A Long Weekend Stay at Folly Beach

The experience of staying out at Folly Beach begins on the drive down Folly Road as you pass by Crosby’s Fish & Shrimp Co. with their big shrimping boats docked, then Lolo’s and the road out to Bowen’s Island Restaurant. Immediately you feel transported to a relaxing beach community as you see beautiful condominiums and marinas along the estuaries as you go over the bridges - maybe even spotting some dolphins! Once you hit Center Street on the island, you will finally see just how low-key it all really is, as it only spans a couple of blocks before you hit the parking lot entrance for the Folly Beach Pier on the beach.

Folly Beach Pier

At some point, after unpacking and traveling, you will need a supply run for certain items during your stay at the rental. There is no other place than Bert’s to take care of those needs. In addition to being the perfect beach-town convenience store, they are a little bit more. You will see by the end of your stay that you will find yourself at Bert’s more often than you would think! Grab a breakfast sandwich before heading out to the beach for surfing lessons with Isla Surf School and then later after dinner, stop on your way home for some ice cream.

Center Street corner

While saving some money & making your own meals, snacks and drinks at home at your rental is great, Folly has some very chill yet delicious options for dining out. Grab coffee from Center Street Coffee or Dead Low Cafe before shopping for some new surf and beach digs at McKevlin’s Surf Shop. They are a staple to the island in name alone, but their merchandise is also top-notch, too. My favorite carry-out or quick lunch spot where you feel more than at home trudging in with your swimsuit & cover-up on is The Drop-in. A few streets up Center St. is Lowlife Bar with its indoor/outdoor bar (dog-friendly outdoor seating), rustic ambiance and great cocktails. They occasionally have live music, which is a plus, too.

Beach view from the back porch

For the best hidden gems and coolest aesthetics on the island, you’ll find that and great beer at Revelry Brewing. There is a small corridor between buildings that will lead you straight back to their indoor/outdoor space to lounge for some drinks before dinner — or stay for a light meal. If you have access to a car and are looking for a real treat, you will need to try Bowen’s Island Restaurant. Fresh-catch seafood, a dive-bar feel and jaw-dropping watercolor sunsets on the water, this is hands down one of the best restaurants in the area.

Other honorable mentions that have always hit the spot are Jack of Cups Saloon, Lost Dog Cafe and Rita’s Seaside Grill. Rita’s especially gives me all the ‘Margarita-ville’ vibes, while Jack of Cups keeps me on my toes with their unexpectedly delectable dishes & house-made sangria.

View of Morris Island Lighthouse

You most definitely should visit the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve to beachwalk with unobstructed views of the iconic Morris Island Lighthouse on the east end of the island. Take E Ashley Ave all the way down until it literally becomes a dead end — don’t worry, you’re in the right spot! If you drive your car, park with all four tires off the pavement on either side of the road or check on the beach side just past the street sign “Summer Place” for some additional parking spots — all free! Riding bikes will mean you’ll be able to take those past this dead-end point on the road, though. You’ll notice past the gate at the entrance that the pavement is covered entirely in colorful graffiti — as if this hippie beach destination needed more of an edge, here it is. While still illegal, it has somewhat become an “accepted” part of the charm here specifically.

Driftwood at Folly Beach

The graffiti path up to the furthest tip of the beach is about a half-mile walk one-way, so pack light and wear comfortable shoes. There are also no bathrooms if that wasn’t already obvious, so plan ahead! I would advise bringing a bag with at least: sunscreen, water bottle, snacks, sunglasses, bug spray and a little baggy for any shells or shark teeth you might collect. At the end of the paved path, you will need to hoof it up a sand dune path with soft sand before you reach the hard-packed sand again on the beach below. Once you get to the top and from that moment on, you’ll be able to see the lighthouse out in the distance. Off the right will be some rocks and jetties, and off to the left you will see what I like to call a little “driftwood forest”. The petrified wood is stunning against the backdrop of the ocean & sky, making for a truly unique scenic landscape.

If you choose to endeavor on additional adventures during your stay, then I would highly recommend looking into everything from guided boat tours to kayak and SUP rentals from Coastal Expeditions, who will have you exploring every nook & cranny of the Folly Beach are waterways.

Rocky beach jetty

Sunrise view from beach house

Finally, it goes without saying that on a beachfront vacation that you should venture outside and bask in the sun & dip your toes in the ocean for most of your stay. Take leisurely walks up and down the beach — keep looking for those shark’s teeth! - And plan time for one of those post-day-in-the-sun naps before dinner each night. There is no schedule, there is no rush, there is only the sand and the waves and all is as it should be

Beach walk at dusk

Sadly, Folly Beach has become less and less dog-friendly compared to other beach towns in America. However, we have had some of our best memories bringing our dogs along with us. The key is to be aware of the leash laws and the allowed times dogs are allowed on the beach based on the time of year when you are planning to stay. Starting May 1st until October 1st, dogs are only able to be on the beach at all, either before 10 am or after 6 pm. This may seem extreme, but the reality is that during that time of year in Charleston, it will be significantly too hot out for dogs on the beach anyways — not to mention the soft sand will burn their paw pads! Knowing this in advance can enable you to plan based on your dog’s needs when selecting your accommodations. I’d recommend picking out a pet-friendly rental that has some yard or grass space for quick potty breaks as well as some sort of enclosed or covered porch or deck for the dogs to lounge on in the shade. This way you can feel like you're letting them outside without having to worry about them getting too hot on the beach & also not feel guilty about cooping them up inside all day long. I also suggest, if possible, booking a rental that is farther away from Center Street and the Folly Beach Pier located in the center of the island. The farther you are from the main center of the island will mean less crowding and more space for you & your dog(s) to enjoy during those early morning and late-evening dog hours. A bonus would be a rental that has an outdoor shower or hose for rinsing off the sand from their fur after some play time in the ocean & sand!

Folly Beach is located about a 20–25min drive to downtown Charleston, give or take with any traffic delays and there is not any public transportation to take advantage of, so if you are planning on any off-island exploring, make sure to rent a car or plan to use a car service such as Uber or Lyft when you do. If you plan to take it easy, Folly Beach itself has everything you need and you won’t necessarily need to leave if you didn’t want to! There are golf cart rentals, moped rentals and bike rentals that all are fun ways to get around the island. The bikes especially will be much easier to take with you out to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve point at the east end of the island to see the Morris Island Lighthouse because then you don’t have to worry about parking. I would strongly advise refraining from riding in golf carts, mopeds or bikes at night if possible, especially on weekends when there are more cars on the island as there are a lot of side streets with blind corners due to all the beautiful trees, plants & other foliage.

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