Variety of Condominiums on Kiawah Island

 Those that vacation in Kiawah often ask the question, how much does it cost to live there? Well, that all depends on what one is looking for. The accommodation size can range from a one bedroom condominium all the way to twelve bedroom mansion with breathtaking views of the ocean and river marshes. In between these sizes are numerous smaller single family homes and tree house style cottages located all over the island. Condominiums or “Villas” will range in price anywhere from two hundred thousand upwards to over two million dollars depending upon the buyers preferences. Keep in mind these numbers are approximate of market conditions in 2014. Someone that reads this post fifteen years from now may see different numbers. Prospective condo buyers must also consider the HOA monthly assessments, taxes and insurance. This condominium guide for Kiawah is broken out between two groups or locations: East Beach and West Beach. The East Beach area includes immediate area surrounding the Sanctuary, Night Heron Park, and Turtle Point area. The West Beach is the area near the Straw Market and Cougar Point golf course. Regardless of choosing East or West beach locations, all condos are a close walk to the beach with some units having living room/bedroom views of the ocean.

Styles and Comparisons of Kiawah Villas

Tennis Club – East Beach

Every year we visit Kiawah, we rent a two bedroom villa; specifically one of the tennis club villas near the Sanctuary and Roy Barth Tennis Center. These residential buildings contain four condos: two units on first floor and two units above. Those condo units vary in size from one to three bedrooms. The floor plan is sectioned off with separate living room, dining area, kitchen, etc. A listing for a one bedroom villa could go anywhere between low 200’s to low 400’s all depending on condition and extras. The larger two or three bedroom villas go up in price but even that price will vary depending on how updated the unit is. These villas seem to be a good purchase for those looking for a second home without the maintenance headaches. The other factor to consider when shopping for a villa is the views. Most of these villas have relaxing screened in back porches that overlook lagoon, woods, or tennis courts. Expect to pay slightly higher price for lagoon views.

Mariners Watch – East Beach

These units seem lovely, though I have never stayed in one, their listing prices start in the in the low $200’s. These units have an open floor plan where the kitchen, dining, and living room are all open to one another, and only the bedroom and deck/patio are separated. The Mariner’s Watch condos are located in East Beach village.

Parkside Villas – East Beach

These condos are situated along lagoon adjacent to Night Heron Park. The location is perfect for park/pool access with the beach only a short walk away. The Parkside Villas are all two and three bedroom units with several of these units having a decks overhanging lagoon with pier access. The two bedroom units are priced around the mid $300’s.

Turtle Point Villas – East Beach

These condos also located in East beach are a style similar to Tennis club Villa in appearance and price. Most of the Turtle Point villas are situated along Green Dolphin way. Prices for Turtle Point range from $200s to 400’s.

Windswept Villas - East Beach

These condos are located off Sea Forest Drive situated dune side facing the Atlantic (water approximately 75 yards away). Five story condo/townhome style building consisting of 1 through 3 bedroom units with shingle style siding. Close proximity to Night Heron Park. These tree house style units range in prices from $300K upwards to $2 Million. Like the Sanctuary, the height of these condo buildings makes them highly visible when walking along the beach.

Courtside Villas - West Beach

Open efficiency floor plan style layout with screened in porch. Mostly one bedrooms approximately 615 sf. Units are located close proximity to West Beach pool and Straw Market. Prices for one bedroom condos average in $200’s.

Duneside Villas – West Beach

These townhome style units are closest proximity to Ocean in West Beach. Villas located off Duneside drive between boardwalk markers #1 and #2. These villas range in size from three to five bedrooms.

Fairway Oaks Villas – West Beach

Condo units located along Dunelin Court in West Beach situated along Cougar Point golf course. Villas range from two to four bedroom units; with prices ranging from $300K upwards to $700’s.

Inlet Cove - West Beach

These are 3 bedroom “raised cottages” with wide open floor plan that is approximately 1,300 sf. They are raised, meaning you park your vehicle below the unit. These units are within close proximity to beach, pools, and fishing/crabbing pier. Price range from $400 through $900K. I probably should not have included these in a post about condos, but these fun tree house style homes have a unique feature and appearance worthy of mention.

