Having been married 46 years, after meeting in music school at the age of 17, Gail and Michael Richmond have shared a lifetime love of not only music, but also family, travel and time spent together. Gail explained, “I was a local, general music teacher for 35 years in a public school where we live, and Michael was an orchestra and jazz studies teacher for his 35-year career in education. He then went on to have a bass studio and teach theory at the college we graduated from. He is currently a professional bassist and plays gigs on the North Shore of Boston, as well as locally in Albany, New York.” Music is central to their experiences, and the Richmonds relish looking for spots to soak up the local music vibe. They particularly enjoyed the live music they encountered while taking an after dinner walk along Shem Creek. Gail described their 24 IslandVibesIOP.com VACATION VIBES Vacation Vibes Richful times with the Richmonds By Laura Fogarty Richmond granddaughter cartwheeling to the music at Islander 71 evening on Shem Creek’s pier: “It was a beautiful night filled with music and marine life and wonderful food from Tavern & Table.” Coming to the Isle of Palms from upstate New York, Gail and Michael revel in the time spent with their three children and four grandchildren. Gail spoke about her family’s time on the Isle of Palms with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. “I would really like to give Sweetgrass Properties a shout out. This was the first time we have worked with this realty company booking a vacation rental, and we were more than pleased,” she recounted. “Every associate was friendly and their prompt attention to detail was extraordinary. We had an absolutely wonderful vacation at Wild Dunes Grand Pavilion, filled with great moments. We had two pools available to us with our townhouse rental. The beach bar and grill was fabulous and convenient as well.” From shopping in downtown Charleston and exploring the sights, to playing mini golf and arcade games at Charleston Fun Park, there isn’t much the entire Richmond family didn’t do during their vacation time on the island. Gail shared her family’s take on local cuisine. “We always love all of our meals, but one of our favorite restaurants is Acme Lowcountry Kitchen,” she said. “If you don’t get a reservation, you might have to wait, but it is well worth it! Another favorite place to eat is Islander 71. We always wait for an outside table and the kids play on the green in the middle. We always make sure to bring some monster trucks and toys for the kids, but they enjoyed the cornhole games there, and looking for dolphin and other island wildlife.” The Richmond family enjoys the fare inside of Wild Dunes as well. From pizza at Coastal Crust to The Spa at Sweetgrass, to ice cream at the Sweet Shoppe, they left no stop off their list of must-visit venues. Gail continued, “Even the ice cream was absolutely delicious, and the kids especially enjoyed that sweet treat.” Gail recalled her family’s action-packed days with an affinity that flowed from the heart. “The kids loved using the multiple pools and even the adults loved that too. Gail and Michael Richmond at their vacation rental in Wild Dunes Michael Richmond and grandsons on Shem Creek We all swam in the ocean a lot because the water was so warm and inviting. My daughter and I signed up for a Yin yoga class at Grand Pavilion; the instructor was amazing!” It’s hard to believe the Richmonds were only here for a week, given all the sights, restaurants and activities they were able to experience. Sitting around the fire pit in the evenings became a ritual of sorts, a much-needed respite and a time for relaxation at the end of their busy days. The Richmonds’ daughter and her husband discovered the Isle of Palms during COVID-19 and when Gail heard about the amazing city and accommodations on the Carolina seashore, she knew she had to bring her entire family here to experience it together. Gail was familiar with Charleston but had never heard of the Isle of Palms until her daughter mentioned her quarantine trip. So far, they’ve been here three years in a row during their grandchildren’s spring break. Gail proclaimed, “We hope to make it a tradition!” We hope so too, Gail. See you next year! www.FrontBeachIOP.com | Explore The Best of Front Beach
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