loading spinner
South Carolina

Kayak the Lowcountry

Program No. 12440RJ
Join experts for a relaxed kayaking adventure in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where you’ll paddle historic waterways, learn about regional culture and enjoy home-cooked meals.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Activity Level: Outdoor: Challenging (3)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Nov 5 - Nov 10, 2023
Starting at
1,699
Mar 24 - Mar 29, 2024
Starting at
1,799
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024
Starting at
1,799
Activity Level: Outdoor: Challenging (3)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Nov 5 - Nov 10, 2023
Starting at
2,149
Mar 24 - Mar 29, 2024
Starting at
2,259
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024
Starting at
2,259
Activity Level: Outdoor: Spirited (2)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Mar 17 - Mar 22, 2024
Starting at
1,799
Nov 3 - Nov 8, 2024
Starting at
1,799
Activity Level: Outdoor: Spirited (2)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Mar 17 - Mar 22, 2024
Starting at
2,259
Nov 3 - Nov 8, 2024
Starting at
2,259

At a Glance

Discover the beauty and secrets of South Carolina’s Lowcountry waterways, home to Spanish moss, marsh grasses, blackwater and abundant wildlife. Paddle on salt creeks, freshwater rivers and venture into woodland swamps as you study the ecological and historical culture of the Lowcountry, observing species of birds and wildflowers visible only from the water.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Varies by date. OUTDOOR: SPIRITED Dates: Intended for beginner and intermediate paddlers. Kayak 4 miles daily (about 3 hours); lift kayaks and gear. OUTDOOR: CHALLENGING Dates: Experienced and fit paddlers receive advanced instruction that assumes knowledge of strokes and techniques. Paddling up to 12 miles daily; sitting in kayak up to 4 hours; carrying kayak and gear. Conditions may include wind and opposing currents. Please note all our kayaks are singles; if you have never paddled a kayak solo before, we recommend that you choose the “Outdoor: Spirited” version of this program.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Paddlers will explore history first-hand from the water, meandering through salt marshes, past cypress trees, or under stately live oaks.
  • Enjoy delicious contemporary takes on lowcountry fare like Lowcountry Boil or collards, prepared by a local chef!
  • Relax and learn during various evening activities: study SC by Map, meet a sweetgrass basket maker, or hear stories from the lowcountry--there's something different every night.