Seascape Villas – West Beach

1 to 4 bedroom condos located in West Beach are a stone’s throw to Ocean with several units having ocean views. Close proximity to West Beach pool. Price ranges are from the low 200’s upwards to over $1.5M for three bedroom units.

Shipwatch Villas – West Beach

Shipwatch includes one and two bedroom units that overlook the Ocean. Each bedroom has its own private balcony. Amenities are very close with pool and children’s playground located across from the condos. Units are currently priced in $300K to $400K range.

Review of Rita's at Folly Beach

While we were down in the Charleston low country back in the later part of June, we had decided to spend a day at Folly Beach. As we have traveled to the Carolina coast for the past twelve years, this was our first time making it out to Folly. As you pull into town, there is a sense of fishing meets surfer meets college spring break atmosphere. We parked in a pay lot close to the pier of which I recall being approximately eight bucks for the afternoon. The downtown shopping district is pretty small and the retailers consist primarily of t-shirt & surf shops, bars and restaurants. It only takes about an hour or so to stroll downtown and cover most stores. I am not a big shopper so after one or two shops of seeing the same thing (t-shirts, shells, sharks teeth, beach toys and towels), I waited outside the stores with my kids while the wife looked at the merchandise.

The highlight to the day was a stroll down the grand pier, checking out Morris Island lighthouse and finally stopping for lunch. As newcomers to Folly, we did not know one restaurant from another thus we chose Rita's (2 Center Street) as it was closest to our car in the nearby lot. Rita's is a very open airy restaurant that has a wall of open doors/windows that can easily open in times of cooperative weather. The day we visited it was pretty hot thus the large doors were down so we appreciated the a/c environment to escape the Carolina heat. We were easily able to find a table as we were only the second group of customers for a later lunch. The menu was to our liking as the main features included burgers, sandwiches and salads. Appetizers had a couple seafood options which include peel and eat shrimp, crab and artichoke dip and several other decent finger food selections. The deep fried pickles caught my eye but I didn’t find any other takers in the group willing to go along and order with me. Overall the menu was pretty small and basic, but I was okay with that as I was looking for a sandwich and a cold drink.

   

The orders from our table included the likes of burgers, sandwiches, salads and kids meals. My choice was the flounder BLT which was a mile high assembly of tasty flounder, bacon, juicy tomatoes, and lettuce on thick “French toast” style bread covered with a pimento mayo. The addition of bacon to this fish themed sandwich was a huge bonus. I didn’t expect it but I never shy away if someone wants to add throw some bacon on my plate. This alternative to a “BLT” was amazing and cured my desire for a quick seafood fix. The other bonus to the meal was the homemade seasoned fries. Delicious. I can’t form an opinion on the others meals, though they looked pretty decent.

RITAS – THE SERVICE -

The young woman that waited our table seemed efficient and prompt with the iced tea refills, though I would have been shocked had she been slow; given there were only two tables occupied at the time. Not sure why there weren’t more patrons, unless they were all at the beach. I would expect the big rush to be during evening hours up through close. This joint appears to have live music and I was even amused to see a cigarette machine next to the restrooms. I can’t remember the last time I had seen one of those!

All in all, in my next stop in Folly, I will most likely pay another visit to Rita's again for a flounder BLT or a pimento burger, delicious fries, and perhaps a frozen cocktail to beat the heat.

Importance of Knowing Tide Schedules

When spending time on the coast one cannot ignore the daily effects of the tides that roll in and out a few times throughout the day. In fact, the low country tides hit their “highs” and “lows” twice a day.  Science tells us the ebb and flow of the tidal water levels is nothing more than gravitational influences of the sun and moon. It can be really important to know the approximate times during a twenty four span as to when tides are peaking or at the lowest point. Let’s put the science of gravitational pull aside for a minute and understand how the tide can impact our day at beach and having fun on the water.

