MAIN Beaches US South Carolina Beaches

Southern charm and the renowned 187 miles of South Carolina beaches and summer resorts - like Myrtle Beach and world famous Hilton Head - put South Carolina at the top of many American's wish-lists for a summer vacation.

The barrier island complex, south of Bulls Bay to the Georgia border, includes islands located along the majority of South Carolina's central and southern shoreline.

While these islands protect coast from rising flood waters during storms, they also provide surfers and other waters sports fans with waves-at- their-wildest during the rest of the year at famous locations such as Folly Beach, 15 minutes from downtown Charleston.

Then there are family-friendly oases like Myrtle Beach that offer amusement parks and season-long festivals. Further south of course, nothing beats world-famous Hilton Head for a romantic summer getaway. For pristine beaches maintained by the South Carolina state park system there's also Edisto Beach and Huntington Beach topping the list.

Find out more about the state's warm weather attractions found at state parks, nature preserves, and all along the South Carolina coast ....

Timing is everything: Young boogie boarders wait on the surf at Myrtle Beach.

What's the weather like today? South Carolina beach webcams:

Myrtle Beach webcam

Folly Beach webcam

Edisto Beach webcam

Hilton Head webcam

Folly Beach surfing.

DID YOU KNOW? South Carolina beach fun facts:

• Myrtle Beach, which attracts more than 14 million visitors a year, is located in the center of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile crescent of beach stretching along the South Carolina coast.

• Besides five miles of beachfront, Hunting Island State Park boasts an historic lighthouse (dating back to 1859) which remains the only publicly accessible lighthouse in South Carolina.

• Currently one of the best beach surfing spots on the US East Coast, Folly Island was named during early colonial days when folly was a term in old English meaning "dense foliage."

More about South Carolina beaches around the Web:

Discover South Carolina - Beaches - Explore the shore with guides to top picks including maps, photos, and information on nearby attractions.

Coastal South Carolina - Hear what TripAdvisor visitors have to say with reviews of top hot spots up and down the coast. .