You'll need to slow down if you want to fit in on Hilton Head. This 42-square-mile barrier island may attract a more affluent clientele, but you don't have to rush to keep up with the Joneses. Follow the residents' leisurely pace – the population is made up of Gullah or freed slaves who settled in the area, and East Coast mainlanders who make Hilton Head their second home. Your vacation companions will most likely be white-haired retirees and young families. So, if you're looking for a wild nightlife scene, this might not be the place for you. This isn't to say there isn't nightlife – there is, but it takes the form of leisurely sunset dinners and lives music on the waterfront.

If you know anything about the island, you'll know that golfing, tennis, and "spa-ing" are how it got its wealthy reputation. However, you could spend an entire vacation here without ever picking up a golf club or a tennis racket. The island is full of natural wonders, such as the Coastal Discovery Museum and the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, as well as 12 miles of sandy beaches. So, whether you came to see low country wildlife, practice your backhand, or simply relax on the sand, Hilton Head has something for you.

Kiawah Island is a South Carolina coastal island with 10 miles of pristine beaches, 10,000 acres of natural woodlands, and every amenity to meet the needs of the entire family. Kiawah Island has plenty of sun and sand, and it's only a short drive to Charleston, a city brimming with Southern charm.

Kiawah Island is the closest thing to paradise in South Carolina. This private island has 10 miles of beautiful beaches backed by sand dunes, lush marshes, and maritime forestry, resulting in unrivaled beach scenery. Because the majority of the island's beaches are privately owned, they are only accessible to property owners, guests, and renters. Beachwalker County Park, on the other hand, has a public stretch of sand with amenities such as seasonal lifeguards and outdoor showers. The landscape of Kiawah Island also includes several scenic trails, waterfront golf courses, and some pretty sweet digs thanks to the luxurious Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

Folly Beach, like Sullivan's Island, is a popular beach destination for Charleston residents. When the weather is nice, this beach town on Folly Island, about 10 miles south of Charleston, serves as an ideal day trip for Charleston visitors. Center Street Beach and Folly Beach County Park are two notable stretches of sand in this area. Come early to catch a sunrise, surf, or sunbathe on the sand for the day, then meander to one of the many bars that line the beachfront for a drink at dusk.

Folly Beach, also known as the Edge of America by locals, has a charming Southern small-town surf vibe just 15 minutes from downtown Charleston. Bring some bait and a fishing rod to the end of the 1,045-foot fishing pier that juts out over the Atlantic Ocean, or sign up for surfing lessons back onshore. After riding the waves, join the locals at the Folly Beach Crab Shack for a hearty bowl of She-crab soup.

Isle of Palms, located northeast of Sullivan's Island, is a small community with one long beach that offers seemingly endless space for fun in the sun. Aside from Front Beach, the island has two championship golf courses (both of which are open to the public) and a plethora of water sports activities such as kayaking, fishing, and windsurfing. Isle of Palms is known to attract more families than Folly Beach.

The Isle of Palms is a Lowcountry hideaway just outside of Charleston. Front Beach is open to the public for swimming and sunbathing, and nesting sea turtles use the dunes to lay their eggs. The family-friendly Wild Dunes resort on the island's northern tip offers idyllic private beach access, clean beaches, water activities, and plenty of opportunities to play a round of golf or perfect your tennis serve.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina's largest resort along the 60-mile Grand Strand, is the ultimate vacation destination on the East Coast. Summertime activities abound in town, with beaches dotting the Strand, amusement and water parks, restaurants, and live entertainment. The actual beach in Myrtle Beach is a long stretch of silky white sand with opportunities for fishing, swimming, sunbathing, sailing, and surfing.

Myrtle Beach is known for its clean beaches, but there's more to this vacation destination than its 60 miles of brown sand. Myrtle Beach, one of the most popular East Coast family vacation destinations, has amusement parks with everything from water slides to roller coasters to race tracks. While the family's shopaholics spend their time at the outlet malls, golfers of all skill levels can flock to one of the area's more than 100 courses, and then the entire family can enjoy pirate or medieval-themed revues during dinner.

