Guests gathered at their tables for the opening comments.

#thisisedisto May 2023

Three great pics by my hubby. #thisisedisto

📍Driftwood Beach - 1066 Botany Bay Rd - Edisto Island, SC

Driftwood Beach (aka “Boneyard Beach” or “Botany Bay Beach”) is a remote beach and nature preserve located in Edisto Island, South Carolina. It is part of the Botany Bay Heritage Plantation Preserve and is named after the large proliferation of driftwood on the beach. It is often referred to as a ‘boneyard beach’ because the aged driftwood has a white ‘bone’ appearance due to sun-bleaching and the presence of salt. This picturesque coastal wildlife refuge is a sanctuary for wildlife and offers visitors a chance to witness the undisturbed beauty of the Lowcountry landscapes. 

My family and I visited the Driftwood Beach this past summer while we were on a road trip. We stayed in Edisto Island for a few days and heard great things about the beach. You can only drive so far before you come to the parking area. From there, visitors must walk about half a mile through a marshland path before they come upon the beach. It was unlike any beach we had ever seen before. It was very eerie, yet beautiful and serene. It also looked like a place out of prehistory. We almost expected a dinosaur to show up at any minute. This isn’t a beach you visit to go swimming or lay out in the sun. This is a beach that you visit for the breathtaking, picturesque views of unspoiled shoreline. We were so happy to have discovered this enchanted coastline and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Edisto Island!

#driftwoodbeach #driftwoodbeachedisto #edistoislandsc #edistobeachsc #botanybaybeach #boneyardbeach #boneyardbeachsc #botanybayheritagepreserve #botanybayplantation #thisisedisto #discoverSC

📍 Tortuga’s Mexican Grill - 114 Jungle Road, Suite E - Edisto Island, SC

Tortuga’s Mexican Grill is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant that opened in Edisto Island, South Carolina in May 2019. It was founded by husband and wife Chris & Sheila Porzuczek. Originally from Colorado, the Porzuczeks relocated to Edisto Island while searching for a slower-paced life and warmer weather. One thing they noticed right away was that the island did not have a Mexican restaurant. They decided to become restaurateurs and brought the first Mexican restaurant to the area. Depending on the season, Tortuga’s offers breakfast, lunch and dinner to their clientele. The menu offers locally-sourced Mexican fare: a tribute to Chris’s Mexican heritage. Everything from the guacamole to the tortillas, salsas and homemade hot sauces are made fresh and daily in house. The restaurant is also eco-friendly. The Porzuczeks use potato-based cutlery, plant-based straws and compostable packaging.

My family and I visited Tortuga’s for dinner this past summer while we were on a road trip. Edisto Island is a small beach community with only a handful of restaurants. We were excited when we heard that there was a good Mexican restaurant not far from our hotel. The place is small with only a limited amount of seating. Fortunately we arrived just before the big dinner crowd. After looking over the menu, I decided to order the “Shrimp Burrito” (local shrimp, black bean corn salsa, rice, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, sour cream, homemade pork green chile, mild sauce) my wife ordered the “Black Bean Tostadas” (2 fried corn tortillas topped with guacamole, black beans, peppers & onions, cilantro, queso fresco & sour cream, side of rice, lettuce & pico), and our older son ordered the “Chicken Quesadilla” off of the Kids’ Menu. We also ordered the “Nachos Gordo” (with carnitas) for the table to share. Everything was so authentic, delicious and fresh-tasting! This was also the first time our older son tasted nachos and he’s a fan now. He was asking for nachos on the rest of our road trip. We all had an excellent experience at Tortuga’s and we highly recommend them to people visiting Edisto Island! 🇲🇽🌮🌯