August 15, 2025 • 21 mins
Episode 188 – Isle of Palms, South Carolina We’re making our next stop on The Family Vacationer’s tour of the Best Beach Towns in the US — and this time, we’re heading to a barrier island paradise just outside Charleston, South Carolina. The Isle of Palms is known for its wide, family-friendly beaches, charming local restaurants, and laid-back coastal vibe. Joining Rob is Alex Stone, President of the Isle of Palms Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Island Realty, to share insider tips on where to stay, what to do, and how to make the most of your visit. In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Isle of Palms offers the perfect mix of small-town charm and modern conveniences
- Family-friendly lodging options, from cozy cottages to resort stays
- The unique character of Isle of Palms beaches and their kid-friendly tidal pools
- Activities for kids, teens, and adults — from paddleboarding to shark tooth hunting
- Local dining spots you won’t want to miss
- Day trip ideas to Charleston, Sullivan’s Island, and beyond
- Expert tips to help you plan and book your perfect beach getaway
- Visit Isle of Palms – Official visitor information
- Island Realty – Vacation rentals and lodging options
- Charleston Area Visitors Bureau – Regional attractions and events
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Today on The Family Vacationer, we're headed to a barrier
island paradise just outside of Charleston, the Isle of Palms.
From its beautiful, family friendly beaches, charming local eats, and
outdoor adventures, this coastal gym offers something for every age.
It's also the next stop on our tour of the
best beach towns in the US. Episode starts right now.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to The Family Vacationer with Robin Tracy, your go
to podcast for families on the move.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Hey, everybody, Rob here and welcome to The Family Vacationer,
the show where we help you create unforgettable family travel experiences. Today,
we're making another stop on our tour of the best
beach towns in the US, and we're talking about a
South Carolina destination that really embodies that laid back be
(01:01):
the Isle of Palms. It's a small Barrier island, but
it packs in gorgeous sandy beaches, welcoming accommodations, and plenty
for the kids to do. The Isle of Palms has
been a beloved retreat for more than a century. Originally
known as Hunting Island and later Long Island, by the
early twentieth century, it was attracting Charleston residents for day
(01:22):
trips and summer escapes. The island got a major boost
and accessibility when a bridge connected it to the mainland
in the nineteen forties, helping it grow into the charming
beach community that we know today. Despite its popularity, Isle
of Palms has managed to keep that small town, family
friendly feel that makes it so appealing. Joining me to
(01:44):
talk about what makes this destination such a treasure as
Alex Stone. Alex is the current President of the Isle
of Palms Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Island Realty.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Alex Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Thanks Rob, excited to be here today, chat with you
a little bit about the Isle of Palms and our
life over here.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
We're excited to talk about it, so let's get into it.
Can you give us a quick overview of the Isle
of Palms and what makes it a special beach town?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Absolutely so, Rob, You know, I've been out here for
literally my entire life. Was blessed to be born and
raised and spent a ton of time. You know, is
a literal beach bomb out here. So I'm a little
bit biased, but I think if I had to narrow
it down, and in all my years in interacting with
folks that have come to the island, I think the
(02:35):
best way to describe is that it's big enough to
be big, but it's small enough to be small.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
That really narrows it down, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Right?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, Well, what I mean by that is we have
such a.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Charming essence of our community and what is here on
the physical island. But we also have some of the
amenities that folks start to get used to in this
day and age. So we do have a grocery store, right.
We do have traffic at times, which is not necessarily
an amenity, But that being said, we have absolutely gorgeous beaches.
(03:09):
We have golf courses. We have depending on the time
of year, you could be the only person on the beach.
How how our beaches roll into the ocean, it's a
very subtle slope, so we have opportunities for you know,
super young kids to be able to play in tidal
pools and then wade out into the ocean without having
(03:30):
to worry about getting clobbered by waves. We are a hop,
skipping and jump from downtown Charleston, which most most folks
are familiar with, so we have access to literal world
class food off island, but also on island. We have
quite a few restaurants in different areas on the island.
