Could you imagine going through life every day with near-debilitating, chronic back pain? Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America - it's estimated that 8% of all adults, or 16 million people, suffer from chronic back pain in the U.S. every year. If you've never experienced a back injury or pain, be thankful. Chronic back pain affects every aspect of a person's life, from participating in sports to limitations with everyday activities, like cooking dinner. In fact, many people with chronic back pain can't even make a reliable living and put food on the table. Almost 83 million workdays are lost every year due to chronic back pain.
The inability to work and provide isn't just a physical issue - it can become an emotional one too. Many people suffering from chronic back pain also suffer from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, in the past, chronic back pain sufferers wanting to avoid addictive medications and invasive surgeries had few viable relief options. However, if you're suffering from a chronic back issue like sciatica, a pinched nerve, or a bulging disc, pain relief may be closer than you think.
Modern chiropractic care and, more specifically, a spinal decompression chiropractor in Isle of Palms, SC, may be the long-term solution you need for chronic back pain.
A common misconception is that chiropractors only adjust your back and neck when, in fact, they treat the whole body with all-natural treatments. Here at Elite Healthcare, our doctors focus on your overall health, not just pain. We want to find and address the underlying causes of your symptoms. If you're unfamiliar with an integrative approach to medicine, this strategy may seem new. Our chiropractic care is less about putting a band-aid on the problem and more about finding a natural, long-term solution to your pain.
Fortunately, our experienced chiropractors provide the best in natural pain relief. Prescription and over-the-counter pain medications mask the symptoms you're experiencing versus getting to the cause of your pain. Pain is often the result of your spine being out of alignment, which leads to nerve issues. Once your spine is back in alignment, the nerves function correctly again.
Because our chiropractic center offers a combination of different therapies and non-surgical treatments, we provide a comprehensive approach to healing. Depending on the extent of your back problems, spinal decompression therapy may be the answer to your chronic pain problems.
Initially developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer, spinal decompression has been used by chiropractors for years. Unfortunately, spinal decompression is often passed over as a viable treatment, despite its numerous benefits.
In the past, patients suffering from chronic back pain issues like herniated discs were usually prescribed powerful medications. They were instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred to a physical therapist, and sent on their way. While physical therapy has an important role in back pain recovery, some back conditions need a more comprehensive treatment approach. For those patients, surgery seemed like the only option.
Today, patients with chronic back pain have many more options to consider. One of the most effective treatments for serious back pain is spinal decompression. This proven therapy, provided by Elite Healthcare, has been shown to significantly reduce pain and help patients live a normal, even active lifestyle once again.
Spinal decompression, also called Lumbar Cervical Decompression Therapy (LCD Therapy), is a very effective non-surgical solution to chronic back pain problems. If you're like most patients, your back pain is caused by disc issues related to your spine. This type of therapy uses computer technology and a spinal decompression machine in Isle of Palms, SC, to stretch your spinal column slowly and gently, relieving abnormal pressure on the discs in your back, which sit in between your vertebrae.
This precise stretching action causes negative pressure to form inside the discs in your back, making them retract. With time, this negative pressure causes a reverse vacuum of sorts that actually draws your protruding discs into place. When pressure is removed from the disc segments in your spine, you experience much-needed pain relief.
The primary purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to provide you with immediate pain relief while creating a healthy environment to heal your spinal disc condition. Some of the most common conditions that spinal decompression therapy treats include:
This happens when spinal discs in your back are pushed outside of the spinal canal. When pushed outside of their usual space, these discs can put pressure on the nerves in your spine, resulting in localized pain and pain throughout your body. If a bulging disc is left untreated, it has a high chance of rupturing, which can necessitate surgery and longer recovery time.
Herniated discs are discs in your back that fracture or crack and leak fluid. The fluid or gel that leaks from a herniated disc may irritate the nerves in your back. When this happens, you may experience an intense burning sensation that shoots up and down your lower back and legs.
As you grow older, joints in your body, like your knees and hips, begin to wear away with time. The same thing can happen to the discs in your back. Often caused by heavy lifting or a family history of spine problems, degenerative discs are painful and can lead to serious situations. In advanced cases, bone spurs can form and affect the nerves of your spine.
When a herniated disc or bone spur begins to put pressure on the nerves in your back, it often causes sciatica. Sciatica is a common back problem that causes pain to radiate from your lower back down your legs via your sciatic nerve. Sometimes, this pain is only felt in one of your legs.
