Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2025
Starting at
1,899
South Carolina
Kayak the Lowcountry
Program No. 12440RJ
Join experts for a relaxed kayaking adventure in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where you’ll paddle historic waterways, learn about regional culture and enjoy home-cooked meals.
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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Activity Level:
Outdoor: Spirited (2)
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Activity Level:
Outdoor: Spirited (2)
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2025
Starting at
2,359Nov 9 - Nov 14, 2025
Starting at
2,359Activity Level:
Outdoor: Challenging (2)
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025
Starting at
1,899Activity Level:
Outdoor: Challenging (2)
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025
Starting at
2,359Not seeing the date you're looking for?
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 4L 5D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Ridgeland, SC
3
Kayaking the Combahee River
Ridgeland, SC
4
Kayak Walnut Pond
Ridgeland, SC
5
Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, Kayaking
Ridgeland, SC
6
Program Concludes
Ridgeland, SC
At a Glance
Discover the beauty and secrets of South Carolina’s Lowcountry waterways, home to Spanish moss, marsh grasses, blackwater and abundant wildlife. Paddle on salt creeks, freshwater rivers and venture into woodland swamps as you study the ecological and historical culture of the Lowcountry, observing species of birds and wildflowers visible only from the water.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Varies by date. OUTDOOR: SPIRITED Dates: Intended for beginner and intermediate kayakers. Kayak around 4 miles daily (about 3 hours); lift kayaks and gear. Participants who are not certain about whether they are prepared for the Challenging version of this course should choose Spirited. If you kayak only once or twice a year, this program is for you. OUTDOOR: CHALLENGING Dates: Experienced and fit kayakers receive advanced instruction that assumes knowledge of multiple kayak strokes and techniques. Do you know how and why to feather your paddle? Use torso rotation for efficiency? Participants will kayak up to 9 miles daily; sit in kayak up to 4 hours; carry kayak and gear. Conditions may include wind and opposing currents. Please note that all our kayaks are singles; if you have never (or rarely) paddled a kayak solo before, or have primarily paddled canoes, we recommend that you choose the “Outdoor: Spirited” version of this program.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore history first-hand from the water, meandering through old rice fields, into cypress-tupelo forests, or under stately live oaks.
- Enjoy delicious meals prepared by a local chef.
- Relax and learn during various evening activities: meet sweetgrass basket makers and hear their stories, explore the Lowcountry by maps--there's something different every night.
General Notes
The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and evening entertainment on at least one night. Small group program limited to 13 participants. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
April Childress
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
April Childress
View biography
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.
Suggested Reading List
(9 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Kayak the Lowcountry
Program Number: 12440
The Spirit of Sweetgrass
Seitz's main character is Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins, a Gullah sweetgrass basketmaker who weaves her magic on the roadside near Mt. Pleasant. With her special love baskets, she works to brings people together. Conflict ensues when her daughter wants her to go to a rest home, and the florist she's been trying to fix up turns out to be gay. Sweetgrass making, roadside basket sellers in the Charleston area, mystery, comedy, family relationships, friends.
The Prince of Tides
Pat Conroy's novel captures the beauty of the lowcountry as it moves from present to past and back again. Made into a movie by the same title starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. Narrated by Tom Wingo, the novel explores the relationships between members of a dysfunctional family as it moves between the lowcountry to Manhattan. Shrimping, good description of salt marshes.
Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast: Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and other Entities of the Coastal Environment (2n...
General, practical, and short. Readable, entertaining guide recently expanded, updated, and revised.
Looking for Longleaf: The Fall and Rise of an American Forest
Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is the "best all around for naturalists and history lovers." Longleaf pine forests are a special ecosystem and home to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.
Tideland Treasure
Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is "a bible around here." Hand-drawn illustrations enhance the explanations. Each page was once an article in the local paper. Written for regular folks, there's information to satisfy trained naturalists.
A Coast for All Seasons: A Naturalist's Guide to the Coast of South Carolina
Technical but readable discussions of beach erosion and our dynamic coastline. Beautifully illustrated with photos, drawings, and satellite images, this book will delight geology buffs and others drawn to the Carolina coast.