So I think that's that's really what kind of sets
(03:52):
us apart. Big enough to be big, small enough to
be small, and just the natural beauty that we have
around us is second.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
To We visited for a my daughter had a soccer
tournament in the area, and that's what made us, you know,
kind of roll up on Isle of Palms and we
were blown away the beauty of the beaches. I mean
it was it was fantastic and there was everything that
we needed for for a you know, fun beach day.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
So Rob, tell me about when when you guys came
over the bridge. I mean, if you're going to design
a bridge, would you do anything any different than that?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
No, No, it was it was perfect.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You literally get to ride right up to the pinnacle,
the peak of it, and you can see out over
the ocean over the top of the island.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
I mean, it's like something out of a movie. It
really is kind of cool.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I don't know if they did that truly by design,
but whoever did it got to give them a thumbs
up on.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
That well, this next question I have a feeling you're
going to have an opinion on, So what types of
accommodations and family friendly lodging would you recommend on Isle
of Palms.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Great question, Rob, That is one of the very cool
things about the Isle of Palms. We have a little
bit for everybody that includes there is a resort on
our north end of the island, Wild Dunes Resort, which
comes with some of the amenities and a vast choice
(05:15):
or selection of things from one bedroom condos to you know,
seven eight bedroom houses, all all within the resort and
access to those amenities. We have kind of the middle
of the Isle of Palms is really you know, like
an old school neighborhood still very much has that vibe.
We have some smaller, you know, let's call them classic
(05:35):
or vintage homes that are available there, but also there's
access to larger ocean front houses with pools that are
that are updated and way more modern. And then as
we move down the island, there are a couple of
condos in like a commercial district that are that are
mid island.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
So there is a.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Huge selection of opportunity of these depending on you know,
if it's just you and the kids. Is it the grandparents?
The parents and the children, the grandchildren. We really do
have a little bit for everybody. And the cool thing
about it is you could come with a giant extended
family of twelve or fifteen people, and then if you
and the wife wanted to get away, like on Valentine's
(06:20):
There or something, you can do that too. So we
got a little bit of everything for everybody.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
That sounds great. Well, let's talk about the beaches themselves.
You know, as I have aged, what I look for
in a beach is changing a little bit, just because
you know, I'm not as great on my feet as
I used to be. So what are the beaches like themselves?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
The sand? You know, how would you describe the beaches?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
You know, that's an interesting question. I haven't given that
much thought.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
My initial description is they are probably larger than most
folks are used to depending on where you're coming from, Okay,
we do a fairly large tidal swing, so that means
at times there may be you know, I would call
it a sliver of beach, but to some it would
be a normal beach. And at other times, you know,
(07:09):
there's geez, one hundred and fifty two hundred yards of beach.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So depending on you know, what the tide is, the
time of day, there's those type of things. We also
have tidal pools in different areas of the island which
are awesome. They capture minnows and you know a little
bit of sea life and they're awesome for kids to
be able to jump in and play. You know, I'm
thinking in terms of I don't know, four or five
(07:34):
month old on up to eighteen month olds, they could
just you know, they don't have to worry about the
waves and they can still get wet and have fun
and the adults aren't super stressed. Sure, visually we do
have a little bit darker sand. Our water is obviously
not as clear and christine as you will find in
other areas, but it has its own charming character, that's
(07:54):
for sure. And the other the other component of the
beach that a lot of people don't consider is the dune.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
We have significant dunes which add to the visual appeal.
There's a ton of wildlife in them, sometimes good, sometimes bad,
but it's it's just a it's an experience.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So speaking of nature and wildlife, are there ways for
families to experience that on the island.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Uh in real life. Yes, it depends on what type
of experience you're looking for. We have this wonderful local
bug many folks or know them as palmetto bugs or cockroaches.
They you can find those throughout the Isle of Farms.
But all joking aside, there are certainly areas of the
(08:42):
island that are more densely brushed that, yes, you will find.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
You know, it's not uncommon.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
My dad actually texted me yesterday a picture of some
deer walking down the street that had come across, you know,
an area that was opened up. Occasionally, you know, you'll
see snakes or foxes or things like that. We have
giant oak trees everywhere. You see squirrels and and things
like that. There's not there's not like a giant forested area,
(09:09):
but there are certainly plenty of green spaces and gracious
plenty of wildlife if you're looking for it.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Sure, what about popular activities and attractions on Isle of Palms?
What you know for the kids, something for the kids
and the teens to do.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Absolutely, so again, this is this is a cool thing
where you know, it kind of is dealer's choice, right,
So maybe the adults are into golf. We have that opportunity,
you know, within the Wild Dunes Resort section, which is
a totally different vibe. Most of what I found having
a team myself, most teens tend to gravitate towards the
(09:44):
water sports activities, either that or the social aspects. So
some of that stuff is, you know, paddle boarding, fishing
opportunities for some of the paragliding, uh, things of that nature,
fishing charters, so those are those are always fun thing.
