Guide to Fripp Island, SC
It feels like that time of year when everyone is looking forward to summer vacations (hopefully) and heading to the beach! So I wanted to take this week’s post to tell you about my favorite beach. Also, my favorite place to visit, maybe next to Disney World: Fripp Island, South Carolina.
I grew up lucky enough to have grandparents that lived at the beach, so we went to visit them every Spring and Summer break from school. It was special for so many reasons: the sun, the relaxation, the family time… It wasn’t until fairly recently that I thought about why it was so relaxing for me there, or on most family vacations, but I think it’s because I was able to check my stress and anxiety at the door when we left. Go to a place that I knew I loved with people I loved, without the everyday anxious feeling that I’ve always had.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve met several other people that also grew up visiting Fripp, and the love everyone has for it is shared. You should know that the island is very small, and is located off the coast of South Carolina situated between Savannah and Charleston- close to Hilton Head. Because of its size, most people rent or drive golf carts to get to the beach, pools, and restaurants. But it’s also a great idea to take a car and explore the surrounding towns.
Here, in no particular order, is a list of the things you can do and places you can go on (and off) the island:
Cabana Club Restaurant & Bar - A restaurant with porch seating and an adjacent bar overlooking the ocean and right next to the best pool spot on the island.
Springtide Market - A market with most of the basic groceries, beach supplies, and a deli.
Mangoes - A great shop for beachwear and cute souvenirs, located right next door to Springtide Market.
The Beach Club Restaurant - A sit-down restaurant inside the beach club, located just off the beach. I personally prefer the Bonito Boathouse (#7) if you’re looking for a sit-down experience, but the convenience of the beach access for sunsets makes this one a great option.
The Beach Club Foodcourt - Includes ice cream, coffee, quesadillas, and chicken… the perfect spot to run in and grab lunch (or drive to at night for some after-dinner ice cream).
The Sand Bar - A classic beach bar just off the Beach Club Beach Access. Get the Pina Colada- just do it.
Bonito Boathouse - A sit-down seafood restaurant located at the Marina. Delicious food and great views of the marsh, boats, and sunset.
The Marina Deli - Great for quick snacks and essentials. They also have bait and some fishing/crabbing supplies if you are planning to do so.
The 19th Hole - Great for sandwiches and a change of scenery, or a break if you’re golfing that day.
The Cabana Club Pools - The Cabana Club has 3 pools and an ocean view. It’s definitely the spot to go if you’re looking for a pool day and can tend to fill up pretty quickly. My recommendation would be to head there at opening to get a group of chairs, grab lunch and drinks at their restaurant, then head to the beach (or take a nap) in the afternoon.
The Beach Club Pool - One of the larger pools on Fripp and just off the Beach Club/Beach Club Beach Access. There is also a decent amount of parking, especially if you’re driving a golf cart.
The Beach Club Adult Pool - For 21+ (is it 18?) and right next to the Sand Bar with a beach view.
The Marina Pool & The Ocean Point Pool- Both smaller pools with more limited parking, but great if you are going during a less busy time of year and want to avoid the crowds, or if you’re staying in a house or condo nearby.
Beach Access & View Points:
Skull Inlet Beach Access - The beach access at the very tip of the island has grown in popularity over the last few years. This spot usually has the most dogs, fishermen, and deeper water, but finding a spot to sit down or lay out is never difficult.
Beach Club Beach Access - near bar and restaurants, chairs - The Beach Club access is definitely the busiest, but for good reason. You can rent chairs and umbrellas for a reasonable price, walk up to the bar, and run into the food court for lunch.
Rock Beauty Rd Beach Access - Located one or two access points down the beach from the Beach Club, this area is generally a good bit less crowded. This is a great option if you’re looking to get a great spot, or one for a big group but still want to be close enough to walk to the Sand Bar or Beach Club.
Sunset Bench - Not a Beach Access, but a bench that overlooks the marsh and is perfect for sunset.
Access Point 1B - This part of the beach tends to be less crowded and is a perfect spot to post up with a cooler and sandwiches for the whole day. It tends to have water that pools in the middle of the sand before the ocean, so it would be great for kids or if you like to sit in shallow water to cool off.
Activities:
Activity Center - If you love animals or are at Fripp with kids, swinging by the Nature Center is always a lot of fun. We used to make sure to stop by at least once every time we visited when we were younger. They usually have snakes and baby alligators (I forget what else, because obviously) that you can hold if you like- or take pictures of your family members holding if you’re me. They also run Camp Fripp out of the Nature Center as a day camp for kids in the warmer months.
Golfing & Tennis - I’ve never golfed or played tennis while at Fripp but I know it’s possible because there are tennis courts and a golf course so it felt like I should mention that.
Fishing & Crabbing - There are several great docks around the island that you can fish or crab off of. As a kid, I loved to go crabbing. Don’t worry, we always returned the crabs safely. For crabbing, you’re just lowering and raising a basket that the crab can just climb out of when you pull it up, but it gave us a lot of quality Grandad-Grandaughter time and was exciting.
Tips:
Rent a golf cart if your rental doesn’t come with one. Definitely not a necessity, but at most places on the island, there are more golf cart parking spots than car spots, and it’s just a lot of fun. You can also rent bikes as there are bike paths that cover the island.
Get amenity cards if you can. Rental properties may come with them, and they grant you access to The Beach Club and The Cabana Club pools and restaurants.
If you’re driving to Fripp, go to the Grocery Store on your way into the island. Fripp is the 5th Island off the coast, so getting in and out can be a bit of a hike. It’s an easy drive, but it tends to be easier to stop on the way for a big grocery run.
Visit Downtown Beaufort: Downtown Beaufort has coffee shops, art galleries, and a few great restaurants. It’s definitely worth a half-day trip into town. Also, before you leave, stop by The Chocolate Tree. It’s a local sweets shop that makes chocolate and candy there. Get anything that’s up at the counter in the case (fudge, peanut butter cups, whatever your favorite is). Also, their parking is around the back of the building. Enjoy!
Go on a day trip to Charleston. Especially if you’ve never been to Charleston and you’re staying at Fripp for a week, take the 1.5-hour drive up to walk around. The drive isn’t too long and it’s a gorgeous place.
Off Island Restaurants & Grocery Stores:
Superior Coffee - You have to promise me you’ll go here. We drive to this adorable coffee shop every morning when we stay on Fripp. The staff is so nice and the coffee is the best I’ve ever had. Really. They also make great pastries and sandwiches and have great gifts and merchandise too.
Port Royal Farmers Market - Every Saturday year-round, the town of Port Royal has their Farmers Market outdoors. It’s so refreshing to see a small community come together and meet some of the vendors there. I would HIGHLY recommend a breakfast sandwich with sriracha (you’ll know the tent), some oysters if they’re there, and flowers. The FLOWERS! You can give the ladies your price point and your favorite colors or flowers and they will arrange a bouquet using the buckets of flowers they bring right in front of you. It’s magical.
Eat at FishCamp - Delicious and very cute, trendy feeling seafood place right on the water.
Eat at Johnson Creek Tavern - A fun seafood place that lets you draw on a dollar bill and staple it to the wall. Definitely has a hole-in-the-wall vibe, but it’s super popular and a must-stop.
I hope it was fun for you to read along with all of my favorites on (and off) of Fripp Island. If you’ve also been to Fripp, I’d love to hear your favorites and tips! And if you haven’t, I hope you visit sometime soon (when it’s safe, of course)!
