coastal Living magazine has declared it to be the Happiest Seaside Town. Those who are living there agree.
Ready to pack your bags?
Thanks to its semitropical climate, Kiawah Island is lovely to visit almost any time of year. Should you choose a warmer month or a holiday season, be sure to book a few months in advance. If you stay at The Sanctuary, your stay will be unparalleled in customer service and amenities. But no matter the time of year or accommodations, prepare yourself for breathtaking beauty — a blissful escape into the low country’s secret garden.
All photos courtesy Kiawah Island Golf Resort.