And then you know, the other big part of it
is there are quite a few larger homes here on
(10:04):
the island where you can just spend time together. That's
a rare thing in this day and age, but there
you know, that helps everybody. Sometimes too much time is
not a good thing, right, so the grandparents in their
private little area, and then everybody else can can kind
of split up and do their own thing. Of course,
we have scooter rentals and bike rentals and those kind
(10:27):
of things on the island.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
There are quite a few vendors.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Here on the Isle of Palms that provide like golf
carts and things like that, so you can scoot around.
That's always a fun thing. I'm trying to think through
what other activities there's there's lots of different opportunities. You know,
it really just depends on kind of what you're into
or what you want to do.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Right, well, the water is the star, right absolutely well,
not to put you on the spot, but you mentioned
fishing charters, So what are you fishing.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
For in that? In the the Ala Palms.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Man there great question. It would depend on the time
of year. So there is fantastic trout and red fishing
behind the al of Palms and the bays in that area.
Depending on you know, if we're getting king tides, we'll
get some of those tidal flats will flood and you
can go fly fishing for redfish and actually see them
(11:23):
what they call tailing, which is how they feed. There's
opportunities with that. In recent history, we are, i would
say it out loud, have a world class offshore fishery.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
For bill fishing. It is almost a.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Sixty mile run to get offshore, but you know it's
not uncommon to be able to have shots at maybe
ten sailfish, wow or blue marlin. We have black fintunas, dolphin,
mahi mahi wahoo. Again, depending on the time of the year,
and of course the weather, so there's there's a little
bit of everything. We have an the winter and fall,
(12:01):
you have opportunities for flounder as well. And then you
know the other side of it is if you don't
want to actively fish, there's crabbing and things like that
that are much more low key opportunities for those kind
of experiences. Dolphin cruises which is always pretty awesome to see,
shark's tooth hunting, which is a fantastic family activity there.
(12:23):
You know, you can walk along the beach and if
you're paying attention, you know they're they're right there, and
there are folks that can take you out and show
you exactly how to look at, what to look for,
and where to look. So that's always a cool one.
I know my kids love to capture those teeth and
talk about megladons and all the wild sharks that are
out there.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, my youngest would love that. Well.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I mean, this is a good segue to talk about food.
So can you share some local dining spots that that
families wouldn't want to miss when they're on the alt Palms.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely, depending on the attire in the mood, we have
several what I would call higher end restaurants where you
get dressed up a little bit and go have that
kind of experience. From the boat House on the south
end of the island to a little more casual upscale
(13:15):
like at Islander seventy one, which is by the il
of Pomp's Marina, sort of mid island. Wild Dunes Resort
has quite a few eateries that are.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Rather high end casual stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I mean, one you can't miss and Rob y'all might
have hit this already is the wind Jammer on the
Isle of Palms. Fantastic live music venue. It's a true
like old school kind of beach bar area, but their
cheeseburgers are unbelievable. The Refuge in the Ilo Palm shopping
Center is another great spot to go grab coffee, hang out,
(13:50):
grab a bite to eat. Their turkey avocado sandwich is fantastic.
Acme Kitchen in the middle of the island, not far
from the wind Jammer is another one. They have fantastic
quality food, more of a casual vibe so you don't
feel like you have to be super dressed up. So
a little bit of that kind of stuff and then
you know, if you're bebopping around with the kids. There's
(14:13):
quite a few different opportunities for like sandwich shops where
you can stop in grab ice cream. Ale Palmserena is
a cool one because you can grab something to eat.
They'll make you a fresh sandwich, chicken fingers, whatever it is,
and you can sit there and watch the boats go by.
And you know, it's great entertainment watching people put their
boats in and out of the water and the challenges
that come with that, particularly when you have a husband
(14:34):
and wife doing it.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Really really interesting scenario. So that's that's great free entertainment
right there.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Do you offer free marital counseling as that is occurring
or are they on their own?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
You gotta watch out. You stick your hand in that one.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Yeah, I would. I wouldn't want any part of that.
