In the travel media industry, there’s an unspoken pressure to constantly stamp your passport with the newest, most undiscovered destination. When you spend your entire professional life evaluating boutique jungle lodges in St. Lucia or mapping out digital nomad hubs in Southeast Asia, people expect your personal vacations to be equally avant-garde.
But when it comes to my own family’s summer vacation, I completely ignore all of that industry noise.
Liz and I just got back to Louisville in July from our annual family trip, and once again, we headed to the exact same place we go every single year: Fripp Island, South Carolina.
Every summer, our entire family pools our money; we spend thousands to rent a massive house together, and we have an absolute blast.
Over the years, we have tried forcing ourselves to vacation in new places just to shake things up and see different coastlines. But it never fails—we always end up right back at Fripp. At the end of the day, the deep-rooted family tradition and the effortless comfort of the island are simply worth more than the novelty of a new spot on a map.
If you are looking for a destination that forces you to completely unplug and reconnect with the people you came with, here is why this South Carolina barrier island is the ultimate sanctuary.
The Daily Routine: 6 Hours On The Sand
The Vibe: Completely unplugged, heavily laid back, and zero itineraries.
There is no such thing as a rigid schedule on Fripp. Our daily routine consists of hauling our coolers, chairs, and gear down to the sand and setting up a massive sun shelter for a solid six hours. The ocean here is incredibly calm, making it the perfect environment for just wading out waist-deep and chilling in the water for hours without fighting aggressive surf.
When we aren’t floating in the ocean, we are usually highly active on the sand. We spend hours playing beach soccer right on the water’s edge, building sand castles, or playing frisbee.
It is the ultimate, low-stress beach day where the hardest decision you have to make is what time to open a cold drink.
The Logistics: Amenity Cards And Resort Carts
The Vibe: Golf cart cruising and strategic grocery runs.
If you are going to do Fripp Island right, there are a few insider logistical hurdles you absolutely must know before you cross the bridge.
First and foremost, you must have amenity cards to access the pools, dine at the restaurants, or buy anything at the island shops. If you are renting a house through an independent owner, you have to verify that they include these cards or give you the authorization to purchase them.
Without them, you are completely locked out of the island’s best infrastructure.
Second, you can leave your car parked in the driveway for the entire week. The absolute best way to navigate the island is by golf cart. There is a massive golf cart culture here, and cruising down the winding, tree-lined roads with the warm breeze hitting your face is incredible.
There are several rental providers, but over the years, we have found that Fripp Island Resort Carts is by far the most convenient option.
They are located right near the island entrance, so you can easily pick your cart up on the way in and drop it right back off on your way out without any logistical friction.
Finally, a massive money-saving tip: do all of your heavy grocery shopping off-island before you arrive. The on-island convenience stores are fantastic for grabbing a forgotten bag of ice or some snacks, but they are incredibly pricey for a full, week-long family grocery haul.
The Secret Escape: Pritchard’s Island
The Vibe: A desolate movie-set beach and a ticking clock.
Even on an island as quiet as Fripp, sometimes you want to feel like you are the last person on earth. To do that, you have to head over to the westernmost part of the island at low tide. From that point, you can easily swim or kayak across the narrow inlet over to Pritchard’s Island.
We always make a point to hang out on that beach for a few hours. It is completely undeveloped, pristine, and it literally feels like you are walking around on the set of a movie about a desolate paradise.
You are incredibly unlikely to run into another human being out there, so you absolutely must bring your own water and supplies.
But here is the massive, non-negotiable disclaimer: do NOT stay out there too long. You have to pay strict attention to the local tide charts.
When the tide comes rushing back in, most of that desolate beach completely disappears underwater, and the swift current makes it extremely difficult and dangerous to get back across the inlet to Fripp.
It is an amazing adventure, but you have to respect the ocean’s schedule.
The Pools: Cabana Chilling And Giant Beer Pong
The Vibe: Family movie nights and adult-only retreats.
After six hours of saltwater and sand, our entire family always packs up the golf carts and transitions over to the pools. Our absolute favorite spot is the Cabana pool, heavily influenced by the fact that they host an outdoor “dive-in” movie night once a week. Packing some snacks and watching a movie from a lounge chair or the pool while the sun goes down is something we constantly look forward to doing with the kids.
But the island is incredibly adept at catering to adults, too. You have to check the activity schedule on their website because there is a ton going on every single day. They host everything from massive, island-wide golf cart scavenger hunts to highly competitive giant beer pong tournaments at the adult pool. It perfectly balances family-friendly calm with high-energy fun.
The Day Trip: Crossing Over To Beaufort
The Vibe: Historic charm, boutique shopping, and coastal dining.
While it is genuinely hard to break the gravity of the island bubble, taking a quick day trip into nearby Beaufort is always a highlight of the week. It is a stunning, historic coastal town packed with massive, moss-draped oak trees, incredible waterfront lunch spots, and great local shopping.
One year, we actually booked a hotel for one night to get away from the family for our anniversary, and the hospitality is simply unmatched.
It is the perfect change of pace when you need a quick break from the intense summer sun, and walking through those historic streets reminds you exactly why the South Carolina Lowcountry is so utterly impossible to quit.
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