The sun is going down on Summer 2021 and the best place to catch the spectacular twilight colors is Sullivan’s Island. The deep blushes, periwinkle clouds, and pale blue all blur together like a watercolor palette in the sky.
The beautiful, quiet beach still seems untouched by the sprawling city of Charleston and her suburbian daughter, Mount Pleasant. Its iconic black and white lighthouse stares wistfully across the waves to its neighbor guarding Morris Island. Sullivan’s is also home to Fort Moultrie. During the Revolutionary War, a fort was built out of soft palmetto logs that defended the island by absorbing British cannon fire, instead of splintering from the blow. The palmetto fort would be the site for the later Fort Moultrie, and inspire South Carolina’s iconic palmetto flag.
Here’s my guide to celebrating the last days of summer at Sullivan’s Island:
Poe’s Tavern
For dinner, grab a burger named after one of your favorite macabre tales at Poe’s Tavern. Covered in posters, portraits, and various memorabilia in tribute to the great American poet, Poe’s is a unique (and delicious) place to dine and possibly discuss “The Gold Bug,” a story inspired by Poe’s time on the island. The atmosphere is unmatched and as for the food…there’s a good reason for the long line outside. Do I ever wonder where to stop for supper on the island? Nevermore!
BeardCat Sweet Shop
Walk off your dinner and stroll on over to BeardCat’s for dessert. The bright colors of the shop invite passersby inside, as if the siren call of hazelnut gelato wasn’t enough to lure a weary beach walker! Sample their scrumptious flavors and take a seat at the colorful tables, being sure to ponder the framed portrait of the mysterious seafarer with a cat nestled in his beard.
Walk the Beach
After some yummy gelato, it’s best to hit the beach. Wander out past the tall seagrass and take off your shoes to feel the sand between your toes. As you saunder out onto the sand, over the horizon is a unique view of Charleston. From here you can see the blazing sunset over Morris Island Lighthouse at Folly Beach, a lonely tower that’s no longer accessible by foot, its glow long replaced by the Sullivan’s Island light. To your right, the steeples of the Holy City skyline stretch up into the heavens, like hands raised in worship. Further over, the lights on the USS Yorktown sparkle at Patriots Point, basking in the beauty of the Ravenel Bridge.
I feel like this summer went by like an amusement park ride. I’ve climbed some steep hills, the kind of hills where anticipation builds up in your bones, the kind of hills where you wanna-but-can’t look down, the kind of hills where you look down anyway and the sheer height shocks and, in a strange way, delights you. I’ve taken some swift falls, wild, stomach-snatching drops where you lift from your seat and know that the safety bar is the only thing holding you from flying. Sharp turns that take your body along but leave your head reeling from the snap. And by the time I’m ready for the next corkscrew, the harsh brakes kick in and my head smacks the back of the seat from the sudden stop. Shaken, I gather my things and leave the ride, exiting summer into fall.
Rachel Brei 