Gearing Up for our Favorite Season

Fall in Charleston is wonderful.

Throughout September, the air temperature begins to drop to a perfect 80 degrees during the day, while the water temperature is still warm enough for swimming. The dolphins are very active bulking up on fish so they can survive the winter, which makes our Dolphin and Morris Island Tours more exciting than ever. The sun's UV rays are not as harsh on the skin for kayaking or paddle boarding, and paddling near dolphins is a highlight of anyone's trip on the marsh. The crowds also become less and less as kids start back up in school and summer vacations come to an end.

The fall brings smaller size tours, beautiful weather, changing colors in the grass and tree lines, playful dolphins, and various migrating birds. Being on the water anytime of day is exciting as you no longer need to avoid the midday heat or sunburn. Even the boat traffic simmers down, especially during the week days. Enjoy being out on the water in quiet stillness while a guide talks about feeding birds or how oysters are harvested.

Charleston Outdoor Adventures is open daily (including Sundays) year round. It's never to early to start planning your next adventure!


-Anna

Fishing, SUP Yoga, Sunset Kayaking, July 4th Kayak Fireworks Tours!

Welcome to Summer 2015!

COA is rockin' and rollin' this summer. The water is beautiful, the dolphins are jumping, and we've already had several loggerhead sightings!

There are added options this summer to bring your family out on the water, COA is now offering Kayak and SUP tours four time a day! Our rental fleet has also grown in numbers, so we would love to get your family out for an adventure any day of the week.

If you have been on a boat charter with Captain Joe, then you have probably met the notorious dolphin named Machete. This past week, the captain observed Machete tossing a cannonball jellyfish up in the air! Machete continues to surprise us with his excellent fishing skills. Dolphins truly are a smart and unique mammal.

COA is the proud winner for Best of Charleston Fishing Charters!

We want to thank everyone who voted and supported us this past winter. We are excited to keep make 2015 more memorable and fun for all!

COA was also featured in Kayak Angler for our kayak fishing. Such a fun and beautiful way to catch some fish and relax on the water!

 
COA is now proud to be offering Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga!

Start your day by enjoying the serenity and peacefulness of the calm estuary while maintaining asanas (poses) on a floating mat. Yoga brings balance and restores all bodily systems by creating physical, mental and spiritual harmony.

The combination of yoga and stand up paddle boarding are great for building better balance, coordination, endurance, and body strength.SUP Yoga is a great way to enjoy the water, nature, and fresh air while moving through various fun and relaxing postures. Sundays and Tuesdays at 7am.
Call today to reserve a spot, there are only 6 openings per class.
No paddle boarding or yoga experience necessary.

Our Full Moon Tours are ready to Rock and Roll! Our next 2 hour Full Moon Kayak Tour is Tuesday, June 2nd at 7:30pm. Only $45 per person!
Upcoming dates include July 1st, July 31st, and August 28th!
Our favorite specialty tour is coming up as well! The 4th of July Fireworks tour departs at 8pm from our landing. Watch this years fireworks from the seat of a kayak!

The best way to end your day is to watch the sun set from a kayak while drifting with the tide through the salt marsh. Let one of our experienced and knowledgeable guides lead you on a peaceful paddle or boat ride that will be memorable for all ages! Tours depart daily.

Consider Us Featured

Hookin' a sweet red fish!

It's not every day that a film crew shows up to Bowens and tells you that they want to do a shoot with their host, a few kayaks, and dolphins. Coming soon to CNN HLN is a show called The Social Life. From what I gather, each episode will feature a city with the best things to do and best places to eat, with their host posting about it on his social media accounts.
After a fun kayak tour between Morris Island and Folly Beach, we also got to do a little fishing.

Over Labor Day weekend a lovely lady named Jenny who hosts FurReal TV came on a Morris Island Tour to get some amazing shots of dolphins and Captain Joe. 100% Success. This was a very fun experience and we hope to be on many various shows in the next few years!

Be on the lookout for the Charleston episodes and for some good shots of COA on it! You'll certainly recognize the Morris Island Lighthouse, Derek, and a few of Captain Joe's favorite dolphins.

Earth Day and Spring News

The ladies at work, ready to spot some wildlife!

Greetings Paddlers!

What a beautiful Earth day! The Crew here at COA is excited to send you our first newsletter of 2014. We’ve got a great staff coming into this new season, with plenty of boats and boards to keep you busy on the water all summer!

Super Excited Dolphin

That ghastly polar Vortex has finally moved on and here at Charleston Outdoor Adventures that southern spring weather is out in full force. This week (and hopefully all those to come) has been full of blue skies and oodles of Coastal Critters! Our Guides have reported several sightings of the Endangered American Wood Stork and during a tour with Alex a pod of Dolphins cruised along with the group for 1 ½ hours! What a treat!  

This is COA’s fifth season at Bowens Island and we (especially Captain Joe) want to thank everyone for their support! We wouldn’t have made it this far without all the love that we get from all over the country and even all over the world! So thank you from all of us here at COA! Have a great April and make this a fabulous Earth Day!