It'd be fun to watch, but yeah, I would want
to get involved. So for families that are interested in
and exploring beyond the beach you mentioned Charleston, what are
some nearby attractions or day trips that you might recommend.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I think some of the crowd pleasers are you can't
miss the historical stuff right Fort Sumter, downtown Charleston. That's
a must see, just to bring the reality to what
the history is that's happened over here and in Sullivan's
Island Fort Moultrie. I always think got stuff super cool.
While we're downtown Charleston, there's there's unlimited options as far
(15:32):
as things to do, things to see. When you start
to look at like Mount Pleasant, there are like what
would you call them, like an old school arcades and
access to like go karts, mini putt put golf, things
of that nature. If you're into like wellness and things
(15:52):
like that. There are lots of opportunities for pilates, yoga,
those kind of things. As you mentioned, we get a
lot of folks that come and visit the island who
are staying here for tournaments, for baseball tournaments, volleyball tournaments,
depending on the time of year, and that's you know,
generally in the fall we see some of that stuff
(16:14):
and sometimes in the winter times, but depending on the
sports season. But that's always a good one. They can
get over to the beach and then go over to
Shipyard Park and you know, that's a pretty awesome facility
and play their games. So those are those are the
top ones that come to mind. The South can aquariums
right there in downtown Charleston. That's always an awesome one
to go check out all the marine life and the birds.
(16:35):
The hun Lee is another, you know, historical opportunity to
go see things. So there really are lots of different
angles that you can you can look through.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
When I was in the Boy Scouts, we we visited
the Yorktown. So that was that was super fun. We
actually spent I think we spent the night at the
York We did spend the night at the Yorktown. It
was it was a little terrifying, I'm not gonna lie, so,
but it was fun. It was super fun as a
kid to do that.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I literally did the same thing as a young one.
What a cool experience.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Well, so let's talk about some insider tips for families
that are visiting a La Palms for the first time.
What are some secrets, What are some.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Things that they should do not do? What you got secrets?
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I think probably trying to and it's always hard. I
know that's just from personal experience pre planning the things
that you want to do, especially nowadays, it can get
challenging with like getting reservations and things like that. So
given the opportunity, you know, when you get inside that
month range, go ahead and get as many reservations as
you can, and you can cancel them. And you know,
(17:45):
if you look at the terms, that's not a not
a big one, but it's alway it's better to have
it and just decide you don't want to go talk
to whoever it is that you are potentially staying with.
They are going to be the best source of information
depending on how long you're here and the time of year.
They're the ones that are going to be able to
(18:05):
hook you up and say, hey, you know this is
you know, don't miss this. We've been having fantastic sunsets
because of the recent storms or whatever it is. You know,
go to the go to the top of the connector
catch the sunrise at five point thirty in the morning.
You know those are those are the angles and they
can't miss this. Again, it really kind of depends on
the time of year, but I think if you you
(18:27):
start to look at a little bit of advance, you
get those opportunities, you don't miss them.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Well, wrapping it up, where can our listeners find more information?
Where would you suggest the family going if they're wanting
to plan their trip to Alo Palms.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Great question.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I'm a little bit biased working with the Alo Palm's
Chamber of Commerce, but they do have a fantastic website
that has a map on it that makes it really
easy to see where you are, where you want to be,
and where the various eateries are, businesses things of that nature.
So I would plug visit IOP dot com. Okay, that's
(19:05):
it's super easy, easy, and then social media discover IOP,
visit IOP and then you know, always the Charleston Chamber
of Commerce, Charlesers Charleston Visitors Bureau is a fantastic resource
for things that are going on, not only on the
islands but locally, and that I would absolutely hit them up.
(19:28):
So we are Island Realty, so Islandrealty dot com and
we primarily do vacation rentals.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Fantastic Well, Alex, thanks so much for coming on and
sharing your insights about all of Palms. It really is
a beautiful, beautiful area and I feel like it it
fits well on our list of best beach towns in
the US.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Thanks Rob, appreciate you having me for our listeners.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
We'll have links to the al of Palm's Chamber of
Commerce and Island Realty in the show notes so you
can start planning your family's beach getaway. Hey, and before
we wrap up, I'm excited to share some news. My
first family vacation or book is coming soon. It's packed
with stories, tips and inspiration to help you make the
(20:15):
most of your travels together. Stay tuned here on the
podcast and on our socials for the release date. Don't
forget to subscribe to The Family Vacationer on your favorite
podcast platform and connect with us on Instagram and substack
for more family travel inspiration. Remember, folks, to keep your
passports and your hearts open. Save travels everyone.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
I've got it.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
All the beach places in the hotel stasis. I'm using
the buck rides, lot of slides, mounties, ranges and seasonal
change is.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
I'm here to serve.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
I'm the fairly vacationers.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
I've got in full on other beach previces and hotel spaces,
amusement park rides and water slides, mountain ranges and seasonal changes.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I'm here to serve. I'm the family vacationers.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Yeah,
Today on The Family Vacationer, we're headed to a barrier
island paradise just outside of Charleston, the Isle of Palms.