This condition is similar to arthritis of your spine, where the cartilage inside your facet joint breaks down and becomes inflamed. The result is often intense neck and back pain. It's most often caused by degenerative changes in the joints located between the bones of your spine.
This painful condition manifests when the space in your backbone is too small. When this happens, pressure impacts your spinal cord and the nerves that travel through it. Like other conditions treated by a spinal decompression therapy in Isle of Palms, SC, stenosis is caused by wear-and-tear in your back, which forms arthritis.
This term is often used to classify a range of back problems, most often caused by a pinched nerve root in your spinal column. This pinched nerve root may occur in different locations down your spine, like the lumbar or thoracic areas. Usually caused by a narrowing of the space where your nerve root leaves the spine, symptoms of this condition include pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
If you're looking for a safe way to relieve your chronic back pain, spinal decompression should be on your list of treatments to consider. This painless procedure is backed by research showing higher success rates in many patients when compared to spinal surgery. Unlike many medications, spinal decompression from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is designed to correct the condition you're facing while also minimizing costs and eliminating recovery and downtime.
Some of the most popular reasons why patients choose spinal decompression over surgery and other treatments include:
Invasive procedures, like back surgeries, often leave the patient racked with pain, long recovery times, and complications. Sometimes, the surgery doesn't work as intended, leaving the patient responsible for a therapy that didn't work correctly. As a non-invasive treatment, spinal decompression therapy can treat back and neck pain without needles, incisions, or harmful manipulations of the spine.
Getting back pain relief from surgery is far from guaranteed. However, because spinal decompression targets the underlying causes of your back pain, it's a much more effective long-term treatment. Spinal decompression is not a quick fix. When coupled with positive lifestyle changes like losing weight, you can maximize the pain-relieving benefits of spinal decompression.
Surgery of the back and spine requires the patient to be bedridden and uncomfortable for days and even weeks. Recovering from back surgery is no easy feat and often requires strong pain medications to help. Sometimes, back surgeries don't go as planned, causing complications and worse scenarios. Spinal decompression, on the other hand, is very effective and doesn't require much recovery time at all. Once your spinal decompression session is over, you'll probably be able to drive yourself home from our office.
One of the least talked about issues with back pain medications is that they only treat the pain, not the underlying causes. For many patients, relying on meds to relieve back pain fosters dependency on pain pills. Pain pill addiction is a very serious issue in the U.S., often leading patients down a dark path. With spinal decompression, you won't have to worry about taking pills for pain relief. That's because the root causes of your back pain are addressed, not just the symptoms.
If you were to look at the cost of surgery and subsequent years of prescription medication, you might be shocked. When compared to spinal decompression, surgery is a much more expensive treatment to consider. You've got to take the cost of surgery into account, but also the fact that you'll be forced to take time off work. By choosing spinal decompression therapy, you're choosing a safe, non-surgical treatment that doesn't require any time off work.
Spinal decompression relieves pressure on disrupted discs, causing them to retract back into place. This revolutionary treatment also lets oxygen, fluids, and nutrients re-enter your spinal discs, which provides additional healing.
By now, you probably have a better idea of how spinal decompression can help rid your life of back pain. But spinal decompression treatment does more than help with bulging discs, herniated discs, arthritis, and more. It has also been shown to provide patients with important quality-of-life benefits.
As mentioned above, harsh surgeries leave you bedridden and unable to work for long periods of time. Spinal decompression allows you to jump right back into the workforce, so you can continue providing for your family. Plus, reducing your back pain naturally increases your mobility since you won't be stressing about hurting yourself while moving. Instead, you'll be living in the moment.
One of the worst symptoms affecting people with back pain is the inability to sleep well. Sleeping with back pain can be horrible, causing you to toss and turn to find a comfortable spot. As soon as you find one and get settled, your back starts to hurt again. It's a vicious cycle, but adjusting your spine and relieving pressure with spinal decompression will help you get a good night's rest.
Did you know that when your spine is decompressed, it helps fluids circulate throughout your body? These fluids actually flush your lymphatic system, which helps support your overall immune system. Better circulation also benefits your brain and can help boost concentration and memory. The improved circulation from spinal decompression may also distribute oxygen and nutrients to your skin, creating a multi-benefit effect.
Our team at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is always happy to answer any questions you may have about Spinal Decompression Therapy. Give us a call today - it would be our pleasure to get to know you better!
