+ Awendaw

Founded in 1992, the Town of Awendaw, SC is a small fishing community with about 1,300 residents just 30 miles north of downtown Charleston, SC. Centrally located along the Gullah Geeche Cultural Heirtage Corridor, its unique location sits between Francis Marion National Forest and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Home to the Center for Birds of Prey/Avian Conservation, the Bull Island Ferry and the Annual Blue Crab Festival, Awendaw also boasts a respected outdoor music venue at Sewee Outpost called Awendaw Green.

+ Daniel Island

This unique, 4,000-acre island town of about 10,000 residents is located just 15 minutes from downtown Charleston and about 20 minutes from the the beaches of Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. Home to several large plantations for centuries, the island was purchased by the Guggenheim family of New York in 1947, who used it for cattle ranching and as a hunting retreat. In 1971, the Guggenheim Foundation sponsored the creation of a master plan, a vision that was adopted by the the Daniel Island Company when they bought it in 1997.

Daniel Island operates in two municipalities: City of Charleston and Berkeley County. Children attend Berkeley County public schools. The island is a convenient commute via I-526 in either direction.

+ Downtown

Commonly called the “Holy City” for the many church steeples that define its cityscape, Charleston is an ever-evolving, urban community that is deeply rooted in history and traditions, yet contemporary and lively enough to attract visitors from all over the world.

Downtown Charleston has everything “city life” has to offer, from award-winning restaurants, shopping and entertainment, to museums, parks and endless event opportunities year-round. Popular events include Spoleto USA, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, Cooper River Bridge Run and the Charleston Farmers Market, which is held in Marion Square each Saturday from April through November.

The city’s main shopping area on King Street is centrally located next to the College of Charleston, which is just a few blocks from the Medical University of South Carolina. Many downtown residents prefer to walk, bike or use public transportation for their day-to-day activities.

Architecture in the Holy City is stunning, with some homes in the historic district dating back to the 1600s. Perhaps the most common style home in downtown Charleston is the “Charleston Single.” This one-room wide, multi-story home has a full-length porch that sits perpendicular to the street, a design technique used to cool the house with coastal winds before electricity was common.

This once quaint and quiet port city has grown tremendously in recent decades. Visitors return to Charleston time and time again for its majestic scenery and southern hospitality. As a result, Charleston has received a number of national recognitions, including "America's Most Friendly City" by Travel + Leisure (2011) and Condé Nast Traveler (2013, 2014)

+ Edisto

Edisto Island, one of South Carolina’s Sea Islands, is located 42 miles southwest of Charleston where the Edisto River, one of the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in North America, meets the Atlantic Ocean. The island, which is home to Edisto Beach and the Wyndham Ocean Ridge Resort, is a relaxed community rich in history, wildlife and natural beauty.

One of the few primarily residential beaches left in SC, Edisto offers swimming, fishing, crabbing, kayaking and peaceful walks on the beach. Nature tours are available by land or by sea. Golfers will enjoy The Plantation Course at Edisto, which had an entire renovation in 2006. Dining in Edisto is casual, and you’ll find fresh seafood and locally grown vegetables at road-side stands and dockside seafood markets throughout the island.

While you won’t find much shopping and nightlife on the island, Edisto’s location just about an hour from Charleston makes it a desirable location for primary and secondary homes.

+ Folly Beach

Located 11 miles south of downtown Charleston, Folly Beach is a vibrant community covering almost 19 square miles. Known to locals as the “Edge of America,” Folly Beach is popular for surfers who flock to “The Washout” for international surf competitions, making its typically calm conditions one of the more popular surf spots along the East Coast.

This eclectic community has numerous restaurants, live music, surf shops, clothing stores and water sport rental businesses along Center Street, the main road onto the island. The historic Folly Beach Pier and stretches 25 feet wide into the Atlantic Ocean, the second longest on the East Coast. It boasts stunning ocean views, as well as fine and casual dining. Locals and visitors are attracted to its fishing tournaments, “Beach Movie Night,” and “Moonlight Mixers,” where couples can shag (the state dance of SC) on the boardwalk.

+ Goose Creek

Goose Creek is a small city of about 36,000 in Berkeley County, SC that is bordered to the east by the Cooper River and to the west by the cities of North Charleston and Hanahan. It is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area.

Most of the former Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. In 2010, the Charleston Air Force base and Naval Weapons Station merged to form Joint Base Charleston. Today, Joint Base Charleston includes nearly 21,000 acres and supports 53 military commands and federal agencies, providing service to over 79,000 airmen, sailors, soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, DOD civilians, dependents and retirees.

Three high schools serve students in the Goose Creek area: Goose Creek High School, Stratford High School and Cane Bay High School. Goose Creek High School is home to the Berkeley County School of the Arts (BCA) Program, which focuses on broadening students’ talents in creative writing, music, dance, art, drama and voice. Only incoming freshmen are eligible for this program.