From its beautiful, family friendly beaches, charming local eats, and
outdoor adventures, this coastal gym offers something for every age.
It's also the next stop on our tour of the
best beach towns in the US. Episode starts right now.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to The Family Vacationer with Robin Tracy, your go
to podcast for families on the move.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Hey, everybody, Rob here and welcome to The Family Vacationer,
the show where we help you create unforgettable family travel experiences. Today,
we're making another stop on our tour of the best
beach towns in the US, and we're talking about a
South Carolina destination that really embodies that laid back be
(01:01):
the Isle of Palms. It's a small Barrier island, but
it packs in gorgeous sandy beaches, welcoming accommodations, and plenty
for the kids to do. The Isle of Palms has
been a beloved retreat for more than a century. Originally
known as Hunting Island and later Long Island, by the
early twentieth century, it was attracting Charleston residents for day
(01:22):
trips and summer escapes. The island got a major boost
and accessibility when a bridge connected it to the mainland
in the nineteen forties, helping it grow into the charming
beach community that we know today. Despite its popularity, Isle
of Palms has managed to keep that small town, family
friendly feel that makes it so appealing. Joining me to
(01:44):
talk about what makes this destination such a treasure as
Alex Stone. Alex is the current President of the Isle
of Palms Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Island Realty.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Alex Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Thanks Rob, excited to be here today, chat with you
a little bit about the Isle of Palms and our
life over here.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
We're excited to talk about it, so let's get into it.
Can you give us a quick overview of the Isle
of Palms and what makes it a special beach town?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Absolutely so, Rob, You know, I've been out here for
literally my entire life. Was blessed to be born and
raised and spent a ton of time. You know, is
a literal beach bomb out here. So I'm a little
bit biased, but I think if I had to narrow
it down, and in all my years in interacting with
folks that have come to the island, I think the
(02:35):
best way to describe is that it's big enough to
be big, but it's small enough to be small.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
That really narrows it down, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Right?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, Well, what I mean by that is we have
such a.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Charming essence of our community and what is here on
the physical island. But we also have some of the
amenities that folks start to get used to in this
day and age. So we do have a grocery store, right.
We do have traffic at times, which is not necessarily
an amenity, But that being said, we have absolutely gorgeous beaches.
(03:09):
We have golf courses. We have depending on the time
of year, you could be the only person on the beach.
How how our beaches roll into the ocean, it's a
very subtle slope, so we have opportunities for you know,
super young kids to be able to play in tidal
pools and then wade out into the ocean without having
(03:30):
to worry about getting clobbered by waves. We are a hop,
skipping and jump from downtown Charleston, which most most folks
are familiar with, so we have access to literal world
class food off island, but also on island. We have
quite a few restaurants in different areas on the island.
So I think that's that's really what kind of sets
(03:52):
us apart. Big enough to be big, small enough to
be small, and just the natural beauty that we have
around us is second.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
To We visited for a my daughter had a soccer
tournament in the area, and that's what made us, you know,
kind of roll up on Isle of Palms and we
were blown away the beauty of the beaches. I mean
it was it was fantastic and there was everything that
we needed for for a you know, fun beach day.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
So Rob, tell me about when when you guys came
over the bridge. I mean, if you're going to design
a bridge, would you do anything any different than that?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
No, No, it was it was perfect.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You literally get to ride right up to the pinnacle,
the peak of it, and you can see out over
the ocean over the top of the island.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
I mean, it's like something out of a movie. It
really is kind of cool.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I don't know if they did that truly by design,
but whoever did it got to give them a thumbs
up on.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
That well, this next question I have a feeling you're
going to have an opinion on, So what types of
accommodations and family friendly lodging would you recommend on Isle
of Palms.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Great question, Rob, That is one of the very cool
things about the Isle of Palms. We have a little
bit for everybody that includes there is a resort on
our north end of the island, Wild Dunes Resort, which
comes with some of the amenities and a vast choice
(05:15):
or selection of things from one bedroom condos to you know,
seven eight bedroom houses, all all within the resort and
access to those amenities. We have kind of the middle
of the Isle of Palms is really you know, like
an old school neighborhood still very much has that vibe.