Struggling with ED/Erectile Dysfunction that won't improve?
At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we practice an integrated approach to pain relief and chiropractic care. Our goal is to restore your spine to its proper alignment, which speeds up your recovery time and prevents additional injuries. If chronic back pain has taken over your life, it's time to visit our chiropractic office for a thorough evaluation.
Ask yourself this: Have you been suffering from headaches and sleepless nights due to muscle strain? Is your ability to work and put food on the table compromised due to a pinched nerve? No amount of over-the-counter pain medication can provide a long-term fix for such an issue. Thankfully, our chiropractors have years of experience providing relief to patients just like yourself.
After a comprehensive exam, our doctor will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your body. That way, we can address the full scope of your symptoms by correcting any root causes of your back pain.
From minor chiropractic adjustments to spinal decompression treatment, we'll find the solution that your back and body need to heal correctly. If you're ready to get back on the road to better health, we're here to help every step of the way. Contact our Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to get started.
COLUMBIA —The first day of testimony in the trial involving a retaining wall constructed on the Isle of Palms showcased the staunch determination with which Rom Reddy is prepared to fight the state's environmental agency to protect what he argues are his property rights.The May 6 hearing before Administrative Law Chief Justice Ralph Anderson revealed a battle that started as a property owner se...
COLUMBIA —The first day of testimony in the trial involving a retaining wall constructed on the Isle of Palms showcased the staunch determination with which Rom Reddy is prepared to fight the state's environmental agency to protect what he argues are his property rights.
The May 6 hearing before Administrative Law Chief Justice Ralph Anderson revealed a battle that started as a property owner seeking protections against rising tides, but has quickly turned into a self-described battle against the "police powers of the state," as Reddy said in his opening statement.
Wearing a black suit with a red tie, Reddy represented himself against the state Department of Environmental Services' counsel after firing his team of lawyers a week before the hearings were to begin. During the first day of the trial, he often took aim at the agency by referring to its representatives as "unelected bureaucrats."
"This is a hoax," Reddy said to a small courtroom in the Edgar A. Brown Building on Pendleton Street in Columbia.
Sallie Phelan, an attorney for DES, argued that the homeowners continued work on the structure, made mostly of concrete and reinforced with metal brackets, despite three cease-and-desist directives sent by the agency.
"We're here today about a total disregard of the law and a total disregard of the department's authority to regulate the coast and the beaches critical area," Phelan said.
DES attorneys are asking Anderson to uphold the validity of the penalties levied against the couple last July, reaffirm their jurisdiction over South Carolina beaches, and order the removal of the wall.
Reddy and his wife Renee, who appeared next to him in court, are defending the 150-foot wall they constructed between their home on Ocean Boulevard and the ocean in 2023.
The hearings will include testimony over three days from a slate of witnesses, including current and former DES employees, a coastal engineering expert and an Isle of Palms resident.
Matt Slagel, a former beachfront management section manager for DES who responsible for reviewing applications within the state's beachfront jurisdiction was the first witness called to the stand.
In his testimony, he described a tenuous line of communication with the Reddys. The couple requested an emergency permit for sand scraping to repair dunes eroded in May 2023. Slagel said he denied the request, but told the Reddys they could stabilize the eroded area with sand fencing or vegetation.
Later, the agency learned of plans to place clay in the critical area of the beach. Slagel said he met with the Reddys and their contractor in June 2023 to discuss other ways to stabilize the area that avoided placing non-compatible materials in the beach.
At that time, Slagel said the clay had already been buried, which the agency did not learn until the discovery process for the trial began.
He testified that he didn't realize that a retaining wall was buried under the sand until December 2023. The wall was exposed following an unexpected nor'easter that month.
Photos presented in court showed the exposed wall reinforced with wood and metal brackets, and cracks filled with yellow foam.
"Following the nor'easter, (the wall) had started to tilt towards the beach. It was becoming undermined. It was starting to break apart at the seams," Slagel said.
Dark, wet sand in front of the wall meant it had been exposed to waves and water, Slagel said.
He said this meant the wall was situated in a critical area of the beach where wave action prevents plants from growing, or periodic inundation. Building and construction in this area is limited and often requires a permit from DES.
Reddy argued that the agency used deficient data to justify what is considered "periodic," referring to a storm damage survey Slagel conducted in December 2023 to document erosion from the nor'easter.
