America's 2010 Top Beach #8: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, South Carolina got Dr. Beach’s nod for the number 8 beach of 2010 in America. And if you know a little about South Carolina, you’ll know it’s one of the best places to play golf and tennis. With the layout of the barrier islands around the Carolinas there are literally dozen of nature walks and kayak and canoe paths where you can see thousands of birds and other wildlife. But let’s get to the beach.






Beachwalker Park is a small part of the great Kiawah beach area. The nice thing about it is that along with its beauty, there are restrooms, lifeguards, and a snack bar in the summer. The park is designed for families with a nice walk area along what is called Captain Sam’s Spit.






Here you will see nature at its finest with untouched beach and shoreline. And if you can bring your bike, you’ll have even more fun as there are trails that take you just about everywhere on Kiawah. If you want to park in the park, there is a $7 fee.


Memorial Day fills the park and unless you come very early, you won’t find parking.


Beachwalker Park beach is clean and the view is beautiful. When you’re up for eating, Kiawah Island has many restaurants to try out. We enjoyed the Fresh Market Village Shoppes and again, the bike trails make everything fun, if you bring a bike. If you don’t – there is a bike shop on the island that rents bikes. If you have the time, there is also a kayak rental near the bike shop.


Cottages and resorts fill up quickly around holidays, but call around to get a good price. Beachwalker Park is worth a visit and is why Dr. Beach put it on his list this year.


Beach Index:


- Atlantic beach with compacted tan sand
- Rent or bring a bike, many trails that are fun
- Stay a week or longer if you can
- Family fun beach with facilities

Beaches of Mauritius

An island nation in southwest Indian Ocean, Mauritius is renowned the world over for its natural charm and beautiful beaches. While the country is endowed with exquisite beauty and unspoilt elegance, beaches in Mauritius do have their own appeal. It is no secret that the country is visited by a substantial number of tourists from all across the world and for most of them, the lure of Mauritius beaches is simply too big to resist.

The beaches in Mauritius are beautiful with spectacular white sand and pristine water all around it. The Belle Mare is a white sandyMauritian beach that boasts of a deep lagoon at the eastern coast while Mont Choicy is a beautiful long beach at the northern coast and is known for a great collection of Filao trees. Riviere Noire is the center of deep sea fishing in Mauritius. Pointe aux Piments is one for people enjoying the quite and cozy warmth of the seashore

However, it is the Grand Baie that is one of the biggest pulls for visitors to Mauritius. Shops for a wonderful shopping experience, restaurants with all sorts of popular and delectable dishes including a collection of seafood's and hotels catering to most of the requirements of the guests, all are available here. Discotheques and bars are there too and tour operators in Mauritius organize a number of sea excursions from this beach too. And to give you the thrills of a lifetime, amenities for all kind of water sports are available so as to give the guests a wonderful sojourn in the country. From business executives to honeymoon couples, all make a beeline to Grand Baie in Mauritius.

Blue Bay is acknowledged as an important center of water sports in Mauritius. Surfing, sailing and snorkeling are widely popular here. The Flic-en-Flac with a beautiful lagoon has a range of shops, restaurants and hotels. Baie du Tamarin offers a picturesque view of the landscape and Baie de Tombeau beach is overgrown with cocos.