We have some smaller, you know, let's call them classic
(05:35):
or vintage homes that are available there, but also there's
access to larger ocean front houses with pools that are
that are updated and way more modern. And then as
we move down the island, there are a couple of
condos in like a commercial district that are that are
mid island.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
So there is a.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Huge selection of opportunity of these depending on you know,
if it's just you and the kids. Is it the grandparents?
The parents and the children, the grandchildren. We really do
have a little bit for everybody. And the cool thing
about it is you could come with a giant extended
family of twelve or fifteen people, and then if you
and the wife wanted to get away, like on Valentine's
(06:20):
There or something, you can do that too. So we
got a little bit of everything for everybody.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
That sounds great. Well, let's talk about the beaches themselves.
You know, as I have aged, what I look for
in a beach is changing a little bit, just because
you know, I'm not as great on my feet as
I used to be. So what are the beaches like themselves?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
The sand? You know, how would you describe the beaches?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
You know, that's an interesting question. I haven't given that
much thought.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
My initial description is they are probably larger than most
folks are used to depending on where you're coming from, Okay,
we do a fairly large tidal swing, so that means
at times there may be you know, I would call
it a sliver of beach, but to some it would
be a normal beach. And at other times, you know,
(07:09):
there's geez, one hundred and fifty two hundred yards of beach.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So depending on you know, what the tide is, the
time of day, there's those type of things. We also
have tidal pools in different areas of the island which
are awesome. They capture minnows and you know a little
bit of sea life and they're awesome for kids to
be able to jump in and play. You know, I'm
thinking in terms of I don't know, four or five
(07:34):
month old on up to eighteen month olds, they could
just you know, they don't have to worry about the
waves and they can still get wet and have fun
and the adults aren't super stressed. Sure, visually we do
have a little bit darker sand. Our water is obviously
not as clear and christine as you will find in
other areas, but it has its own charming character, that's
(07:54):
for sure. And the other the other component of the
beach that a lot of people don't consider is the dune.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
We have significant dunes which add to the visual appeal.
There's a ton of wildlife in them, sometimes good, sometimes bad,
but it's it's just a it's an experience.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So speaking of nature and wildlife, are there ways for
families to experience that on the island.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Uh in real life. Yes, it depends on what type
of experience you're looking for. We have this wonderful local
bug many folks or know them as palmetto bugs or cockroaches.
They you can find those throughout the Isle of Farms.
But all joking aside, there are certainly areas of the
(08:42):
island that are more densely brushed that, yes, you will find.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
You know, it's not uncommon.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
My dad actually texted me yesterday a picture of some
deer walking down the street that had come across, you know,
an area that was opened up. Occasionally, you know, you'll
see snakes or foxes or things like that. We have
giant oak trees everywhere. You see squirrels and and things
like that. There's not there's not like a giant forested area,
(09:09):
but there are certainly plenty of green spaces and gracious
plenty of wildlife if you're looking for it.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Sure, what about popular activities and attractions on Isle of Palms?
What you know for the kids, something for the kids
and the teens to do.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Absolutely, so again, this is this is a cool thing
where you know, it kind of is dealer's choice, right,
So maybe the adults are into golf. We have that opportunity,
you know, within the Wild Dunes Resort section, which is
a totally different vibe. Most of what I found having
a team myself, most teens tend to gravitate towards the
(09:44):
water sports activities, either that or the social aspects. So
some of that stuff is, you know, paddle boarding, fishing
opportunities for some of the paragliding, uh, things of that nature,
fishing charters, so those are those are always fun thing.
And then you know, the other big part of it
is there are quite a few larger homes here on
(10:04):
the island where you can just spend time together. That's
a rare thing in this day and age, but there
you know, that helps everybody. Sometimes too much time is
not a good thing, right, so the grandparents in their
private little area, and then everybody else can can kind
of split up and do their own thing. Of course,
we have scooter rentals and bike rentals and those kind
(10:27):
of things on the island.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
There are quite a few vendors.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Here on the Isle of Palms that provide like golf
carts and things like that, so you can scoot around.
