It is with good reason that Outside magazine, America’s leading active-lifestyle publication, heralds Charleston as one of the nation’s best places to live and visit. If there’s one defining aspect of Lowcountry geography, it is water. Connected by scores of bridges, including one of the longest cable-stayed structures in North America, the Lowcountry is a mosaic of meandering rivers, picturesque salt marshes and postcard-worthy shores.

You have plenty of choice when it comes to sun, sand and sea. Head toward the ocean, across the Ben Sawyer swing span bridge, and arrive on Sullivan’s Island, where Edgar Allen Poe penned The Goldbug during his time stationed at Fort Moultrie. Bull Island is a sprawling wildlife refuge that offers 16 miles of trails through pristine maritime wilderness, accessible only by ferry. The Isle of Palms, popular with kiteboarders, is home to Wild Dunes Resort; Folly Beach is a charming bohemian enclave that’s a magnet for surfers. Seabrook Island has a world-class equestrian center and nearby marina for adrenaline charged charter-fishing trips: snag a tarpon with a fly rod or catch a wahoo (a prize game fish) offshore.