Seabrook Island, S. C., is the Avis of islands -- it keeps trying harder.
Situated right next door to much bigger and much more well known Kiawah Island some 30 minutes south of Charleston, Seabrook does things its own way, concentrating on quality, not quantity; natural harmony, not sprawl.
As golf resort islands go, Seabrook is certainly not a small place. Thousands of people live there in relatively luxurious homes and villas, there are two excellent golf courses, marina, extensive equestrian area, recreation center, pools, fantastic tennis facilities, casual and fine dining restaurants and miles of pristine white sand beaches.
So, what's not to like about Seabrook.
Nothing, really.
Each day at Seabrook is like stealing another day in paradise.
Lazing on a beach, biking the island, watching dolphins frolic offshore,
strolling along Spanish moss-draped huge live oak lanes or just watching shrimp boats ply the Edisto River, Seabrook is the kind of place you can take off your shoes, put your feet up and let the rest of the world go on by.
Seabrook is relatively young as far as Carolina tropical resorts go, with development of the island as a residential resort not getting underway until 1971 after passing through several ownerships and, reputedly, serving as a nice hideway for such scalawag pirates as Blackbeard and Bonnet.
With the sea on one side and a fresh water river and salt marshes on the other, Seabrook offers everything you could want in the way of fishing or water recreation. Bohicket Dock offers all varieties of boat rentals and Captain Ivan's offers island charters and ocean fishing excursions.
The island is named for William Seabrook, one of the many wealthy plantation owners who owned the property in the 1700s.
Development of the island has been very carefully planned so as to protect the natural environment. This is another plus for visitors, as you will find everything from bobcats to loggerhead turtles living in a protected environment.
While not quite "built out" as developers say, Seabrook does have relatively little development land available. Home site lots average about half-million dollars. Villas in that same range or less are also available. Rental homes and villas are also availble for vacationers.
A big plus for Seabrook is that it has the only oceanfront conference center in the Low Country area. The center, located next to the Beach Club and its fantastic Seaview Restaurant and across the street from the Island House Restaurant (which overlooks the golf courses), will accomodate up to 300 people.
The island's Kids Club offers a daily variety of activities for youngsters of all age groups.
Seabrook's golf courses offer holes that meander through hundreds of acres of ponds, pines and oaks. The Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Crooked Oaks course features bentgrass greens and a maritime forest. The Oceans Winds Course is a William Byrd design and features bermuda grass greens. The Oceans Winds Course is a tougher test, with more water in play along tidal marshes and natural sand dunes. You might even see an alligator or two. But both courses are superbly maintained and give you various tees to play within your own comfort level. You don't have to be a property owner at Seabrook to join the island's Club at Seabrook, with a a full range of membership plans available. About 1,400 people are now members.
Vacationers have several housing options, ranging from rentals of 3-6 bedroom homes to golf or ocean villas. Golf and tennis packages are also available.
Seabrook is one of those unique places where the world rarely intrudes. A place where sea, sky and land join to form a perfect union.
Perhaps epitomizing the friendly, old-South genteelity and charm of Seabrook is the little roadside speed signs which read: "Drive gently, please."

On the Internet:

www.discoverseabrook.com

This story was published on 06 Aug 2003.