May 4, 20213 min read

Sunset Kayaking

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Written in 2021

With so much water surrounding Charleston it would be criminal to visit and not go on the water. Take a boat, a kayak, a canoe, or a float it doesn't really matter but for the love my traveling heart please don't leave without exploring the marshes.

You can get rentals and go on the water without a tour group. I do have experience kayaking and canoeing but I decided to go with a tour group that way I could learn about the marshes and the ecosystem from the guide. Plus what better way to make sure you have a fantastic experience than to use a local expert? A quick google search for kayaking in Charleston will make your head spin with a wild amount of options to pick from. I read so many reviews and even if you pick a different company than the one I did I really don't think you can go wrong.

I finally decided to book my trip with Charleston Outdoor Adventures.

They offer kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, fishing, and a few different types of tour options. They even have a full moon tour! That is on my must do list next time I am here.

The location for launching is

1871 Bowens Island Road

Charleston, SC 29412

(Folly Beach)

Bowens Island is also a seafood restaurant. Just make sure you are ready to wait if you plan on eating there! I didn't try it because I wasn't about to stand in that line. However, I'm sure with a wait list that long and the thousands of reviews on google I have no doubt this would be a fantastic place to get your oyster fix.

Before you launch, the tour guide will go over a few basic rules and tips. The guide will also pass out life jackets, a dry bag, and the paddles. After that you will go sit in the kayak on dry ground that way you can adjust the foot pedals (this is a very helpful feature to have on your kayak. The foot pedals guide the rudder that is on the back of your kayak and it helps you go left or right without having to depend on your paddling power exclusively. One of the reasons I like kayaking better than canoeing.)

Once everyone has their kayak fitted and somewhat of an understanding on how to maintain balance then you are ready for take off. Since the guide is giving you a mini lesson this is something that even those without experience can do.

The moment my kayak hit the water I knew instantly this is one of the top things to experience here in Charleston. The view is unbelievable. We all paddled across to the bank where we learned about pluff mud and oysters. They say the pluff mud is like the equivalent of quick sand. Many people have lost their pants and shoes in it when they had an unfortunate fall into the sticky mud. Don't worry though, your guide will make sure you don't become a muddy mess. Craig was our tour guide and he made sure everyone stayed safe, had fun, and he also taught us a lot about the marshes of the low-country.

All along the bank you can see fresh oysters sticking up out of the fluff mud. It is incredible learning about the ecosystem and seeing nature do it's thing. If seeing oysters is not that exciting don't worry. We also got to see about 8 dolphins, a sea turtle, and all kinds of birds. Someone on the tour ahead of us even said they got to see a little baby shark. Unfortunately this was my first real go at using my GoPro and I didn't get a lot of the cool things on film. Trust me though this is an experience you will be glad you had. I'm going to book another outing and hopefully get some video of the wildlife next time. I'll be sure to share a part two here.