The Media Goes Mad Over Island’s Offerings

What do Forbes, Conde Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure have in common? They’re all prestige publications. They all celebrate the luxury lifestyle. And they’ve all fallen hard for Kiawah.
While the Island’s inimitable beauty and top-tier amenities have never been strangers to media accolades, 2018 found the community blushing with pride in response to a fresh, new bloom of praise.

A New Forbes Favorite

Taylor Boozan, Style & Design Contributor to Forbes, has proclaimed Kiawah “the Belle of South Carolina.” Our 2018 Annual Tour of Homes followed by a lively interview with Kiawah Partner’s Chris Randolph made Boozan a true fan of the Island’s “natural beauty, deluxe yet family-friendly amenities, and southern hospitality.” In an article published in April, (“Kiawah Island: South Carolina’s Exclusive Island Retreat”) Ms. Boozan showcases the land- and seascapes, the distinct aesthetic of every Kiawah community, and our world-renowned golf courses and social offerings in sparkling prose. She cites “endless acreage of unspoiled nature flecked with pines, magnolias, live oaks, and picturesque marshland” as an ideal backdrop for the spacious estates that grace the landscape.

The article credits a roster of amenities including Cassique Clubhouse, Voysey’s, Ocean Park’s Marsh House and Sasanqua Spa for fostering “slower, laid-back days with bike rides, fishing in the flats, or a dip in the seaside pools.” Our fabulous golf courses are highlighted, too, and Boozan even name drops a few celebrity fans of the Island (Clooney, Gere and Witherspoon, anyone?)

Ultimately, however, the reporter seems most enamored with the “getaway” element Kiawah offers its residents and guests. Calling it “an exclusive, insider’s escape that is designed to remain a well-kept secret,” Ms. Boozan’s feelings are echoed in the article by Chris Randolph.
“Kiawah at first blush is known as a golf destination, but it’s really the concept of unplugging here that people really enjoy,” Randolph explains. “People come here to truly get away, but you’re only 30 minutes from Charleston if you want to get back into the mix. There’s a natural, still wild feeling here even though we’re very much developed.”

Number Three By The Sea

Along with irresistible barbecue, unflappable hospitality, and majestic marshlands, South Carolina is famous for spectacular shorelines. This year, in naming the “9 Best Beaches in Charleston,” Conde Nast Traveler has heralded Kiawah’s 10-mile stretch of pristine shore as number three! While our breathtaking beaches have made the list in the past, this year marks a six-position climb in rank that we take great pride in.
Recognizing Kiawah as one of the nation’s “most beautiful barrier islands,” Conde Nast Traveler proclaims the “soft sands are friendly to barefoot walkers, but they’re also firm enough to bike across.” Beach amenities and services are denoted as “higher-end” than is common, and tranquility and abundant wildlife are cited as prime perks to a day spent here.

Read Conde Nast Traveler’s piece on Beachwalker Park

Travel + Leisure + Kiawah + Best

“World’s Best.” It has a nice ring to it. And in being named “#3 Top Island in the Continental U.S.A.” in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, we carry the honor with enormous pride.

The annual survey of Travel + Leisure readers from around the globe spotlights the places and services that world traveler’s feel most passionate about. In rating the Island category, participants were asked to consider amenities, natural attractions, beaches, local temperament and overall value. Kiawah claimed its enviable placement for its championship golf courses, rich wildlife, exceptional beaches, and the world-class Sanctuary Hotel and spa. Travel + Leisure readers seemed especially enthused about Kiawah’s unspoiled landscapes and “uncommercial” feel – a takeaway that the Kiawah Development team is especially proud of.

Anyone fortunate enough to have strolled a Kiawah Island shoreline, wandered its lush maritime forests, or swung a club on the world-renowned Ocean Course recognizes the indisputable magic of our community.

Now, it seems, the world recognizes it, too.