A Laid Back Day in Folly Beach
Start your day in Folly Beach with a walk through Folly River Park, which is right at the entrance after you cross over the bridge. It is small but has nice views of the river and the marsh.I love that you can walk all the way out to the end of the pier. It's peaceful and you can see beautiful views for miles in both directions.
There are a lot of great restaurant choices on this quirky little island, After walking around the park, continue your day in Folly beach at Loggerhead's Beach Grill for a cocktail on their outside patio bar. It's a nice setting on. a beautiful day. They have a cute rooftop bar and dogs are allowed, of course. You ARE in Folly.
Loggerheads has a good Bloody Mary with a bit of a kick to it. Order the World Famous Conch Fritters. I'm not sure who gave them that designation, but they aren't wrong. Or try the crab dip, served with old-school Ritz crackers and celery sticks. It's well-seasoned and has a solid ration of crab to cream cheese. They also offer salads, burgers, flatbreads, and other sandwiches. My favorite is the flouder which is filleted in-house daily. But don't eat too much, because our day in Folly Beach includes brunch later!
Your day in Folly Beach must include at least seeing the actual beach! Head to the Washout for views of the surfers, or on a quiet day maybe just the waves. The Washout got it's name when Hurricane Hugo took out a chunk of the beach and washed out several houses back in 1989. It changed the topography so the winds now create some of the best surfing in the area. So much that they now host several surf competitions, including the annual Folly Beach Wahine Classic. Apparently 'wahine' is the Hawaiian word for women. I'm not a surfer, so yes, I had to look it up. In this context the surf competition refers to it as 'strong surfing women' which is pretty cool.
Now that you've seen the beach, continue your day in Folly Beach at the Lost Dog (with or without your pup) for brunch. I like Folly's Original Breakfast Burrito, available with various ingredients, but the shrimp is a great choice. My all-time favorite is not light, but so delicious! I love a BLT, and The Lost Dog's Southern BLT adds pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes on a wheatberry bread. Yum! They offer a nice selection of sides, but the fruit is fresh, not the typical cantaloupe-and-honeydew combo.
'We May Doze But We Never Close'
A day in Folly Beach isn't complete without a visit to Bert's, even if you don't need anything. You have to go to Bert's Market for the experience. 'We May Doze But We Never Close' is their slogan, and i love it so much I bought one of their t-shirts to wear when I paint. Bert's always offers free coffee and are open 24 hours. My father-in-law used to love to walk to Bert's just to get a free cup of coffee and a newspaper. Order a sandwich, pick up some wine, or just peruse their interesting selection of grocery and food items. Or pick up a necessity that is a little overpriced but worth not having to drive all the way to the Harris Teeter.
Across the street is a little outdoor restaurant and bar called Chico Feo which you need to see just for it's vibe. They offer live music, a vibrant atmosphere which is classic Folly Beach. It looks like a dive bar but the food here is creative and delicious, with a small rotating menu. Stop for a drink if you are still full from lunch. But definitely come back for the food!
Duck into McKevlin's Surf Shop for a tshirt, surfing gear or just to look around. Your day in Folly Beach should include a little history and I love their backstory! McKevlin's has been in various locations in Folly Beach since 1965, and the have a interesting story. Back in the early seventies, surfing was considered an oddity, and it was banned in certain areas which forced the surfers all in one too-small and unsafe area. So, owner Dennis McKevlin began to speak out as the 'Surfer's Voice' and won a seat on the city council. It went to the South Carolina state court in 1976 the ban was ended. The City of Folly Beach presented Dennis McKevlin a Citizen of the Year Award in 1994. I told you it was a great story!
Finish your day in Folly Beach with a casual dinner at Jack of Cups Saloon. It’s casual, with a few tables in the back or on the street. The food is well-seasoned, the menu is seasonal, and it's worth the drive. The menu is interesting, and we loved the pumpkin curry soup. My personal favorite, and yes, I would drive there any time just to eat the Harissa Stew. I'd never had it before, and it's made with garbanzo beans, roasted vegetables, and a tomato sauce. It's served with a warm Naan bread for dipping.
There is so much to do on this little island - even without sitting on the beach. It’s super laid-back, and it now has lots of good restaurant choices if you have a creative palate. It's the perfect day on Folly Beach. You get a glimpse of the charm of Folly, without even going in the water.
