Some of the tours at Coastal Expeditions are better for kids than others and we want to help you pick the best adventure for you and your family. Owners Kari and Chris Crolley are parents to a 3-year-old and have a few insights that may make the decision of what to do easier:

Bulls Island Beach Drop

Taking you straight to the north end of Bulls Island, this trip is wonderful for the entire family. Pack a picnic, plenty of water, sunscreen and sand toys and board the ferry for a day that your family won’t forget. You can set your own pace once you are on the beach. “The last time I went with friends we got so consumed with beach combing and picnicking that we barely made it around the bend- and it was the best day,” says Kari. If you have grandparents in town, this is a great pick for them, too.

Shem Creek Kayak Tour

Don’t be scared off by the 3-hour tour time.  It takes a few minutes of pre-trip prep (fitting you to the kayaks and PFD’s and teaching you some basic kayaking techniques) before you set off on the water.  Once you are on the picturesque Shem Creek, your guide will keep the kids entertained by showing them birds, crabs, dolphins– and maybe even a manatee.  Children 12 & under paddle in the front of a tandem kayak with you as the powerhouse, so you don’t have to worry about them lagging behind. If you are going out in the cooler months, call up to see if there is a Shark Tooth and Fossil Tour scheduled and you’ll be able to get out on a little island to search for treasures.

Isle of Palms Family Tour

If you think that 3 hours is too much, call us up to take a 2-hour family tour.  You won’t get as in-depth of an experience, but it is often the perfect introduction to sea kayaking with little kids.

Bulls Island Ferry

The interior of Bulls Island is intersected with 16 miles of trails and roads. Home to American alligators, myriad of birds, fox squirrels and whitetail deer, this wild barrier island gives you the chance to get away from it all and reconnect as a family.  Every day, children of all ages ride the ferry out for this adventure, but it’s not for everyone. It is a mile and a  half (an easy flat mile and a half) to the beach from the dock, and along the way there will be mosquitoes.  If you dress the right way, bring insect spray and pack a good attitude, it’s no problem.  Kari wrote something about bringing kids to Bulls Island that will give you some tips for a great day.

Young Naturalist Kayak Adventure Camp

If you are looking for something a little more in depth, sign your kids (ages 8-13) up for our weekly day camp.  Led by our top guides, campers learn to kayak, paddleboard, throw a cast net, identify common birds and more.  They’ll come home streaked with pluff mud, tired and excited about the next day.

Hopefully this help a little!  If you see a tour that you want to do and aren’t sure if it’s right for kids, just give us a call.  We love guiding you in the right direction so that you have the best time on the water.