Beaches of Barbados

Barbados Beaches
Accra / Rockley BeachOne of the longest and widest stretches of beach on the south coast, this is also one of the island's most popular among locals and visitors. Several vendors ply their wares here and the beach has public changing facilities. Waves are moderate, not too much undertow, and it is always a busy, active beach.
BathOne of the few truly 'safe' swimming beaches along the entire Atlantic side. There is usually a lifeguard and there are parking, changing, picnic and eating facilities. Medium to small waves and slight undertow close to shore. Best swimming is off to the left of the beach bar Bathsheba has been a popular beach for years with both Bajan and vacationing surfers alike, riding the waves at a spot known as "Soup Bowl" in Bathsheba. This picturesque little fishing village becomes a hive of activity several times a year when the surf contests come to town. Known for its big and powerful waves blown in by our ever-present trade winds, Bathsheba offers something to everyone, even if you don't surf, as there are pools in the reefs which make for enjoyable investigating. There are several restaurants and hotels are in the area, and Smokey's shop will serve you an ice cold Banks when you get thirsty.
Bottom BayLocated just north of the famed Sam Lord's Castle, this is a bay protected by jagged cliffs. An isolated, wide sandy beach lined with coconut palms, bottom Bay has a true Robinson Crusoe kind of feel to it. Crystalline waters, medium waves, slight undertow, and a good picnicking spot.
Brighton Beach An ever-popular local beach, Brighton is an amazingly long stretch of beach with only minor breaks of rock or reef. Fairly calm most of the year, very little undertow, but watch out for sea urchins in some areas near the reefs.
Cattlewash is by far the longest beach on the island and, due to its rough and rugged splendour, a popular sightseeing and relaxing spot. The beach is several miles long, and very often deserted, so take care when swimming, as the waves and undertow currents are very strong. There is a lifeguard station on the beach, so ask advice. A perfect location for nature lovers. Pack up your cooler and head for Cattlewash. Interestingly so, this beach was christened "Cattlewash" as it was the bathing spot in the olden days for herds of cattle which were shepherded down the hills from neighbouring villages. Cattle are still seen in the hilly area.
Crane Beach originally a harbour, is considered by many to be one of the island's most beautiful beaches, in fact, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous rated it as "one of the ten best beaches in the world"! The name "Crane" was derived from the large crane situated at the top of the cliff which was used for loading and unloading ships. If nothing else, this is a gorgeous beach fronting one of the prettiest and oldest hotels on the island, The Crane Beach Hotel, standing on the cliff above the beach, which has been a favourite with honeymooners since it opened in 1867. Bigger waves make it good for body surfing, but in the cove on the left there is safe swimming close to shore.
Church Point / Colony Club Public AccessA very special beach. Clean, not terribly wide and somewhat sheltered, the waters are almost always placid with no undertow and good snorkelling. This beach fronts the magnificent Heron Bay House, which is almost as beautiful to view as the pristine beach it looks upon. Chandeliers in the trees and a looming coral stone house make this 14 acres of sheer opulence.Long Beach is last in the island loop, and stretches for more than a mile, a great find since it is little visited. The nearby long Beach Club has some facilities, otherwise, this is a fairly private setting.
Dover Beach lies at the southern end of the St. Lawrence Gap 'strip'. A popular beach among south coast visitors. Medium waves and a number of facilities right close by add to its appeal. One of my personal favourites as while walking from the Bougainvillea to the Gap I found a Ramier pigeon nesting in a small bush by the shore.
Enterprise/Miami is another fine stretch of beach, very popular among locals. Somewhat sheltered, the waters are crystal clear with medium to small waves most of the year.
Folkstone beach, St. James Parish, lies one mile north of Holetown, and is the home of the government-run Folkestone Marine Park. Folkestone has a good beach, many water-related activities, along with fresh water showers and shops. There is an interpretive centre and museum with marine and coastal environment displays, exhibits of the island’s fishing industry and a salt water aquarium. The underwater park zone extends from Sandy Lane to Colony Club and you can rent gear for snorkelling around the fringe reef, or hire a boat for diving. A glass bottom boat also plies the area.
Mullins Bay is another popular hang out, a picturesque bay with a nice, placid beach almost all year round. Plenty of facilities, from parking and eating, Mullins is also a very good snorkelling area.
North Point Cove is a magnificently beautiful bay that is not well-suited for swimming. Rough seas, serious undertow and large waves dominate this beach most of the year, and make it unsuitable for all but the very strong swimmers.
Paradise BeachParadise and Brighton beach are separated by a small stand of woods. This is another lovely, placid beach with virtually no undertow and calm waters most of the year. It was the beachfront to the old Paradise Hotel, which has been closed for several years. There are public access entries to this beach.

Paynes BayThis busy little beach has water sports, eating and parking facilities. Set in a small bay, this beach is always calm, with no undertow, and is quite popular with the west coast crowd.
Sandy Lane BayThere is a public access to this beach at the south end of the hotel.Since it sits in something of a bay, the beach is nicely sheltered with little wave movement most of the year and no undertow.
Silver Rock / Round RockThe island’s top windsurfing spot, this long, luxuriously wide stretch of beach has medium waves, a lot of undertow and good ambience.A windsurfing equipment shop sits at the apex of Silver Rock and the reef a little ways out provides a nice break for good windsurfing during the season.
Privacy: All beaches in Barbados are open to the public. Properties which front onto a beach may own the land to the high-water mark only. Access to the beach is a right for every Barbadian and many of the sea front properties must provide a public right of way across their land to the ocean.
Nude Bathing: There are no nude beaches and all beaches are open to the public. Nudism is actually illegal. Barbados has a history of conservative British tradition and Barbadians are not comfortable undressing or seeing other undress on public beaches.
Beach Vendors and Security: Selling goods to tourists on the beach is a regulated practice in Barbados. Vendors are not permitted to roam the beach and set up shop out of a carrying case. If you are bothered by a vendor, report it to the police. Most of Barbados' favourite beaches are patrolled by police, but they cannot be everywhere and it is prudent not to leave valuables unattended.
West Coast: Generally the seas on the West coast are the calmest, but good, safe, quiet swimming is available in the many tranquil bays along the South West and the South that touch the Caribbean Sea. If you like calm waters with a soft sandy bottom, then the West Coast is probably the best of these conditions, but seasonal variations can cause things to change.
South Coast: Here you will find seas of gentle waves for body surfing and tumbling in the water. There are rollers for surfing with buggy boards and surfboards and some of the best windsurfing in the world. Annual surfing competitions and international surfing meets are held on both the South and East Coasts. East and North Coasts: The East and North coasts of Barbados meet the Atlantic Ocean where huge waves crash along the shore and coral reefs. This coast is not recommended for swimming except for a few of the very protected bays. There are strong currents and fierce waves beating on the rugged coral to create a spectacle of power of a wild and rugged sea.
Barbados Beaches