South Carolina Naturalists: An Anthology, 1700-1860
Hardcover. "This volume illuminates the wealth and significance of antebellum natural history studies in South Carolina and the state's natural diversity," says the product description; our Bill Hamel notes that it's "great all around for naturalists and history lovers."
"The Swamp Fox"
Here's the link to this article about one of the most famous Revolutionary War heroes in SC, and one for whom counties and cities are named. Francis Marion used his knowledge of the swamps and woods of SC and his attention to details to outwit British troops and earn his nickname. A poor speller, he was nonetheless a great report-writer. www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/biography/fox.html
The Water is Wide
Pat Conroy's memoir about teaching on Daufuskee Island in a one-room schoolhouse. The book was made into the movie Conrack, starring Jon Voight. Sense of place and people.
Product Description from publisher: The island is nearly deserted, haunting, beautiful. Across a slip of ocean lies South Carolina. But for the handful of families on Yamacraw island, America is a world away. For years the people here lived proudly from the sea, but now its waters are not safe. Waste from industry threatens their very existence--unless, somehow, they can learn a new life. But they will learn nothing without someone to teach them, and their school has no teacher.
Here is PAT CONROY'S extraordinary drama based on his own experience: the true story of a man who gave a year of his life to an island and the new life its people gave him.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Ridgeland, SC
Program Concludes
Ridgeland, SC
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
14
| 5B |
4L |
5D |
Activity Level
Discover the beauty and secrets of South Carolina’s Lowcountry waterways, home to Spanish moss, marsh grasses, blackwater and abundant wildlife. Paddle on salt creeks, freshwater rivers and venture into woodland swamps as you study the ecological and historical culture of the Lowcountry, observing species of birds and wildflowers visible only from the water.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Explore history first-hand from the water, meandering through old rice fields, into cypress-tupelo forests, or under stately live oaks.
- Enjoy delicious meals prepared by a local chef.
- Relax and learn during various evening activities: meet sweetgrass basket makers and hear their stories, explore the Lowcountry by maps--there's something different every night.
General Notes
The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and evening entertainment on at least one night. Small group program limited to 13 participants. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
April Childress
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Varies by date
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(9 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals | 5B | 4L | 5D |
4 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Check in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
**Please email jjschatz46@gmail.com with your approximate weight, height and shoe size before you arrive onsite to your program. This helps us get the correct kayaks ready for you before your arrival.** Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. at Life Tide's community of cottages to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Once you are settled into your room, meet the other Road Scholars who are sharing your cottage and enjoy a chat on the back porch. At 5:30 p.m., join us for a meet and greet with the whole group before dinner at our gathering spot.
Dinner:
6:00 p.m. in the dining room.
Evening:
Orientation. After supper, the Group Leader and instructors will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you have about the program, facilities and gear. We will review COVID-19 protocols and adhere to applicable COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. We’ll also take a little time to share expectations and goals. The rating for this program date is “Outdoor Challenging” and geared towards experienced kayakers. In the Lowcountry, “challenging” doesn’t necessarily mean paddling more miles per day. A challenging paddle outing might involve navigating over logs, around strainers, or through marsh grass. It could require paddling against tidal or other currents, squeezing past oyster beds, and/or getting in and out of the boats on rocky shorelines or slippery mud. Plans for each day and paddling may be affected by weather/tides or necessitate changes to the schedule for the group’s safety or convenience. Note: All of our kayaks are singles. If you have never paddled a kayak solo before, we recommend enrolling in the “Spirited” version of Kayak the Lowcountry Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll make it an early night as you’re probably tired from traveling. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the big day ahead.
Day
2
Safety & Equipment Review, Saltwater Paddle, Evening Fun
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans; driving from 25-40 miles depending today’s routes, approximately 1 hour riding time. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off a trailer with direction and assistance from instructors. Dress for land activities in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon with sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, sun glasses, hat.
Breakfast:
8:00 a.m. in the dining room. We will also prepare bag lunches from a delectable variety of choices to take with us. Be sure to fill your water bottle.
Morning:
We’ll gather to review equipment, techniques, and safety. Even experienced kayakers will appreciate the information to make paddling safer and more convenient. We’ll each receive personal flotation devices (PFDs), review paddling and the types of kayaks we’ll be using, and load the trailer.
