KAYAKING

Those who are called to the water will find paradise on Dataw Island. There is perhaps no better way to experience the beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry than gliding across the water at eye-level with the marsh: every paddle is a new experience as the spartina grasses change with the season, and each tide ushers in new adventures.

Kayak and paddle-board alongside schools of fish hopping across the water and dolphins frolicking by. Boat accompanied by only the majestic marsh birds and the solitude of nature, or join in a kayak outing and enjoy the experience with friends and neighbors. Outings are held both locally (such as circumnavigating Dataw Island) as well as to driveable locales (like the 1.6 million acre ACE Basin Watershed, one of the largest wetlands/uplands ecosystems on the East Coast.)

Dataw Island offers members two areas for kayak storage and a kayak launch docks, equipped with EZ Launch kayak launching systems that feature handrails and rollers, allowing boaters to easily maneuver into and out of the water. One launch is located on the Jenkins Creek, and advanced boaters may opt to launch at the Dataw Island Marina for a more rigorous workout in Jenkins Creek or the Morgan River.

Where will your next adventure lead? Will you watch osprey feeding their young, a bald eagle soaring overhead, sea turtles, waterfowl galore ... or, perhaps you will paddle to another nearby Sea Island, such as Morgan Island -- known to locals as "Monkey Island" -- to catch a glimpse of the nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys who occupy this SCDNR property (no touching, just observe from afar!).

Whatever path you take, one thing is certain - experiencing the Beaufort area by boat (of any size) will have you longing to leave the land behind and planning your next outing.