Cherry Grove Beach, also known as Cherry Grove, is a neighborhood of North Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina, USA. It is located between South Carolina Highway 9 and South Carolina Highway 65. The Cherry Grove Pier is a well-known Cherry Grove landmark. It was constructed in the early 1950s. It has withstood numerous hurricanes and was remodeled and lengthened in 1999 following Hurricane Floyd. North Myrtle Beach was formed in 1968 when Cherry Grove Beach, Windy Hill Beach, Ocean Drive Beach, and Crescent Beach merged to form the city of North Myrtle Beach.

This small town near North Myrtle Beach is an excellent low-key family vacation destination. Cherry Grove has a number of vacation rentals along its white sand beach, which bears the same name. Furthermore, the saltwater channels that weave in and out of the community provide excellent boating opportunities. If the kids get tired of the beach, there are many family-friendly attractions within driving distance of the area, such as Alligator Adventure and the O.D. Pavilion Amusement Park.

Surfside Beach is known for being the most family-friendly (and reasonably priced) beach in the state. Surfside Beach is located about 10 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach and has 2 miles of coastline with 36 beach access points. In addition, the town is home to the Ocean Lakes Family Campground, which provides a variety of family-friendly lodging options. There are also a number of family-friendly attractions in the area, such as mini-golf and a water park.

Visitors can now find beach houses, hotels, condominiums, restaurants, and a popular fishing pier along its two miles of pristine oceanfront. Lifeguards and police patrol the beaches on a daily basis to keep them clean and beautiful. Showers, restrooms, and foot showers are available at several beach access points, as are handicap-accessible ramps. This environmentally friendly town encourages beachgoers to recycle by collecting cans, bottles, and newspapers, and there are 36 access points to the popular beach, which is ideal for boating, swimming, fishing, and surfing. Surfside Beach is also a great place for families with autistic children to visit.

Litchfield Beach is ideal for those looking for a quiet stretch of sand because it is less crowded than nearby Myrtle Beach, which is about 20 miles northeast. Along with its relaxed atmosphere, Litchfield has three excellent golf courses that attract a large number of visitors. Meanwhile, runners, walkers, and cyclists can take advantage of the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway, which runs from Murrells Inlet to Huntington Beach State Park and is 26 miles long.

When visiting Litchfield Beach, which is part of the greater Pawleys Island region of the Grand Strand, you might think you're in sophisticated, upscale Hilton Head, S.C. Both communities are well-known for their natural beauty, quiet charm, private clubs, tennis, and golf. Litchfield Beach, named after a rice plantation that operated there in the 1700s, provides a very different vacation experience than the urban, fast-paced Myrtle Beach, which is only 30 minutes to the north. This carefully zoned and beautiful community provides a much quieter and more exclusive beach vacation experience than almost anywhere else along the Grand Strand.

Edisto Beach is a beach town in South Carolina's Colleton County. The population of Edisto Beach was 414 as of the 2010 census, down from 641 in 2000. Only the developed coastal area of Edisto Island within Colleton County is included in the town limits, while the majority of the island is unincorporated land in Charleston County. Edisto Beach is one of the most affluent communities in the state due to its status as a bedroom community.

Edisto Beach bills itself as one of South Carolina's last family-friendly beaches due to its lack of development. Edisto Beach, with fewer than 600 year-round residents, is very residential and, as a result, lacks the crowds that descend on other South Carolina beach destinations. Explore the Palmetto Boulevard shoreline, or head to Edisto Beach State Park for hiking and biking trails, as well as a nearly 2-mile stretch of seashell-covered sand.

Huntington Beach State Park is a great place to spend time with family and friends. This picturesque state park offers a variety of enjoyable activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. For guests' convenience, the park also has wireless Internet access, restrooms, picnic areas, and a beachside gift shop. There are camping areas within the park, and all areas of Huntington Beach State Park are pet friendly. Huntington Beach State Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., all year. Admission is no more than $5 per person, and children under the age of five are free.

The decision to reopen follows the discovery of non-detectable amounts of oil-related toxins in coastal ocean and wetlands water quality testing results. Water quality testing will be done twice a week for at least the next two weeks. California State Parks reminds everyone to use caution when visiting the beaches with the reopening of the state park units. Given the current state of the oil spill and its consequences, an advisory notice for all Huntington Beach beaches remains in effect.