Tree Servicein Sullivan's Island, SC

Just a twenty minute drive from Charleston’s stoic steeples and stately single houses, Sullivan’s Island, with its storybook cottages and pristine beach, is the charmingly sun-bleached answer to the Holy City’s pomp and circumstance. Sullivan’s is also a secret locals are keen to keep. The small island measures only two and a half miles long, but the town punches well above its weight when it comes to natural beauty, historical significance, curb appeal, and places to eat, drink, and shop. Here are the best things to do on Sullivan’s Island.

The Best South Carolina Beaches For A Relaxing Lowcountry Getaway

Enjoy the Outdoors

With 2.5 miles of Atlantic Ocean-fronting shoreline, Sullivan’s Island’s main draw is its pristine shoreline, a wide sandy stretch prime for sandcastle-building and sunbathing. Called “Stations” as a nod to the trolley line that once ran in the area, the island’s wayfaring points also serve as easy meet-ups for beach access. Each station has its perks: If you want to stay close to the main drag of Middle Street, with all of its restaurants and shops, Stations 21, 22, and 22 ½ are your best bets; If you want to be a little farther from the action and close to the lighthouse, try Station 18 ½.

Connecting the Charleston Light (the iconic black-and-white lighthouse) to Fort Moultrie (the Revolutionary War-era fort that’s now a National Historic Park), this two-mile trail winds through the island’s maritime forest for a different perspective of the spot’s natural beauty.

Savor the Impressive (Especially for Its Size) Food Scene

The Lowcountry is shrimp country, and at this fish-camp-inspired restaurant, you’ll find the best local ones, pulled straight from nearby Shem Creek. Try them fried with garlic aioli or stirred into fried Carolina Gold rice with fresno chilis and XO sauce. If you’ve got a thirsty crew, wash it all down with the Big Fish Jug of Margs.

sullivansseafoodandbar.com; 2019 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

With a menu inspired by local, seasonal ingredients and surrounds informed by the area’s maritime culture, the self-proclaimed “eclectic Southern” restaurant isn’t dishing what you’d necessarily expect for beach-town fare. That’s due largely in part to its chef, two-time James Beard Award nominee Jacques Larson, whose menu includes house-made pastas and “Lowcountry frites,” polenta fries served with comeback sauce. Not in the mood to come off the beach for dinner? Pick up a wood-fired pizza for a sunset picnic on the sand.

theobstinatedaughter.com; 2063 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29483

(Editor’s note: As of January 24, 2025, The Obstinate Daughter is temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire.)

The sister restaurant to concepts first born in St. John and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Longboard celebrates seafood in its freshest, lightest forms, with dishes like poke bowls, ceviche, and sushi wraps. Don’t miss Oyster Happy Hour (weekdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.), with its rotating selection of the bivalves, served raw, grilled, dressed, or as shooters.

thelongboardsullivans.com; 2213-B Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

When you’ve tired of seafood, settle into this local favorite for a pulled pork sandwich or perfect smoked wings. Better yet, order “The Board” for your crew of beach bums; it’s a sampler of wings, sausage, ribs, pulled pork, and turkey, served with a trio of their memorable sides, like the mac & cheese or collard greens. Be sure to try their signature sipper, the Gamechanger, a frozen fruity concoction with two kinds of rum. They even sell the mix, should you want to make it at home.

hometeambbq.com; 2209 Middle St.; Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

So named for Edgar Allen Poe, the famed poet who was stationed on Sullivan’s Island with the U.S. Army in 1827 and 1828, the gastropub is the town’s destination for burgers and fish tacos. Roll off the beach in your cover-up and flip flops for lunch at one of the umbrella-shaded picnic tables out front.

poestavern.com; 2210 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

Shop Local Favorites

Rethink the kitschy airbrushed-tee-filled surf shops you’re accustomed to seeing in beach towns. Generally speaking, that’s not the vibe on Sullivan’s, but especially not at this thoughtfully curated boutique, where Vogue veteran and owner Katie Poole sells effortlessly stylish women’s clothing (think hand-blocked prints and flirty silhouettes) and accessories, along with some kids’ offerings.

bennieandcoco.com; 2213 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC, 29482

Forget the stuffy gallery experiences you’ve had in the past. At this spot on the island’s main drag, you can shop everything from paintings to ceramics. And given that the welcoming spot highlights pieces at a variety of prices, you’re sure to find a memorable keepsake of your time in the Lowcountry. And should you make a detour to Charleston, be sure to visit its downtown counterpart Dare Gallery, on Broad Street, which has a contemporary sculpture garden.

sandpipergallery.net; 2201 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC, 29482

Shop handmade jewelry by SCAD grad Ashley Reid Martin, along with other giftable finds, like natural beauty finds and hand-painted greeting cards, at this bright and airy outpost that’s positioned in the middle of all the action.

shopgoldbug.com; 2205-E Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

This special community gathering spot has a little something for everybody, peddling a wide-ranging collection of art and home and garden goods. Plus, they offer plant-potting services for the green-thumb-challenged and host creative events like sourdough workshops and Mahjong lessons.

makers-post.com; 2019 B. Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Discover the Area’s History

First settled in the late 17th century, Sullivan’s Island has its own Historic District that’s listed on the National Register. Stroll Middle Street, I’on Avenue, and Central Avenue between Stations 17 and 18 ½ to see private homes that once served as both military properties and residential dwellings and were built between 1870 (like the Dr. John B. Patrick House on Middle Street) through about 1950 (like the Fort Moultrie Chapel on Central Avenue, built in 1944). For true, stop-in-your-stroll cottage charm, make sure to walk past circa-1900 1808 I’On Avenue—a prime example of the architectural type. (Just don’t stare or linger for too long! It’s a private residence.)

