With crashing waves, chattering seagulls and the crisp smell of salty air, a beach environment is unmistakable, and the South has no end to its seductive shorelines. To fuel even more fun, planners can take their attendees on infinite seagoing excursions, from kayaking tours to dolphin-watching jaunts to outings aboard majestic schooners.
Here’s a look at some of the very best options for South-bound groups looking to take to the sea.
The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, Fla.
“Lee County is a major sun and sand destination,” says Tamara Pigott, executive director for the Lee County VCB. “But a major differentiating factor is how respectful of the environment the local community is.”
She gives the example of Sanibel Island, population 6,000, where more than 65 percent of the island is preserved.
“There won’t be any construction on those parts of the island, which is very hard to find on a beautiful Florida barrier island,” she says.
This dedication to conservation makes it easy for groups to forge strong connections with the coastal ecosystem of Florida’s west coast.
“We have world-class shelling,” Pigott says. “No one will go home empty-handed, there is a huge quantity and variety of seashells.”
The environment also makes it a lovely place to learn to sail, and the Fort Myers-based Offshore Sailing School has been instructing visitors in the timeless craft for more than 50 years.
“There are many similarities between sailing and corporate leadership,” says Director of Operations Kevin Wensley. “Clear roles, leadership, communication and strategy are important in both. Like business, sailing is the sum of everyone working together.”
Since there are very distinct roles and responsibilities on a sailboat, participants rotate positions and get to captain at least once.
To create a high-energy race environment, Offshore can set up a race course complete with markers and flags and horns. Staff members will discuss planners’ goals ahead of an event and can strategically set up teams or create unique challenges for the full- or half-day outings.
Ship Island Excursions, Gulfport, Miss.
Fishing and eco-tourism are major draws to Mississippi’s small but mighty Gulf Coast shoreline, and a trip to Ship Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, is often a highlight for visiting groups.
Located 12 miles offshore from the city of Gulf Port, the unspoiled barrier island offers umbrella and beach chair rentals, but is essentially undeveloped, making for peace, quiet and warm relaxation.
Ship Island Excursions runs regular ferry service to and from the mainland between March and October. The vessels are available for private charters and dinner cruises of up to 200 people.
Hammock Coast, Georgetown County, S.C.
The Hammock Coast is a major golf destination between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Five freshwater rivers merge there and together flow out to the Atlantic. There is also a local confluence of conference properties, including the Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort, Pawleys Plantation and Mansfield Plantation.
The city of Georgetown and some local outfitters operate pontoon boats that take meeting groups on aquatic Lowcountry tours, floating past antebellum mansions and former rice plantations while learning local history and visiting a barrier island lighthouse and beach, accessible only by boat.
Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Ga.
Attendees, as well as their children and families, will find fun on working shrimpboat rides through the St. Simon Sound. Aboard the steel-hulled, 60-foot Lady Jane, passengers watch as the captain and crew haul up their fishing nets and sort through the day’s catch on the ship’s deck. Eager guests can even help sift through the sea creatures, which can include sand sharks, horseshoe crabs, whiting, puffer fish and several varieties of shrimp.
Founded in 1886, the oceanfront Jekyll Island Club Hotel is popular with corporate retreats and business conferences. The property is located across the narrow island from the newly opened Jekyll Island Convention Center.
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Miramar Beach, Fla.
Director of Event Planning Elisa Sharpe says that deep-sea fishing charters and group fishing tournaments are popular with corporate and association clients at the Hilton Sandestin on Florida’s northwest coast.
The hotel frequently sends groups off on four- to six-hour excursions, with box lunches and coolers packed for a day at sea.
Fishing season is year-round in the Gulf of Mexico, and October is the best month. However, that also means fall can be the most difficult time to book a charter, as many of the captains participate in the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo saltwater competition.
Pricing varies by trip length and boat type, which can range from four-person vessels to larger party boats with space for mingling. The resort’s location also offers flexibility, because if the weather is bad, captains can navigate the group to the nearby bay instead of the rough ocean waters.
Sanderling Resort, Duck, N.C.
Through a partnership with local company Kitty Hawk Kites, the Sanderling is able to offer a number of water-sport activities suitable for all activity levels.
Wendy Murray, director of sales and marketing at the resort, says that planners often schedule a free afternoon and allow attendees to pick their own adventure; with options like paddleboarding, kiteboarding, eco-kayak tours or surfing lessons.
Sanderling is located on a narrow spit of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound to the west, so there is water for activities on either side, both rambunctious and tranquil.
“We also get great sunrise and sunset views,” Murray says.
Function spaces include a large new event lawn, 4,500-square-foot windowed pavilion and a free-standing event house with a deck and fire pit.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Ala.
Over many thousands of years, millions of quartz grains washed down from the Appalachian Mountains, creating 32 miles of white-sand beaches that stretch along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The region’s tourism is booming, as groups discover its warm waters and aquatic pleasures.
Cetacean Cruises is a leading local operator of dolphin sightseeing jaunts. As many as 30 dolphins frequent the local bay, and the company’s staff knows them all by name.
Cetacean Cruises has also partnered with Dolphin SMART, an educational organization that has created guidelines for the safe viewing of wild dolphins and the preservation of their natural habitat.
Located in between the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Gulf State Park offers two miles of beach and several event venues in a natural setting, including a beachside pavilion.
Wild Dunes Resort, Charleston, S.C.
Located on the Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes Resort embraces laid-back Lowcountry luxury, and two signature excursions highlight the region’s history.
Year-round kayak tours take groups deep into the surrounding rivers and salt marshes, where participants learn about the rich local ecosystems and spot wildlife including crabs, herons, shrimp, bottlenose dolphins, osprey and bald eagles. Team-building aspects can also be added onto kayak trips.
In the Charleston Harbor, up to 49 attendees can experience sailing and sightseeing aboard an 84-foot historic tall ship. A two-hour sail takes guests past Fort Sumter, Fort Johnston and Charleston’s historic Battery.
