Hunting Island is the most amazing beach area I have ever been to. It is located about 60 miles south of Charleston. To get to it you have to travel across to the Island which is a nature reserve. You have to pay a beach entrance fee, which works out to about £1 per person.
You drive through very lush and tropical vegetation. There is a lot of wildlife here, birds, lizards, etc. You can camp here, either in tents or in the chalets on site, or just visit for the day like we did.
Hunting Island got its name when the island was once used for hunting deer, waterfowl and raccoon. There are showers and dressing rooms on the beach, a 200 site campground, cabins, boardwalk, nature trails, lagoon, fishing pier and boat landing. There is a visitors center too.
Hunting Island has a constantly eroding coastline. It is disappearing at a rate of 25 miles a year. The lighthouse on the island has been moved twice to stop it being swallowed up by the sea. Because the sea is coming further inland it is eroding into the forest area. You can see parts of tree roots sticking out from the sand, there is loads of driftwood about and it gives the whole beach a surreal look. You half expect a dinosaur to come waltzing out of the trees and stroll down the beach.
The day we visited the temperature was 107 degrees, but there was plenty of shade from the trees and because of all the tree debris there are plenty of little nooks to sit in and get some privacy. The water stays shallow for quite a ways from the beach, so it is probably ok for kids although there is no lifeguard on duty. We found a jellyfish swimming happily along the shoreline - not sure if it was poisonous or not! The sand is pure white and beautiful.
If you are anywhere near this area, I strongly suggest you visit this beach. It is fantastic and you will not regret the detour.