south carolina coastal weather

our climate is very mild with temps averaging in the 50’s throughout february. averages are just that and we have plenty of days that hit 70 degrees or even warmer throughout our entire winter season. if i get my way and we get the same temps as last year, we will have a nice mix of sweater weather & warmer days during our retreat so you can enjoy the best of both worlds, as I do on the regular. it’s 100% standard ‘round these parts to need a sweater one day and only short sleeves the next! you’ll want to check the forecast before you pack. our lowcountry weather is categorized as subtropical but we genuinely have to check the weather every morning because 30 degree temperature shifts in one direction or the other are the norm. bottom line, you definitely don’t need to pack for severe cold temps, but you’ll want to have layers that you can shed throughout the day and put back on as the sun goes down.

traveling to the charleston area

guests will be provided with the retreat address a few weeks before check in. This is to protect the privacy of everyone attending, just in case there are any last minute registration transfers. however, isle of palms (iop) is small and you can easily use the city center when planning. overall, your total travel time will only shift by a few minutes once you receive the address whether you’re looking at a drive from the airport or your home.

airport options

for those flying in, the closest airport is charleston international airport (cha). cha is a small, easy to navigate airport that i’ve flown in and out myself, as sometimes it beats my own airport for pricing and options. it is just 21 miles away from iop and getting to the house should take somewhere between 30-45 minutes depending on the traffic and time of day. if you are able to arrive close to our 3pm check-in, you shouldn’t be dealing with the worst of the traffic.

alternate airports include my homebase airport in columbia (cae) which is just shy of 2 hours away & augusta (ags) at approximately 3 hours out. if you are willing to drive a bit further for a direct flight or better pricing, the larger airport in range is charlotte (clt) which will likely be a drive of around 3.5 hours.

arrival

as I’ve mentioned on other pages, the house will be fully stocked with snacks, water & non-alcoholic beverages before check in, but if you wish to stop for alcoholic beverages or anything else on your way in, you’ll drive by several opportunities. if your arrival is significantly earlier than check-in, definitely go check out downtown charleston! i could lead a month long retreat just walking around downtown so you won’t run out of fun things to do there. if you prefer to make your way to iop right off the bat, the island has a great planning page as well: view it here. visit a spa, go shopping or check out the pier! there are plenty of options to spend your time prior to check-in.