ICW Cruise: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

Charleston: Mile 469: A Visit to Daniel Island.

Daniel Island Marketing Director Julie D. & daughter Sophie

The day started off with a delightful introduction. I was picked up at the marina by Daniel Island Marketing Director Julie Dombrowski, with whom I had been working for five years via phone and email, and who was accompanied by her daughter Sophie.

It was the first time we had met--yet another face to place with the voice after many years of marketing co-operation. Meeting Sophie was a bonus. She was on her way to school at Daniel Island which was where this photo was taken.

Julie's husband owns Ted's Butcher Block, a local shop offering gourmet meats, cheeses and freshly prepared meals. While I was in Charleston, the crew from one of the mega yachts stopped in and ordered $2,000 worth of meat with one order.

My arrival at Daniel island had just missed the conclusion of the Family Circle Cup which features the top women tennis pros in the first outing of the spring clay court season. The Family Circle Cup goes back to the 1970s when I covered the event and it began its tradition of introducing to the international stage soon-to-be famous players such as Pam Shriver and Jennifer Capriati. Request more information.

Part of the pagentry that accompanies the tournament is the fly-over by the Blue Angels, the aerial goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. It is a spectacular week to be on-island.

Daniel Island home under construction.

Since the time available for my visit was short, we drove straight to where the action now is at Daniel Island. We drove by this home under construction to the edge of the community that borders on the Wando River en route to the site of the future Mitchell Wharf neighborhood. Boaters will be interested in the new release of homesites here which come with a permit to install a deepwater dock. Homesite and home packages start in the $600,000s and go up to $1.2 million. Request more information.

Mitchell Wharf will look out on the Wando River.

In addition to the beach shown above, Mitchell Wharf will also have other common areas such as parks, playgrounds and pools.

To the left of Mitchell Wharf are peaceful marsh views.

Quintessential Daniel Island neighborhood--Charleston architecture, tidy streets.

As we rode on through Daniel Island I was impressed how mature the community is--buyers don't have to wait for infrastructure and amenities to be built. Everything is in, no waiting.

Kid's paradise--a tree house with a water view.

Kids are a welcome part of life here, witness the elementary school we dropped Sophie off at, and this tree house, above, will keep any child's imagination filled with visions of pirates and days at sea. The swimming club, below, is also a popular spot. Request more information about Daniel Island.

An easy place to spend the day--the swim club.

Homes look out on the delicate marsh eco-system.

Everywhere you look you are reminded of the delicate ecosystem that surrounds Daniel Island. The homes above look out over march, through which you can see a simple boardwalk which will give you a memorable nature tour.

Boardwalks skirt the marsh.

This home caught my eye with its impressive entrance and gas light.

Close up of the front door.

Gas lamp on front stairway.

We stopped by the 11th green and 12th tee on the Tom Fazio-designed Beresford Creek Course which is neatly tucked into neighborhoods of stately homes. Request more information about Daniel Island

Golf course home overlooking the 11th green, Beresford Creek Course.

Home overlooking the 12th tee, Beresford Creek.

I returned to the marina and we immediately we cast off and headed towards our next destination--Hilton Head Island. As we moved out of the harbor we passed the Coast Guard station. Th passage had special meaning for me. My father, as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, was Captain of the Port of Charleston during World War II, receiving a special commendation from the governor at the war's end.

Coast Guard on duty at harbor entrance.