The City of Goose Creek Recreation Department provides a variety of high-quality recreation programs and facilities for residents. Programs are offered for all ages and include opportunities to participate in sports, the arts, special events, aquatics and various other activities. Golfers will enjoy the beautiful public course at Crowfield Golf Club.

+ Hanahan

Hanahan is centrally located between Goose Creek and North Charleston, near Joint Base Charleston, the Naval Weapons Station and Charleston International Airport. This primarily residential city is located in Berkeley County with a population of about 20,000.

With direct access to the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor, fishing and water sports are very popular in Hanahan, and several neighborhoods have tidal water behind them. Yeaman's Hall Club is ranked the #2 private golf course in SC and is home to a vast array of live oaks and other varieties of trees that add to the natural beauty of the course.

There are three public schools in Hanahan. In 2014, only 5 schools in the entire state were awarded National Blue Ribbon Award status by the U.S. Department of Education, and two of those were the elementary and middle school. Hanahan High School has won several state championships in various sports.

+ Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms, located just 12 miles from historic Charleston, is a SC barrier island that is bordered by pristine beaches and a network of marsh creeks. The 5.4 square-mile island lies along a narrow strip of land separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway. The island includes vacation home owners and nearly 5,000 year-round residents.

A popular destination for beach vacations, Isle of Palms is ideal for outdoor fun, including kiteboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding, beach games, fishing charters, boat cruises and tours. Island amenities include seemingly endless beaches, a county park, Cooper River Marina, local restaurants and shopping. In addition, Mount Pleasant Town Center, an open-air shopping center on 51 acres with over 60 stores, restaurants and a 16-screen movie theatre, is just 4 miles away.

Wild Dunes Resort offers championship tennis and two newly-renovated golf courses designed by Tom Fazio that are open to the public.

+ James Island

Bordered by the Charleston Harbor, Stono and Folly rivers, James Island is a thriving residential community just a few minutes from downtown Charleston and Folly Beach. Home to about 40,000 residents, the island is full of majestic trees with falling Spanish moss, scenic marsh views and many historical areas such as Fort Lamar, Fort Pemberton and McLeod Plantation.

One of the oldest neighborhoods on James Island, Riverland Terrace, is within walking distance of award-winning restaurants, the Charleston Pour House music venue, Terrace Theater, Charleston Municipal Golf Course and a public boat landing. Each year, thousands flock to James Island County Park for their annual Christmas light display, which is rated one if the best in the country.

After years of legal battles, the Town of James Island was finally incorporated a fourth time after a referendum on April 24, 2012, though its barriers have never included the entire island.

+ Johns Island

The largest island in South Carolina, Johns Island is 84 square miles in area with a population of 14,000 people and growing. Since 2000, the population of this historically rural community has grown by nearly 50 percent due to the influx of developers who have seized on the island’s close proximity to downtown Charleston and its scenic views. About one-third of the island is within the Charleston city limits.

Located west of James Island, east of Wadmalaw Island, and inshore of Seabrook and Kiawah Islands, Johns Island is separated from its border islands by the Stono and Kiawah rivers. Scores of wildlife, including deer, alligators, coyotes, bobcats and wild hogs call Johns Island home, and its rivers abound with varieties of fish and shellfish, especially oysters and dolphins.

Angel Oak Park is dedicated to a Southern live oak tree that is 65 feet tall, 25.5 feet in circumference, and estimated to be between 400-1500 years old. The island is also known for its farms, which produce a lot of the meats and vegetables used in local restaurants, including Fat Hen and Wild Olive, two Johns Island restaurants.

+ Kiawah Island

Kiawah is a barrier island on the Atlantic Coast located 25 miles southwest of Charleston. With seemingly endless beaches, breathtaking vistas, winding waterways, beautiful homes, exciting wildlife, luxurious spas, and gourmet dining, it is a perfect place live, relax and create memories with family and friends.

Kiawah is operated today largely as a gated beach and golf resort and is widely hailed as one of the premier golf destinations on the East Coast. The island features five award-winning golf courses and recently hosted the PGA Championship in 2012, which is scheduled to return in 2021.

The Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission operates Beachwalker County Park, which is located on the west end of the island. In 2013, Forbes ranked the park's beach as the 10th best in the United States.

+ Seabrook Island

Seabrook Island is a private gated community nestled along beautiful unspoiled dunes and beaches just a short driving distance from downtown Charleston. Incorporated in 1987, the town has a total area of 7 square miles and a population of under 1,800 residents.

Seabrook is a nature lover's paradise, heavily forested by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, palm trees, pines, hickories, magnolias and sweetgum trees. As you bike along the many island paths, you might encounter a variety of wildlife, including foxes, tree frogs, deer, birds and turtles.

