Budget
Getting there: The drive to Kiawah Island from Atlanta is nearly 6 hours, or about 340 miles.
Stay: Enjoy your vacation at your own pace. Hundreds of private rentals range from $100 per night (studio to sleep 2-4); ro $130 nightly for two-bedroom, two-bath condos; to posh seven-bedroom homes from $700 per night at VRBO.com. Vacation Rentals by Owner is the largest and most popular vacation online rental site; www.vrbo.com.
Eat: Take away complete, home-style family meals ($25-$40) from The Market at Town Center, Kiawah's grocery market. Or dine in for breakfast, lunch or dinner in this casual setting while choosing from sandwiches, salads, pizza, steaks, seafood and pasta. 5480 Sea Forest Dr., 843-768-2775.
Experience: The best way to explore the island is to hit the more than 30 miles of paved and scenic bike trails, including the hard-packed beach. An adult cruiser rents for $34 weekly (numerous other bike choices available). Along the ride, keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, ospreys and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at Captain Sam's Inlet (which separates Kiawah from Seabrook Island). 843-768-9585, www.surfscooterbikes.com
Moderate
Getting there: Rent an SUV from $56.99 per day or a Luxury model from $120 daily (both with unlimited miles) from neighborhood Enterprise Rent a Car locations.
Stay: The Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers beach homes and villa rentals for every price range and group size. A "Romance" package includes accommodations in a one-bedroom, scenic-view villa; buffet breakfast; dinner one evening at The Ocean Room; one-day bicycle rental and one canoe tour from $684 per couple. Villa guests enjoy resort amenities and discounts on golf, tennis, nature and recreation programs, including Kamp Kiawah for children. 1 Sanctuary Beach Dr., 866-561-9491, www.kiawahresort.com.
Eat: Find low-country comfort food with a French flair at the Fat Hen. One classic dish on the menu is Coq au Vin, braised chicken, for $16.95. Other entrees from $13.95-$25.95. Johns Island, 3140 Maybank Hwy., 843-559-9090, www.thefathen.com.
Experience: Meander the Kiawah River on a guided, two-hour kayak tour while exploring the tidal flats and salt marsh surrounding the island. Or end the day with a two-hour sunset cruise by kayak. No experience is necessary; all tours include an introductory clinic. Rates are $48 per adult; $33 children ages 6-12 (accompanied by an adult in a double kayak). 843-768-5680, www.tidaltrailskiawah.com.
Splurge
Getting there: Round-trip airfare to Charleston, S.C., starts at $290 with a 21-day advance purchase; from $590 round-trip requiring no advance purchase for a nonstop Delta flight. The island is 21 miles south of historic Charleston and 33 miles from Charleston's Airport.
Stay: The AAA Five Diamond-rated Sanctuary Hotel is a grand retreat set along 10 miles of private beach. Golf packages include garden-view accommodations, a round of golf per day on one of the resort's four championship award-winning courses. Winter rates start from $225 per person, per night, through March 6; from $363 March 7-May 26 (minimum two-night stay; double occupancy). Add $97 to play the resort's most famous course this winter ($115 in spring), the Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course, site of the 94th PGA Championship in August 2012. 1 Sanctuary Beach Dr., 866-561-9491, www.kiawahresort.com.
Eat: The elegant Ocean Room at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the only steakhouse in the nation to be awarded both Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond ratings. The weekend "Dining at Dusk" menu offers a choice of a starter and main course; $49. A la carte steaks from $29-$45; 1 Sanctuary Beach Dr., 843-768-6253, www.kiawahresort.com.
Experience: The nature-themed Sanctuary Spa offers numerous packages from Wellness Lifestyle Coaching to rejuvenation treatments. One lavish choice at this Forbes Five Star spa is the "Luxurious Retreat" package, a three-hour series of head-to-toe treatments for $460. 1 Sanctuary Beach Dr., 843-768-6340 for appointments; www.kiawahresort.com/spa.
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