re: Beaches near Charleston

If you cut off your search at Kiawah and don’t include Edisto, which is a pretty long drive, there’s four Charleston beaches.
IOP is the busiest and has the most stuff around, like restaurants and shops.
Folly is super busy too, but if you can stay on the island, it’s great for hanging out and walking the town area. Folly is hell coming and going though.
Sullivans is the closest and easiest to get to, and it has some cool parts, like Ft Moultrie.
Kiawah is the prettiest, and I think the island is the prettiest place in the state. You can walk down to the Kiawah River and maybe see the dolphins strand feeding.
They’re all great. Whichever y’all pick you’ll have a great time.