Edisto Island
Edisto Island, South Carolina resembles a small southern town in every respect. Edisto has restaurants owned by locals, a state park, expansive marshlands, lots of mossy live oaks and dirt roads not far from the “business district.” The conspicuous absence of McDonalds and Blockbuster seem almost deliberate. I kept wondering how this virgin town would look in 10 years. For those who might get bored with a beach town that rebels against commercialism, be aware that Edisto Island is only about 50 minutes away from Charleston where there is plenty to do.
Edisto Beach is quiet, at least during the off season when we visited. It’s not uncommon to see dolphins bobbing about as close as 100 feet from the shore. The beach is full of pelicans, sea gulls and those little birds that look like they are running fast but aren’t. Colorful butterflies fill the air. Sea shells are more plentiful than on any beach I’ve ever seen. Walking along Edisto Beach without sandals is not for the tender footed.
“Honey did you pack my minoxidil?” I asked.
“Seems I mistook it for the contact solution.” Suzana answered.
“We can get some at the Piggly Wiggly.”
The Old Post Office is out from town a bit on Highway 174 at Store Creek. The address given on the menu is P.O Box 208. Don’t bring your letters and post cards because the Old Post Office is actually Edisto’s most upscale restaurant (at least that’s what I gathered by the ooh ah from the lady at the visitors’ center). In the old days, it was an actual post office and general store where locals liked to hang out. It was reopened as The Old Post Office in 1988 by local Edistonians and maintains the theme in its décor quite well. The Old Post Office is said to be the restaurant that popularized grits in upscale dining. The restaurant features a blend of southern and seafood cuisine and service below expectations. The food is truly delicious and meals are priced in the $20 - $30 range.
We decided to rent some bikes and tour the island bike trails. We drove over
to Island Bikes and Outfitters on Jungle Road in Edisto Beach only to find out
that they would actually deliver a bike to your doorstep. Island Bikes and
Outfitters also rents kayaks and boats. If you feel the need to purchase some
fish bait or jewelry, well, they’ve got you covered there too.
The dog lying in the middle of the floor of the Cozy Corner coffee shop exemplified the idea of cozy, but looked like he could use a little caffeine to rouse him from his hypnagogic stupor. The Cozy Corner featured books, flavored coffee, wireless Internet and free Bibles which I fantasized were modern translations and not the King James Versions left by the Gideons. Owned and operated by a friendly mid to late aged couple, the Cozy Corner was literally a mom and pop operation.
“Why don’t we start a Starbucks franchise here!” We said to each other as we walked out. That thought kind of fizzled out after reflecting on what that would do to the friendly old couple, not to mention a place like Edisto Island itself.
Piggly Wiggly supermarkets have dominated the small town southern food industry since eggs first began being sold by the dozen and were pushed around in shopping buggies only to crack and spill on TV Guide magazines. This “Pig” was dirty but had just about anything you’d want from a Kroger or Publix. My fear was that the purchasing manager may have had a full head of hair and perhaps not placed a very high importance on stocking minoxidil. I was right. It should have been next to the lice remover solution.
“Is there a pharmacy near Edisto?” The cashier didn’t answer. I walked outside.
“Is there a pharmacy near here?” I asked a lady with a red Piggly Wiggly shirt on.
“Nearest one’s in Hollywood.” She said.
I found absolutely no need for hair at Edisto Island.