Reddy and counsel for DES spent much of the the first day of hearings questioning Slagel. Around 5:30 p.m., Jacques Prevost, a compliance manager for the agency who attended site visits and conducted inspections at the Reddys' property since 2023, was called to testify.
Reddy is also arguing that the agency's actions—penalizing the homeowners $289,000 and attempting to stop the construction of the wall—amounts to a taking of private property.
He referenced David Lucas, an Isle of Palms property owner, who in the 1990s, challenged the state's beachfront management laws.
Lucas purchased two properties on the island in 1986 with plans to build homes on the lots. The South Carolina Beachfront Management Act was enacted two years later and the state's Coastal Council, a predecessor to DES, told him he was not allowed to build.
He was successful in his challenge that ultimately reached the Supreme Court in 1992. Lucas has since become a vocal supporter of the Reddys in this case.
However, the takings claim is not one that can be tried in the state's administrative law court, Judge Anderson told Reddy when the hearing began. The ALC hears cases that are statutory in nature, and can review and enforce administrative orders issued by regulatory agencies.
A judge has ruled against two Isle of Palms property owners who challenged the state’s authority to stop construction of seawalls that worsen erosion of the public beach.In an unexpectedly strong opinion that supports the state’s 37-year-old beach protection law, Judge Ralph King Anderson III said South Carolina has authority over all areas of the sandy beach, despite arguments by the property owners that it does not.The preliminary ruling is not the final word on the issue, but it gives an idea of how he interprets...
A judge has ruled against two Isle of Palms property owners who challenged the state’s authority to stop construction of seawalls that worsen erosion of the public beach.
In an unexpectedly strong opinion that supports the state’s 37-year-old beach protection law, Judge Ralph King Anderson III said South Carolina has authority over all areas of the sandy beach, despite arguments by the property owners that it does not.
The preliminary ruling is not the final word on the issue, but it gives an idea of how he interprets the coastal law as his court prepares to hear the property owners’ full legal challenge over seawall construction next week.
Landowners Rom and Renee Reddy, who live on the beach at the lower end of the Isle of Palms, have challenged a $289,000 state fine over construction of a seawall they built along the shore in 2023.
The Reddys contend that it was their right to build the structure, which protected their home from the ocean, because the part of the beach where the wall was constructed is not within state jurisdiction. They also claim the state’s action against them amounts to taking their private property.
But Anderson’s ruling said the state has jurisdiction over that part of the beach, noting that the Department of Environmental Services “had the authority to impose the administrative order against’’ the Reddys. His ruling denied the Reddy’s request to overturn the fine before the full trial was held. .
Leslie Lenhardt, a lawyer involved in the case on behalf of environmentalists, cheered Anderson’s April 24 ruling.
“It’s an extremely positive ruling in that Judge Anderson made a legal conclusion that DES has jurisdiction,’’ she said. “That’s a real affirmation – and that’s great news.’’
The Reddy’s trial is scheduled to start Tuesday, May 6 at the Administrative Law Court in Columbia. Lenhardt pointed out that the case still must go to trial and the outcome of the DES enforcement case is not settled.
Rom Reddy, a wealthy owner of small newspapers and outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, said he doesn’t think he’ll win his case when the trial is concluded in the administrative law court. But Reddy said he’s prepared to appeal any unfavorable decision to the state Supreme Court. He said he is planning a federal lawsuit and expects his legal case will eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Reddys have the support of David Lucas, a coastal property owner who won a similar legal case more than 30 years ago.
“This is not justice but tyranny,’’ Reddy said in a text to The State newspaper. “Ultimately, this is a question of whether a government can confiscate a citizen’s land in the name of environmental protection with no compensation.’’
Reddy expressed his displeasure with the administrative law court system, in which judges rule on disputed environmental cases. He said he deserves a jury trial, not “a trial by a judge who is part of the unelected agency state that accused and convicted me of wrongdoing with no due process.’’
Anderson has a reputation as a judge sympathetic to property rights who often rules against conservation and citizens’ groups seeking to stop state approval of environmental permits. That’s why the strong wording in his decision surprised conservationists and others who are following the case.
Department of Environmental Services officials have said little publicly about the case, but maintain in court documents their actions were legal under South Carolina law.