Lunch:
In the field, we’ll have the lunches we prepared this morning and chat about what we’ve seen.
Afternoon:
We’ll head hop into vans and head out to Boyd Creek. In the kayak and on the water, we’ll have opportunities to apply the morning’s lessons, practice our strokes, and refine or add to what we know. Our leaders will tailor lessons to the group’s abilities such as stroke demonstrations and introductions to the spartina grass and plough mud of the Lowcountry marsh. One of the best parts about kayaking is the opportunity it affords to see our ecosystem up close: touch the periwinkles, watch the wading birds on shore and overhead, and maybe, if we’re really lucky, see a dolphin.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a presentation on aspects of the Lowcountry such as the natural world, cultural experiences, and locale.
Day
3
Kayaking the Combahee River
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans; driving from 25-40 miles depending today’s routes, approximately 1 hour riding time. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off a trailer with direction and assistance from instructors. Dress for land activities in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon with sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, sun glasses, hat.
Breakfast:
In the dining room. We will also prepare bag lunches from a delectable variety of choices to take with us. Be sure to fill your water bottle.
Morning:
As we did yesterday we’ll help our instructors load the kayaks onto the trailer before setting out to explore a different waterway. Each day, we will explore a different aspect of the Lowcountry, by salt water, brackish water, and blackwater. Today we’ll be paddling the Combahee, a lovely blackwater river and see how its flora and fauna differ from those of a salt marsh. On our way, we may stop at a local spot where we’ll enjoy the atmosphere.
Lunch:
In the field, we’ll have the lunches we prepared this morning and chat about what we’ve seen.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our field trip with more paddling. Retracing our route back to the van, we’ll see the blackwater in a different light. We’ll notice that it’s easier to avoid strainers when we’re paddling against current than with it. The greens and yellows are brighter going back in the afternoon’s sun. Be sure to stay hydrated and always keep your water bottle handy.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
We’ll gather for another presentation on aspects of the Lowcountry such as the natural world, cultural experiences, and locale.
Day
4
Kayak Walnut Pond
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans; driving from 25-40 miles depending today’s routes, approximately 1 hour riding time. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off a trailer with direction and assistance from instructors. Dress for land activities in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon with sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, sun glasses, hat.
Breakfast:
In the dining room. We will also prepare bag lunches from a delectable variety of choices to take with us. Be sure to fill your water bottle.
Morning:
This morning will bring another opportunity for exploration of the Lowcountry by kayak. If we’ve had enough rain over the season, then today it’s off to Walnut Pond, a lovely cypress and tupelo swamp. There, we’ll weave our way through a blackwater forest, sliding, pushing, and pulling ourselves over fallen logs and through low-hanging limbs. This is Lowcountry kayaking at its best, exploring an environment very different than those we’ve seen on our previous paddle field trips. Listen for the call of the Barred Owl, for splashes from deer running through the flooded forest, for whispers of awe from fellow paddlers. If rain didn’t fill the swamp, we will have a number of other amazing places to go in the Lowcountry so don’t worry, we’ll experience a place of genuine, rich-in-wildlife beauty wherever we go.
Lunch:
In the field, we’ll have the lunches we prepared this morning and chat about what we’ve seen.
Afternoon:
Our paddle field trip will continue. Depending on time, we may make a side trip on the way home to Palm Key. Either way, we’ll arrive back in time for some time to freshen up and relax before supper.
Dinner:
In the dining room.
Evening:
We’ll gather for another presentation on aspects of the Lowcountry such as the natural world, cultural experiences, and locale.
Day
5
Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, Kayaking
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Getting in/out of 15 passenger vans; driving from 25-40 miles depending today’s routes, approximately 1 hour riding time. Be prepared to help load/unload kayaks on/off a trailer with direction and assistance from instructors. Dress for land activities in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon with sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, sun glasses, hat.
Breakfast:
In the dining room.
