Beachside Vacation Lifestyle 2019-20

10 | www.beachsidevacations.com sle of Palms offers its residents and visitors a rare combination of excellent weather, endless recreational activities and proxim- ity to historic Charles- ton and bustling Mount Pleasant – and, of course, the sooth- ing sound of the At- lantic Ocean lapping against its resplendent beach. Originally known as Hunting Island and later Long Island, the name became Isle of Palms just before the 19th century turned to the 20th. At first, vis- itors could reach IOP only by a roundabout route that included a ferry from Charleston and a trolley from Mount Pleasant, through Sullivan’s Island. All that changed with the construction of the Grace Memorial Bridge over the Cooper River three years later. But it would be another 64 years before the IOP Connector provided the final link between Isle of Palms and the outside world. The first cars traveled over the fixed span bridge from Mount Pleasant to IOP in October 1993. Today, Isle of Palms is among the most popular beaches on the Southeast coast – for more than one reason. Even during the winter, the average temperature hovers around 50 degrees or warm- er, while the highs generally stay at 90 degrees or cooler in the summer. This means, of course, that you can enjoy outdoor activities year-round, and there’s plenty to do, from parasailing, wakeboard- ing, swimming and strolling along the beach looking for seashells to simply working on your tan. If golf or tennis is your game, Wild Dunes, at the north end of the island, is where you’ll want to hang out. The Links Course and the Harbor Course, both de- signed by the legendary Tom Fazio, have received national recognition, while Wild Dunes also is home to a nationally ranked tennis complex. After a “hard” day on the golf course or at the beach, you might want to unwind at one of the areas’s many highly-rat- ed restaurants, either on the island or in nearby Charleston. If you choose to visit the Holy City, you’ll also have the oppor- tunity to see an array of historical sites, including Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. Your trip back to the friendly con- fines of Isle of Palms will be a short one – Charleston is just 15 miles from the ocean. I IOP For Vacation Homes on this unique Lowcountry island, log on to www.beachsidevacations.com