Reddy is so upset about the state’s dealings with him that he started a political action committee that favors cutting regulations and slashing the government workforce, as the Trump administration is doing at the federal level. He also has spoken against the confirmation of Myra Reece, the DES interim director whose agency fined him $289,000 and ordered the seawall to be removed.
According to court documents, the Reddys hired a contractor about two years ago to fill in 1,255 square feet of beach and build a hard erosion control structure, a government term referring to a seawall or bulkhead.
The structure was built after state officials learned of the Reddys’ plans and warned them not to move forward, a state enforcement document shows.
New seawalls on jurisdictional areas of the beach have been illegal since 1988. Reddy told South Carolina regulators he was trying to repair his yard from damage that occurred from a lack of protective dunes near the ocean.
The issue, which has sparked debate in the state Legislature, centers on sections of the seashore that fall outside of building restriction lines established decades ago to keep construction back from the oceanfront.
Enacted through a landmark 1988 law, the lines are intended to make sure new buildings and seawalls are not constructed so close to the ocean that they are hit by waves that worsen erosion of the public beach and damage seaside properties.
Now, parts of the state’s beaches have shifted inland of the building restriction lines, exposing sandy areas of seashore. The Reddys and their supporters say the state doesn’t have authority in the areas outside the restrictive lines. They note that the Legislature has made changes to the law in recent years.
The state’s argument boils down to this: Regardless of the location of the building restriction lines – known as setbacks and baselines – any area that becomes part of the sandy beach falls within state oversight as a result of South Carolina’s 1988 law.
Anderson’s ruling backed that argument. He said beaches include all seaside lands where the ocean regularly washes. Those are sandy areas where most vegetation cannot survive because salt water is toxic to many plants.
Anderson wrote that DES “undeniably has jurisdiction ... even if such lands fall landward of the setback line.’’
Lenhardt said the ruling is encouraging because Reddy’s legal case threatened the state’s long-standing beach protection law. The law allows for state jurisdiction of all sandy beach areas, not just those on the oceanside of building restriction lines, she said.
That’s important because beaches are eroding as sea level rise continues. The emergence of sandy beach areas landward of the building restriction lines demonstrates that shorelines are subject to change and property owners need to be aware of that, she said.
“With all this erosion from climate change and sea level rise, there is more and more often critical area (in state jurisdiction) landward of the setback line,’’ Lenhardt said.
In 1992, I stood before the U.S. Supreme Court as the petitioner in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, a landmark property rights case that continues to reverberate through constitutional law. That case was not just about a piece of beachfront property. It was about whether the government can strip a citizen of the use and value of their land without just compensation. We won — then. But in the three decades since, the spirit of Lucas has been steadily eroded by bureaucratic encroachment and judicial indifference. As Justice Clar...
In 1992, I stood before the U.S. Supreme Court as the petitioner in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, a landmark property rights case that continues to reverberate through constitutional law. That case was not just about a piece of beachfront property. It was about whether the government can strip a citizen of the use and value of their land without just compensation. We won — then. But in the three decades since, the spirit of Lucas has been steadily eroded by bureaucratic encroachment and judicial indifference. As Justice Clarence Thomas recently noted, the promise of Lucas has “dimmed beneath the weight of regulatory workaround and legal hesitation.”
Today, I find myself once again drawn into the fight — not out of nostalgia, but obligation. Rom Reddy, a South Carolina citizen and entrepreneur currently embroiled in a property rights battle on the Isle of Palms, represents what I once was: a man compelled to take a stand in opposition to a system stacked against the individual. Through his efforts, the DOGE SC initiative has emerged as a grassroots movement demanding accountability, transparency and a return to limited government. It is my honor to endorse this movement and join Rom in bearing the torch.
This is not about the wealthy protecting their own. It is about those with means helping to protect everyone else. The average citizen can’t afford to fight endless court battles or navigate layers of bureaucracy, unelected boards and commissions. But when individuals of means and experience rise, not solely in pursuit of profit but in defense of constitutional principle, we are called to listen and to act.
Property rights are just the tip of the iceberg. Every aspect of South Carolinians’ lives is impacted by government overreach. This is not freedom, but a slow drift into total tyranny. The time to reverse course is now.
DOGE SC is not merely a proposition; it is a necessity. South Carolina can once again lead the nation in defense of constitutional liberty.
Respectfully submitted,
David Henry Lucas
Petitioner, Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council
Advocate for individual Constitutional Rights
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.We asked our readers to vote for their favorite spots for fresh catch and local shrimp in the Palmetto State—here are their picks.When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in South Carolina, find the nearest seafood dive and tuck into a platter of fried sh...
