Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island was once again ranked the best beach in the Carolinas in the latest annual list from geoscientist Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman.

“This is a nature-lovers coast so visitors can bring their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets,” according to the 2025 list. “It is also fun to walk or bicycle down the fine-grained sand beach to Captain Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds.”

Leatherman, the director of the Florida International University Laboratory for Coastal Research has ranked the 10 best beaches in the United States every year since 1991. He assigns beaches numerical scores one through five on more than 50 criteria. Factors include natural criteria, like sand softness, water temperature and rip currents, as well as social criteria like access, amenities and lifeguards.

“The water is not clear, but it is clean and provides fantastic seafood,” Leatherman wrote of Beachwalker Park.

The Kiawah Island beach came in at number six this year, dropping a spot from the 2024 list. Beachwalker Park was only beach in North or South Carolina to make this year or last year’s lists, but Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach in North Carolina won first place in 2022.

This year New York took the top spot, with two entries on the list. Hawaii had the most beaches ranked in 2025, with four in the top 10 list.

10. Coast Guard Beach

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

9. Lanikai Beach

Oahu, Hawaii

8. Kaunaoa

Big Island, Hawaii

7. St. Andrews State Park

Panama City, Florida

6. Beachwalker Park

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

5. Main Beach

East Hampton, New York

4. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Naples, Florida

3. Poipu Beach

Kauai, Hawaii

2. Wailea Beach

Maui, Hawaii

1. Coopers Beach

Southampton, New York

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We asked our readers to vote for their favorite spots for fresh catch and local shrimp in the Palmetto State—here are their picks.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in South Carolina, find the nearest seafood dive and tuck into a platter of fried shrimp—preferably one served with an ice-cold beer and an unobstructed view of the water. While you can take to Google or a guidebook to determine where to go for steamed oysters or shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry, we decided to consult the folks who care about good Southern seafood as much as we do: our readers.

When you’ve been around for more than 75 years, you’re bound to be doing something right. At this beloved institution in the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, try not to load up on the hot hush puppies they bring to the table on arrival—though it's awfully tempting. There's still so much more to savor, like the hand-peeled, cold-boiled shrimp pulled from the waters of nearby McClellanville or the thin and crispy onion rings—Lee’s is as famous for those as it is for the seafood.

Order: The Shrimp Salad ($28.95), made with boiled fantail shrimp and Duke's mayo, is another house specialty.

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

It doesn’t get much fresher than this Hilton Head Island mainstay, where 90% of the seafood served comes directly from the surrounding waters. Because of its enviable position on the edge of Port Royal Sound, guests can watch a local fishing fleet (one of only two on the island) unload the day’s loot, which could include anything from white shrimp to soft-shell crab.

Order: From September through April, opt for the steamed local cluster oysters in the shell ($12 for a half bucket); the restaurant farms and harvests them.

Should you find yourself in the Holy City, make the worthwhile dirt-road detour to this family-owned restaurant that’s been a rambling fixture along Folly Creek since 1946. With its graffitied walls and worn-in wood floors, it doesn’t beg for attention, and it doesn’t need to. Deemed an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, the Lowcountry seafood joint shovels fresh-steamed oysters onto trays September through the first half of May and dishes fried shrimp and hush puppies year-round. It’s all delicious—and it's made even more so if you snag a seat on the waterside deck.

Order: The shrimp (served boiled or fried) and fried fish platter is served with the seafood-dive-side-dish trifecta: french fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw.

Situated on the main drag of the freewheeling beach town just 12 miles from buttoned-up Charleston, The Crab Shack is as family-friendly and flip-flop casual as its surrounds. Start with the the she-crab soup, but save room: The value seafood baskets—which you can order with flounder, shrimp, or scallops (or a combination of all three)—are generously portioned. Catch them at another location in Charleston as well.

Order: The marquee offering, The Charleston Steamed Seafood Bucket, includes two snow crab clusters, large domestic shrimp, and steamed oysters (market price).