General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and evening entertainment on at least one night. Small group program limited to 13 participants. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
April Childress
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of April Childress
April Childress View biography
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.
Profile Image of Elizabeth Anderegg
Elizabeth Anderegg View biography
A graduate of the College of Charleston, Elizabeth Anderegg is a lifelong canoeist who discovered kayaking when her two daughters grew older and preferred their boating independence. Since 2006, she has served as a kayak and birding expert for Nature Adventures Outfitters. Now an ACA Kayak Instructor and a South Carolina Coastal Master Naturalist, Elizabeth brings to Road Scholar her love of nature and the outdoors, and her love of sharing these with others.
Profile Image of Andy Smith
Andy Smith View biography
Andy is a whitewater instructor, attorney, gardener and river trip leader who lives in Mountain Rest, South Carolina with his wife Cina. Their farmstead is three miles from the Chattooga River, where he has been hosting paddlers since 1979. As an attorney, Andy dedicated twenty years to environmental protection and conservation. He has shucked oysters at a jazz club in New Orleans, managed a rustic fly-in resort on Crooked Island in The Bahamas and currently works at the Airey Law Firm in Seneca, South Carolina.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Water is Wide
by Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy's memoir about teaching on Daufuskee Island in a one-room schoolhouse. The book was made into the movie Conrack, starring Jon Voight. Sense of place and people. Product Description from publisher: The island is nearly deserted, haunting, beautiful. Across a slip of ocean lies South Carolina. But for the handful of families on Yamacraw island, America is a world away. For years the people here lived proudly from the sea, but now its waters are not safe. Waste from industry threatens their very existence--unless, somehow, they can learn a new life. But they will learn nothing without someone to teach them, and their school has no teacher. Here is PAT CONROY'S extraordinary drama based on his own experience: the true story of a man who gave a year of his life to an island and the new life its people gave him.
Tideland Treasure
by Todd Balantine
Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is "a bible around here." Hand-drawn illustrations enhance the explanations. Each page was once an article in the local paper. Written for regular folks, there's information to satisfy trained naturalists.
The Prince of Tides
by Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy's novel captures the beauty of the lowcountry as it moves from present to past and back again. Made into a movie by the same title starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. Narrated by Tom Wingo, the novel explores the relationships between members of a dysfunctional family as it moves between the lowcountry to Manhattan. Shrimping, good description of salt marshes.
A Coast for All Seasons: A Naturalist's Guide to the Coast of South Carolina
by Miles O. Hayes, Jacqueline Michel and Joseph M. Holmes
Technical but readable discussions of beach erosion and our dynamic coastline. Beautifully illustrated with photos, drawings, and satellite images, this book will delight geology buffs and others drawn to the Carolina coast.
Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast: Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and other Entities of the Coastal Environment (2n...
by Peter Meyer
General, practical, and short. Readable, entertaining guide recently expanded, updated, and revised.
South Carolina Naturalists: An Anthology, 1700-1860
by David Taylor and Rudy Mancke
Hardcover. "This volume illuminates the wealth and significance of antebellum natural history studies in South Carolina and the state's natural diversity," says the product description; our Bill Hamel notes that it's "great all around for naturalists and history lovers."
The Spirit of Sweetgrass
by Nicole Seitz
Seitz's main character is Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins, a Gullah sweetgrass basketmaker who weaves her magic on the roadside near Mt. Pleasant. With her special love baskets, she works to brings people together. Conflict ensues when her daughter wants her to go to a rest home, and the florist she's been trying to fix up turns out to be gay. Sweetgrass making, roadside basket sellers in the Charleston area, mystery, comedy, family relationships, friends.
"The Swamp Fox"
by Amy Crawford
Here's the link to this article about one of the most famous Revolutionary War heroes in SC, and one for whom counties and cities are named. Francis Marion used his knowledge of the swamps and woods of SC and his attention to details to outwit British troops and earn his nickname. A poor speller, he was nonetheless a great report-writer. www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/biography/fox.html
Looking for Longleaf: The Fall and Rise of an American Forest
by Lawrence S. Earley
Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is the "best all around for naturalists and history lovers." Longleaf pine forests are a special ecosystem and home to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.
Print All
Map details are not available for this location.
View Map
Expand All
6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Ridgeland, SC
D
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages

Activity note: Check in from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Arrive at Life Tide's community of cottages between 4:00-5:00 p.m. to check in and pick up program materials. Once you are settled into your room, meet the others who are sharing your cottage and enjoy a chat on the back porch. At 5:30 p.m., join us for a meet and greet with your fellow participants before dinner at our gathering spot.

Dinner: You are probably hungry after traveling, so enjoy the first of our many sumptuous lowcountry dinners, served at 6:00 p.m. The food here is often organic, always prepared on site and our kitchen staff is happy to accommodate your dietary requirements. Join your fellow participants as you compare notes about previous programs and follow up on earlier conversations. Don't miss the dessert table!

Evening: After supper, join us for a short orientation. The Group Leader and instructors will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you have about the program, facilities and gear. We'll also take a little time to share our expectations and goals for the week. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. We'll make it an early night, as you're probably tired from traveling, and tomorrow is a big day! This week's program will be an "OUTDOOR: CHALLENGING" version, geared toward experienced kayakers. In the Lowcountry, "Challenging" doesn't necessarily mean paddling more miles per day. A challenging paddle outing may involve navigating over logs, or around strainers or through marsh grass; it may require paddling against tidal or other currents; squeezing past oyster beds, and/or getting in and out of the boats on rocky shorelines or in slippery mud. Please note that all of our kayaks are singles. If you have never paddled a kayak solo before, we recommend that you choose the: "Spirited" version of Kayak the Lowcountry. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

DAY
2
Safety & Equipment Review, Saltwater Paddle, Evening Fun
Ridgeland, SC
B,L,D
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages

Activity note: Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off of a trailer, with direction and assistance from instructors. Dress for land activities in the morning and boating in the afternoon with sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, sun glasses and hat. Please note that plans for the day (and paddling difficulty) may be affected by tides or the weather.

Breakfast: Breakfast served at 8:00 a.m. Fuel up on our sumptuous lowcountry breakfast--you'll have an active day! Dress for paddling, and don't forget to prepare your bag lunch from the delectable variety of options provided.

