You’ve booked your Isle of Palms getaway and now you’re ready to plan the weekend. Not sure where to begin? We’re happy to help narrow down the multitude of activities and attractions with a suggested itinerary to make the most of your beach trip.
Isle of Palms: Day One
Wake up with coffee and a home-style breakfast at Sea Biscuit Café. This quaint eatery offers outdoor seating and a wonderful beach ambiance. Chow down on a traditional breakfast of three-egg omelets served with home fries or grits, pancakes or French toast. For a lighter start to your day, try the homemade granola, banana bread or fresh fruit plate.
Morning: Spend the morning exploring the diverse coastal ecosystems with Barrier Island Eco Tours. Whether it’s crab fishing, creek fishing or wildlife discovery, these family-friendly tours are a great way to have fun while learning about the area. You can even plan a private charter. Boats leave from an Isle of Palms Marina dock located to the right of the General Store.
Lunch: For lunch, sit outside and enjoy scenic views from the rooftop deck at the Morgan Creek Grill. The Upper Deck and Creekside Bar offer their more casual menu. Start off with lump crab meat drip or fried oysters or shrimp. The lunch menu includes burgers, veggie burgers, crab cake sandwiches and an array of salads. They also offer a kids menu for the little ones in your party. Sip on a coast-inspired cocktail and take in the panoramic view.
After lunch, relax at the beach. If you’re staying at one of our Wild Dunes properties like Port O’ Call or Seagrove Villas, the ocean is just steps away. Beachcomb the private sandy beach, listen to rolling waves or get lost in a book. It’s your vacation. Spend it enjoying the sun and saltwater. If you’re not in an oceanfront condo, no worries. Isle of Palms has public beaches at Front Beach and Isle of Palms County Park.
Dinner: After an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing, you’ll want to hit up Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Boathouse at Breach Inlet. The Happy Hour menu offers sweet corn hushpuppies, a fried oyster roll, and seasonal oysters, along with $3 beer specials as well as liquor and wine specials. Their dinner menu offers a more expansive array of seafood, steaks, and salads. Check out the daily fish board for the fresh catch selections that can be grilled, blackened, broiled or roasted with a choice of sauce from lemon basil aioli, roasted corn relish, Dijon mustard or green tomato chutney.
Isle of Palms: Day Two
After a good night’s sleep, mosey over to The Refuge for their Morning Tide menu, which includes biscuit baskets, a hometown breakfast, avocado and eggs, French toast or gluten-free pancakes, bagels or oatmeal. They also tout the best coffee on the island.
After you’ve fueled up, get your motor running by riding around Isle of Palms on two-wheels. Port City Moped has a fleet of scooters you can rent from two hours to full days. It’s a great way to sightsee around this beach community.
Make lunch a simple, but filling affair with a sandwich, burger or wrap at Saltworks Dockside Deli at the Isle of Palms Marina. The Philly cheesesteak is a local favorite!
Since you’re already at the Marina, it’ll be convenient to spend the afternoon on a paddling adventure. Coastal Expeditions rents kayaks and paddleboards so you can explore at your leisure. You can also explore the wild side of coastal South Carolina with one of their guided tours. Catch sight of dolphins, shorebirds, and other local wildlife on their Daily Kayak Tour, Family Kayak Paddle or wait a little later in the day and take a Full Moon Kayak Tour.
Finish off your stay with a delicious dinner at Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. This casual restaurant offers upscale takes on local fare. Share an appetizer of peel and eat shrimp or fried green tomatoes, then savor East Coast seafood selections or Lowcountry favorites like lump crab cakes, braised short ribs, fried pecan chicken or cast-iron blackened fresh fish with creole sauce.
Keep in mind, these are just suggestions. The fun of a beach vacation is to make it your own. So get out there and explore all activities and restaurants that make Isle of Palms a perfect escape.