Going to the Beach at low tide

Be alert to daily tide schedules and plan your trip accordingly. If you are looking for lots of beach space to play bocce ball, volleyball or build a sand castle, then you may want to consider going out to the beach when tide is low. The downside to going to the beach at low tide is that you will have to walk a lot further to the water’s edge to get your feet wet! You may also have to swim out quite a ways to get to get into the deeper water to body surf or use a wave board.  On the flipside, another beach benefit to low tide can be those leftover tide pools that often leave behind sea treasures and occasional critters such as a horseshoe crabs, fish, and plenty of shells. These small pools also can be ideal places for young little swimmers to cool off without fear of getting knocked over by waves in the ocean.

Going to the Beach at high tide

Going to the beach at high tide can also be eventful, but exercise caution. High tide may bring the water’s edge all the way up the entrance to the beach or sand dunes. That doesn’t leave much room for spreading out a spot on the beach and planting your chair and umbrella. The high tide can also bring about more turbulent waves with potential for dangerous rip currents.

Dolphins Behavior and Tides

Tides can also influence dolphin and fish movement between the ocean and inter coastal tributaries. In Kiawah, the tidal schedule does not necessary mean more or less dolphin sightings in the Kiawah River.  However, a low tide may increase potential to see dolphins pursuing smaller bait fish by beaching themselves on river banks and strand feeding.  While I have witnessed dolphins escorting kayaks and canoes on the river, I have not had the luxury of witnessing a dolphin feeding on the banks.

Boating and Tides

Fisherman and pleasure boaters departing inter coastal docks in the direction of the ocean should also be familiar with the tide schedule.  Not being familiar with tide levels during the day and evening can be challenging when navigating under bridges, over sand bars, and through narrow channels. 

For future reference, I added a link on this site to monitor daily tides whether in Kiawah or anywhere  in U.S.

Is a Cockroach also a Palmetto Bug?

Working in restaurants a good portion of my younger days, I recall a few kitchen visits by cock roaches here and there that came in with produce deliveries and by other wayward means. These critters can disarm you when you see them scaling a wall showing off their giant antennas. Their ability to breed quickly and spread germs is the worry of most restaurateurs and property managers. The image created by these critters is an environment created by uncleanliness coupled with bad sanitation practices. While dirty conditions can encourage roaches to thrive; there is often a misconception that these pests are the automatic creation of uncleanliness. Take a warm climate such as the southeastern U.S, and you will likely see a large amount of these roaches in the wild whether in fields, lawns, parking lots, just about anywhere. Though in Dixie, they are referred to as Palmetto bugs. I have seen plenty of them in Florida up through the Carolinas. These critters definitely keep the exterminators busy and profitable. My trips to the south have really changed my opinion on the stereotyping of their presence as being “unclean”. While on vacation on Kiawah, I will take my dog for a night time walk and see plenty of them scurrying across the sidewalks. Stay at a hotel, rent a villa or home in the south, and you may one or you may not see one scurrying across the floor. If you do see one, please do not indict the property owner or manager as running a dirty “house”. Tourists leaving doors and windows slightly ajar will likely provide an opportunity for these critters to take up residency at which point the presence of the bug is not the landlords fault, though it becomes his or her problem. So are they Palmetto bugs or Cock roaches? Well, up here in the north, I still refer to them as Cock Roaches since we do not have palms. Down in the low country or Florida, I call them Palmetto bugs. Regardless of the label, just remember to keep an open mind that these critters are prevalent down south. Their ambition is to get inside your lodging looking for a wayward crumb or two. Keep your place clean and keep doors and windows shut.

Sun Protection Tips: From a Carolina Beach Traveler

Every visit to Kiawah Island usually involves a painful lesson in sunburn. These “ouch” moments always return to rear their ugly head despite bringing adequate supplies and varieties of sun block and sunscreens. While lotions are most common, I will pause and give kudos to the sunscreen manufacturers for coming out with canned “sprays” that make application a slam dunk time saver.  These easy spray-on applications go on evenly and oily messes are avoided. The process is great for families as kids can be lined up and sprayed in a matter of a minute. The spray on style of sunscreen also makes it easier to spray one’s own back when there is no assistance available. That being said, we still packed our thick 50 spf lotion as “back up”. The lotion is much cheaper, but I will still gladly spend the extra money to get the spray on stuff. Stores will usually carry these items on sale early spring (right before spring break). I was able to get two cans of spray on SPF50 for about eleven bucks back in March.