Keeping the estuary clean one oyster bag at a time!

Keeping the estuary clean one oyster bag at a time!

The voice of the COA phone, give us a call any day starting at 8am!

Anna

Full Moon Tours are back in Action!

This year we are starting off strong with our first Full Moon tour this Tuesday, April 15th at 7pm.  Last year these tours were incredible. Imagine being the only ones out on the water, no jet skis, motor boats, or traffic near by. Now picture a moon rising up over the horizon and the shimmer of its rays reflecting off the surface of the water. By far one of the best experiences you will have this April.

This is a great tour for friends and family. The tour is over by 9pm, which still leaves enough time for a full nights sleep before work on Wednesday.  We hope you decide to join us!

Anna

July Full Moon Tour 7/22/13 at 8pm

If you missed our once a year July 4th Fireworks Tour, then you should definitely jump on our next Full Moon Tour.

The next full moon is July 22nd, and our tour is scheduled from 8pm-10pm that evening.  This is an excellent tour for both beginner and experienced kayakers, designed as a relaxing evening under the full moon.

This will be our third Full Moon Tour of 2013. The June tour brought dolphins galore along with an exciting trip that was memorable for all members. Check out some of the stories here:  TripAdvisor Review

There is nothing quite like paddling along Folly Creek with only glow sticks lighting up adjacent boats and the moon guiding you on your journey.  This is an experience to be had by all, and we hope you will be able to make it out!

4th of July Fireworks Tour!!!

A Once A Year Independence Day Special! 

This Thursday night at 8pm join us for an amazing time on Folly Creek. We will be paddling just far enough so you have the very best and least crowded seat to watch the fireworks from Folly Beach.

The Fireworks tour is a two hour tour beginning at 8pm ending at 10pm. We are offering both a kayak tour and paddle board tour as two separate tours, both departing from our location on Bowens Island. If you haven't had a dolphin splash right up next to you at night, then this week is the time to do it! Call anytime to make a reservation and ask any questions you would like.  Hope to see you here!

Three of our favorite guides

Fishing with Captain Will!

The ever incredible Miss Cooper

Salty Brad

The Calming, yet Incredible Experience of a Lifetime

Did you realize its summer? The dolphins have certainly realized it. The young offspring are gliding up and down along the creek with their parents in pods of just 2 all the way up to pods of 8 or 9. I had the privileged of paddling next to a pod of 7 the other morning, which included 3 young pups and 4 adults. The mother seems to almost help push the young calf out of the water to take a deep breath. 

Looks like this guy is splurging on the mullet a bit!

 Watching the dolphins grow up so close to you is an extraordinary experience. We call this back estuary the "nursery" because it really is where life starts. Captain Joe has been following several of these dolphins for years including, but not limited to, Notch Fin, Snaggle Tooth, and Machete. You'll have to ask him where all these names stem from though! 



Paddling with dolphins, without the congestion of boat traffic, is really an amazing experience. Folly Creek is one of the best places to paddle along side these brilliant creatures, you have to experience yourself!

Thank you Alloway family for enjoying this with us!

Full Moon Fireworks Eco Tours!

 

 

 

Is that ET?? Look close, its a Loggerhead Sea Turtles head!

COA June Newsletter

Full Moon Tours

Summer has finally arrived in Charleston and what a great last few weeks it’s been here at COA! The sun stayed with us daily for over two weeks and gave Charleston some perfect weather for Memorial Day and the beginning of June. Our Full Moon tour during May was a huge success, so Captain Joe has decided to make it even better. This month not only will you be paddling under the full moon, but there will also be a firework show! The June Full Moon Tour will be on June 22^nd and 23^rd from 8:30pm until 10:30pm.

Dolphins and the Morris Island Lighthouse

There are incredible amounts of dolphins swimming in the estuary. Captain Joe and Captain Will are amazed on every charter boat tour with the numbers of dolphins they are traveling with. On June 9^th, Captain Joe saw a baby dolphin that was no more than 2 weeks old! It’s great to see new life blooming in this nursery of an Eco-system.

Have you ever seen a Loggerhead Sea Turtle up close? Their huge heads are popping up all over Folly Creek! As an endangered animal and South Carolina’s state reptile, Loggerheads are a majestic sight to see. You have to keep your eyes ready though, they are too quick for the average camera man. Captain Joe’s count is up to 13 for the year.

mmm Red Drum

COA wants to give a warm welcome to Ben Powers and Christopher Ellis. Completing our excellent team of naturalists, these strapping young men bring a vast knowledge and expertise of fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and the eco-systems.

COA May Newsletter

Jurassic Park? Nope, just an awesome Pelican

Welcome to Charleston Outdoor Adventures’ May Newsletter! There has been a lot of exciting things happening on Bowens Island lately. The water temperature is up to 70 degrees, while the air temperature is still not exceedingly hot, which makes it perfect for being out on the water. The fishing has been great. Tripp caught an enormous Red Drum the other day, which he happily had to release because it was over the legal limit of 23 inches.

