Things to Do in Summerville

Joe Lotts and most of his staff graduated from Brevard College with a degree in wilderness leadership and experiential education. At Charleston Outdoor Adventures, they put their schooling to work by educating people about the coastline’s saltwater estuaries. Their classrooms are their kayaks, paddleboards, and 23-foot bay boat, and their coursework combines environmentalism with photo opportunism. For instance, the tour route to Morris Island Lighthouse and Fort Sumter flows past scenic marshland, local birds, and pick-up games of dolphin basketball. If guests prefer to explore alone, Lotts and crew also rent out its paddleboards and kayaks.

The FAA–certified Cygnet II–powered hang gliders bearing the Amphibian Air stamp give riders a bird's-eye view of Savannah and the outlying Low Country as they zip about during guided lessons. An FAA–certified instructor takes the front seat in the trike's open-air cockpit directly ahead of the student and demonstrates the basics of flying before allowing his pupil to take the controls if conditions permit. A certificate of training documents the flight for the student, which can be used toward a sport-pilot license or to imbue confidence when flying over a shark. Amphibian Air recommends wearing comfortable clothing and making reservations for sunrise or sunset any day of the week, as those are some of the best times for a scenic flight.

Folly Boat Rentals' fleet of Newport vessels takes crews on aquatic adventures on the Folly and Stono rivers. Lighthouses and sprawling coastlines form a picturesque backdrop to the easily operated inflatable skiffs, which carry passengers on fishing expeditions and leisurely outings to beaches filled with white sand. Their motors churning through the water, the vessels can voyage to nearby Morris Island or embark on quests to catch dolphins playing charades in their natural habitat.

Positioned in the heart of a triangular expanse with Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Columbia at each point, the Andrews Airport serves as the departure site for Skydive Georgetown's freefalling adventures. Experienced skydivers latch themselves and their parachutes to patrons, and, when the soaring aircraft reaches the peak of its trajectory, both plummet into the open atmosphere. Adrenaline junkies hurtle toward the earth at up to 120 miles per hour while staffers commemorate the journey with videos or photos.

The weapons experts of Aim Center Mass use their knowledge to serve the public, law enforcement, military, and first responders. The partner business of Mission Essential Inc., Aim Center Mass houses a climate-controlled, eight-lane shooting range with lighted stalls to enhance marksmen’s vision. The facility also encompasses three archery ranges outfitted with the TechnoHunt bow-hunting system, which lets guests test their aim on virtual trophies such as bear, elk, and herds of Oscar statues. An online zombie-shooting game further entertains clientele outside the range.

Since its founding by Marion Reid in 1969—and through its adoption by current owners Michelle and David Folden—Stono River Riding Academy has helped riders connect with temperate steeds and with their natural surroundings on 360 acres of trees and pastures. During classes and leisurely rides, trainers lead mounted explorers through the labyrinthine passageways of Johns Island, passing beneath billowing drapes of Spanish moss and escaping the cacophony of urban areas. Stono River’s staff always keeps safety in mind, ensuring that pupils wear proper equipment and familiarize themselves with all the confusing controls on the horses' dashboards.