Kiawah S.C. -- My Idea of Heaven
Written: Apr 23 '00 (Updated Apr 23 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pristine, exquisite, upwardly mobile community, Charleston is close by
Cons: Not much of a night-life unless you go to Charleston
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| magenta321's Full Review: South Carolina |
A Gated Paradise
I spent two weeks of my vacation on Kiawah Island this past summer. Kiawah seemed to be about a thirty minute drive (I am going by memory and feeling here, I never timed it) from Charleston. Kiawah is an exclusive community. The island itself is gated. You have to prove that you are a resident or guest of the island in order to get in. There is a second gate as you near the houses, and some houses even have their own gates. Phew! Talk about exclusive.
The gates are there for good reason. Kiawah is a rich-man's paradise. All of the houses which were listed for sale were going for a million dollars or more. Many houses topped out at the ten million dollar mark. There is a very good reason for this. Kiawah is heaven on earth.
The beach is exquisite. There was no litter on the beach. None. Not a cigarette butt, not an empty soda can, nothing. There are acres and acres of golf courses, horse-back riding facilities, and a multitude of pools (some of which are for use by all, some are more exclusive).
All of the houses are on the large side. There are a few different styles of houses there, all with specified color schemes. Generally, the houses are right on top of one another. There are also condos on the island. I never saw the condos first hand, but I would imagine they are lovely also. I think I will be returning this summer and most-likely staying in a condo.
I was lucky enough to stay with a family on the island. I went with a friend, who had friends who lived on the island. The house was exquisite, but would probably only be in the $500,000 range if it were in New England. As I said, most homes on the island go for a million or more. Buying a house in Kiawah is out of the question for the average home-buyer, because the community is so wonderful people are willing to pay more.
Day-Time Activities
On the island there is the Kiawah Island Bike Rentals. This is the perfect way to say hello to the day: grab a bike and explore the island. See if you can figure out which house is Jim Carey's (that's the rumor anyway, that one of the houses belongs to him). Search for 'gators (or are they crocks?) as you ride past the wet-areas. You can also spend your days shopping in the island shopping center (there is a great place for Ice Cream there, and a great children's store called Kiawah Kids), swimming in the ocean or in a pool, horse back ride, or play golf.
Night Life
At night, Kiawah is a little boring, especially for someone like myself. There is not really much to do on the island, other than moon-light beach walks (that doesn't sound bad, but I love the night-life. I like to boogie).
As I said, Charleston is not far from Kiawah. This was what made the location so perfect. You had the pristine island to enjoy, and a social mecca right near one another. There are night clubs and great places to shop down town in Charleston. There is also a beautiful pier to enjoy with your sweetheart.
Things To Know
South Carolina is hot in the summer. It wasn't a horrible heat, however. I am very prone to heat-sickness and heat-stroke, but I never got ill during my stay in Kiawah. Kiawah is a very busy place during the summer, and space is very limited. There are not really that many condos, so call early to find out about rates. Also, mind other's privacy while on the island. These people live in gated communities for a reason: they want privacy. This is not a typical tourist location, this is more like a chance to live in the neighborhood you have always dreamed of living in, and a chance to experience paradise.
If you go to Kiawah this summer, I hope to see you there!
Magenta!
Recommended:
Yes
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magenta321
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Location: Connecticut
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