Making Pawprints in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Luie Boone
- Dec 24, 2025
- 7 min read
This travel spot is featured in our fifth blog series, Bowwows Belong.
Making pawprints in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is a truly paw‑some way to enjoy a dog‑friendly vacation. This charming coastal town blends Southern hospitality with scenic boardwalks, historic neighborhoods, and plenty of pet‑welcoming spaces, making it a destination where both you and your pup can feel right at home.
Beyond its natural beauty, Mount Pleasant is deeply connected to the Gullah Geechee culture—which is a vibrant African‑influenced heritage unique to the Lowcountry. As part of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, the town celebrates traditions like sweetgrass basket weaving, a craft passed down for over 300 years from enslaved West Africans. Visitors can watch artisans at work and bring home baskets that carry centuries of history.
Every summer, locals gather for the Dockville Regatta—a “regatta” that’s never actually had a boat race! Instead, it’s all about fun, laughter, and community spirit on the docks. It’s the kind of quirky tradition that makes Mount Pleasant feel so welcoming.
Mount Pleasant is built for leisurely strolls and outdoor adventures:
Palmetto Islands County Park: Shaded trails, picnic spots, and a large, fenced-in dog park for off‑leash fun.
Shem Creek Boardwalk: A leashed‑friendly path across coastal marshes with views of boats, wildlife, and even dolphins.
Pitt Street Railroad Bridge: A peaceful sunset walk with panoramic water views and plenty of space to roam.
These spots make it easy to soak up the Lowcountry’s fresh air while keeping your pup active and happy.
Mount Pleasant’s restaurant scene makes it easy to include your furry friend:
Saltwater Cowboys: A Shem Creek favorite with a special “dog menu” featuring pup burgers and ice cream.
Page’s Okra Grill: Southern comfort food served on a covered patio where leashed dogs are welcome.
The Shelter Kitchen + Bar: Casual outdoor seating with seafood, burgers, and comfort classics.
From hearty Southern fare to coastal bites, you’ll never have to leave your pup behind at mealtime.
A trip here is more than a vacation! It’s a chance to relax, explore, and make lasting memories with your best friend. Whether it’s strolling marsh-side boardwalks, enjoying off‑leash play, or dining together under the Carolina sun, Mount Pleasant embraces pets at every turn.
By choosing this Lowcountry gem, you’re picking a destination where both two‑legged and four‑legged travelers come home happy, tired, and full of stories to share.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Fabulous Family Rental
This rental has 4 bedrooms with 5 beds and 2 baths.
Photos by VRBO.com
It features the following amenities:
French doors leading to an outdoor patio
Patio has a sitting area and large gas grill with table
Private pool in a fenced-in, large backyard
Lots of comfy pool furniture, umbrellas, and pool toys
Front and back patios
Provides dog bowls and toys
Right across the street from a pond with lots of wildlife
Conveniently located near beach
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
I’m counting down the days until my hoomans take me on vacation to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. From what they’ve told me about it, it sounds like a dream. The rental house is called the Fabulous Family Rental. It has a huge, fenced backyard where I can have my zoomies. The hoomans will have a private pool with lots of comfy chairs and umbrellas. I won’t be swimming, but I plan to relax in the shade, supervise the splashing, and stay close when the grill is going on the patio. It's very important work. Inside sounds just as good. The house has dog bowls and toys, a big family room, a nice kitchen, and four bedrooms. There are two patios, mature trees, and a long driveway, so everyone will have plenty of space. The neighborhood is quiet and safe for walks. Right across the street, there’s a pond full of ducks, squirrels, birds and buzzing dragonflies—so basically a nature show waiting for me. We haven’t even left yet, but I’m already dreaming of sunny naps, big smells from the grill, wildlife watching, and being a very good boy in a brand-new place!
Paws Venture Here
Luie Boone sniffed out and dug up these local gems for you to check out while vacationing in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Hog Island Trail
Explore the scenic Hog Island Trail, which is a peaceful walking path that winds through nature and salt marshes at Patriots Point. This easy, dog-friendly trail is perfect for nature watching, photography, or a relaxing stroll by the water. Trail visitors can also walk up a short ramp and steps to see the view from the observation deck! Hog Island Trail showcases the natural beauty that makes Mount Pleasant a true Lowcountry treasure. Luie Boone cannot wait to visit and explore.
