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

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.

What You'll Learn

  • 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 trip 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 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.
Meals
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian
Lodging
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Display
Nov 10, 2024 - Nov 15, 2024
  • Nov 10, 2024 - Nov 15, 2024
  • Nov 03, 2024 - Nov 08, 2024
  • Nov 10, 2024 - Nov 15, 2024
  • Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 04, 2025
  • Apr 06, 2025 - Apr 11, 2025
  • Nov 09, 2025 - Nov 14, 2025
  • Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025
5 nights
Ridgeland
Thirty minutes from 300-year-old Beaufort’s antebellum charm and nestled on a 350-acre marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River, the LifeTides Institute hosts Road Scholars in a community of comfortably appointed cottages with their own master suites (2-4 suites per cottage). Each cottage bedroom contains two queen-size beds with private baths, and has a shared living room, with full kitchen, washer & dryer and porches overlooking a beautiful marsh. There are ceiling fans and air-conditioning in all cottages. Freshly prepared meals are served buffet-style in a main dining facility, paying homage to local and organic ingredients. The area's nature trails offer ample opportunities to see wildlife in the nearby woods, including up to 250 species of birds. Good to know: Limited Internet access in common areas. No TVs in cottages. Note: Most meals served buffet-style; bus own table.
5 nights
Ridgeland
Thirty minutes from 300-year-old Beaufort’s antebellum charm and nestled on a 350-acre marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River, the LifeTides Institute hosts Road Scholars in a community of comfortably appointed cottages with their own master suites (2-4 suites per cottage). Each cottage bedroom contains two queen-size beds with private baths, and has a shared living room, with full kitchen, washer & dryer and porches overlooking a beautiful marsh. There are ceiling fans and air-conditioning in all cottages. Freshly prepared meals are served buffet-style in a main dining facility, paying homage to local and organic ingredients. The area's nature trails offer ample opportunities to see wildlife in the nearby woods, including up to 250 species of birds. Good to know: Limited Internet access in common areas. No TVs in cottages. Note: Most meals served buffet-style; bus own table.
5 nights
Ridgeland
Thirty minutes from 300-year-old Beaufort’s antebellum charm and nestled on a 350-acre marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River, the LifeTides Institute hosts Road Scholars in a community of comfortably appointed cottages with their own master suites (2-4 suites per cottage). Each cottage bedroom contains two queen-size beds with private baths, and has a shared living room, with full kitchen, washer & dryer and porches overlooking a beautiful marsh. There are ceiling fans and air-conditioning in all cottages. Freshly prepared meals are served buffet-style in a main dining facility, paying homage to local and organic ingredients. The area's nature trails offer ample opportunities to see wildlife in the nearby woods, including up to 250 species of birds. Good to know: Limited Internet access in common areas. No TVs in cottages. Note: Most meals served buffet-style; bus own table.
5 nights
Ridgeland
Thirty minutes from 300-year-old Beaufort’s antebellum charm and nestled on a 350-acre marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River, the LifeTides Institute hosts Road Scholars in a community of comfortably appointed cottages with their own master suites (2-4 suites per cottage). Each cottage bedroom contains two queen-size beds with private baths, and has a shared living room, with full kitchen, washer & dryer and porches overlooking a beautiful marsh. There are ceiling fans and air-conditioning in all cottages. Freshly prepared meals are served buffet-style in a main dining facility, paying homage to local and organic ingredients. The area's nature trails offer ample opportunities to see wildlife in the nearby woods, including up to 250 species of birds. Good to know: Limited Internet access in common areas. No TVs in cottages. Note: Most meals served buffet-style; bus own table.
5 nights
Ridgeland
Thirty minutes from 300-year-old Beaufort’s antebellum charm and nestled on a 350-acre marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River, the LifeTides Institute hosts Road Scholars in a community of comfortably appointed cottages with their own master suites (2-4 suites per cottage). Each cottage bedroom contains two queen-size beds with private baths, and has a shared living room, with full kitchen, washer & dryer and porches overlooking a beautiful marsh. There are ceiling fans and air-conditioning in all cottages. Freshly prepared meals are served buffet-style in a main dining facility, paying homage to local and organic ingredients. The area's nature trails offer ample opportunities to see wildlife in the nearby woods, including up to 250 species of birds. Good to know: Limited Internet access in common areas. No TVs in cottages. Note: Most meals served buffet-style; bus own table.
5 nights
Ridgeland
Thirty minutes from 300-year-old Beaufort’s antebellum charm and nestled on a 350-acre marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River, the LifeTides Institute hosts Road Scholars in a community of comfortably appointed cottages with their own master suites (2-4 suites per cottage). Each cottage bedroom contains two queen-size beds with private baths, and has a shared living room, with full kitchen, washer & dryer and porches overlooking a beautiful marsh. There are ceiling fans and air-conditioning in all cottages. Freshly prepared meals are served buffet-style in a main dining facility, paying homage to local and organic ingredients. The area's nature trails offer ample opportunities to see wildlife in the nearby woods, including up to 250 species of birds. Good to know: Limited Internet access in common areas. No TVs in cottages. Note: Most meals served buffet-style; bus own table.





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