Kayaking Shem CreekMount Pleasant, South Carolina

When we planned our trip to Charleston, it was solely based around a kayaking excursion to Shem Creek. 

I asked instagram: "where is the best place to kayak? near or far!" & one of my college classmates, who lives in the Charleston area, responded with "Shem Creek!"

It was the utmost BEST part of our trip. So I wanted to share it with you all <3

This is where I usually type: Black is research done prior to the trip; pink is what we learned from our trip

But this is going to all be black bc we really went in blind. We didn't read a blog or guide to visit. Just booked it and went with it!!

We booked our kayak excursion through Coastal Expeditions. They have various locations, but we did Shem Creek. 

Contact: 843-884-7684 info@coastalexpeditions.com

Coastal Expeditions offers a variety of activities beyond kayaking, allowing visitors to explore the South Carolina Lowcountry's natural beauty and wildlife. 

Here are some of the activities they provide:

• Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
• Boat Tours 
• Dolphin and Wildlife Watching
• Nature and Wildlife Tours
• Birding
• Fishing
• Fossil Hunting
• Island Exploration
• Multi-Day Expeditions
• Paddle and Hike Combos
• Kids Programs

We booked the "Charleston Kayak Expedition: Shem Creek (3-hr)" for Sept 8th at 9am.

2 other people were supposed to be in our group, but cancelled, so we had our tour guide, Abbi, to ourself! She was beyond incredible. 

Activity level: Participants will kayak on a guided Shem Creek kayak tour that has ben timed with the tides for an enjoyable trip.

What's included: 

• Gear: Sea kayak, paddle, PFD, etc
• Paddle and safety instructions
• Kayak Guide

What to Bring:

• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Drinking water

We loaded into our kayaks, went over the safety rules, and we were on our way! Matt and I have singles at home, but went for a tandem for the guide. I liked it bc it let me take pics while he steered ;)

While Shem Creek is actually a creek, it sure doesn't look like it. 

We followed the water along passing marshes and going under a bridge or 2, until we came into a marina area with lots of boats.

We learned about shrimp boats, that LOVE to attract birds, dolphins, pelicans, and all sorts of wild life that eat the scraps that are tossed overboard. 

After we got out a little further, the body of water opened up a bit into the ocean. 

We got up a bit closer to the remnants of a shipwreck, where a sea turtle likes to hangout. 

We made our way down to Pitt Street Bridge. Matt and I had walked this earlier, but exploring from the water was completely different.

from our walk

from the water

We "docked" our kayaks, and got out to explore a bit.

Abby showed us what to look for to find shark teeth. Once she found one and showed it to us, we got lucky and found some of our own too!

Took some more time to cool off, explore, and find a horseshoe crab. 

When we headed back, Abbi showed us what hurricane destruction looks like, as piers and docks were ripped out of the water or left in heaps. We paddled under some still remaining. 

We spotted some egrets, but also! and much more hyped...Some roseate spoonbills! Abbi caught a video of one taking off, with its beautiful pink wings. 

This was right around when we spotted a mama dolphin and her baby in the shallow water. We followed them back to the marina, as they followed a shrimp boat in. & apparently. We just missed a manatee!

Have you ever watched the show "Outer Banks" ?? With cutie Chase Stokes. <3

A lotttt of the filming is done locally, with some water scenes in Shem Creek. Abbi pointed out some of these, such as The Wreck: Kiara’s family’s seafood restaurant. 
Heyward’s Seafood: Pope’s family business, a local seafood company. 
Pogue’s Dock: A central meeting spot for the Pogues, located along the creek.

Overall, we saw a whole lot more than we thought we would. Totally worth the trip to explore this amazing place.

Abbi was incredible, bc the entire time we were on our adventure, she was just overflowing with knowledge about the area, the plants and animals and the entire ecosystem. She was laid back but also vibrant as it was very clear this is a passion of hers. Couldn't recommend Abbi or Coastal Expeditions more. 

After we wrapped up, we were allowed to stay parked at Coastal Expeditions (free to park) and walked down to eat at Shem Creek, the area we just kayaked through. Shem Creek is famous for its waterside dining establishments, where you'll find a variety of restaurants and bars along the creek, many of which serve fresh seafood. Dining on the outdoor decks with creek views is a popular choice.

Stay tuned for our blog post encompassing our entire trip to Charleston!