Isle of Palms Magazine Summer 2017

31 www.IsleOfPalmsMagazine.com | www.ILoveIOP.com | www.IOPmag.com When did you start vacationing in IOP? (As recorded in my dad’s diary) 50 years ago, the week of my 9th birthday, July 1966, me, my parents and older brother brought the family tent to Isle Of Palms. We stayed at the Sand Dollar Family Campground, Spot #4. It cost $3 a night. Back then, everyone drove on the beach and, of course, our huge Pontiac station wagon sank in the sand and got stuck. Immediately, several adults and kids surrounded us, dug and pushed us out. (Over the week, this process, with my family included, would be repeated for many others.) From that time to today, helpful friendly people, locals and us vacationers are all I have ever found at IOP. Add this to me finding several sand dollars during that first stay and I fell totally, completely and forever in love with Isle Of Palms. As kids, we came back from time-to-time, but, once I became part of the adult decision-making process, I/we have not missed a year. For over 30 years I/we come two to four times a year during all seasons. Over these past 50 years, many things have changed in my/our lives, lots has come and gone, but getting back to IOP has never stopped. What time of year do you visit and why? We come all times. For many years, the week of July 4 has been the summer vacation week. The weather has been excellent (the occasional rain shower just allows for recovery time in the condo or house). Daily time (sun, fun, surf, games) on the beach, which is never too crowded, biking to breakfast and dinner, night walks through town, neighborhoods, around Wild Dunes and on the beach define a vacation for me. Sitting on a deck with a cup of coffee watching the sun rise or sitting on a deck with a glass of wine watching the sun set over the marsh – I know no better way to start or end a day. Fall, winter and/or spring is for our long weekends. We often bring our dogs and take advantage of the “off leash” times. I am sure we have not missed any month over the years. What do you do while on vacation? Of course, every day includes time on the beach and playing/swimming in the ocean. Mornings will begin with a beach run, breakfast in or out, then head to the beach for the day. We play, swim, surf, skim board, boogie board, competitive beach games. All the while we plot the evening/night plans. Most often we will all bike to dinner and find our way to Ben & Jerry’s for dessert – then a night walk on the beach with the stars and through the local area where we are staying. I/we will often do a local race or triathlon. Flat courses have their advantages! Staying on IOP gives you full access to Charleston, its unique history and the endless options of every category for a vacation week or long weekend. I believe we have done most everything and, in many cases, done them so many times. What are some memorable moments that you have created while on the island? An annual tradition, is our “local wild-caught shrimp night.” We buy, fix shrimp many ways and eat-eat-eat. And we always probably feel we need to repent for being gluttonous. We are avid runners, so morning beach runs and/ or late night after it cools off happen every day. (I coach high school cross country and track) We often do the IOP Beach 5K. My son TJ ran his first 5K there at age 8 and placed first in the 12 & under. (Now a 9th grader, he is the top distance runner at Byrnes High School, and it all started at IOP.) We often bike at night from wherever we are staying to Ben & Jerry’s for ice cream, sometimes on the beach to get there. The fireworks on the July 4 – you can see them going off in every direction. We often enjoy family events like my Mom’s 80th birthday in 2009. We rented a house in Wild Dunes big enough for everyone. IOP is perfect for family celebrations. A few times we have done our own “in family” ghost walk, making up true ghost stories. And we always see the few alligators in Wild Dunes. What made you choose IOP over so many other locations to relax? Always so good. I truly have never had a complaint in any category. I/we have stayed on the tip of Wild Dunes, on the beach, on the marsh, on the Intracostal Waterway, across from the Boat House Restaurant, and numerous places in between. I have fully enjoyed every visit. [ Island Memories ]