Morning: During a "classroom" session, we'll take some time to review equipment, techniques, and safety. Even experienced kayakers may appreciate information about equipment to make their paddles safer and more convenient. We'll each receive personal flotation devices (PFDs) and review paddling and the types of kayaks we'll be using this week. Once we've loaded the trailer, we'll take a short break for a delicious lunch!

Lunch: We’ll gather for a picnic on our outing today, fueling up for our expedition. What treats did you stow in your bag lunch today? Almonds and craisins, hummus and chips? Don't forget to refill your water bottle before we go paddling!

Afternoon: This afternoon we'll head off to Boyd Creek! In the kayak and on the water, you'll have a chance to apply the morning's classroom lessons as well as practice your strokes, refine and add to what we know. Our leaders will tailor this afternoon's lessons to the group gathering you up for stroke demonstrations and introducing you to the spartina grass and plough mud of the Lowcountry marsh. One of the best parts about kayaking is the opportunity it affords to see our ecosystem up close--touch the periwinkles, watch the wading birds on shore (and overhead), and maybe, if we're really lucky, see a dolphin!

Dinner: Back at Palm Key, showered and relaxed, enjoy a glass of iced tea along with your leisurely Lowcountry dinner, served at 6:30 p.m. There's always a green salad and dessert, and whatever the entree, it's made with "healthy and delicious" in mind.

Evening: After dinner, join us for an evening program. The focus of our side trips and evening programs this week will be the lowcountry's natural world, cultural experiences, and locale. Is it our popular maps program? A story teller? Sweetgrass basket maker? You'll enjoy it, whatever it is.

DAY
3
Kayaking the Combahee River
Ridgeland, SC
B,L,D
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages

Activity note: Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off of a trailer, with direction and assistance from instructors. You’ll need sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, sun glasses and hat. Tides and weather may impact paddling difficulty or necessitate changes to the schedule for the group's safety or convenience.

Breakfast: Start the morning out right with a delicious Lowcountry breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Is today the day you'll try grits? Or is oatmeal more your style? Choices abound, but be sure to fill your plate: you'll need energy for today's paddle! And don't forget, you'll want to pack your lunch before going back to your cottage to make your final preparations for the morning's paddle.

Morning: As we did yesterday we'll help our instructors load the kayaks onto the trailer before setting out to explore a different waterway. Each day, your instructors will try to show you a different aspect of the Lowcountry--by salt water, brackish water and blackwater. Today we'll be paddling the Combahee, a lovely blackwater river and see how its flora and fauna differ from those of a salt marsh. On our way, we may stop at a local spot where you'll enjoy the atmosphere as well as have the opportunity to purchase a souvenir of the Lowcountry.

Lunch: We'll pause around mid-day for a picnic, enjoying the lunches we made this morning before departing Palm Key. While munching on sandwiches, trail mix, and fruit, we'll chat about what we've seen and rest up a bit. Today's blackwater river is a lot different from yesterday's saltwater creek!

Afternoon: More paddling after lunch: we'll retrace our route back to the bus, seeing the blackwater in a different light. We'll notice that it's easier to avoid strainers when we're paddling against current than with it. The greens and yellows are brighter going back in the afternoon's sun. Be sure to stay hydrated--always keep your water bottle handy!

Dinner: At 6:30 p.m., we'll meet back for another lovely Lowcountry meal. Swap stories about the day's adventures with your tablemates. Of course, you’ll have a lovely green salad, but what else is on the menu?

Evening: This evening, join us our special program. The LifeTides Institute is known for its engaging presenters and interesting evening activities. We try to provide a sampling of programs to please every taste.

DAY
4
Kayak Walnut Pond
Ridgeland, SC
B,L,D
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages

Activity note: Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off of a trailer, with direction and assistance from instructors. Tides and weather may impact paddling difficulty or necessitate changes to the schedule for the group's safety or convenience.

Breakfast: As always, be sure to fuel up with a delicious Lowcountry breakfast, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Whether you are trying grits for the first time or slathering jelly on enormous biscuits, you'll be happy you woke up in time for this meal. Don't forget to pack your bag lunch--and save out a snack for the morning!