The painful lesson learned on our beach trip last year was getting a sun burned back. On my first trip to the beach that year I was under the false pretense I was adequately coated  with block all afternoon. The return to the umbrella was met with gasps from others stating how red my back was. It was evident the salty and sandy surf had washed away the lotion off my back leaving it exposed for a few hours. Sleep was a challenge for two nights during that trip. This year, I went into our vacation prepared with a u/v protected swim shirt.  The shirt set me back a measly nine dollars and did the job. Trying to find a swim shirt for kids is a snap at large retailers such as Target, Kohl’s, or Wal-Mart. Trying to find swim shirts for adults is not as easy.  Search engine pursuits under adult swim shirts had me directed to upscale beach attire e-stores that were pretty pricey, though a little over the top. I resorted to purchasing a black u/v protected workout shirt at Meijer for a paltry nine bucks. It did the job all week!

This June 2013 trip to South Carolina did not disappoint. I got burned again but in a different spot, my head and feet. The feet and head seem to be the last places I would have considered “covering up”, but they were exposed. My head was exposed as I had worn a visor to the beach. My feet were never sprayed so they were lobsters at the end of the day. Taking away a few burns from the past few years I have managed to highlight key reminders to myself to stay burn free at the beach:

Keys to staying burn free on the beach:

1.       Umbrella – Spend adequate time under the umbrella.  Bring one or rent one if you have to. It is money well spent and you will return home burn free. It is also a great way to catch up on your reading and keep your snacks and beverages cool.

2.       Sun block Sprays – This is a great way to quickly and frequently stay protected from solar rays. Perspiration and frequent trips in and out of the water will remove the initial application of block. Spray on screens or blocks will make this step a breeze. Many people get burned because they avoid re-applying protection when it involves creams or lotions because it is such a hassle.

3.       Sun block on Hands and Feet – The two most forgotten areas must be protected. Remember to apply block on tops of feet. Sandals and water socks are not enough protection as they still allow small holes to expose feet. Keep the head protected by wearing a light breathable hat. Leave the visor at home. Also spending adequate time under the umbrella will protect the head.

4.       Use Water Resistant Sun Screens and Blocks – Opt for the lotions and sprays that hold up to water. Some of these products will resist water for up to eighty or ninety minutes. In the Carolina sun and surf, I would reapply every hour. Reapplication is also mandatory when salt and sand remove the protective screens.

5.       Swim Shirt – This extra protection from the sun will be a lifesaver for the shoulders, back and chest. Go with a swim shirt or workout shirt that has u/v protection label. Light t-shirts or undershirts will not work as they allow harmful rays to penetrate the skin, especially if the top gets wet.

2013 Summer Trip to Kiawah

The 2013 family trip to Kiawah was fun as always and included a few new activities.  The temperature for the last week in June averaged a high eighty degrees Fahrenheit and was extremely humid. The water temperature of the Atlantic appeared in the low 80’s and the tidal pools were even warmer. It is interesting as the tide recedes and leaves behind several of these little pools for the kids to play in. One of these tidal pools left behind several horseshoe crabs resting on the pool bottoms. These crabs sort of camouflage themselves by burying themselves on the sand bottom floor and are very difficult to spot. These prehistoric looking crabs are very sinister looking, but totally harmless as they do not bite or sting.

As fun as the beach was, I had my limits with a very hot low country summer sun. Day one of vacation was spent almost entirely on the beach. Despite the constant re-applying of sun block, I managed to get the tops of my feet and my head (was wearing a visor) burnt. Next time I will dedicate more time under the umbrella.

We managed to get in some biking on day two. We biked the trails in the East Beach area through Tennis Club, Turtle Point, and up along Dolphin Way. We found a few golf balls by the Turtle point golf course as we biked. We also managed to circle back by Night Heron Park. We took a stroll through the Night Heron Nature center to show our youngest the cool island critters on display. He was enamored with the Alligator pen featuring four young gators. This trip also allowed me to check out the recently added Night Heron water park which was very impressive. The downside to this water attraction is that the resort does not allow non resort guests to pay daily admission for use of the pool. You have to rent though the resort to get access to the pool. Biking back to the villa, we saw several species of birds along the trail including Osprey and a few herons.

