Last Updated: July 3, 2026
South Carolina is a scenic state, especially along the coast. Even though we are on our way to Florida, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore the area. We loved the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and seeing peak fall foliage for the last month, but were ready to see a beach again and eat fresh seafood.
Greenwood, SC
We stayed at the Lake Greenwood RV Resort a couple of years ago and really like it. They have large sites with views of the lake. Full service but their wifi was mostly useless. Loved their clubhouse and spa. Unfortunately, it rained the entire time we were here.
We enjoyed visiting Sandy’s brother Eddie. We should have tried to get a better photo of our jeeps together but the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. We all enjoyed a delicious dinner at Break on the Lake.
Charleston, South Carolina
Self-guided audio tour: Several excellent apps cover Charleston’s historic district — GuideAlong is specifically designed for Charleston and covers the Battery, Rainbow Row, and the French Quarter in depth. Rainbow Row: 79–107 East Bay Street — free to walk by; the pastel-painted Georgian row houses are best photographed in morning light. Nathaniel Russell House: 51 Meeting Street; (843) 724-8481; Adults $12; open Mon–Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 2–5 pm. One of the finest examples of Federal-style architecture in America. More info: charlestoncvb.com.
We took a self-guided audio tour around the city. It was informative and a fun way to see the sites — and because it was a walking tour, we were able to take Jake along.
This pink house on Chalmers Street is one of the oldest structures in Charleston, dating to the early 1700s. It’s currently an art gallery and at one time served as a tavern — quite a history for a small building.
Charleston, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination because of its history, architecture, amazing restaurants, coastal location, and friendly atmosphere. Rainbow Row and the Nathaniel Russell House were a couple of the highlights. In the 1930s, the houses of Rainbow Row were painted in pastel colors and have stayed that way since — they’re one of the most photographed streets in the American South.
We stayed at the Campground at James Island County Park. They had full service, we were able to get satellite, but the internet was poor. Our site was on the end and huge. There were extensive walking trails which we enjoyed each day and of course lots of squirrels to keep Jake occupied.
The park had something for everyone. They were putting up their annual holiday light display, so we got a nightly preview while they installed it — a nice bonus for an off-season stay.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Sea Pines Resort / Harbour Town: 32 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. A $10 per vehicle gate fee applies for non-resort guests; this covers access to Harbor Town, the lighthouse, shops, and restaurants. Harbour Town Lighthouse: 149 Lighthouse Road; (843) 363-8100 — $7 to climb; open daily 10 am–sunset; offers views across the sound and the marina. Coligny Beach Park: 1 N Forest Beach Drive — free public beach access; parking fee applies. Dogs are allowed on the beach before 10 am and after 5 pm. Fish Haul Beach Park: North end of the island — significantly less crowded than Coligny; free access.
Hilton Head is a top-tier vacation destination. There are an incredible number of restaurants and activities on the island — golf and shopping are very popular. Sandy found two beautiful shirts at the Tommy Bahama outlet, which she considered a win roughly equivalent to the elk rut.
70% of the land on the island is in a gated community. Sea Pines, where Harbour Town is located, costs $10 to enter for non-guests — but it’s worth it for the marina, the lighthouse, and the excellent restaurants.
For lunch, Sandy relished a smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers bagel. After weeks of southern comfort food, it was a welcome change of pace.
Our first alligator sighting in a couple of years — Hilton Head has a significant alligator population in its lagoons and ponds. We kept Jake well back from the water’s edge.
Fish Haul Park on the northern end of the island was almost absent of people — a striking contrast to the busier southern beaches. One of the best discoveries of the Hilton Head stay.
The island has over 60 miles of paved walking and biking paths — it’s one of the most trail-connected beach destinations we’ve found anywhere on the East Coast.
Coligny Beach is very popular. We took the opportunity for a family photo — Jake was more interested in the ocean view than looking at the camera.
We stayed at the Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort. They had full service and good wifi. Despite the trees, we were able to get satellite. The sites were huge and private — genuinely one of the nicest motorcoach resorts of the entire trip.
It’s a luxury resort with plenty of amenities — pool, clubhouse, and well-maintained grounds throughout.
For Jake, it was all about the squirrels. He stared at these two for a solid twenty minutes. Fully focused. Completely useless.
Practical Tips for Charleston & Hilton Head
Charleston is extremely dog-friendly for walking tours — the historic district is flat, well-shaded, and the self-guided audio format means you set the pace. Download the GuideAlong app before you go; it’s designed specifically for Charleston and covers the Battery, Rainbow Row, and the French Quarter in detail, all at no cost. Parking in Charleston — downtown historic district parking is tight. Garages on the outskirts of the peninsula and the DASH shuttle (free downtown circulator) make getting around without fighting for a spot much easier. Dogs on Hilton Head beaches — dogs are permitted on most Hilton Head beaches but with time restrictions: generally allowed before 10 am and after 5 pm during the main season. Fish Haul Park is one of the more relaxed options for off-season dog beach walks. Alligators are everywhere on Hilton Head — every lagoon, pond, and water feature potentially has one. Keep dogs and small children well back from any water’s edge; alligators are fast and often rest motionless near the bank. Sea Pines $10 gate fee — if you’re not staying at Sea Pines resort, you pay $10 per vehicle to enter. It’s worth it for Harbour Town, the lighthouse, and the waterfront restaurants, but skip it if you’re only passing through. Rent bikes on Hilton Head — the 60+ mile trail network is the best way to experience the island; bike rental shops are everywhere and a half-day rental is very reasonable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston, South Carolina worth visiting? Absolutely — Charleston consistently ranks among the top travel destinations in the US, and for good reason. The combination of 18th-century architecture, excellent restaurants, a walkable historic district, and warm Southern hospitality creates a city that’s genuinely hard not to enjoy. Even a full day on a self-guided walking tour barely scratches the surface. We’d return.
What is Rainbow Row in Charleston? Rainbow Row is a stretch of 13 colorful Georgian row houses at 79–107 East Bay Street in Charleston’s French Quarter. Built between 1740 and 1790, they were renovated in the 1930s and painted in a variety of pastel colors that have become one of the most iconic and photographed streetscapes in the American South. The row is free to walk past at any time and best photographed in the morning when the light hits the facades directly.
Are there alligators at Hilton Head Island? Yes — Hilton Head has one of the highest concentrations of alligators per square mile in South Carolina. They inhabit virtually every lagoon, pond, and tidal creek on the island. They’re generally not aggressive toward humans unprovoked, but keep dogs and small children well away from any water’s edge. We spotted our first alligator of the trip here and were reminded how quickly that part of the country transitions to a very different ecosystem.
Is Hilton Head Island dog-friendly? Reasonably so. Dogs are allowed on most beaches during early morning and evening hours (before 10 am and after 5 pm during summer; more relaxed in the off-season). The island’s extensive paved walking and biking trail network is fully dog-accessible year-round. The lagoons and ponds require caution given the alligator population — keep dogs on leash near any water. Fish Haul Park at the north end of the island was a favorite of ours for a quiet dog walk.
What is the Sea Pines gate fee at Hilton Head? Non-guests pay $10 per vehicle to enter the Sea Pines Resort community, which encompasses Harbour Town, the lighthouse, several restaurants, and the marina. The fee is charged at the main gate. If you’re visiting Harbor Town specifically — the striped lighthouse, the marina boardwalk, and the shops — it’s worth the entry. The Harbour Town Lighthouse itself charges an additional $7 to climb to the observation deck.
