Beachside Vacation Lifestyle 2019-20

www.beachsidevacations.com | 39 SI ullivan’s Island played a key role in the Revolutionary War and provided the background for some of the work of one of America’s most no- torious writers. But most of all, it’s a small island town where residents and visitors alike can enjoy the tranquility of having the Atlantic Ocean at its doorstep and the serenity and peace of mind of living in a safe and quiet small town. You won’t find flashing neon signs, shopping malls, hotels, golf courses or even a single traffic light in Sullivan’s Island – just a small downtown district with upscale plac- es to eat and drink. One of those eateries is Poe’s Tavern, named in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, who was assigned to Fort Moultrie in 1827, before he had celebrated his 19th birthday. The menu at Poe’s features hamburgers with names that reference a time when the writer, poet and editor spent 13 months on the island as a soldier in the U.S. Army: Gold Bug; Pit & Pendulum; Anna- bel Lee; Tell-Tale Heart; and Starving Artist. There also are at least three streets named for the starving artist who used Sullivan’s Island as the backdrop for “The Gold Bug,” “The Balloon Hoax” and “The Oblong Box”: Gold Bug Avenue, Raven Drive and Poe Avenue. Sullivan’s Island’s claim to fame extends beyond the world of literature. The Americans claimed their first victory of the Revolutionary War here on June 28,1776, beating back a British naval fleet and keeping Charleston Harbor at least tempo- rarily out of the enemy’s hands. At the same time, an American force kept the British from attacking Fort Sullivan from the rear by defeating a British force that was trying to cross Breach Inlet between what is now Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. The fort was later renamed in honor of its commander, William Moultrie. Today, Sullivan’s Island is a laid-back, family-oriented beach community. Its residents prefer to get where they want to go on the island by foot or on bicycles or golf carts. When they leave the island, they travel across an old-fashioned draw- bridge that opens regularly, holding up traffic to and from Mount Pleasant. Apparently, no one is in a hurry to get off the island. S For vacation homes on this unique Lowcountry island, log on to www.beachsidevacations.com