Most people around here who go to the beach visit Tybee Island near Savannah, but if you're willing to drive a little further and pay the $4.00 fee, you can visit a much better beach. My favorite beach in this area is the one on Hunting Island, South Carolina. Hunting Island is near Lady's Island and Beaufort, and you can take the Interstate (I-95 North) most of the way there. Hunting Island is actually a state park. The entry fee is $4.00 for adults, $1.50 for children ages 6-15, and free for children 5 and under. The Island has nature trails, picnic tables, restrooms, and other amenities that Tybee doesn't have. The Island has its own lighthouse. For $2.00 you can climb to the top and enjoy the view. The beach itself is a wide, clean area with white sand and a volleyball net.  I always find far more seashells, and a wider variety of shells, here.  I saw two live crabs scurrying sideways through the water, a sign of a healty, un-polluted beach. The Island is also a wildlife refuge, so you'll probably see a few deer. The scenery on the Island is beautiful. The Island has its own campground and cabins, but the cabins must be booked far in advance. There are several restaurants on Hunting Island and next-door Lady's Island, including Weezie's Crab Shack, The Boondocks, Shrimp Shack, a tavern, and the Gullah Grub Restaurant. There are no hotels on the Island. The nearest hotels are back in Beaufort, which has several.

Even the areas near the Island are interesting to explore, with aquariums, art galleries, beautiful old homes, and unique shops. The nearby town of Frogmore has a store filled with frog items. Gullah is a thick accent unique to some of the people who have lived on the more remote islands for many years. The accent almost sounds like Jamaican. Linguists have visited the area to study Gullah and how it has changed over time. In the Lowcountry Store, I saw copies of a Gullah translation of the Bible, which was interesting.

I have pictures of Hunting Island in My Pics. Next time you and your friends or family want to go to the beach, try the beach at Hunting Island. It really is better than Tybee.