Pitt Street Railroad Bridge
Before the Revolutionary War, a plank bridge built on barrels was constructed across the inlet separating Mount Pleasant from Sullivan’s Island. In 1864, the H.L. Hunley crew crossed that footbridge on the way to Breach Inlet to test dive a submarine! A trolley bridge would end up scanning the cove in 1898, but it was replaced by a vehicle bridge in 1927—known as Pitt Street Bridge. This bridge is a beautiful pet-friendly place to walk your dog and watch the sunset. There are even pet waste stations and a water fountain!
Shem Creek Boardwalk
The Shem Creek Boardwalk is a 10-foot-wide and 2,200 feet long boardwalk, which offers panoramic views of a marsh and Charleston Harbor. You and your pup can start the walk together from the nearby parking area of Shrimp Boat Lane. Captain Wayne Magwood was honored with statue on the Shem Creek Boardwalk in 2025. He was one of the town’s most iconic figures in the shrimping industry. Keep a lookout while on the boardwalk for the coastal wildlife in the marsh and creek!
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site preserves 28 acres of Snee Farm—which is a historic rice and indigo plantation. You and your pup can explore its 1828 coastal cottage, ornamental gardens, and nature trails under majestic live oak canopies! Luie Boone cannot wait to take in its history.
Nature Adventures
Visit Nature Adventures on the historic Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant to rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, so you can explore the beautiful scenery. Doggie life jackets are recommended, as most dogs love water and might jump in. (Looking at you, Luie Boone!) The life jacket handle will make it much easier to get them back on board.
Fort Palmetto Park
The Fort Palmetto Park is an exciting spot to visit in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina! It has several coastal trails, an observation tower, and offers some Civil War history. Once you arrive, there's a small parking area with no entry fee. The park features a 1.5-mile round-trip walking path, which is accessible year-round. Amenities include benches, trash cans, and pet waste stations. The trail winds toward a marsh, ending at an elevated wooden observation platform, which provides expansive views toward DeWeese Inlet and the inland waterway.
Marsh View Trail
The Marsh View Trail is a pet-friendly adventure waiting for hoomans and their pooches! Here, you can enjoy an easy and shady walk down to the marsh and beside the pollinator garden. Luie Boone hopes to sniff some smelly flowers and see some pollinators in action. Afterwards, he'll trot over to the Rifle Range Dog Park for some off-leash play. Once you reach the end of the out-and-back path, there is a bench, where you can unwind and take in the views.
Saltwater Cowboys
Luie Boone sure hopes you remember him mentioning the Saltwater Cowboys earlier! This is a casual eatery that serves up delicious sea-fare with gorgeous waterfront views. Your pooch is welcome to join you at one of their dog-friendly outdoor tables. And guess what? They can even order from the dog menu, which has so many exciting options—including dog beer, margaritas, hamburgers, fish, and even puppy ice cream! The hoomans can try the house-pickled fried okra served with house-made buttermilk ranch, or the BBQ shrimp with Geeche Boy grits. Luie Boone will be sure to put his snout on his hooman's lap and beg really hard to taste-test some of their yummy food. They won't give him anything, but they will order him something special from the doggy menu!
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
I was taking a big snooze on my favorite, very colorful rug in my hooman sister's bedroom when I overheard her whispering about "Hurricane Hugo" and "The Storm of the Century." Supposedly, this happened in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina! I was like what the heck, hoomans, that sounds scary. And Hurricane Hugo was super scary! It hit as a Category 4—flattening neighborhoods, flooding streets, and leaving a mark on the whole coast. Mount Pleasant was right in its path... As a pup that hates lightning and thunder, I was spooked. My hoomans assured me that everything would be just okay. They said to bring along my stuffed plushie, Spike the Turtle, for comfort. I barked and wagged my tail, because there were real turtles that survived Hurricane Hugo! How? By finding higher ground in the marshes! So, if actual turtles can make it through a storm like that, I figure Spike will keep me brave. Plus, my hoomans sounded very happy and comfortable about the trip. So, even though hurricanes hit that area every few years—and Hugo was the kind of storm that makes a dog hide in the closet—I’m going!
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