June 9, 2023 •Carolina Girl
Maybe you have never heard of Fripp Island. Or perhaps one of your friends mentioned Fripp as a beach vacation destination, but you have never been and are curious about it. Since it is a private island, you can’t check it out like you can the public beaches on Isle of Palms or Hilton Head.
Where the Sea Island Parkway ends and over its final bridge, Fripp Island is the most seaward of South Carolina's islands. To the west, there is a scenic marsh, and to the east the ocean waves meet the shore in a rhythmic thrum. You are surrounded by water which moves in and out on the tides, and on a wildlife sanctuary filled with birds, deer, turtles, and alligators. You will come to Fripp not only to vacation, but to commune with nature. This combination of the unspoiled beach and ever present nature is truly special.
But what is there to do on Fripp Island?
5) Sightsee on your golf cart and spend time spotting wildlife.
Most people enjoy using a golf cart to get around Fripp as it allows you to relax, take in the sights better, and feel closer to the nature that surrounds you. Many vacation rentals on the island include one with a stay; if not, there are several good options for renting golf carts.
There are around 400 deer on Fripp, so you will definitely see many deer among the trees and grazing on the grass, particularly in the evening during their feeding time.
Part of the Beaufort Barrier Islands Important Bird Area (IBA), Fripp and surrounding Sea Islands are home to over 182 species of birds. Finally, there are dozens of wild alligators on the island, the largest currently at around 11 feet is King Arthur, who is kind of a local celebrity.
4) Go kayaking/paddleboarding or boating.
The intercoastal waterway gives you the unique opportunity of observing where the land meets sea. A kayak trip will give you the opportunity to see egrets, eagles, and osprey as well as dolphins and other marsh life. You can bring your own or rent kayaks and SUPs to use.
If you prefer boating, some of the rentals available on Fripp are on a canal and may offer a dock for you to tie up a boat. You can also take a boat tour, for example the St. Phillips Island Ferry. This is a naturalist-led boat trip through the estuaries behind Fripp Island to the St. Phillips Island dock, led by Coastal Expeditions.
3) Watch the sunset at Wardle’s Landing or at the end of Tarpon.
Fripp is blessed with enchanting sunrises and sunsets. As the end of the island points to the southwest, the sunsets going down over the marsh and other barrier islands such as Pritchard’s Island are particularly glorious. The best places to watch the sunsets are at the end of Tarpon Boulevard, or from Wardle’s Landing. It is not unusual to see dolphins from these viewpoints as they swim through Skull Inlet.
2) Go crabbing or fishing.
Fishing and crabbing is almost a year round activity on Fripp,with the best time to catch large blue crabs from October to December. Many of the rentals on Fripp, like the Carolina Girl, have a dock from which it is super easy for you and your family to fish or crab or shrimp.
If you have your own boat, or rent or charter one, sailfish, mahi-mahi, barracuda, kingfish, marlin, wahoo, grouper and snapper are plentiful. For inshore fishing, the waters around Fripp Island are teeming with trout, flounder, red drum, cobia, tarpon and Spanish mackerel.
1) Go to the beach!
You know that South Carolina beaches are among some of the finest in the world, and Fripp is right across the Port Royal Sound from Hilton Head. Fripp’s beach is special in that it is private, which leads to it being less crowded. It is also broad and long with 3.5 miles of spectacular white sand. You will always be able to find a comfortable spot on the beach, even in the middle of summer.
This list does not include everything you can do in Beaufort, around 30 minutes away, or the other nearby Sea Islands, or any of the amenities offered on-island by Fripp Island Resort such as their pools, restaurants, activities & marina, and golf.