Every time we visit Charleston, South Carolina I have to go to the beach. Summer, winter, sun, rain- I don’t care. I have to go.
I love going to Sullivan’s Island because it is close to my parent’s house and is smaller than Isle of Palms. The surf is calmer and its got a slower vibe than IOP. Also, there is a cool swinging bridge. If you need to get somewhere it can be inconvenient, but if you are on island time it is fun to see!


Normally we head to Station 26 where we lived when my family first moved to South Carolina. It is also where Patrick proposed to me.
This trip we parked at Station 18. Unlike most stations on Sullivan’s where you park on the side of the road, there were actually places to park- including handicapped parking. The Station 18 beach access point has a boardwalk. It was nice to be able to walk on solid ground instead of sand to get to the beach because soft sand is so exhausting to walk on. That said, the boardwalk was really LONG! It is probably a quarter mile long. Patrick ended up giving me a piggy back ride until we got to the sand.
It is a pretty walk through trees.


Toward the end you have to go uphill, but all the beach access points are like that on this island.

The Sullivan’s Island lighthouse is close by
Depending on the tide the water could be close up like it was this day, or rather far out. When it is low tide there are fun tidal pools to wade through. Often at low tide you can find sand dollars.




Station 18 is near the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse.

We spotted a tug boat pulling a ship.

The day was a bit grey and windy, but regardless of weather the beach will always be my happy place.