That's always a fun thing. I'm trying to think through
what other activities there's there's lots of different opportunities. You know,
it really just depends on kind of what you're into
or what you want to do.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Right, well, the water is the star, right absolutely well,
not to put you on the spot, but you mentioned
fishing charters, So what are you fishing.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
For in that? In the the Ala Palms.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Man there great question. It would depend on the time
of year. So there is fantastic trout and red fishing
behind the al of Palms and the bays in that area.
Depending on you know, if we're getting king tides, we'll
get some of those tidal flats will flood and you
can go fly fishing for redfish and actually see them
(11:23):
what they call tailing, which is how they feed. There's
opportunities with that. In recent history, we are, i would
say it out loud, have a world class offshore fishery.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
For bill fishing. It is almost a.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Sixty mile run to get offshore, but you know it's
not uncommon to be able to have shots at maybe
ten sailfish, wow or blue marlin. We have black fintunas, dolphin,
mahi mahi wahoo. Again, depending on the time of the year,
and of course the weather, so there's there's a little
bit of everything. We have an the winter and fall,
(12:01):
you have opportunities for flounder as well. And then you
know the other side of it is if you don't
want to actively fish, there's crabbing and things like that
that are much more low key opportunities for those kind
of experiences. Dolphin cruises which is always pretty awesome to see,
shark's tooth hunting, which is a fantastic family activity there.
(12:23):
You know, you can walk along the beach and if
you're paying attention, you know they're they're right there, and
there are folks that can take you out and show
you exactly how to look at, what to look for,
and where to look. So that's always a cool one.
I know my kids love to capture those teeth and
talk about megladons and all the wild sharks that are
out there.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, my youngest would love that. Well.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I mean, this is a good segue to talk about food.
So can you share some local dining spots that that
families wouldn't want to miss when they're on the alt Palms.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely, depending on the attire in the mood, we have
several what I would call higher end restaurants where you
get dressed up a little bit and go have that
kind of experience. From the boat House on the south
end of the island to a little more casual upscale
(13:15):
like at Islander seventy one, which is by the il
of Pomp's Marina, sort of mid island. Wild Dunes Resort
has quite a few eateries that are.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Rather high end casual stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I mean, one you can't miss and Rob y'all might
have hit this already is the wind Jammer on the
Isle of Palms. Fantastic live music venue. It's a true
like old school kind of beach bar area, but their
cheeseburgers are unbelievable. The Refuge in the Ilo Palm shopping
Center is another great spot to go grab coffee, hang out,
(13:50):
grab a bite to eat. Their turkey avocado sandwich is fantastic.
Acme Kitchen in the middle of the island, not far
from the wind Jammer is another one. They have fantastic
quality food, more of a casual vibe so you don't
feel like you have to be super dressed up. So
a little bit of that kind of stuff and then
you know, if you're bebopping around with the kids. There's
(14:13):
quite a few different opportunities for like sandwich shops where
you can stop in grab ice cream. Ale Palmserena is
a cool one because you can grab something to eat.
They'll make you a fresh sandwich, chicken fingers, whatever it is,
and you can sit there and watch the boats go by.
And you know, it's great entertainment watching people put their
boats in and out of the water and the challenges
that come with that, particularly when you have a husband
(14:34):
and wife doing it.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Really really interesting scenario. So that's that's great free entertainment
right there.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Do you offer free marital counseling as that is occurring
or are they on their own?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
You gotta watch out. You stick your hand in that one.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Yeah, I would. I wouldn't want any part of that.
It'd be fun to watch, but yeah, I would want
to get involved. So for families that are interested in
and exploring beyond the beach you mentioned Charleston, what are
some nearby attractions or day trips that you might recommend.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I think some of the crowd pleasers are you can't
miss the historical stuff right Fort Sumter, downtown Charleston. That's
a must see, just to bring the reality to what
the history is that's happened over here and in Sullivan's
Island Fort Moultrie. I always think got stuff super cool.