The golfing for the week included a trip to Kiawah’s Oak Point just off the island. The course was in pretty decent shape and played very quickly as there were not too many golfers pushing us during mid day. It was a very hot round of golf, though we had a cooler of several bottles of ice water to keep hydrated. Our other round of golf for the week was at Legend Oaks in Summerville (over an hour from Kiawah).  That course is also in decent shape due to numerous rains the low country has experienced in June.

One of the highlights of week was the Wednesday trip to Bohicket Marina for the Children’s fishing derby. The marina hosts this event every Wednesday in the summer. The derby lasts one hour and costs only five dollars. The admission includes use of fishing poles that are already baited with squid. The top anglers in their respective age category receive a t-shirt. I am proud to say two of my three kids won. My youngest caught a 13 inch Whiting and my daughter caught an eleven inch toad fish. Toad fish are very ugly and seem to have numerous teeth. I was happy that the staff unhooked  that little monster and spared  me that unfortunate task. Our middle child came up empty at the fishing derby and was a little upset. He was a good sport congratulating his siblings, but I felt I had to make it up to him. His grandfather and I took him to Rhett’s bluff pier/boat launch later that day to try and catch him a fish.  His good sportsmanship paid off as he caught a baby shark off the pier. He was elated to finally land a fish.   

This was our 12^th or 13^th trip to Kiawah (I have lost count) and it was as fun as our previous trips. We added a few twists and turns this time around such as Kiawah River fishing, Marina fishing, and a half day trip to Folly Beach.  I am already missing the low country and look forward to the next trip and creating more family memories.

Seven Fun Things to do on the Beach when the Water is Too Cold

February and especially March start to get much warmer in the low country with temperatures teasing from sixties to occasional eighty degrees Fahrenheit. The weather is optimal for biking, golfing, tennis and whatever else a coastal Carolina visitor fancies. The beach can also be a fun retreat, but the colder Atlantic can put a damper on things if you plan on going swimming. The water temperature usually hovers in the fifties in February and March. That is a bit cold for a Spring break plunge. I have been down to Kiawah Island for Spring break numerous times and have seen the brave and willing go for a dip (head to toe) into the water.

No thanks, I make it as far as walking maybe knee deep into t he water then turn back. The cold ocean temps should not deter anyone from visiting the beach. The miles and miles of sand allow the perfect environment for warming up from a cold winter. I put together a list of five fun things to do on the beach when the water is too cold:

1.       Sun Bathe – Yes. This is obvious! Bring a towel or your favorite chair and a good book. The water may be cold but the sand is usually warm and feels good on the feet. Even consider a nap to the sleepy sound of the waves. Just don’t forget to bring the sun block. You do not want to wake up red like a lobster. Quiet time on the beach allows for an opportunity to clear the mind and worries.

2.       Search for Treasures in the Sand – Bring an old bucket and walk along the surf and set out to find that one in a million sand dollar or conch shell. I am not sure why but the shell selection seems better during the spring months as opposed to my visits in the warmer months. Another popular way to search for treasurers is to roam the beach with a metal detector.

3.       Sand Art – Test your abilities to make your very best sand castle or sculpture. The beach is your canvas ready for the perfect masterpiece. Just bring some assistants along to help tote the water and tools.

4.       Volleyball – Bring a net, a ball, and some friends for a fun afternoon of seaside volleyball. Volleyball is always much more enjoyable in the sand. Just don’t forget the cold drinks and a snack.

5.       Bicycling – Depending upon which beach you are at, consider bicycling along the waterfront. Kiawah beaches are ideal for bicycling as the sand is densely packed. Just be cognizant of the wind conditions. What may appear to be an easy glide or coast in one direction (courtesy of the wind) could turn out to be a very tiring pedal on the way back.

