While South Carolina's interior – in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville – is beautiful year-round, the state's coast is particularly attractive in summer.

South of Myrtle Beach and all the way to the Georgia border where Savannah awaits you are the Sea Islands of South Carolina, a chain of islands each with a unique atmosphere and summer flair.

Your options include the family-friendly and golfing paradise of Hilton Head, historic downtown Beaufort, and more secluded opportunities with birdwatching and fishing galore. As you finalize your Palmetto State summer travel plan, there are a few key logistical things you need to know to really take it all in. Here's what's new on South Carolina's Sea Islands.

First time in South Carolina? Here's everything you need to know before you go

Step 1: Choose a home base

Hilton Head Island

Vibes: Consider this your island destination if you want to stay busy yet quiet. Hilton Head is known for its white sand beach, small town core and large resorts. It's also the best option for a family vacation, with plenty of offbeat activities, from ziplining through the swamps to an extensive go-kart track. You'll find all of that at Adventure Hilton Head and other locations on the island.

Do: Hilton Head is a golf destination, with nearly 30 golf courses across the island. Sea Pines Resort is a top choice, with three courses on its property, including Harbour Town, home to the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage tournament. Otherwise, you can also hit the beach – Coligny Beach is fully equipped with restrooms, gazebos and benches for a seamless experience.

Remain: The Sweetgrass Inn at Hilton Head Health places a strong emphasis on wellness, with daily health retreats, nutrition workshops and, for longer stays, a weight-loss program available upon request. The Beach House is relaxed, with its own tiki hut and recently renovated pool.

Eat: Visit Skull Creek Boathouse for a sunset view and enjoy a selection of fresh sushi at the on-site Dive Bar. Nectar Farm Kitchen offers artfully prepared southern coastal cuisine including sweet potato pancakes and savory chicken waffles.

Folly Beach

Vibes: A 20-minute drive south of Charleston, this is where residents of the Holy City come to relax in the summer. Charleston's southern hospitality and friendliness extends to the neighboring beach, where locals trade in their bow ties and pastel-colored dresses for trunks and swimsuits. The oceanfront is teeming with surf shops – like McKevlin's and Ocean Surf Shop – and a spot called the Washout is where experienced surfers flock to enjoy the waves.

Do: For surfing newbies, there's a lesson available at local establishments like Isla Surf School or Shaka Surf School. The latter offers summer camps for kids and a surf and yoga class for women on Saturdays. Folly Beach has a unique saltwater creek and coastal marsh—you can learn all about it and search for shark teeth along the way on an ecotour from Charleston Outdoor Adventures.

Remain: All rooms at Tides Folly Beach offer views of the Atlantic Ocean. The on-site BLU Beach Bar & Grill features a tiki bar and unparalleled views of the Folly Beach Pier jutting out into the ocean next door. The Regatta Inn is the island's luxury bed and breakfast option, offering a daily breakfast buffet and a golf cart shuttle to the beach.

Eat: Folly Beach is full of beach bars with food and drinks that run the spectrum from no-frills to fancy. Lowlife Bar offers brunch daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring an unforgettable Maryland-style crab cake, chicken and waffles, and a pimento cheese plate. Three blocks from the beach, Jack of Cup Saloons serves craft beers and sake, along with a selection of Indian and Asian-inspired dishes.

Edisto Island

Vibes: Located about 50 miles southeast of Charleston, this island is dotted with beachfront accommodations on stilts, stately plantation homes, and stunning beaches. Compared to Hilton Head or Folly Beach, there's a more relaxed vibe here, and there are plenty of quirky entertainment options to keep you busy. One example – and not for the faint of heart – is the Edisto Island Serpentarium, which features habitats for a variety of snakes, alligators, and turtles.

Do: Edisto Beach State Park is arguably the state's most popular place for shell collecting. Botany Bay is a marshy birdwatcher's paradise, home to many shorebirds, wild turkeys and herons. This is also a tranquil spot for a sunset cruise, with Botany Bay Ecotours a popular operator.

Remain: Vacation rentals are the norm here. A conglomeration of Wyndham rentals on the southwestern tip of the island offers the most options in a single location. For golfers, there is a course – the Plantation Course – in the middle of the complex.

Eat: Sweet and homemade – that's the general culinary vibe on the island. McConkey's Jungle Shack serves chicken wings, burgers, wild rum punch concoctions and a famous local sweet tea. Sea Cow Eatery is a cozy eatery open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (except Mondays when it closes at 2pm). Whatever the time of day, keep an eye out for the ever-changing selection of homemade pies.

Step 2: Book your accommodation

Vacation rentals abound along the South Carolina coast. Generally, individual owners or operators offer summer reservations either a year or six months in advance, but this can vary. VRBO, AirBnb and HomeToGo are the most popular vacation rental companies nationwide. You can also check the state's tourism website for other approved options, as well as local chambers of commerce.

All of the South Carolina islands offer the option of staying in a resort, vacation home or guest house and creating unforgettable memories solely on property. If you're looking to keep restless guests or children occupied, Hilton Head offers the most recreational opportunities. Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort may be the best of all worlds – quietly located on the northern edge of the island, it exudes a relaxed atmosphere with a waterslide and is just minutes from shopping at Shelter Cove Harbor.

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Step 3: Plan your days

Hilton Head is considered a fishing paradise as it is teeming with trout, flounder, grouper and even sharks. Hilton Head is one of the largest shark breeding grounds on the East Coast and yes, you can fish for sharks there too. You will need to charter a fishing boat – ideally with a captain to ensure everything runs smoothly – and for that, FishingBooker is trustworthy and up to date.

Outside the islands, three city visits can easily be fitted into any itinerary to the Sea Islands of South Carolina. Savannah, Georgia, is a 45-minute drive from Hilton Head Island—a stroll through the cobblestone public squares and along the boutique-filled main drag, Broughton Street, is a must. Charleston—closest to Folly Beach—is a wonderland of cobblestone streets and a waterfront park with views of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter, making for an oasis of calm and city. Beaufort—located between Hilton Head and Edisto—is on Port Royal Island and has a historic district worth a day trip. Museum selections range from the quirky (check out the Kazoobie Kazoo Factory) to the thoughtful—the Beaufort History Museum showcases more than 500 years of history, with exhibits on plantation culture, the Spanish-American War, and more.

Step 4: Choose the best restaurants in the Sea Islands of South Carolina

In Hilton Head, blue crab reigns supreme. Crack some at Hudson's Seafood House on the docks, with views of Port Royal Sound and occasional live music. Otherwise, fresh seafood is king on the coast, with shrimp and grits, Lowcountry boil and seafood salad topping the menus.

The island towns also have some notable mom-and-pop grocery stores with select South Carolina products. Bert's Market on Folly Beach has it all; stop by and buy pimento cheese, boiled peanuts and check out the deli counter. Palmetto Dunes General Store on Hilton Head Island is a haven for fresh chicken and soft serve ice cream, as well as other staples.

Step 5: Directions

Two international airports typically serve as a jumping-off point for travel to these areas. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is a 45-minute drive from Hilton Head and more remote adventures on Daufuskie Island. Charleston International Airport is 30 minutes from Folly Beach and about 2 hours north of Hilton Head. Hilton Head Island Airport also offers select domestic flights.

For rail travel, Amtrak has a large station in Charleston and a smaller facility in Yemassee, South Carolina. From there, a taxi ride from the station to the islands is a seamless alternative.

Step 6: What to pack

Check in advance what beach items your hotel and/or vacation rental provides—they can vary considerably. Depending on what is provided and how much you plan to pack, it may be wise to bring a cooler, snorkeling gear, goggles, water sports equipment, and flotation devices. Otherwise, be sure to wear sunscreen, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, sandals, and—in swampy areas—insect repellent daily during the summer months. Fortunately, gift shops in the home bases we described in (Step 1) sell all of the above items, but expect to pay a premium.