Outdoor Living in Charleston: Beaches, Boating, Golf & More

One of my favorite things about living in Charleston is how much of life happens outside.

You don't have to live directly on the beach or own a waterfront home to take advantage of it. Water, golf courses, parks, beaches and outdoor spaces are woven throughout the Charleston area.

But here's something I tell buyers: if a particular activity is an important part of your life, don't treat it as an afterthought when you're choosing where to live.

Your address can make a big difference in how often you actually do the things you moved here to enjoy.

Charleston is surrounded by rivers, tidal creeks, marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway.

If boating is important to you, think beyond whether a house looks close to water on a map.

Ask yourself how you'll actually use your boat.

• ✓Will you keep it at a marina?
• ✓Do you want a neighborhood boat ramp?
• ✓Are you looking for a property with a private dock?
• ✓Will you trailer the boat?
• ✓Do you need room to store it at home?

Those are completely different searches.

A house five minutes from a public boat landing may work better for one buyer than an expensive waterfront property would.

If you boat regularly, investigate the practical details before you buy: marina availability, boat-storage restrictions, neighborhood covenants, tidal access, dock permits and the route from the property to the water.

Golf

Golf is another major part of the Charleston-area lifestyle.

You'll find golf communities and courses throughout the region, including areas of Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island and communities farther north and west of downtown.

If you specifically want to live in a golf community, decide what that means to you.

• ✓Do you want the golf course outside your back door?
• ✓Are you interested in club membership?
• ✓Do you simply want to live close to a course?

Those are different things.

Also understand that living in a golf community doesn't automatically mean golf membership is included with homeownership. Club memberships, initiation fees, dues and access rules can be completely separate from HOA fees.

Ask before assuming.

We'll eventually have a dedicated Nestor guide to Charleston-area golf communities with direct home searches for individual communities.

Charleston gives you access to several very different beach communities.

Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms and Folly Beach are probably the names you'll hear most often.

But there's a difference between wanting to live at the beach and wanting to get to the beach easily.

That distinction can dramatically change your home search and your budget.

Someone who wants to walk to the ocean should search very differently from someone who is perfectly happy driving to the beach on Saturday morning.

Think about how often you'll realistically go and how important that access is to your everyday life.

For more local information about Charleston beaches and activities, you can also explore Charleston.com:

Fishing and Waterways

Fishing in the Lowcountry can mean fishing from a dock, heading offshore, fishing tidal creeks or simply throwing a line in from somewhere close to home.

If fishing is an important part of why you're moving here, consider access to boat ramps, marinas and waterways when choosing an area.

Again, don't assume the closest-looking property on a map provides the easiest access.

Charleston's geography doesn't always work that way.

The Charleston area has parks, walking paths, waterfront spaces and trails spread throughout different municipalities and communities.

Some planned communities incorporate trails, parks and recreation areas directly into the neighborhood.

Other areas put you closer to public parks, beaches or waterways.

Rather than asking me which area has the "best" outdoor lifestyle, I would ask: What do you actually want to do outside?

• ✓Walk?
• ✓Bike?
• ✓Golf?
• ✓Boat?
• ✓Fish?
• ✓Go to the beach?
• ✓Take the dog somewhere?

Once you answer that, your home search becomes much more useful.

Don't Forget the Weather

Charleston's climate is one reason outdoor living is such a big part of life here, but buyers moving from somewhere else should also understand the realities of a coastal climate.

• ✓Summers can be hot and humid.
• ✓Afternoon storms happen.
• ✓Salt air can be hard on materials near the coast.
• ✓Mosquitoes are real.

This is the bigger point.

A feature doesn't have to be physically attached to your house to add value to your life.

Sometimes being ten minutes from the boat landing you use every weekend matters more than having a community pool.

Sometimes being able to get to the beach easily matters more than an extra bedroom.

Sometimes living near your golf club matters more than being five miles closer to downtown.

Figure out which parts of Charleston life you're actually going to use.

Then let that help determine where you search.

Nestor lets you start with the location and explore current MLS inventory.