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We asked our readers to vote for their favorite spots for fresh catch and local shrimp in the Palmetto State—here are their picks.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in South Carolina, find the nearest seafood dive and tuck into a platter of fried shrimp—preferably one served with an ice-cold beer and an unobstructed view of the water. While you can take to Google or a guidebook to determine where to go for steamed oysters or shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry, we decided to consult the folks who care about good Southern seafood as much as we do: our readers.
When you’ve been around for more than 75 years, you’re bound to be doing something right. At this beloved institution in the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, try not to load up on the hot hush puppies they bring to the table on arrival—though it's awfully tempting. There's still so much more to savor, like the hand-peeled, cold-boiled shrimp pulled from the waters of nearby McClellanville or the thin and crispy onion rings—Lee’s is as famous for those as it is for the seafood.
Order: The Shrimp Salad ($28.95), made with boiled fantail shrimp and Duke's mayo, is another house specialty.
4460 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; leesinletkitchen.com
It doesn’t get much fresher than this Hilton Head Island mainstay, where 90% of the seafood served comes directly from the surrounding waters. Because of its enviable position on the edge of Port Royal Sound, guests can watch a local fishing fleet (one of only two on the island) unload the day’s loot, which could include anything from white shrimp to soft-shell crab.
Order: From September through April, opt for the steamed local cluster oysters in the shell ($12 for a half bucket); the restaurant farms and harvests them.
1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29926; hudsonsonthedocks.com
Should you find yourself in the Holy City, make the worthwhile dirt-road detour to this family-owned restaurant that’s been a rambling fixture along Folly Creek since 1946. With its graffitied walls and worn-in wood floors, it doesn’t beg for attention, and it doesn’t need to. Deemed an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, the Lowcountry seafood joint shovels fresh-steamed oysters onto trays September through the first half of May and dishes fried shrimp and hush puppies year-round. It’s all delicious—and it's made even more so if you snag a seat on the waterside deck.
Order: The shrimp (served boiled or fried) and fried fish platter is served with the seafood-dive-side-dish trifecta: french fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw.
1870 Bowens Island Road, Charleston, SC 29412; bowensisland.com
Situated on the main drag of the freewheeling beach town just 12 miles from buttoned-up Charleston, The Crab Shack is as family-friendly and flip-flop casual as its surrounds. Start with the the she-crab soup, but save room: The value seafood baskets—which you can order with flounder, shrimp, or scallops (or a combination of all three)—are generously portioned. Catch them at another location in Charleston as well.
Order: The marquee offering, The Charleston Steamed Seafood Bucket, includes two snow crab clusters, large domestic shrimp, and steamed oysters (market price).
26 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439 and 8486 Dorchester Rd, Charleston, SC 29420; crabshacks.com
Housed in a reimagined garage on Upper King Street, the Brooks Reitz-helmed restaurant turned 10 in 2024, but it’s been a neighborhood favorite from the start, thanks to a menu of mouthwatering fried chicken, expectedly fresh oysters, and surprisingly craveable salads. Add to the clever mix soft-serve ice cream and buckets of Miller High Life ponies, and you’ve found yourself one of the best meals in this restaurant-proud town.
Order: Even the bivalve-averse crowd may develop a taste for oysters after sampling Leon's char-grilled take, which swim in a melty swirl of lemon and butter and are topped with a generous sprinkle of parmesan. The "old-school" scalloped potatoes are also not to be missed.
698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403; leonsoystershop.com
Don’t let inevitable line out the door during summertime scare you off. This treasured counter-service spot with just 40 seats is an area favorite thanks to its wide array of offerings, from conch fritters to flounder sandwiches. It’s all made to order and to your liking—fried, grilled, or blackened. Wash it down with a glass of what they declare to be the best sweet tea on the island, and finish with a slice of strawberry Key Lime pie (when it’s seasonally available) or a cup of banana pudding.
Order: Hearty appetites should try the Shack Attack Combo ($17.95 for lunch, $19.95 for dinner), which combines a crab cake, fish, shrimp, scallops, and oysters on a giant paper platter. Homemade tartar sauce is the traditional accompaniment, but we think the brandy-infused gator sauce makes an even better platter slather.