Morning:
Bring cameras today. First, we’ll stop to explore one of the loveliest places you’re likely to encounter around here: Old Sheldon Church. This ruined brick church — serving as a reminder of wars past — is surrounded by dogwoods, live oaks, and an old cemetery. As we wander the grounds, we’ll read the stones (some local notables are buried here), take photographs, and take in the history and beauty. From there, we’ll ride through the countryside to beautiful Beaufort by the Sea, a waterfront town with lots of history, lovely antebellum homes, and open arms to greet visitors.
Lunch:
In the field, we’ll have the lunches we prepared this morning and chat about what we’ve seen.
Afternoon:
Depending on the weather, we may launch from a sandy beach in nearby Port Royal or head further inland to avoid wind, but we’ll have a nice paddle this afternoon, that’s for sure. As we paddle on the Intracoastal Waterway, we may see Osprey, Pelicans, or Oystercatchers, or even a few sailboats or tugboats pushing barges. After our paddle, we’ll load our kayaks back on the trailer one last time and turn the van homewards, toward our cottages and much-needed showers.
Dinner:
In the dining room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
This is our last evening together and everyone will find something to enjoy as we share highlights from the week over dessert — if you still have room. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
In the dining room. For those who may need to get an early start, please let us know ahead of time and we will be happy to prepare something to take with you.
Morning:
We’ll gather for farewells. After telling parting stories, asking questions, issuing invitations, or listening to one more joke, it’s time for departure. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 10, 2024 - Nov 15, 2024
- Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 04, 2025
- Apr 06, 2025 - Apr 11, 2025
- Nov 09, 2025 - Nov 14, 2025
- Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 33 Reviews
Sort By:
Of the thirteen programs I have participated in, this is right up at near the top. I came to love this part of South Carolina as we kayaked and walked through The Low Country. The guides April and Elizabeth are what I have come to love from my best experiences. They are both kind, humorous, informed and available. The food prepared by Jan and Mary was great and the oyster bake was exceptional. Then there is the kayaking which took us to four different environments, as well as early morning walks which were a special time to watch the gorgeous sunrises. And of course the program drew some really pleasant participants! Thank you RS.
— Review left April 3, 2024
It was a great trip. We could not have asked for better leaders for the trip-April and Elizabeth. From them, we learned a lot about kayaking and the history of the Low country. Since I am currently obtaining my Master Naturalist for Alabama, we learned that coastal SC is similar to areas of South Alabama. The other participants in the group were friendly and as eager to learn as were were. The home we stayed in were the best and it was like being our own home-anything you needed was there. On a scale of one to ten, this trip rated a 10. Bobbi and Paul
— Review left March 31, 2024
I highly recommend Kayaking the Lowcountry, especially with guides April Childress and Elizabeth Anderegg. We kayaked in a variety of locations and the experience was greatly enhanced by our guides' extensive knowledge of the nature, history and culture of the area. The accommodations were excellent - not at all the "often basic, no-frills" situation described in the catalog.
— Review left March 31, 2024
Overall my wife and I enjoyed our kayaking trip to the low country. The food was excellent. We particularly enjoyed the the shrimp boil, oyster bake, and the breakfasts. We appreciated how the cooks accommodated our dietary preferences. The living quarters were fine. Our cottage was comfortable and our Internet connection worked fine. The kayaking itself was far less challenging than we expected. Our guide stopped often for 10 to 20 minutes at a time to look at birds. This turned out to be more of a bird watching trip than a kayaking trip.The waterways were fine as was the kayak instruction. We also enjoyed the Gullah basket sewers. We got to see a prescribed burn in the forest and learn about the life cycle of the long leaf pine. So overall we enjoyed the experience, but wished the kayaking was more rigorous.
— Review left March 30, 2024
April & Elizabeth were great leaders, and Jan handled the facilities and meals in style. Loved the variety of waterways we paddled on - especially threading thru the marsh grasses, and paddling in a beautiful swamp. Loved to see different plants and birds at each location - and April & Elizabeth did a great job of identifying what we were seeing. The rookery in Port Royal was outstanding. The demonstration of Gullah basket weaving, and information about Gullah culture and history was another high point (and I'm going to enjoy the beautiful basket I bought from them).
