St Helena Island Community Living is ALL About the Water!!

Those seeking waterfront property in the Beaufort area probably want to spend some time looking on St. Helena Island.

St. Helena Island is all about water. St. Helena Island is bordered by St. Helena Sound and Port Royal Sound on two sides, and Cowan Creek and Harbor River on the other two sides. Creeks and tributaries thread the island, creating waterfront real estate opportunities at ever turn. St. Helena Island is a largely rural barrier island between historic Downtown Beaufort and the beach islands of Harbor, Hunting and Fripp Island.

Although largely rural, St. Helena Island has a number of very distinct communities, including several gated neighborhoods -- Dataw Island, Polawana Island, Bermuda Bluff, and Bermuda Inlet.

Although developed by the same company simultaneously in the late 1990s, and located next to each other, Bermuda Bluff and Bermuda Inlet are two separate communities. Bermuda Bluff features outstanding amenities, including a pool, boat ramp, walking trails, and a clubhouse.  There is even a community viewing tower which overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway. Bermuda Inlet offers a tranquil setting and lifestyle, but does not have its own amenities, and does not share access to the amenities at Bermuda Bluff.

Polawana Island is all about privacy, and features multi-acre homesites, many of which have some of the area's best deep-water access. This 40-homesite development is minutes from downtown Beaufort, but once you are inside the gate, you feel as if you are in a different world. Polawana is renowned for its waterfront property. Island amenities include a community boat dock and boat ramp.

Dataw Island is right across the street from Polawana Island, but you could not ask for two more divergent communities. Both are gated and feature beautiful, waterfront scenery, but that is where the similarities end. While Polawana Island is a wildlife paradise with multi-acre homesites, Dataw Island is one of the premier, manicured communities in South Carolina. Developed by Alcoa in the early 1990s, Dataw Island features two 18-hole golf courses designed by Pete Dye. Many of the homesites on Dataw Island enjoy both golf and water views.

The Dataw Island marina is considered one of the area's best, and features a waterfront restaurant.

Land's End is a little community overlooking Port Royal Sound. Many of the roads remain unpaved, lending a rustic flair to the community.

Coffin Point is a pretty community overlooking St. Helena Sound. Like it's sister community Land's End at the other end of the island, Coffin Point still has many unpaved roads, and it is not uncommon to see horseback riders in the community. The road into Coffin Point, the aptly named Avenue of the Oaks, is an oak-lined passageway back in time.

Dulamo and Tansi Village are a pair of waterfront communities that are off the beaten path. Dulamo features its own boat ramp and boat launch for residents.

All of St. Helena Island enjoys easy access to Hunting Island, which provides several miles of public beach access to area residents.