While we're downtown Charleston, there's there's unlimited options as far
(15:32):
as things to do, things to see. When you start
to look at like Mount Pleasant, there are like what
would you call them, like an old school arcades and
access to like go karts, mini putt put golf, things
of that nature. If you're into like wellness and things
(15:52):
like that. There are lots of opportunities for pilates, yoga,
those kind of things. As you mentioned, we get a
lot of folks that come and visit the island who
are staying here for tournaments, for baseball tournaments, volleyball tournaments,
depending on the time of year, and that's you know,
generally in the fall we see some of that stuff
(16:14):
and sometimes in the winter times, but depending on the
sports season. But that's always a good one. They can
get over to the beach and then go over to
Shipyard Park and you know, that's a pretty awesome facility
and play their games. So those are those are the
top ones that come to mind. The South can aquariums
right there in downtown Charleston. That's always an awesome one
to go check out all the marine life and the birds.
(16:35):
The hun Lee is another, you know, historical opportunity to
go see things. So there really are lots of different
angles that you can you can look through.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
When I was in the Boy Scouts, we we visited
the Yorktown. So that was that was super fun. We
actually spent I think we spent the night at the
York We did spend the night at the Yorktown. It
was it was a little terrifying, I'm not gonna lie, so,
but it was fun. It was super fun as a
kid to do that.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I literally did the same thing as a young one.
What a cool experience.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Well, so let's talk about some insider tips for families
that are visiting a La Palms for the first time.
What are some secrets, What are some.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Things that they should do not do? What you got secrets?
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I think probably trying to and it's always hard. I
know that's just from personal experience pre planning the things
that you want to do, especially nowadays, it can get
challenging with like getting reservations and things like that. So
given the opportunity, you know, when you get inside that
month range, go ahead and get as many reservations as
you can, and you can cancel them. And you know,
(17:45):
if you look at the terms, that's not a not
a big one, but it's alway it's better to have
it and just decide you don't want to go talk
to whoever it is that you are potentially staying with.
They are going to be the best source of information
depending on how long you're here and the time of year.
They're the ones that are going to be able to
(18:05):
hook you up and say, hey, you know this is
you know, don't miss this. We've been having fantastic sunsets
because of the recent storms or whatever it is. You know,
go to the go to the top of the connector
catch the sunrise at five point thirty in the morning.
You know those are those are the angles and they
can't miss this. Again, it really kind of depends on
the time of year, but I think if you you
(18:27):
start to look at a little bit of advance, you
get those opportunities, you don't miss them.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Well, wrapping it up, where can our listeners find more information?
Where would you suggest the family going if they're wanting
to plan their trip to Alo Palms.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Great question.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I'm a little bit biased working with the Alo Palm's
Chamber of Commerce, but they do have a fantastic website
that has a map on it that makes it really
easy to see where you are, where you want to be,
and where the various eateries are, businesses things of that nature.
So I would plug visit IOP dot com. Okay, that's
(19:05):
it's super easy, easy, and then social media discover IOP,
visit IOP and then you know, always the Charleston Chamber
of Commerce, Charlesers Charleston Visitors Bureau is a fantastic resource
for things that are going on, not only on the
islands but locally, and that I would absolutely hit them up.
(19:28):
So we are Island Realty, so Islandrealty dot com and
we primarily do vacation rentals.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Fantastic Well, Alex, thanks so much for coming on and
sharing your insights about all of Palms. It really is
a beautiful, beautiful area and I feel like it it
fits well on our list of best beach towns in
the US.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Thanks Rob, appreciate you having me for our listeners.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
We'll have links to the al of Palm's Chamber of
Commerce and Island Realty in the show notes so you
can start planning your family's beach getaway. Hey, and before
we wrap up, I'm excited to share some news. My
first family vacation or book is coming soon. It's packed
with stories, tips and inspiration to help you make the
(20:15):
most of your travels together. Stay tuned here on the
podcast and on our socials for the release date. Don't
forget to subscribe to The Family Vacationer on your favorite
podcast platform and connect with us on Instagram and substack
for more family travel inspiration. Remember, folks, to keep your
passports and your hearts open. Save travels everyone.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
I've got it.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
All the beach places in the hotel stasis. I'm using
the buck rides, lot of slides, mounties, ranges and seasonal
change is.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
I'm here to serve.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
I'm the fairly vacationers.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
I've got in full on other beach previces and hotel spaces,
amusement park rides and water slides, mountain ranges and seasonal changes.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I'm here to serve. I'm the family vacationers.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Yeah,
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