The cottage I stayed in was comfortable, quiet, and well furnished. Meals were delicious. We travelled in comfort in a small bus, skillfully driven by April. I would be very happy to do another kayaking trip with April and Elizabeth.
— Review left March 24, 2024
This was my first experience with a Road Scholar program. This trip exceeded my expectations. The activity choices, the educational instruction, the accommodations and the food were all very well done. I highly recommend this trip for beginner and intermediate kayakers who want to develop a greater appreciation of the history and ecology of the amazing low country.
— Review left March 22, 2024
Every part of this program was a hit. I loved the activities and our fabulous guides (April and Elizabeth). The accommodations at LifeTides were much nicer than I expected. Our cottage was lovely and very comfortable. The meals were excellent. Jan and Andy went above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. We learned a ton about the history, culture and ecology of the area. I'm not surprised that several of the guests had returned to repeat this program. It's that good.
— Review left November 29, 2023
This was a terrific trip on so many levels. The setting was so lovely, and the accommodations so comfortable. I had no idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by the modern home with two bedroom suites. My husband and I had one room, and the other room was occupied by two fellow travelers. We appreciated the washer & dryer. Food was fresh,
healthy and well-prepared. Most importantly, the daily kayaking adventures were fantastic--the waterways were gorgeous and sometimes challenging. But our guides, April and Elizabeth, were always available for instruction. I learned a lot about maneuvering the kayak that I will use when paddling in the future. I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys kayaking and wants to experience the waterways of the South Carolina Low Country.
— Review left November 21, 2023
I highly recommend the Road Scholar program "Kayak the Low Country" to anyone who loves to eat fabulous food, kayak beautiful South Carolina Low Country rivers, swamps, marshes, and even the Intracoastal Waterway, and hang out with great people, this is the program for you!
— Review left November 20, 2023
Extremely well put together program with kayaking on vastly different bodies of water during the 4 days of kayaking. The assortment of kayaks was very good and the guides, April and Elizabeth, were outstanding. The cottages and small community are lovely. Jan was enthusiastic about the meals and attentive to diet restrictions. Meals were delicious. The oyster roast the final night was superb as were Andy's blueberry pancakes. Best of all, and this can't be planned, the weather was absolutely perfect. If flying into SAV, I enjoyed transportation from HHI Express. I can see why some participants do this trip again and again.
— Review left November 14, 2023
This is a super program. If you're a kayaker, you will enjoy the varied day trips: black water rivers, tidal influenced salt water bays, cypress and tupelo swamps, salt marshes. Each day is different. The excursions depend upon weather, tide and group ability.
The food and accommodations are wonderful. Upscale cottages with kitchens, laundry and ensuite bathrooms. Plus most have views over the marsh. Great sunrises.
This is a program worth doing again and again....and again.
— Review left November 12, 2023
This tour is one of the best. The kayaking opportunities, the cottage accommodations, the knowledge of the guides, and the top notch gourmet food exceeded my expectations.
— Review left November 11, 2023
My wife and I have enjoyed many Road Scholar trips, and Kayak the Lowcountry ranks as one of the very best. The accommodations were excellent. The meals were quite good, with some exceptional highlights, such as a lowcountry boil and roasted cluster oysters. The staff of the Life Tides Institute, headed by Jan, worked tirelessly to provide us a comfortable stay. My highest plaudits go to the group leaders, April and Elizabeth, who went above and beyond in providing us a truly wonderful kayaking experience. We gained a deeper appreciation of this unique part of America in terms of its scenery, nature, history and culture. Thanks to April and Elizabeth we became better kayakers. For us there was only one caveat: The Life Tides Institute is in a beautiful location; however, it is some distance from the Savannah airport and ground transportation tends to be expensive or difficult to secure. Nonetheless, I highly recommend Kayak the Lowcountry and can only imagine that the other Road Scholar tours from this location are marvelous.
— Review left November 6, 2023
This is fabulous kayaking trip (4 different waterways), good equipment, with 2 great smart and entertaining guides (April and Elizabeth), a beautiful lodging, and wonderful food! If you kayak, or think you might like to kayak, sign up!
