K - Things to do in the Spring/Summer

New to Charleston A to Z?  Read this first. 

Kayakers with Morris Island Lighthouse in background.

Kayaking – truth be told, I have not been kayaking in Charleston yet, but I can’t wait to get a tandem kayak so Rachel and I can explore the marshes.  We kayaked once on our honeymoon near Hilton Head Island and it was amazing.  Our rental was a sit-on-top tandem model.  The journey started with a maze of narrow oyster beds that we had to navigate carefully.  Larger pools broke up the narrow sections that eventually led us into the open waters of the harbor.  That’s where we saw a fin.  It was the first time I had ever seen a live dolphin and it was swimming just a few feet away from us.

I can remember immediately identifying the fin as a dolphin with no thought of sharks; still I was filled with fear mixed with wonder.  I suppose the word “awe” might sum my feelings best.  I had felt this feeling before while jogging through a cross-country trail in New York where I spotted a deer standing tall in my peripheral.  It stopped me in my tracks.  I had never been so close to wild nature before.  Standing less than five feet away from a large deer felt awesome and a little bit scary.  That’s how I felt kayaking with dolphins.

Oh wait, this is about kayaking, not dolphins.  As you already know, I love dolphins.  I covered that in our D post a week ago.  Anyway. . .

Watching dolphins trail kayakers in Shem Creek all summer got me dreaming of getting a kayak for my wife and I.  There are quite a few kayak rental places scattered throughout Charleston.  You can go to the county parks and rent right from the docks, and there are various water recreation businesses where you can park, rent, and drop in near all of the beaches.  There are so many places in Charleston that I can’t wait to explore from a kayak, but I don’t want to be limited to rentals.  I want to get out there on my own at any hour my little heart desires, but I have a dilemma.  Rachel and I also want living room furniture that can provide enough seating for more than one guest and can serve as an extra bed when family visits.  So help me out here.  What do you think a better use of our tax refund would be this year?  Kayak or couch?

Do you have any experience with kayaking in Charleston?  Where are the best places to go?  Or maybe getting out on the open water isn’t your things?  Do you have a better K activity to suggest?