“Houses can form a neighborhood but only people can make it a community."

Part of the city of Charleston, Daniel Island represents one of the area's fastest growing family communities. A "city within a city," Daniel Island lies at the very heart of the region, just minutes away from downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant, the Charleston International Airport, and other points of interest.

Located on 4,000 acres along Interstate 526, Daniel Island is home to a number of distinctive neighborhoods which feature a mixture of home styles and prices. Traditional landscaped streets lined with sidewalks encourage evening walks and interaction among neighbors; while tennis and soccer facilities draw families to participate in these popular sporting activities.

Daniel Island's Tom Fazio-designed golf course, which opened in November of 2000, has been ranked among the top 40 real estate courses in America. Access to hundreds of acres of parks, miles of rivers and creeks with fishing docks and boat ramps, bicycle and jogging paths and a private in-town club provide Daniel Island residents with additional social and recreational opportunities.

Downtown Daniel Island offers residents a variety of businesses and services within walking distance of their neighborhoods. Shops, restaurants, office buildings, medical centers, a spa and fitness center and a modern supermarket, as well as two of the area's largest employers call Daniel Island home.

Folly Beach has long been referred to as 'The Edge of America.' This seaside village, which lies at the end of the only road from the mainland, has its own laid-back pace and rich culture. Only 15 minutes from downtown Charleston, Folly Beach is a quick and easy to reach beach community accentuated by six incredible miles of sand beaches, swimming, surfing, sunning or if you prefer, fishing from the central pier while enjoying the refreshing sea breezes. Folly Beach County Park, located on the west end of the island, offers over 2,500 feet of ocean frontage and 200 feet along the river to be enjoyed by one and all during the hot lazy days of summer.

While maintaining its eclectic charm, Folly Beach residents can dine on gourmet food, fresh local seafood, a good steak, or just tacos and a margarita at Taco Boy. For those interested in a little entertainment after dinner, they can choose music from every persuasion, including the much loved beach music indigenous to the area.

The city limits of Charleston extend across the Ashley River to an area known to locals as West Ashley. In fact, it is the place where the English colonists established the first permanent settlement in the Carolinas in 1670 along the banks of the Ashley River. Today the place where the settlers first stepped ashore, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, is among South Carolina’s most outstanding natural and historic parks, with 663-acres that feature a reproduction 17th century sailing vessel, natural habitat zoo and beautiful Lowcountry vistas. It is also a favorite play and picnic spot for families from across the Charleston area.

Also among West Ashley’s historic treasures are three of the area’s most visited plantations, Drayton Hall, Middleton Place, and Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens. But amidst this historic fabric, West Ashley is a thriving urban community with a population that has more than doubled since 1960 – a testament to the area’s livability.

Although many of the neighborhoods closest to downtown Charleston feature charming brick cottages, West Ashley has also grown up in the last decade with new neighborhoods featuring the latest amenities springing up. This diversity of neighborhoods offers an ample range of home choices depending on your families needs.

Be sure to visit the eclectic collection of shops and restaurants at Avondale center which includes Poes studio for gifts, Sublime Lime for key lime pies, Al Di La for Italian Food, or cocktails at the Voodoo lounge or Genes Haufbrau!

Just beyond the security gate, an Equestrian Center surrounded by 25 acres of grassy pasture creates the first lasting impression of life on Seabrook Island. One of the islands most distinctive amenities, the newly renovated facility caters to the experienced equestrian, as well as the novice horseback rider.

Those with little interest in horses often reconsider when they discover that Seabrook Island is the only place in the area, and one of only a few in the Southeast, where people can ride horses on the beach. Of course, the island maintains several miles of private trails that wind through the natural flora of this pristine barrier island.

While the equestrian center may provide the backdrop for a first impression, the majority of Seabrook Island's residents chose to make it home for its unique lifestyle best defined by peace, security and casual elegance.

Seabrook Island is located along the Atlantic coast just 22 miles from the city of Charleston, Seabrook is wholly owned by its property owners, many of whom retired to the island to escape the everyday stresses of a hectic life. On Seabrook Island, minutes, hours and days seem to unfold, rather than race by.

Seabrook Island offers a wide variety of home styles from which to choose. Anything from a low-maintenance villa with a view of a golf course to an oceanfront or deepwater access home, residents can find the perfect place to live their perfect lifestyle.

Seabrook Island boasts one of the widest and most magnificent three miles of sandy beach found anywhere on the East Coast. This private access-only piece of heaven has been carefully maintained through the communities exemplary program of beachfront management.

Dewees Island is often referred to as "a private oceanfront island retreat dedicated to environmental preservation." This statement sums up a philosophy that this community has managed to put into practice.

Accessible only by boat, Dewees Island is located just 12 miles north of Charleston. This environmentally sensitive, 1,206-acre barrier island has attracted national attention as model of sustainable development. Although the developers installed the usual underground telephone and power lines, the similarity to other island development projects stops there. Dewees five roads are not paved instead they are surfaced with crushed limestone. The developers also installed a complete recycling and composting system, as well as a central reverse osmosis water system that supplies all the island's drinking water.

Dewees Island's environmental covenants limit the number of homes to 150 ( 56 are complete), and cluster them in the most ecologically hardy areas. Builders must agree to follow a comprehensive set of design and construction guidelines that aim to ease the impact of construction on the island, as well as reduce the amount of energy and resources the island's homes use. Dewees Island Homes must remain surrounded by native vegetation, no lawns allowed and only 7,500 square feet of each lot can be disturbed by construction.

