The IOP, as it's better known, is one of my favorite beaches. I lived on the Isle of Palms after college for a few years. Its neighboring Island, Sullivans, is the most expensive location to live in South Carolina. Take a bike ride along Ion Avenue between Station 18 and 17, and you'll be sold too.
The beach at Fort Moultrie overlooking the Charleston harbor
Don't Miss These Area Restaurants
The Sea Biscuit Cafe is an IOP staple. This cute Lowcountry cafe serves a homestyle brunch. I recommend the crab cakes benedict! If you're going with a group, be prepared to wait for a table or send a family member ahead to wait in line for the group.
https://sea-biscuit-cafe.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Home Team BBQ on Sullivans Island is our family's favorite restaurant. We like the chicken wings with Alabama white sauce. This is also a great place to grab a beer and watch the game.
Obstinate Daughter on Sullivans Island is a great place for the family or a date night. Their farm-to-table menu features Lowcountry dishes with a twist. Make sure you save room for ice cream downstairs at the Beardcat's Sweet Shop.
https://theobstinatedaughter.com/
https://beardcatsweetshop.com/
What to do on the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island
Fort Moultrie is a Revolutionary War relic that is perfect for entertaining the kids for a few hours. It has a small museum and gift shop to breeze through. Then spend time exploring the bunkers, let the kids climb on the canons, and enjoy a great view of the cargo ships arriving in the Charleston harbor.
https://www.nps.gov/fosu/learn/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm
Go to the library! That's right; Sullivans Island Edgar Allan Poe Library is an underground bunker. It's a former Spanish-American War gun battery.
https://www.ccpl.org/branches/sullivans-island
The Isle of Palms Marina is a great launching pad for getting out on the water. The beauty and charm of the Lowcountry are even more elevated by a day on the water. I highly recommend spending time on a boat. There are several different companies that take dolphin tours, fishing tours, and eco-tours, and some take you to neighboring barrier islands.
