Charleston South Carolina has been blessed with a plethora of natural beauties. Indeed, mother nature has been quite kind to the Charleston area. Two of the greatest re-occurring beauties are our amazing sunrises and sunsets. The glorious hues that paint the Charleston skyline contain some of the most amazing orange, pink, and purple highlights that you have ever seen. Here are seven of the best places I have found around Charleston to see a sunrise or a sunset.
Sunrise at Shem creek. Take a walk down the boardwalks of the Shem Creek park. There is an area where the boardwalk from the park meets the boardwalk next to the creek. If you stop right there and turn and face the sunrise you will catch the most beautiful sunrise coming up over the creek.
Sunset at Sullivan’s Island. To find the perfect spot to view the sunset come out to Sullivan’s Island and go to the Station 10 beach access. Once you enter the Station 10 area head down to the beach and turn up the beach towards the Ravenel Bridge. Walk down the beach until the sand ends and you are surrounded by marsh. The sunset views from this area are beautiful with amazing views of the Charleston peninsula skyline and the Ravenel Bridge.
Sunrise from the Ravenel Bridge. The Arthur Ravenel Bridge has become a staple for those who love taking a brisk walk over the Cooper river, it also is somewhere that you can see fabulous sunrises. Drive over to the Mount Pleasant side of the bridge and park your car in Waterfront Park. From there you can walk up or ride your bike using the pedestrian lanes of the bridge. The walk from one side of the bridge and back is 5 miles. Along the bridge there are two areas that jut out with sitting areas and offer great views of Charleston and Patriots Point. Either one of these areas is great to catch a view of the sunrise, just turn and face east.
Sunset from the Pitt Street Bridge. Take a stroll down the Pitt Street Bridge in the old village of Mount Pleasant. When the sun sets over downtown Charleston you are treated to a beautiful silhouette of the Charleston skyline.
Sunrise from Folly Beach. Come into the town of Folly Beach on Center Street and head down to the stoplight at Arctic Avenue. Turn left on Arctic Avenue and head down past the pier. The best areas of the beach with the least amount of people begin at the beach entrances starting on 6th street. There are parking lots on the corner of Arctic and 6th, Arctic and 9th, and Arctic and 10th street. Park at any of these lots or on a side street and head down one of these boardwalks to the beach to witness a beautiful sunrise, in which you can see the sun rise up from “out of the sea” in a brilliant ball of fire.
Sunset at Bohicket Marina on Seabrook Island. Enjoy a fabulous sunset as the sun goes down over Bohicket Marina. What better way to enjoy the sunset than by having dinner on the outdoor patio of the Salty Dog café while the sun goes down. On many nights you may even be treated to a visit by dolphins taking an evening swim around the marina.
Sunset from the Pelican’s Nest on Seabrook Island. A true treat is to have dinner at the outside restaurant on Seabrook Island called the Pelican’s Nest. The tables are nestled up against the edge of the water and offer fantastic views of beach, ocean and the sunset.
