Valentine’s Day offers us the perfect excuse to spend quality time with a loved one. Sure, roses and a special dinner out can be romantic, but so can exploring the natural beauty of our state. So why not spend the day with a gorgeous hike?
For proof of this, look no further than the Huntington Beach Jetty Trail near Murrells Inlet. A popular trail year-round, it’s especially romantic mid-winter, when you and your partner can look forward to a wonderfully secluded walk along the beach.
I love exploring the beach off-season. Walking barefoot in the sand or feeling the rush of wind from the surf is even more invigorating in mid-winter than it is in the summertime. And while you may not be able to swim or sunbathe in February, destinations like Huntington Beach State Park offer us endless beachfront adventures year-round. This vast Grand Strand beach measures 2,500 acres in size and is marked by salt marsh and undeveloped beaches. It’s the place to go if you want to feel connected to the South Carolina coast in all of its magnificence.
One of the best ways to experience the park is the Huntington Beach Jetty Trail, a 3.5-mile out-and-back trail that offers a variety of terrain and endless natural beauty. The causeway offers visitors the perfect viewpoint for long-range views of the ocean and marsh, and it’s an easy, gentle stroll. The trail will take you to the jetty, located at the northern tip of the park. The terrain is a mix of sandy, paved, and rocky, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your visit.
Another element that makes this trail especially magical? Wildlife. Huntington Beach State Park is renowned for birding. From late August until early May, an abundance of coastal and migrating birds can be spotted within the park, including some rare species. If you have a keen eye for birds, be sure to pick up a free checklist from the entrance station so you can keep track of what you see. It’s also possible to see loggerhead sea turtles at the park, though they are usually seen between May and October when they nest in the warm sand. As you draw closer to the water on the paved jetty trail, see if you can spot a dolphin or two. They’re known to swim relatively close to the jetty…