6.       Fishing the Atlantic from the Beach – Consider shore fishing. I have never fished the surf, but will occassionally spot a shore fisherman during the morning bike rides. The Atlantic is teeming with a variety of fish just waiting to be caught. No boat needed.

7.       Running and Walking the Beach – Running in sand is a great workout. Taking a jog or long walk along the seashore is a great way to get the mind off the exercise and keep your vision on the sand and surf ahead of you. I usually combine a run/walk over a few miles which allows for great opportunities to look at some really nice homes and golf courses along the oceanfront.

2013 HGTV Dreamhome Sweepstakes: Blessing or a Tax Burden?

Okay. If you haven’t heard so far this winter, HGTV is running their annual dream home giveaway. This year the special home is in Kiawah. I have been entering to win this home ever since the Sweepstakes was launched back on December 28^th. I enter twice a day (once on HGTV and secondly on Frontdoor.com). I have viewed this home numerous times observing the different panoramic photos and wishing daily I will be the lucky winner. A 3,000 square foot coastal retreat seems like the great getaway from the rat race. As much as I covet winning this contest, the numbers guy in me encouraged a further drill down of the prize (benefits and costs). This analysis revealed painful expenses that hide within this too good to be true prize.

What does the lucky winner get? Grand prize is of course the Indigo Park dream home on Kiawah Island ($1.700,000.00 approximate value). Adding to this prize is $500,000 cash and a GMC Arcadia valued at $53,565. The total prize package is valued at $2,253,565. Then there is the cash option in lieu of accepting the home. The Cash option substitutes $1,000,000 for home, additional cash prize of $500,000 and the GMC Arcadia valued at $53,565. The total prize package valued at $1,553,565. The substitute cash option is a difference of $700,000.

But, there is more to it than that. The federal government is going to get their fair cut. Sweepstakes always appear sexy and enticing, but the winners will surely get gouged by federal taxes. This lucrative prize is considered taxable income. For simplicity, let’s say the feds will tax about one third. We will ignore the additional possibility that you have to pay state income tax (depending upon your native state).  Let’s revise the prize picture.

You just won the HGTV dream home in Kiawah, $500,000 cash and a vehicle. You can expect to pay in taxes about $743,676 (one third of $2.2 million). That is an extremely heavy tax burden requiring liquid cash immediately. You already have $500,000 covered per the cash prize, but now you need an additional $243,676 to pay that immediate tax burden. I guess one option is to sell your other home and move to Kiawah full time or take equity out (cash out refinance) on the new Kiawah home to pay the initial taxes. Now you have a mortgage payment again. Then there are the excessive real estate taxes and payments for assessments and services (Kiawah fees).  Seems like a lot of stress to endure that gets lost in the beauty of that large expansive deck, pool, game room, and beautiful marsh view from the back..

So suppose you opt for the cash option. Your total winnings are $1.5M (car included) but you will get hit with tax of about $512,676 which leaves you almost a million.

As dreamy as this Indigo Park home is, I think I will take the $1.5 million cash option. Even with the tax hit, I would still have  close to a million bucks to spruce up my current home, purchase a Kiawah villa (for about a quarter of the dream home price) and enjoy driving down to the low country three or four times a year in my new SUV. So I will keep entering every day!

Save Money on 2013 Charleston Tee Times

I am pleased to announce that the 2013 Charleston Tee Times Golf Passbook is now on sale. I posted this announcement last year with respect to the 2012 golf season. For those unfamiliar with this passbook, it is a really great deal for Charleston golfers as well as those that visit the low country. What is this deal? Simple, it is a golf passbook or coupon book that gets you a one-time play at nineteen different courses in the Charleston area. (The area consisting of select courses within Charleston, Summerville, Mount Pleasant, Kiawah, and Seabrook). The passbook runs $169 (not including shipping and handling). The only additional fee you will need to pay is for cart fees which run anywhere from $20 - $50 depending upon where you play. The ocean course on Kiawah will charge a $100 additional fee for caddy services (gratuity not included). All in all, the golf passbook is a great way to save money and even more valuable to those travelers staying on Kiawah or Seabrook and want to play the immediate resort courses in the area without paying a fortune. That’s right, you can play all five Kiawah courses and two Seabrook Courses using the vouchers in this book. The only negative attribute to this golf passbook is that the golf tee times passbook vouchers are not transferrable to another individual, so if you do not use up all your vouchers, you cannot “lend” the unused one to a friend that may plan on going to Charleston area. Each passbook is designated with your name; and the clubhouse attendant will make sure you present identification when presenting voucher to cover green fees. Also, when playing the Kiawah resort courses, the passbook vouchers are only valid when playing after 11:00 am, so early morning play is ruled out.