Houses are situated on lots that average about two acres. While there is no minimum size requirement, they cannot be larger than 5,000 square feet. Because Dewees Island is in a flood zone, all homes are elevated, and all feature some sort of water view.

Dewess Island has no gas stations, restaurants or grocery stores, and residents get around by golf cart or on foot. A ferry based at the Dewees Marina on the Isle of Palms, runs back and forth every half hour. Other island amenities include an environmental education center, a clubhouse, pool and two tennis courts, as well as a number of well-furnished guest accommodations.

Wadmalaw Island is considered the most unspoiled of Charleston’s islands. While many Lowcountry islands such as Kiawah and Seabrook are “barrier islands” which are directly exposed to the ocean and fronted by sandy beaches, such is not the case with Wadmalaw Island or its close neighbor, John’s Island. Shielded from the Atlantic by their neighbors to the east and south, Wadmalaw and John’s Islands have remained stable through much of recorded history.

Bordered by the Bohicket River to the east and the North Edisto River to the west, Wadmalaw remains intensely rural, with farming the traditional occupation of many of its residents, both past and present. While fishing, crabbing and shrimping serve as pleasurable pastimes in many local communities, it is still a primary means of earning a living for a number of Wadmalaw’s residents.

Along the island’s southern tip lies Rockville, the charming picturesque hamlet that was featured in scenes from “Queen,” a movie by Alex Haley. There are no stores or restaurants to speak of outside of Rockville, and hundreds of acres of the island’s woods and wetlands are protected from development. However, in recent years, some of the waterfront areas have become sparsely populated with magnificent upscale homes, many on estate-sized lots.

Each year, Wadmalaw hosts a Gullah festival of regional import, encompassing exhibits and demonstrations of traditional African-American arts and crafts like basket weaving.

Another point of interest is the Charleston Tea Plantation. The only tea plantation in America, it is home to plants descended from those that have been grown for more than 100 years in the Lowcountry. The plantation’s unusual heritage began in 1799 when a French botanist brought the first tea plants to Charleston, which were also the first in America. Wadmalaw provides the ideal conditions for tea growing – hot humid summers and sandy soils for good drainage. Recently purchased and renovated by Bigelow Tea, the Charleston Tae Plantation is open for tours.

Edisto Island's rich history ties it to its present. Purchased from the Edistow Indians by the Lord Proprietors in 1674, the English began searching for a crop that could be successfully cultivated on the island. By the early 1800s, Sea Island Cotton, the king of all cottons, flourished in the rich, fertile soil. During this period known as Edistos Golden Age, the planters flourished, too. The elegant homes and plantations remaining, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are reminders of that affluent age.

Today Edisto Island features a laid back family atmosphere, with shrimping, crabbing, fishing, biking, sailing, boating, skiing, and beach walks filled with watching pelicans and porpoises. Tranquil mornings of sunshine and sandcastles; lazy afternoons napping in hammocks; and late afternoon strolls along the shore of the Atlantic are also a part of the way of life at Edisto Island.

The Edisto Island community includes historic plantations, large state and county parks, condominiums, and a variety of home styles that reflect its commitment to moderate, well-planned growth focused on retaining the island experience.

With Edisto Island's emphasis on outdoor recreation, the Edisto Beach State Park opened about 60 years ago, putting the island on the map of summer attractions. Today the park includes beach- and marsh-side camping, cabins and a boat ramp and dock.

The City of Goose Creek is located in Berkeley County approx 20 miles North of Downtown Charleston. The history of Goose Creek extends back to 1670 when the first settlers arrived from the island of Barbados. The city has experienced significant growth in the past 10 years becoming the state’s 12th largest municipality. The close proximity of the ocean, beaches, and hundreds of miles of rivers, coastal sounds and freshwater lakes, makes the area ideal for swimming, boating, sailing, water skiing, surf and deep-se fishing. Tennis, golf, hunting, and camping opportunities are also nearby.

Hanahan is located in the lower portion of Berkeley County, minutes away from downtown Charleston. It has long been known as an ideal community for families. Berkeley County has long been known as a "sportsman’s paradise" because of its great fishing and hunting. Attractions include museums, libraries, parks, and beaches.Hanahan has recently seen tremendous growth in the housing market. With many new subdivisions going in everyday, Hanahan affords you the opportunity to own a new home near Charleston and many other attractions in the Tri-County Area.

Located north of Charleston and Summerville, Moncks’ Corner is in Berkley County. Home of War hero Francis Marion (AKA Swamp Fox) Moncks Corner is situated near the national forest named after him. This town has many attractions including Cypress Gardens, Metkin Abbey, and many town festivals.

Moncks’ Corner is also well known for the two fresh water lakes nearby. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are known as the “Fisherman’s Paradise”, These lakes provide great access for boating, swimming and just relaxing with friends and Family.

Moncks’ Corner manages to keep its small town charm despite the tremendous growth the area is achieving!

Summerville enjoys a rich and expansive history. With 700 buildings on the national historic registry this town continues to offer a look at days gone by!. The town is situated on a pine-forested ridge where long ago the wealthy built their summer homes to escape the mosquitoes and heat in the low country.