Learning to surf in Folly Beach
Our "best of" itinerary
View all our Travel Itineraries here.
As a worldschooling/unschooling family- we love to travel.
It gets us out of our comfort zone.
Shows us new ways of life and cultures.
And provides an immersive way to learn.
Plus it’s just fun!
Most recently, we traveled to Folly Beach, SC because I’d been dying to learn how to surf. And while ChatGPT was helpful in finding our location… at first, I felt a little catfished. The pictures and vibe of our hotel did not match what we anticipated.
But the beauty of travel is exploring and finding what you’re looking for- which is exactly what we did. So I thought I’d start sharing our “best of” itineraries in case you wanted to check out these spaces (with a human’s perspective) too.
Where to stay
Oceanfront was a must for us on this trip, so the kids could easily swim in the ocean or pool (and I could hopefully read a few chapters of my book!) So we booked our stay at The Tides. I was expecting it to be an upscale hotel with sleek Miami vibes but it felt different in-person.
Normally we opt for an Airbnb but I hadn’t seen great options walking distance to the main street in town… until our 3rd day of the trip. We traveled down the street for our surfing lessons and THAT’S where all the awesome vacation homes were.
Turns out Folly Beach is a golf cart kind of town, so while I thought walking around town was priority, I’d say the quieter location was instead.
If we were to stay again I’d look for rentals in this area:
The nightly rental prices are much higher here but I see it as an investment in my location vs. my food. Eating out on Center Street was way more $$$ than we expected and while we were able to pick up a few things at Bert’s Market- it was still way more expensive than grocery shopping before you get into town.
Where to Eat
On that topic- we did find some delicious hidden gems that we’d highly recommend from both a vibe and taste perspective:
Their Chai Tea was my favorite: smooth- not tangy, the mini cinnamon roll croissants were the perfect sweet bite and their egg sandwiches filled everyone up for a day of fun.
Hidden between two busy bars, this spot felt like a secret locale for the surfing crowd. They had seltzers on tap which were delicious, great vegetarian options brought over from the restaurant next door and plenty of seating from concrete couches to a fire pit and picnic table- we had a blast here!
Although it was on the busy pier, Koko’s had a great Teriyaki Rice Bowl that hit the spot after being out all day.
I had seen this cafe when finding places to eat, but once our surf instructor recommended it we had to go. It did not disappoint. Service was speedy fast, the cinnamon roll was a hit as an appetizer and my loaded quesadilla provided me with lunch and dinner for the day.
What to do
Obviously, I’m biased, but the best thing we did while we were there was surf.
Kyle and his team at Carolina Salt were TOP NOTCH. And because we went in the shoulder season we were lucky enough to have 1:1 time with them which was extremely valuable considering Kyle was a Pro Surfer.
We had prepped the kids before we came with swim lessons out the wazoo. But of course I was a little worried about them getting tossed around by the waves. It couldn’t have worked out better with one instructor sending the kids, another catching them and this all being situated in waist-deep water.
The kids picked it up so quickly and had a blast! Our 1.5 hour lesson flew by and Jack was ready for more the next day!
The Best Of Itinerary (if we were to do it all again)
I’d book a Airbnb further down the coast so we could spend our time at the ocean, cooking our own meals and relaxing on a deck with a gorgeous view.
I’d rent a golf cart or bikes so we could pop into town for a coffee or dinner one night (but wouldn’t have to rely on going out for our meals.)
I’d then either Instacart groceries or stop at a grocery store on our way to our rental so we’d have a plethora of good food at our fingertips at all times.
Last but not least, I’d book a couple of surf lessons with Carolina Salt + also rent boards from them so we could hit the waves everyday we were there.
I hope this was as fun for you as it was for me- next up: Ketchikan, Alaska!
So fun! Loved reading this.
What a great wrap up of your time at Foly beach. Thnx loved reading the fun!! And wonderful tips for visiting the area.,