ISLE OF PALMS GETAWAY: TRAVEL GUIDE -

ISLE OF PALMS GETAWAY. THE VIBE: Gorgeous beach houses, palm trees, wide sandy beaches, friendly people, abundant seafood, and a relaxed vibe. A quiet respite for me, and plenty of activities for our adult children. The proximity to Charleston is also a bonus.

BEFORE YOU GO & GENERAL ADVICE:

We chose to stay in Wild Dunes as we liked the bike paths and the resort feel. We didn’t play golf or tennis, but this is the place to do it for sure.

We rented through Island Realty and found a house with a swing on the front porch and a screened porch in the back. They were responsive and helpful and I would use them again. If you prefer a hotel there are a few choices, from the high-end Boardwalk Inn to the laid-back Seaside Inn, although I haven’t stayed at either. We had lunch at the pool by the Sweetgrass Inn and it was elegant and beautifully decorated.

Rent a beach umbrella and chairs before you arrive. Our rental agency arranged it all through the Isle of Palms Chair Company. It was nice to get to the beach each morning and have your chair and umbrella waiting. I love reading my book under an umbrella so this was a huge and much-appreciated luxury for me.

We also rented bikes for the week, all arranged through Island Realty. The company they used dropped them off in our front driveway, supplied a lock, and picked them up after we left. We found out that you can rent anything from bocce ball to baby supplies, and a golf cart rental would be fun as well.

The traffic is heavy in the summertime, especially off and on the island on Saturday. Make sure to plan around it.

If you plan on cooking, the family-owned Simmons Seafood is the place to go for fresh fish, shrimp, and supplies.

The restaurants get crowded in the summer, so make reservations before you go if you like to eat out. A few places have happy hours with discounted appetizers as well.

MUSIC

My brother drove up from Bluffton for a night and he and I saw Jason Isbell and Sheryl Crow perform in nearby Daniel Island. Loved it. Love Sheryl. The Credit One Stadium in nearby Daniel Island. It’s set up for tennis tournaments and has only 11,000 seats. It feels new and comfy. Great venue,

We enjoyed the live music and vendors at the small Thursday IOP Farmers Market. Isn’t this Sweet Jessamine flower truck the cutest?

sweet jessamines flower truck isle of palms farmers market

My boys hit the Windjammer on the beach for live music. This midwestern girl thought it was the greatest place ever when I went there for the first time in my twenties. I think my Carolina boys did too. Classic.

SHOPPING

The Gallery at Sweetgrass. You know I always love an art gallery. Don’t miss this one if you like really beautiful coastal art. It’s a curated selection of work in a well-lit and pretty space, right next to the Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes. My son and I had a nice talk with the owner and she was welcoming and informative. I was wearing my swimsuit, coverup, and flip-flops, and it didn’t bother her a bit.

Honestly, I didn’t do much of this since it was a beach vacation. But we did spend an afternoon in nearby Charleston, starting with lunch at 82 Queen, an old favorite. Award-winning she-crab soup. We then walked around King Street and my son bought a Peter Millar golf shirt with fish on it at the classic M. Dumas and Sons. I bought cookies and milk from King Street Cookies. They used to have an ‘all you can drink’ milk machine with the ‘three cookie combo’ but they can no longer get the bags they use to fill it. Bummer. Yet still delicious. Try the MexCoCo Spice chocolate cookie with cayenne pepper. Trust me. I’m kind of a cookie expert.

I did enjoy a little shopping at the Isle of Palms Marina. I know, right? They have cute cover-ups, Scout bags, nice t-shirts, and pretty home decor. Right alongside the bait and tackle. I bought a new sticker for my Yeti cooler. They also have a counter service restaurant that looked popular too.

WHAT TO DO

Walk on the beach, read your book on the beach, ride a bike, play tennis, play golf, swim in the ocean, swim in the pool, and take a nap.

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

We began our vacation with lunch at The Obstinate Daughter in downtown Sullivan’s Island. All of us ordered the shrimp roll which turned out to be a Lowcountry version of the northeastern lobster roll on a split top bun. They were so good I made them when we returned home using the recipe I found on the Garden & Gun website.

Sullivan’s Island has a nice street of good restaurants, including Poe’s Tavern and the newly-opened Sullivan’s Fish Camp. I had THE best fried shrimp I’d ever eaten. And I’ve eaten a lot of shrimp. Order the Truffle Parmesan Fried Shrimp. If you like truffles, don’t miss it.

Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. I had the succotash with bacon and shrimp which was made with fresh vegies that tasted like they were freshly picked out of my grandmother’s garden. It was also available with fish or chicken. Yummy.

Don’t miss Shem Creek’s row of restaurants and beautiful views. Especially at sunset. We enjoyed the pimento cheese with bacon jam and I had the flounder at Tavern and Table.

A hidden gem down the road on Shem creek was a place called The Wreck of Richard and Charlene. Read the story about Hurricane Hugo on their website. Gorgeous view of the water at sunset, and combination plates of fresh shrimp, fish, crab, and fried oysters served with the classic sides.

Go to the newly opened Islander 71 for a cocktail and a hot crab dip appetizer. More gorgeous view of the Intracoastal waterway from the rooftop. It’s right next to the IOP marina.

Coconut Joe’s. A fruity cocktail and a view of the ocean from downtown Isle of Palms. The beach is pretty at night from this view too.