Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we took a look at some of our furry friends in the Lowcountry: The bobcat! Today, we’ll be switching gears just a bit to talk about one of our locations– Shem Creek! Our Shem Creek location is just minutes from downtown Charleston and is the perfect place to learn about the area’s history and wildlife. If you are interested in learning more about Shem Creek and things to do there before or after a tour, stick around! Let’s get right into it.
Located in Mount Pleasant, Shem Creek has a rich history. The original inhabitants of this area were the Sewee Indians, who lived in the coastal area from what is now known as Mount Pleasant to the Santee River. The name of the creek is derived from the Sewee word “shemee”, although the origin of that word remains undetermined. Historians have stated that there was likely a Sewee village somewhere on the banks of Shem Creek, since it provided sheltered, deep water and easy accessibility to the harbor. This is the same reason why this area was important to the first colonists and settlers when they began settling on the creek in the 1670s. Due to the creek’s deep-water accessibility, it was ideal for shipbuilding– This is precisely why shipbuilding became the first industry started on Shem Creek in the 1700s. In addition to shipbuilding, other businesses began to pop up along the creek, including a lime kiln in the 1740s. The lime industry, as well as others, utilized the creek to power their factories.
Shem Creek has always provided a safe haven for travelers. In 1905, the Shem Creek Beacon was built, which brought electric light to the area. It wasn’t until 1930 that Captain C. Magwood brought ocean shrimp into Mount Pleasant. From then on, Shem Creek became a major home port for shrimp boats and fishing vessels. A bridge was built over the creek seven years later to provide more access to the area, and the first shrimp dock was built. It wasn’t long before the shrimping industry exploded and there was support for a strong seafood industry to emerge. By Captain Magwood introducing shrimp to the area, he also brought in tourism. The seafood industry created jobs and interested visitors, and soon many restaurants and inns began popping up along the creek.
Today, Shem Creek is a popular waterfront dining district, complete with a park and boardwalk that totals 2,200 feet long! This area offers stunning views of the surrounding marshes as well as Charleston Harbor. Residents of the Mount Pleasant area, and of the Lowcountry in general, treasure Shem Creek for its abundant seafood, transportation, recreation, and employment. Coastal Expeditions offers various tours, as well as paddleboard and kayak rentals from this location so that you can see just how magical the creek really is. These tours allow you to experience the Lowcountry from an entirely new perspective, and give you the chance to see wildlife like dolphins, manatees, pelicans, sea turtles, and more! Whether you want to try our Sunrise Kayak Tour, Full Moon Kayak Tour, or Family Kayak Tour, we can assure you that there’s something for everyone.
If you partake in one of our tours that departs from our Shem Creek location, you may be looking for something to do before or after your tour. Luckily, there is no shortage of fun in this area! As mentioned above, this is a very popular waterfront dining district, and is a great destination for both tourists and locals. Grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants that line the creek, many of which are known for spectacular seafood, like shrimp and oysters. There are also great restaurants that are not waterfront, but are within walking distance from the creek. And if you’re looking for a little adult-only fun, there are plenty of bars around. There is even a Shem Creek Bar Tour that features handpicked restaurants and bars and complimentary appetizers. You can sip on some Southern cocktails while listening to your guide speak about local history, all the way back to the area’s Native American roots!
If you can fit another adventure into your schedule, you can check out Cruisin Tikis, which is literally a floating tiki bar that will take you around the historic waters of the Lowcountry. There are a few different types of cruises available, including a Charleston Harbor cruise and a Downtown Sunset cruise. These cruises allow you to bring your own beverages and snacks while you soak up the Lowcountry sun and take in the scenery! They also offer private charters to make your trip even more memorable.
If seafaring isn’t quite your thing, no worries! There are plenty of on-land activities in Shem Creek as well. As mentioned previously, Shem Creek has a long boardwalk lined with restaurants. It also offers fantastic views of the waters and the city’s skyline, and allows you to walk down to the harbor and recreational docks. You can also venture down to the commercial docks and take a look at shrimp and crab boats in action! Additionally, Shem Creek Park allows you to take a stroll through nature and view some of the birds flying over the marsh, or take a seat on a bench and watch the boats go by. Another great area to check out is the Pitt Street Bridge. Built in 1898, this was once a trolley bridge that connected Sullivan’s Island to Mount Pleasant, but it is now a scenic public park. There is a fishing pier at the end of the bridge, which is great for catching flounder, bass, trout, and even blue crabs! This is another great place to take in the stunning views of Charleston Harbor.
As you can see, Shem Creek is an incredibly beautiful area for tourists and locals alike! We strongly encourage you to get out there and explore, and come on a guided tour with us! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our St. Phillips Island & Beaufort tours.
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant tours.