— Review left October 30, 2023
We kayaked in 4 different, but equally beautiful environments. I never knew before how beautiful the marshes are! We did some fun sightseeing and I enjoyed learning about the history of the area, and the Gullah culture. The food and accomodations were absolutely incredible - first class!
— Review left October 26, 2023
Kayak the Lowcountry has got to be one of my favorite RS trips ever! We had the perfect combination of guides, hosts, accommodations, and participants. Not only did I learn more about kayaking, but I also learned quite a bit about the Low Country that I did not know. Each day really was a new adventure! From the time we got up to the moment we returned to our cabin ( pleasantly fatigued), we were on the water -creeks, intercostal waterways, and swamps. In-between, we saw a beautiful Civil war-era church, visited Beaufort, and managed a few early morning walks to catch the sunrise. I cannot say enough good things about our expert guides who kept us laughing and encouraged us as we paddled. One of the best aspects of this trip was the Life Center where we stayed. The cabins were roomy with a kitchen, a laundry, and a wing on the front porch from which to view the early morning sunrise. Meals were outstanding! Our hosts went out of their way to provide delicious farm-to-table foods ( be sure to sample the French toast at breakfast.)--including a surprise oyster roast our last night. I loved this trip! I think anyone who enjoys being out in nature will love it, too!
— Review left October 23, 2023
Plan on kayaking 4 distinctive (and even magical) settings, while also learning about the history and culture of the Low Country (does your local Sherwin Williams carry "Haint Blue"?). Enjoy delicious Low Country cuisine at breakfast and dinner, while staying at luxurious fully-outfitted vacation cottages. Meet a master craftsman, whose sweetgrass baskets are in the Smithsonion. Of the 3 RS kayaking tours I have taken, this is my favorite, and I hope to return in the future to try the "Challenging" version.
— Review left October 22, 2023
This was a terrific experience. April and "kayak Andy" acted as kayaking guides and instructors as well as remarkable weather and tide forecasters. We had all perfect days with locations and timing adjusted so that we had wonderful water to navigate in each unique environment.
Jan and Andy ("cook Andy" this time) ran a tight ship, but easily and very pleasantly accommodated our schedule varying with the tides. The food was plentiful, varied, and delicious. They went out of their way to include both different tastes and anything we asked to avoid.
The housing was also great. Naturally it was clean, but also well kept, decorated, and home comfortable. The neighborhood is quiet and full of friendly people and wildlife (except for the occasional possibly irritable alligator.)
You should go.
— Review left October 10, 2023
A variety of habitats to kayak, knowledgeable leader, very comfortable accommodations, fabulous food, and a great group of people made this a wonderful trip!
— Review left October 9, 2023
This was a great trip! The food was absolutely delicious. and our guides, April and Bob were wonderful. The diversity of the paddles, the birding and the historical side trips were absolutely first rate. I would highly recommend this trip for new and intermediate paddlers.
— Review left June 1, 2023
If you want to get started in kayaking or improve your skills, try this trip. Paddling on calmer waters allows a peaceful, structured set of excursions out in nature. We paddled on a marshy lake, a creek, a river and the sound, a diverse learning experience. Listen to birdsongs, enjoy the sunshine and excellent healthy food, all made from scratch. Vegetarian like me? No problem! In addition to kayaking, we learned a lot about the history of the coastal Lowcountry of SC. It was a special treat to see a demonstration and talk to the weavers of Gullah baskets. Lodging was spacious and comfortable amongst a small, rural, quiet neighborhood near water and away from tourist areas. However, one excursion involved traveling to Beaufort, a lovely historical town on the waterfront. Another + is a small (12) group size, very nice folks to be around as RS trips usually are. April and Bob were excellent trip leaders, a good team. His extensive birding skills and knowledge were valuable to us for learning about the area birds.
— Review left May 28, 2023
This program is great for kayaking beginners. You will learn how to manage a kayak easily and will have many chances to practice in different water environments. The accommodations provided by the LifeTides Institute are outstanding. The rooms were really spacious and comfortable but, more importantly, the meals were fantastic!
— Review left May 18, 2023
This is a fantastic program. The Life Tides Institute was a great location for this program. The environment was very peaceful & very lo country South Carolina. The organizers and instructors were all top notch. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire program and the diversity of water habitats was outstanding. I would highly recommend this program.
