Daufuskie Island

No bridge connects this eight-square-mile treasure to the mainland, and it is only accessible by ferry or private boat. For here, it is often said time stands still. Native Americans lived here some 5000 years ago. By the 1730s, it was home to plantations of indigo, rice and sea island cotton. The large slave population spoke Gullah, a language combining English with various West African dialects which can still be heard, spoken by descendents who live here. Today, the island features an upscale resort, two residential communities and more. The island was popularized by author Pat Conroy in his best selling novel, “The Water is Wide,” the basis for the motion picture “Conrack” starring John Voight. The book chronicled Conroy’s experiences on Daufuskie while teaching the island’s mostly illiterate African American children. Visitors can tour ancient Native American sites, the old Baptist Church and the school house where Conroy taught. The Billie Burn Museum showcases Daufuskie?s history.

For ferry information contact Calibogue Cruises (843) 342-8687 or www.freeport-marina.com or The Daufuskie Island Resort ferry (800) 648-6778.