One of the advantages of buying a home here is the Seabrook Island Club, which is the center of dining, social and athletic activities on the island. The club's facilities include two 18-hole golf courses, the Beach Club complex with three swimming pools, the Seabrook Shoppe, several restaurants, meeting and banquet facilities, and the Recreation Pavilion with fitness center. At the entrance to the island, you will find a beautiful Equestrian Center, as well as racquetball facilities.

+ Sullivan's Island

Rich in history, Sullivan’s Island is a small town of just 3.4 square miles located at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. During the American Revolution, Fort Sullivan was the site of a major battle on June 28, 1776. It has since been renamed Fort Moultrie in honor of the American commander of that battle. Several districts and properties on Sullivan’s Island have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Though the summer is Sullivan’s Island’s busiest season, 80% of its nearly 2,000 residents live there full-time.

Sullivan's Island has one of the most spacious beaches in the area, which makes it perfect for jogging, relaxing, playing bocce, or wading in the tidal pools at low tide. The beachfronts are owned by the Town of Sullivan’s Island and protected under easements, in order to preserve the environment for future generations. Enjoy history and folklore at Fort Moultrie, dining at award-winning restaurants, or visiting small, privately owned shops, all within a short drive from Charleston.

An article from the Wall Street Journal explains the attraction of living on Sullivan's Island:

"The island’s allure is due, in large part, to a handful of ordinances passed over the past 30 years that have blocked the development of high-rise condos and the kind of spring break-style debauchery that has plagued other East Coast beach towns. ‘We’ve outlawed weekly rentals, so you don’t have a bunch of people partying in the house next to you,’ said Mr. Presson, who served on the town council from 2005 to 2009. ‘You can’t construct a building over 38-feet tall, or a home over 5,600 square feet, even if you bought 10 contiguous lots."

+ Summerville

Located about 25 miles inland from downtown Charleston, Summerville is a wonderful place to live, work and play. The town has been growing in recent years, and more than 46,000 people currently call it home.

Summerville is mostly part of Dorchester County, with a small portion in Berkeley and Charleston counties, and is located in award-winning Dorchester School District 2. Flowertown Elementary School, Knights Elementary and Summerville Elementary have all been named “National Blue Ribbon Schools.”

Over the last few decades, the historic district has experienced a revitalization, and old downtown buildings have been renovated to house retail shops, restaurants and other businesses. The town’s “Vision Plan” seeks to build on this progress through public projects and partnerships that will attract more funding for redevelopment.

In the heart of the historic district you’ll find Azalea Park, a 12-acre garden featuring walking paths, fountains, sculptures, ponds, streams and tranquil bridges. Each April, the park hosts the “Flowertown Festival,” the largest arts and crafts festival in South Carolina.

Considered a part of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Area, housing options in and around town include a generous amount of new construction, as well as older homes, condos and historic homes.

+ Wadmalaw

Wadmalaw is a majestic island nestled close to Johns Island and bordered by Church Creek, Bohicket Creek and the Edisto River. The rural island is about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is accessible via a bridge spanning Church Creek. This small community has less than 3,000 residents and is about 20 miles from downtown Charleston.

The Charleston Tea Plantation, the last remaining working tea farm in America, is located on the island. Each May, the First Flush Festival is held there to commemorate the first tea leaf harvest of the season, and attracts locals and visitors alike for a day of music, food and shopping with local artisans.

However, Wadmalaw is much more than a tea plantation. Its rich soil and temperate climate have supported commercial and family farms for generations. Long famous for tomatoes, the island is also dotted with “you pick” family farms and Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) cooperatives.

+ West Ashley

Initially developed in the 1950s, West Ashley saw its largest growth in the early 1980s when I-526 was built. Home now to nearly 60,000 residents, the area includes almost 90 neighborhoods and over 20 shopping areas. The majority of this area west of the Ashley River is located within the city limits of Charleston, thus West Ashley is not a self-governed municipality.

Many neighborhoods in West Ashley showcase scenic waterfront vistas and marshes of the Ashley and Stono Rivers, with Spanish moss dripping from ancient oak trees. Avondale is a residential community that is also home to West Ashley’s first retail district, built in the 1950s, which has seen a revitalization in recent years with the opening of many new retail stores and restaurants.

The West Ashley Greenway is an 8.8 mile stretch of former railway land that extends from Main Road to Folly Road and is part of the East Coast Greenway. The straight and mostly unpaved path is popular for walking, jogging and off-street cycling.

West Ashley is also home to Charles Towne Landing, the 663-acre historic site where the first English settlement was built in Carolina, which features Charleston's only zoo, beautiful gardens and other historical and educational amenities.

The community has one public high school, West Ashley High School, which was created in 2000 when the Charleston County School District merged Middleton and St. Andrews high schools. There are also five public elementary schools, three public middle schools and numerous private schools, including Porter-Gaud School, a K-12 college preparatory school founded in 1867.