Great kayaking, great environmental awareness, great lo country diversity of habitats, great location.
— Review left May 16, 2023
I highly recommend Kayaking Carolina Low Country. Life Tides Institute provided spacious & lovely accommodations, fabulous good, terrific knowledgeable guides, and well maintained equipment. Our guides April & Elizabeth shared their kayaking expertise, their extensive knowledge of the marshes and waterways, as well colorful historical details about the Low Country. This program was one of the best we have participated in over the years. 10 Stars!!
Karen Wolfskehl
— Review left May 1, 2023
One of the best Road Scholar experiences, so far. Lodging and meals were first rate. A nice group of like-minded people and the leaders, April and Elizabeth were extremely knowledgeable and personable. The kayaking was different each day and the instructors took the time to explain paddling techniques. They also had a good variety of kayaks, and switched them up during the week to better fit the paddler. It was a fun trip that I would like to do again.
— Review left April 28, 2023
A great experience that started with southern hospitality combined with great food, lodging and hosts. Add that to the beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry estuaries presented to us by our experienced guide and environmentalist that shared with us the history and the environmental aspects of the South Carolina Lowcountry. We learned about the different type/styles of kayaks, maintenance and were able to try different kayaks. The evening programs were very informative. We high recommend this trip!!!
Cathy and Bill
— Review left April 28, 2023
Kayaks and equipment were in excellent shape with enough different styles to accommodate all participants.
— Review left April 24, 2023
Super paddling experience that I got to share with like-minded folks, both kayakers and birders. Friendly, knowledgeable hosts, guides, and instructors. Best accommodations and vegetarian-friendly meals of any of the Road Scholar Trips I've done so far. I highly recommend this trip!
— Review left April 22, 2023
There are stunningly beautiful landscapes and waterscapes. Life Tides is a wonderful housing accommodation with comfortable rooms and delicious meals. The guides were informed, friendly, and welcoming. Even if weather cut short some of our kayaking, guides came up with inventive, interesting, revealing trips and activities in the area to compensate when our 4 days of kayaking became 2 days instead. But we loved the trips to Beaufort, including the museums, bookstores, distillery and other activities. Evening presentations were delightful, especially the Gullah basket weavers. We've now done four RS kayaking trips--Lower Columbia River (in the northwest), Eastern Shore/Chesapeake, Acadia NP, and this Low Country SC. Each was unique. All were wonderful. Kayaking the low country marshes, estuaries, rivers and sea gave us a delightful and memorable encounter with this part of the world. --Ben and Joyce Wiley (FL)
— Review left December 1, 2019
Had a great time Kayaking a variety of waters each day. The lunch stops were fun and interesting each day. The accomodations and food were excellent, we were well fed and slept well the entire trip. The weather was perfect; it was a super, active vacation!
— Review left May 20, 2019
If you only can do one trip and like kayaking, I strongly recommend that you go on this trip in North Carolina. Make sure that your instructors are Andy and Cina. The trip I attended was a 10+ from beginning to end. Everything was great: the location,facilities,food,instructors,participants,weather, and the trips to a variety of bodies of water (swamp, creek, river, historical rice fields). The evening presentations were outstanding and if you are a birder, you may add to your life list. You'll learn new kayaking skills and Southern history. I hope you have as much fun as I did.
— Review left May 17, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect, but it surpassed 'what I hoped' ... I'd recommend it highly- but I sure wish they'd get the 'Directions' right...I spent a good hour 'wandering' around...
— Review left May 2, 2019
This was a wonderful, relaxing experience with just the right amount of challenge. The instructors, Andy and Cina Smith, were warm and encouraging. They were in tune with the interests and needs of the group and planned a variety of kayak trips and other outings. The hosts, Jan and Andy, went above and beyond in providing outstanding accommodations and meals. The cottage was charming, super clean, and spacious. The hosts offered a variety of delicious, wholesome meals that often reflected the tradition of the area. We kayaked areas unlike any other part of the country while getting instruction on technique as needed. The presentation on birds of prey was my favorite evening program.
— Review left April 19, 2019