I would recommend this purchase for those that live in the immediate area and even those that plan on getting in at least three tee times during their time in the Charleston area. (I figured it takes at least three plays to get your money’s worth with this passbook. This 2013 Charleston Tee Times golf book is also a great gift for the upcoming holidays.

Tips for Purchasing a Beach Cart

A beach cart or beach stroller is definitely one of the most useful items to have for those that live near or frequently visit sand and surf. For those that make the back and forth trek from the car or condo to the beach carrying chairs, umbrellas, beach toys, and water gear, you know this is quite exhausting; especially on a hot and humid day. Every time I have visited the Kiawah area, I have had the luck of renting a villa that included a beach cart to tote the family water and sand gear. I would have probably made fewer trips to the beach without this useful cart. . Beach carts simplify the transport process by carrying all these items down to the sand in one simple trip whether traversing sand, gravel, dirt or low standing water.

Shopping for a beach cart can be overwhelming if you are not sure exactly what you are looking for. There are numerous makes and models of beach carts with prices ranging from around $40 upwards to $600 for a giant loader. Before heading off to the store or shopping online, first assess what your beach carts needs are, and then go from there. Are your needs just a simple chair or two and a few towels? Are are you looking to transport lots of sand and surf toys along with a giant cooler for the day? Also consider the cart sizes and how well you can manage storing it. Keep the following criteria in mind when shopping for a beach cart: Size, tires, weight, storage capacity, durability, and of course, price. The two main types of beach carts are the utility carts and the folding cart.

Beach Utility Cart 

Let’s discuss the beach utility cart first. This cart is heavy duty in design and typically has large pneumatic tires, though there are other options for those that fear tire puncture when rolling over sharp objects at the beach. Most of these carts contain large buckets to hold an enormous amount of gear with generally a weight capacity between 100 and 400 pounds (some even heavier).This cart not only comfortably carries umbrellas, chairs, and toys, but usually has enough room to also tote the large cooler and ice. These carts are highly recommended for the frequent beach visitor or for one that lives within a short distance of the water and has room in the garage or crawl space to store this larger cart. This cart also doubles as a garden or yard cart due to its enormous capacity and large tires. Makes and models of Beach Utility carts include the Beach Buggy Cart and Gorilla carts series.  When shopping for these carts. You may need to search these by title of “garden carts” or “fishing carts”. These carts generally start at about $150 and go up. Some commonly sold beach utility carts include the Beach Buggy Cart and the Gorilla cart models.

Folding Beach Cart

If your preference is portable, and a less bulky beach tote, I would recommend a folding beach cart. The design of these carts is usually a lightweight aluminum frame that collapses or folds thin for easy storage in trunk or crawlspace. Some models will even fold into a table! Depending upon make and model, these carts typically have pneumatic tires, though some may be plastic. Tire features also include being removable for easier storage. Generally these carts are recommended for most beach travelers. Do not be fooled that these carts are weak due to being smaller size than utility carts. Folding carts can be very durable with the right frame and tires, though the mesh containment may wear quickly after numerous trips to the beach with sharp objects. These smaller sized carts still have the potential to lug three to four chairs, an umbrella and a few toys and towels. The containment of cargo is usually a strap and mesh bag. Frequent beach visitors may realize wear and tear with these carts and consider stronger baggage capacity or opt for the beach utility cart. Typical folding beach carts include the Rio Beach Wonder Wheeler cart series. Like all other products read the product reviews on Amazon and other sites to get comfortable before purchasing your desired make and model.