Dock And Dine
Wishing you were in the boat passing under the Ben Sawyer Bridge, instead of smoldering in standstill traffic to the islands? Park the car, pull out the boat, anchors up and make an adventure of it. The Intracoastal Waterway makes for a stunning cruise along the Lowcountry coast, let SiP show you how to get from boat dock to bar deck along IOP Marina, Breach Inlet and Shem Creek. By Marci Shore Photos by Steve Rosamilia
Dock at Isle of Palms Marina
The Isle of Palms Marina is easily accessible by the Intracoastal Waterway, southwest of marker #116. The two spots in this location differ in offerings, but they’re both laid-back, welcoming island spots. The Dockside Deli inside of the IOP Marina Market is perfect for gourmet items to grab and go, or dine dockside. They’ve got classic deli sandwiches and burgers and salads, but if you’re there in the morning, you can’t go wrong with biscuits or a breakfast burrito. On the other hand, Morgan Creek Grill holds down the fort for bigger outings and sit-down meals. The can’t-miss restaurant has seafood and classic American fare for lunch and dinner, and an expansive bar and upper deck for boat watching and sunsets. Fruity cocktails are right at home with craft beers here and the frequent live music sets the tone for the evening. When arriving by boat, the restaurant’s dedicated dock is clearly marked — it’s between the Morgan Creek Grill and Goat Island.
Dock at Breach Inlet
Located between Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms, Breach Inlet’s sweet spot for a drink and a bite is e Boathouse. With a call to the sta‑ before (or upon) arrival, e Boathouse can let you dock there. ( ere are no time constraints for docking other than no overnight mooring.) e breezeway facing the water has small tables a charming aesthetic for relaxing with friends, while the deck at the restaurant’s top provides a place to catch the breeze with a beer. It’s one of our favorite places to watch the sun set over the water. Menu highlights include fresh catches — grilled, blackened, fried or roasted — as well as specialty cocktails.
Dock at Shem Creek Park
Mount Pleasant’s Shem Creek is a top destination for those who go by land as well as those who go by sea. Decades ago it was heavily populated by shrimp boats. And while shrimpers still make Shem Creek their home base, the channel is frequented by recreational paddlers who mingle with dolphins and manatees. Shem Creek is full of food and drink options, many of which have dedicated docks. If the private spaces in front of the restaurants are taken, try the public docks at Shem Creek Park. e Town of Mount Pleasant owns 250 linear feet of ‑ oat space toward the lower end of the creek. Docking here is rst come, rst served, with no overnight mooring allowed.
The newest kid on the creek is Saltwater Cowboys. With 60 feet of private dock space and weekend dock hands to help you tie up, saltwater life is the good life here. From its dock, you can easily access the Gazebo Bar, e Hideaway Bar and a dock dining area. e restaurant specializes in fresh local seafood (of course) and right-o -thesmoker BBQ. Try a signature frozen CreekWacker Cocktail.
Creek classic Vickery’s is a community standby, with sand and tiki torches at its lowerlevel Muddy’s Dock Bar and dining space framed by palm fronds upstairs. We love the Rum Chum cocktail and the Bourbon Butter Shrimp. While Vickery’s doesn’t have dedicated dock space, the picturesque boardwalk to and from Shem Creek Park provides plenty of opportunity to zen out and observe marsh life.