Well, Hilton Head Island never disappoints as a vacation destination for many folks. It is as close to experiencing Hawaii on the East Coast as any place I have ever visited. There is always something new and adventurous- and in this case, especially Daufuskie Island, just a short boat ride from the Lighthouse at Sea Pines Plantation. What a nice spot to take a walk after a meal and a few drinks along the sand, and then look across and what do you see? There is life there- even though it takes a barge to get goods and supplies over there. Pay the price and schedule a ride. It is well worth the $49 dollar round trip price to cross the waves and see real history.
From the oldest known African American Baptist church in America to the cemetery with Roger Pickney’s 2024 headstone decorated with liquor bottles, there is something for everyone. Pickney was rumored to have practiced voodoo on the island, along with being a historian and published author, who was raised in nearby Beaufort, South Carolina. Before taking the trip make sure to reserve a golf cart and secure a map. There are all kinds of small eating and drinking spots, as well as a General Store, a distillery, winery, and even a souvenir shop inside a single wide trailer, with a shower curtain inside as a dressing room. Be prepared for any kind of weather and take in the sights of what once was a thriving Inn and golf course, now in the process of being revived. Heck, venture over to the Melrose Plantation Restaurant and the owner there says he is “..living the life”. In fact, he heralds from Greenville, South Carolina and was part of the team that invented the beepers we all have used in restaurants. He reported that he made a small fortune on that venture years ago. The food at the Melrose place of his is good- but pricey- 22 dollars for a burger with chips, add five dollars for fries and two dollars for cheese. But- we must remember it is a quality burger and those foodies must be brought over via the barge.
The lady from Kentucky who co-owns the local distillery with her “retired” husband says that the island is a unique way of living- she reserves Mondays for riding the boat to Hilton Head and Beaufort for medical appointments and those grocery store, drug store and hardware runs. They keep a list of about one hundred folks (only a total of 500 reside there) and they all look out for each other. If someone needs something or had surgery a list goes out and meals come for the next two weeks. Regarding health issues, she said you just get by unless it is a heart attack or something serious- then a helicopter takes you on to Savannah, Georgia for help. Do not forget you do pay the ride. Besides, it may just be quicker than an ambulance on the coastal highways in Hilton Head itself.
A box of freshly made French fries or onion rings is another must have on the island. Visit the little white mill house and grab some- they only serve Thursdays through Sundays 11 to 3. Then there is the official alcoholic drink of the island, the Scrap Iron, which definitely has a kick to it. You can grab one at the local Old Daufuskie Crab Co. Restaurant, the infamous cocktail is a full-proof hangover cure and great for making memories, as I did with family.
Back in the 1950’s, some two thousand Gullah folks were said to have lived on the island and made a living from picking Oysters. The Savannah River was contaminated at that time and flowed into the oysters on Daufuskie. The Federal government had to close them down putting the island out of work and hence slowing growth and prosperity. And one of the most memorable facts about the island centers on author Pat Conroy, who once taught in the Mary Field School in the 1960’s. We visited this spot as well, as this setting was the basis for Conroy’s “The Water is Wide.” I can relate to Conroy’s teachings as a non-conventional professor, in working with students, and experiencing life.
So, take in the sights of the wildlife, the deer on the side of the road and the different squirrels which have tails as long as their bodies. Folks say there are monkeys and alligators roaming around too. Yes, add a visit to Daufuskie Island to your bucket lists now.
