Walk on Water.
Whether you’d like to ride waves, get a workout, or go on a leisurely nature-filled paddle, Ocean Fitness at the Isle of Palms Marina makes hopping on a stand-up paddleboard a breeze. Take a lesson to perfect your technique or join one of the tours—the easygoing three-mile sunset paddle winds along saltwater creeks and past dolphins and pelicans. And the Wednesday evening Social Paddles ($20) are particularly popular among locals.
Ocean Fitness: 50 41st Ave., Isle of Palms. $59 tours, minimum two people; $69-$89 lessons. (843) 559-6073, www.beoceanfit.com
Other local outfitters:
◆ Charleston Outdoor Adventures: Folly Creek: $45 tour. (843) 795-0330, www.charlestonoutdooradventures.com
◆ Charleston SUP Safaris: Folly Beach: $45-$60 tours; $45-$60 lessons. (843) 817-7877, www.charlestonsupsafaris.com
◆ Holy City Paddle Tours: Brittlebank Park & Folly Beach: $45-$55 tours. (843) 452-2838, www.holycitypaddletours.com
Surf’s in Session.
You know you’ve always wanted to give it a try. Head to Folly, popular for its surf breaks, where a plethora of pros lead private or group classes, and many offer special surf camps.
◆ Ocean Surf School: $50-$75. (843) 588-9175, www.oceansurfshop.com
◆ Shaka Surf School: $50-$320. (843) 607-9911, www.shakasurfschool.com
◆ Sol Surfers: $80-$325. (843) 881-6700, www.solsurfers.net
Set Sail.
Charleston Community Sailing, which offers the area’s largest junior-sailing program, is giving the ladies a turn; Its Women on the Water weekly evening sailing sessions cover the basics of wind/weather and the boat, as well as knot-tying, rigging, and steering. The June program is already sold out, but spots in the last summer session (July 14, 21, 28, and August 4) are available.
Charleston City Marina, 17 Lockwood Dr., K Dock. Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $150. (843) 607-4890, charlestoncommunitysailing.org
If you’d rather just ride along (and teach the kids a thing or two), channel the city’s maritime heritage on The Schooner Pride, a three-masted tall ship modeled after the 18th-century trading vessels that once plied the harbor. Two-hour tours ($38; $28 children 11 & under) launch daily from Aquarium Wharf and skirt past Castle Pinckney and the forts. The Pride sets out for sunset cruises ($48; $33 children 11 & under), as well as picturesque moonlit sails ($42 adult).
100 Aquarium Wharf. Days & times vary. (843) 722-1112, www.schoonerpride.com
Epic Waves: No, they’re not the typical Folly Beach summer sets, but we love this video by Sea Island Media of some local surfers taking on big swells from Hurricane Joaquin last fall.