Built in 1962 and officially called the Charleston Light, the black-and-white lighthouse that rises above the beach has become synonymous with the island—with most locals referring to it as the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse. While it’s not open to the public, you can read the explanatory markers on your way to the beach at Station 18 ½. It also makes for a great photo opp from the sand.

Still under construction as the Revolutionary War began, this coastal garrison (the island’s first) was notably built from palmetto logs and sand. Even so, the British advance was thwarted by the defensive efforts there, saving Charleston from a 1776 occupation (it eventually fell in 1780) and it was renamed for its victorious Commander William Moultrie. The original fell into disrepair, as did the second that was built in its place. Finally, a third brick iteration was completed in 1809. It served as a garrison for the Federal troops, and once they abandoned it, by the Confederacy. It was modernized in the 1870s and was used until World War II. Operated by the National Park Service, it’s worth a visit for anyone interested in military history, as it’s been restored to showcase its various functions from 1809 to 1947.

nps.gov; 1214 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Crews are set to begin the removal and relocation of historic palmetto trees, some at the center of a months-long dispute to preserve the famed fronds from being uprooted.

The town’s Director of Resilience and Natural Resource Management, Rebecca Fanning, reported to the town on Monday that crews would start working on Middle Street within the next month.

Originally, more than 500 trees were slated for removal, but 269 have been saved from being chopped after concerned residents banded together in opposition. 247 of the palmettos have been cut since because they posed a high-priority risk to overhead powerlines.

Fanning said because of how the tree roots can also impact underground utilities, it was determined only three of nine trees, which were proven to have historic significance, would be relocated.

Those three trees will be moved to another spot along the state’s right-of-way where they will be protected from future risks.

“These things are really tall, have these beautiful full heads of fronds, and they line the historic district of Middle Street, coming down the spine of Sullivans Island. Given the proximity to fiberoptic cables underground and given limitations of areas for transplanting, we really had to focus on a few candidates we knew would be successful projects,” Fanning said.

Every five years, Dominion Energy analyzes the Lowcountry, specifically the state’s right of way on Sullivan’s Island, for any trees that pose a risk to the safety or function of the surrounding utility sources. The path along Middle Street is one where many trees are being affected.

Palmettos cannot be pruned or trimmed, like other trees on the island, because of how they grow. They require removal to keep hazards out of the way.

The company met with the state Department of Transportation and town leaders after hearing feedback from concerned homeowners, many who wanted to protect the native plant. The group said it is continuing to workshop efforts to preserve as much as it can while considering the island’s functionality.

Fanning said without collaboration from the three municipal and governmental entities, it may not have been possible to save the trees they did.

“We realized we are not going to be able to relocate as many as we had hoped. But even so, the palmettos we plan to relocate here in the next month are extremely beautiful, statuesque examples of the native South Carolinian palmetto that’s on our state flag,” Fanning said.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — It’s a New Year’s tradition unlike any other.

Thousands of people across the country are preparing to usher in the new year with a quick (and we mean quick) dip into icy waters — including here along the South Carolina coast.

One of the first polar bear plunges dates back to the early 1900s when the L Street Brownies in Boston took the plunge into the icy cold Dorchester Bay in 1904. The club has been celebrating the new year with a plunge ever since, according to NationalToday.com.

While many take the dip for fun, some plunge into freezing waters to raise money for charity. It’s also believed the dips boost the immune system, activate endorphins, and reduce stress.

Ocean temperatures in Charleston Harbor are currently in the low to mid-50s. Partly cloudy skies are expected on Jan. 1 with temperatures in the mid-60s.

Whether you plan to join in the festivities yourself or just want to support those brave swimmers, dive into 2025 with these polar plunges around the Charleston area:

Dunleavy’s Pub has organized a polar plunge in support of the Special Olympics of South Carolina each year for the past three decades. The organization provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in myriad Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Participants will gather on the beach around 1:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day with the plunge to happen at 2 p.m.

The pub, located at 2213 Middle Street on Sullivan’s Island, will open at 9 a.m. for plungers to enjoy refreshments before the main event.

Splash into the new year dressed as one of Charleston resident Bill Murray’s iconic characters at the 11th annual Bill Murray Look-a-Like Polar Plunge on Folly Beach.

The plunge will take place beachside at the Tides Hotel (1 Center Street) at noon following an 11 a.m. costume contest. Prizes for Best Overall Bill Murray, Best Girl, Best Guy, and Best Team/Family Costume will be awarded.

The Kiawah Island Golf Resort will hold its annual polar plunge in front of the Sanctuary Hotel (1 Sanctuary Drive) at 11:45 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Towels will not be provided.