SC has 2 of the best beaches to surf at in the South, Southern Living says. Here’s why
Two South Carolina beaches made Southern Living’s recently released best places to surf in the South — Folly Beach and Pawleys Island.
The magazine said surfers are drawn to The Washout at Folly Beach. Aptly named, the area was created when a block of homes was leveled by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, allowing wind to create great surfing conditions.
Southern Living called the conditions “perfect rolling waves.”
Folly is a 12 square mile barrier island with about 2,400 permanent residents just south of Charleston. It bills itself as one of America’s last true beach towns, “Funky, laid-back, come-as-you-are kind of beach,” the Visit Folly website says.
Of Pawleys Island, Southern living said, “This quiet South Carolina beach town is a laid back spot to hit the surf alongside locals without having to battle any crowds. If you’re in search of the most consistent waves, stay close to the pier and hope for winds coming from the northeast.”
The magazine said larger swells at all Southern beaches occur in the fall.
“Summer’s calmer waves are great for those just starting out,” Southern Living said.
The other beaches on the list are Wrightsville Beach, Emerald Isle, Carolina Beach (professional surfer Tony Silvagni has a surf school here) and Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna, Delray Beach, and Melbourne in Florida.