Housed in a reimagined garage on Upper King Street, the Brooks Reitz-helmed restaurant turned 10 in 2024, but it’s been a neighborhood favorite from the start, thanks to a menu of mouthwatering fried chicken, expectedly fresh oysters, and surprisingly craveable salads. Add to the clever mix soft-serve ice cream and buckets of Miller High Life ponies, and you’ve found yourself one of the best meals in this restaurant-proud town.

Order: Even the bivalve-averse crowd may develop a taste for oysters after sampling Leon's char-grilled take, which swim in a melty swirl of lemon and butter and are topped with a generous sprinkle of parmesan. The "old-school" scalloped potatoes are also not to be missed.

Don’t let inevitable line out the door during summertime scare you off. This treasured counter-service spot with just 40 seats is an area favorite thanks to its wide array of offerings, from conch fritters to flounder sandwiches. It’s all made to order and to your liking—fried, grilled, or blackened. Wash it down with a glass of what they declare to be the best sweet tea on the island, and finish with a slice of strawberry Key Lime pie (when it’s seasonally available) or a cup of banana pudding.

Order: Hearty appetites should try the Shack Attack Combo ($17.95 for lunch, $19.95 for dinner), which combines a crab cake, fish, shrimp, scallops, and oysters on a giant paper platter. Homemade tartar sauce is the traditional accompaniment, but we think the brandy-infused gator sauce makes an even better platter slather.

With its lofted ceilings, lacquered-wood booths, and commitment to retro branding, this Sullivan’s Island joint feels like it’s been there forever. In reality, it’s a newcomer—a spring 2022 top-to-bottom overhaul of a restaurant that had called the same spot home for 30 years. And while the nostalgically striped, umbrella-shaded patio is painfully charming, the takeaway window makes a strong case for a to-go lobster roll savored on the beach just a few blocks away.

Order: The shrimp fried rice ($24) puts a fresh coastal twist on a takeout mainstay. We also love the Key lime pie.

The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene

So named for the trawler that was tossed ashore on the same spot during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, this dinner-only, no-reservations establishment on Shem Creek shrugs off formalities in favor of its dynamite views and deliciously simple seafood. The best seat in the house belongs to the wooden dockside bar, where sunset views and local craft beers are just an arm’s length away.

Order: Complete with red rice, coleslaw, a hush puppy, and a fried hominy square, the shrimp platter (from $17.95) is a true taste of the Lowcountry. The deviled crab is also worth a try.

This family-owned lunch spot has been an island institution since it first opened its doors in 1978, and its magic belongs to its simplicity. They're only open for lunch, and you order through a carry-out window—though you don't have to take your food home. Snag one of the picnic tables on the porch for an especially satisfying alfresco dining experience.

Order: Given the restaurant's name, it's obvious you can't go wrong with shrimp here, but the shrimp burger ($9.30), served on a bun with tartar sauce and mayo, is a true crowd favorite.

There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu at this landmark Grand Strand restaurant and seafood market owned by a fisherman father and his culinary school-trained daughter. Choose a South Carolina classic, like the Lowcountry boil, or make the most of the raw bar and order a sushi roll or two. Stretch mealtime into a full-fledged Mr. Fish experience by reserving a ride to and from dinner in the Mr. Fishmobile, a bright blue school bus that hits all the nostalgic high notes.

Order: The seafood tacos ($15) are made with your choice of mahi, tuna, or shrimp and are topped with chipotle-lime sauce.

GREENVILLE

Greenville News

The saying "Golf is a good walk spoiled" is often attributed to American writer Mark Twain, but it is actually anonymous.

Origins of the quote can be traced back to 1913, according to USA TODAY.

Regardless of who coined the term, golfers and non-golfers alike have resonated with its meaning, which sums up the sport perfectly: although being in the great outdoors is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable, trying to score that hole-in-one can make for quite a challenging experience.

But when you do win the game, playing it proves to be all the more rewarding, and so are the views that South Carolina's coastal courses have to offer.