Morning: This morning brings another opportunity for exploration of the Lowcountry by kayak. If we've had enough rain over the season, then today it's off to Walnut Pond: a lovely cypress and tupelo swamp. There, we'll weave our way through a blackwater forest, sliding, pushing, and pulling ourselves over fallen logs and through low-hanging limbs. This is Lowcountry kayaking at its best--we're exploring an environment very different than those we've seen on our previous two paddle trips. Listen out for the call of the Barred Owl, for splashes from deer running through the flooded forest, for whispers of awe from fellow paddlers. (If the rain didn't fill the swamp, we have a number of other amazing places to go in the Lowcountry--so don't worry--you will experience a place of genuine, rich-in-wildlife beauty wherever we go!)

Lunch: Once again, we'll enjoy a bag lunch. Sample the variety--peanut butter, turkey, black bean wraps, veggies, fruit, and of course a delicious freshly-baked cookie. You’ve earned it!

Afternoon: Our paddle continues this afternoon. Depending on time, we may make a side trip on the way home to Palm Key. Either way, we'll arrive back in time for some leisure time on site before supper.

Dinner: Will it be barbeque chicken with rice, or local caught fish with black-eyed pea salad? Whatever the menu, you're going to enjoy our delicious supper at 6:00 p.m. Don’t forget to make your way all the way down the whole buffet—frequently there are special delights to be found at the very end.

Evening: You don't want to miss our engaging evening program. We pride ourselves in keeping you awake till bedtime!

DAY
5
Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, Kayaking, Farewell Dinner
Ridgeland, SC
B,L,D
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages

Activity note: Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off of a trailer, with direction and assistance from instructors. Tides and weather may impact paddling difficulty or necessitate changes to the schedule for the group's safety or convenience.

Breakfast: What will it be this morning? Ham and eggs? Oatmeal with the fixin's? Every day, you can have something different, just don't be late: breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., and we have a busy day ahead! Allow time to prepare your bag lunch before making final preparations for a big day.

Morning: Bring your camera today—on the way to our paddle, we’ll stop to visit one of the most lovely places you’re likely to experience around here: Old Sheldon Church. This ruined brick church serving as a reminder of wars past, is surrounded by dogwoods, live oaks, and an old cemetery. Wander the grounds, read the stones (some local notables are buried here), take photographs, breathe in the history and beauty. From there, we'll travel through the countryside to "beautiful Beaufort by the Sea," a waterfront town with lots of history, lovely antebellum homes, and open arms to greet visitors.

Lunch: We’ll gather for a picnic to fuel up before our expedition. What treats did you stow in your bag lunch today? Almonds and craisins? Hummus and chips? Don't forget to refill your water bottle before we go paddling!

Afternoon: Depending on the weather, we may launch from a sandy beach in nearby Port Royal, or we may head further inland to avoid wind--but we'll have a nice paddle this afternoon, that's for sure! As we paddle on the Intracoastal Waterway, we may see Osprey, Pelicans, or Oystercatchers, or even a few sailboats or tugboats pushing barges! After our paddle, we'll load our kayaks back on the trailer one last time and turn the van homewards, toward our cottages and much-needed showers.

Dinner: This delicious Lowcountry dinner will be one to remember! We'll have a special treat for appetizers while the chef is preparing something extra-tasty in the kitchen. Now we can tell our stories of the day and swap email addresses with new friends.

Evening: After dinner, you won’t want to miss the wrap-up party. This is our last evening, and we can’t let it go by without doing something special. Everyone will find something to enjoy as we share highlights from the week over dessert (if you still have room). You don’t want to miss this--but to tell you more right now would be to spoil it!

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Ridgeland, SC
B

Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 a.m., will be our last meal together! You'll want to eat hardily as you will be packing up and leaving us for wherever your road takes you. We realize some of you may need to get an early start, please let us know ahead of time and we will be happy to prepare something for you to take with you!

Morning: This morning, after telling parting stories, asking questions, issuing invitations, or listening to one more joke from you-know-who (there's one in every crowd), it’s off to pack up and prepare for departure. We hope you’ll stay in the area and do some more exploring—and/or kayaking--ask the staff for recommendations and directions. We’d love to share more of South Carolina and the Lowcountry with you! Scholars often return to see us and bring their friends, and we hope you will do the same. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.