With 10 miles of undisturbed beaches, renowned golf courses and top-notch resorts, Kiawah Island has all the essentials for a serene (albeit costly) beach vacation. Kiawah Island (located about 30 miles southwest of Charleston) features smooth beaches that are great for biking, lounging and spotting bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles. Meanwhile, novice golfers can attend clinics at a learning center, while pros can take on the challenging Ocean Course (notorious for its wind). Come mealtime, visitors can find everything from ice cream parlors to upscale dining at the island’s resorts or the picture-perfect Freshfields Village.