 

Cannonball jellyfish have been seen moving back into the area for over a month now, and we finally had our first sightings of the Loggerhead Sea turtle. With a head the size of a softball, the turtle popped up right in front of Brad while on tour and looked him straight in the eye.  Our most recent sighting was yesterday on Captain Joe’s Fishing Charter. 

Photography by William McKenzie

Brad has had excellent tours lately. Three days ago Brad’s tour was followed downstream by a pod of five dolphins and they sighted every bird in the area. The American Wood Stork has moved back into the area also. With a neck elongated while they fly and a wing span of up to 7 feet, the wood stork is a wonderful sight to see. For some people this will be the only chance to see one in person as they are on the endangered species list for South Carolina.   

This month on May 24^th and 25^th COA is adding two specialty Full Moon tours. We will depart from Bowens Island at 8pm as the sun is starting to set and return back to dock at 10pm when the full moon is lighting the way from above the horizon. The beauty of this tour is from the peaceful ambiance of the salt marsh as you paddle past oyster beds, sunken boats, docks, and Spartina Grass that look quite different from the daytime hours. Your Naturalist will not only take you safely through the tidal flats, but will also explain about all wildlife encountered and histories of the area. Full Moon tours can be enjoyed from the seat of a kayak or while standing on a paddle board. If you would like to add yourself to one of these tours, you can do so by calling the COA office anytime at (843)795-0330.

Check out that barn!!

The most exciting part of May so far has been that COA is finally completely rebuilt and has a full fleet of kayaks and paddle boards. The COA kayak barn now has its final coats of paint with a great new sign centered on the top. The barn is fully stocked with kayaks, SUPs, and good times to be had. It looks great as the last building on Bowens Island with a fresh green finish. The new 12 passenger Carolina Skiff has also been busy running charters out to the Morris Island Lighthouse. Named “Sampson I” after Captain Joe’s loyal companion. You’re entire group can enjoy the ride from the boat while basking in the sun and taking in all the scenery and wildlife around Folly Creek and surrounding Eco-systems. 

Last Thursday the entire crew was together including our four seasoned guides and two new additions.  At 6am we were out on the water in kayaks, taking in the rising sun for our “on water” safety protocol training. All naturalist went over all of our safety techniques, knot tying skills, towing, and vessel rescues. Stay tuned for Fireworks tour dates in the coming months ahead!

Joe, Will and Tripp

Betsy and Brad

If you have any questions, comments, or would like to catch up with someone from COA, I will gladly answer your call in the office or respond to your email! Thank you for reading our May news update, and hope to see you in the near future if possible!

 

Don't forget to pick up a new COA T-shirt!!!

That's me on the left after early morning training

Anna Sullivan

Dolphin Tamer, Naturalist, PR

Charleston Outdoor Adventures LLC
Office#  843.795.0330
www.charlestonoutdooradventures.com

Why the Twilight Paddle is so Amazing.

I was asked recently what my favorite tour was and the response was easy. The Twilight Paddle is not only a romantic activity, but also a perfect tour for any adventurer at heart.  The sunset on Bowens Island can be amazing. You are lead on a two hour paddle either on kayaks or paddle boards as the sun is going down, and get back about 15-20 minutes before it fully sets, that way we are not paddling in the dark.
Since the sun is going down it is a bit cooler outside and the stronger winds will have also started to die down. The ambiance of the back estuary is extremely peaceful and quiet. There are moments when silence fills the air and the only sounds are birds dipping into the water and the wind stirring through the grass.  The most amazing is when dolphins come right up next to your boat and leave only ripples in the water as they swim away. The beauty of the estuary that we paddle through is unmatchable.

Along with the Twilight Paddle, we also offer Sunset Charters. During an hour and a half trip of over 10 miles through the estuary, relax and enjoy the peace while dolphins play around you. This is an enjoyable and unforgettable ride for people of all ages including young children.



Hope to see you here soon!
-Anna

Tripp leading his tour back to the landing with the sun slowly setting behind

Full Moon Tours - April 26th at 7:30pm

Last year we started doing full moon tours and they were a huge success.  It is time to start bringing them back again!  The first full moon tour will be this month on Friday, April 26th.  This is a two hour tour. We begin the tour at 7:30pm just before the brilliance of the sunset 7:57. You will be led out into the estuary by an excellent naturalist for a two hour adventure into the tidal flats behind Folly while being lit by the moon.  Both kayaking and paddle boarding will be an option.  Continue scrolling for pictures from last years May full moon tour.  I hope to hear from you soon!

Your choice of kayak or paddle board

Everyone can paddle board! Start out on your knees, and then stand up!

Sun setting over our sea kayaks

Full Moon from a tour last May

Your link for more information on our tours!

-Anna and Jackson