6B Executive Park Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; seashackhhi.com
With its lofted ceilings, lacquered-wood booths, and commitment to retro branding, this Sullivan’s Island joint feels like it’s been there forever. In reality, it’s a newcomer—a spring 2022 top-to-bottom overhaul of a restaurant that had called the same spot home for 30 years. And while the nostalgically striped, umbrella-shaded patio is painfully charming, the takeaway window makes a strong case for a to-go lobster roll savored on the beach just a few blocks away.
Order: The shrimp fried rice ($24) puts a fresh coastal twist on a takeout mainstay. We also love the Key lime pie.
2019 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482; sullivansfishcamp.com
So named for the trawler that was tossed ashore on the same spot during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, this dinner-only, no-reservations establishment on Shem Creek shrugs off formalities in favor of its dynamite views and deliciously simple seafood. The best seat in the house belongs to the wooden dockside bar, where sunset views and local craft beers are just an arm’s length away.
Order: Complete with red rice, coleslaw, a hush puppy, and a fried hominy square, the shrimp platter (from $17.95) is a true taste of the Lowcountry. The deviled crab is also worth a try.
106 Haddrell Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464; wreckrc.com
This family-owned lunch spot has been an island institution since it first opened its doors in 1978, and its magic belongs to its simplicity. They're only open for lunch, and you order through a carry-out window—though you don't have to take your food home. Snag one of the picnic tables on the porch for an especially satisfying alfresco dining experience.
Order: Given the restaurant's name, it's obvious you can't go wrong with shrimp here, but the shrimp burger ($9.30), served on a bun with tartar sauce and mayo, is a true crowd favorite.
1929 Sea Island Parkway, Saint Helena Island, SC 29920; facebook.com/shrimpshacksc
There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu at this landmark Grand Strand restaurant and seafood market owned by a fisherman father and his culinary school-trained daughter. Choose a South Carolina classic, like the Lowcountry boil, or make the most of the raw bar and order a sushi roll or two. Stretch mealtime into a full-fledged Mr. Fish experience by reserving a ride to and from dinner in the Mr. Fishmobile, a bright blue school bus that hits all the nostalgic high notes.
Order: The seafood tacos ($15) are made with your choice of mahi, tuna, or shrimp and are topped with chipotle-lime sauce.
6307 North Kings Highway, Suite B, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572; mrfish.com
If you want to enjoy sand and surf this summer in South Carolina, you don’t have to travel far.That’s because the state is home to two of the nation’s top summer travel destinations, according to the latest Tripadvisor 2025 Summer Travel Index.Isle of Palms was identified as the second-fastest growing domestic destination for travelers, while Myrtle Beach was named the third-most popular domestic destination.The travel website ...
If you want to enjoy sand and surf this summer in South Carolina, you don’t have to travel far.
That’s because the state is home to two of the nation’s top summer travel destinations, according to the latest Tripadvisor 2025 Summer Travel Index.
Isle of Palms was identified as the second-fastest growing domestic destination for travelers, while Myrtle Beach was named the third-most popular domestic destination.
The travel website analyzed site data and a customer survey to determine the most popular destinations and the fastest-growing domestic destinations for summer.
Here’s why the Isle of Palms and Myrtle Beach are attractive vacation spots:
How did they earn top spots?
Tripadvisor found that activities and experiences are the most important part of a travel budget for more than 80% of travelers. Both beach towns offer plenty of opportunities for relaxation in nature, as well as summer adventure.
Just half an hour from Charleston, Isle of the Palms features seven miles of Atlantic coastline, salt marshes and tidal creeks along the Intracoastal Waterway.
The barrier island is a top spot to watch birds, turtles and even dolphins. So, it’s no surprise Tripadvisor reviewers love visiting the beach, exploring nature tours and riding charter boats.
Nearly all 10 of the fastest-growing spots listed by Tripadvisor were coastal locations, though Wyoming makes an appearance.
Florida took the top spot and was the only state with multiple cities on the list.
As an established vacation spot for decades, Myrtle Beach tourism isn’t growing like the Isle of Palms, but remains popular. The northeast South Carolina vacation spot combines natural beauty with bustling attractions.
Myrtle Beach State Park was ranked No. 3 on the Tripadvisor Summer Travel Index behind the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas and the New York City sightseeing tour.
Tripadvisor reviewers also love Broadway at the Beach, Ripley’s Aquarium and the SkyWheel at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade.