Well, sailorP, in my opinion there is none more beautiful than the beach at Edisto Island. After you hit the beach and hang a left from the "pier," and walk a little way you will come to the state park campground. Continue on awhile longer, and you will not see a soul in front of you. Just a little farther, and those you left behind fade into the background and you will swear you are on your own private beach! There are shells, sharks teeth, and sea turtle nests as well as beautiful marshland to view. It's my most treasured place anywhere. You really must check it out!

As a native South Carolinian, I think I've been to them all! I just returned from Edisto....my top choice! However, which beach I choose usually depends on the motivation of that particular trip. I honeymooned on the Outer Banks of NC, so it's a romantic place for me. We returned to do the whole strand for our tenth anniversary. Myrtle Beach is the place for endless activity and people watching. Litchfield has lots of nice shops and Pawley's has the "arrogantly shabby" ambiance with the gardens close by. Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island and Folly have good beaches with the Charleston access for other stuff very close. I really don't care much for Hilton Head, it's a bit too uppity and restricted for my taste, but Hunting Island is o.k.

Repunzel, Thanks so much for all that input about a long list of good beach possibilities.

I will say this about Hilton Head. I've only been there once, a few years ago. It was in the winter to play golf for a week with the guys, and we never actually went to the beach. But, if you're a golfer, the weather was great and the package deal cost was amazingly inexpensive to rent the condos and for greens fees.