Golf Digest just dropped its roundup of America's 100 greatest public courses, and two of them are in the Palmetto State. Here's where they are and where they ranked.

No. 30: Kiawah Island Golf Resort - The Ocean Course (previous rank 24)

Golf Digest didn't hold back when describing Kiawah Island's Ocean Course.

"This manufactured linksland-meets-lagoon might well be Pete Dye's most diabolical creation." the magazine said. "Every hole is edged by sawgrass, every green has tricky slopes, every bunker merges into bordering sand dunes."

Even so, the course's numerous challenges are what keep golfers returning for more, with many holes playing along the great Atlantic. One fun fact the publication mentions about the course is how it was designed spur of the moment for the 1991 Ryder Cup when the PGA of America moved the event from California to "the more attractive Eastern time zone television slot." Another fact to know is that Phil Mickerson rose victorious at the course during the 2021 PGA Championship, and so did Rory Mcllroy in 2012.

In Golf Digest's best of the state ranking, the Ocean Course was crowned first place.

No. 40: Congaree Golf Club, Ridgeland (previous rank 42)

Much can be said about Congaree Golf Club, designed strategically by Tom Fazio in 2017. And the magic behind this golf course is all in the sand, which makes it "easy to scoop and slope long ridgelines, creating significant movement across an otherwise level property ― and dozens of stately live oaks."

The course also comes with its own unique set of challenges, like navigating the Melbourne-style bunkers that pose hi-lo recovery situations by dodging shots that roll too far away. Other notes of worth are the course's location just 30 minutes from Beaufort and the Congaree-hosted 2022 CJ Cup.

In Golf Digest's best of the state ranking, Congaree Golf Club ranked No. 2.

Golf Digest's top 10 greatest public courses in SC

Golf Digest's top 10 greatest public courses in America

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

Katie Fongvongsa

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – Kiawah Island developers are proposing a plan to expand a new community on Johns Island.

Orange Hill Tract is about 933 acres of land between Bohicket Road and River Road. Charleston County previously approved development plans there in 2004, but since, it has been sold to South Street Partners. They are requesting approval from the County to build a new residential community and 18-hole golf course, part of the Kiawah Island Club. The group and county are also working on a development agreement, which officials said makes this deal more attractive.

“Our community development was able to secure a significant amount of funding for affordable workforce housing for Johns Island, nearly a million dollars. I think there was another $500,000 for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, St. John’s Fire Department is getting half the cost of a fire engine from the developer and our Charleston County EMS is basically getting half the cost of an ambulance covered,” Joe Boykin, county councilmember for District 8, said.

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Also, Developers tell News 2, around 60% of their employees live on Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island. They said this gives their employees another opportunity to make their commute closer to home and be present in the community with their contributions.

The revised plan coming from the South Street Partners includes a greater focus on preservation, by keeping over 80% of live oaks on the property, improving stormwater management, and reducing the numbers of homes originally proposed.

“That was done as a result of site analysis that suggested lower density and more modest home sites rather than big home sites and big homes. More modest home sites appropriate for the setting. More aligned with the character of Johns Island in terms of the nature of homes there,” said Mark Permar, Kiawah Island master planner and architect.

Additionally, by reducing the amount of homes, there will also be less impacts from previously planned roads on the property. The group has also decided to put the community’s entrance on the less congested roadway.

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“The access point was instead of Bohicket Road, we felt the more after we did an assessment we felt the more appropriate access point would be off of River Road,” Permar said. “Part of that was a reaction to the ever increasing traffic count on Bohicket Road that we’re all familiar with.”

The Kiawah Partners own and manage the Beach Club and Cassique Club, and Permar said they continue to be a community involved group. When asked about possible resident concerns, Boykin added that this is a better option than allowing for an outside developer to come in and sell.

“The developer’s been pretty sensitive to our concerns as Johns Islanders and wanting to keep our sense of place. So, again the concessions they made in reduction to how many units and the rearrangement of how they’re putting in this development I think were sensitive to our concerns,” said Boykin.

County council will host the public hearing on June 10 at county headquarters.

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