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Hello! Let me start by saying that I have been reading tons of posts and looking online to try and narrow my search. A lot of the posts on here that I read are older.. 2007ish. So things have definitely changed. We are looking to move our family to Charleston. We have a 1yo son and are trying to pick the best place to raise a family. I see Mt Pleasant has good schools and tons of families and kids. I know JI has good schools too, but is it just that it doesn't have a family feel? Not a lot of kids? My husband and I live by the beach and are laid back people. Like to garden, love nature walks, surf, all kinds of outdoor stuff. We love artsy, different, quaint style. Think of New England cities like Portland ME, Burlington, VT and Portsmouth NH. I'd love to be able to ride my bike to some stores and definitely have access to a Farmers Market. We love dive bars and scenes like that. Small music venues are a great time for us too! We are boaters as well. It sounds like James Island would be a good fit, but I'm not so sure about the best fit with kids (just from previous posts I've read). Just so hard to tell where to focus! We are visiting in August so that should help but I'd like a general idea of where to focus when we're there. Any input is greatly appreciated!
The decision between Mt P and James Island (JI), for a large part, depends on what your budget if you're planning to buy a house. Mt P overall is more expensive. JI has some expensive neighborhoods also, especially if located on/close to harbor or waterways and marshes, but mostly priced under Mt P. JI is family oriented; schools are not bad overall but not as good as Mt P. Mt P has better shopping and restaurant choices, and is close to Sullivans Island and Isle of Palms. JI is next to Folly Beach and has quicker access to downtown CHS unless perhaps you live out by Folly Beach. Again it comes down to your housing budget IMO. If you look on JI, check out Riverland Terrace.
Thanks zuman. Well lets put budget aside. I want to find the best fit for us in terms of daily life. If mt pleasant is a better fit we will live there. Same with JI. I just need some input on people who live there about the differences. So there are shops and things to do n JI? I feel like all I see is stuff about Mt Pleasant and not a lot about JI.
James Island has "funkier" restaurants & bars - and I don't mean that in a bad way. I find Mt P to be more straight back in it's commercial offerings. I'm not sure how to put this because as cape already said, it IS about feel.
Yes, being out at Shem Creek in Mt P can be laid back, but I think JI is just more laid back overall. JI just feels more like a near-beach town than Mt P.
Note: I live in Mt P & love it.
And the statement that "JI ... has quicker access to downtown CHS" is really stretching it. From my home in Molasses Creek, I've walked to Saffron Bakery in "downtown Charleston." The Ravenel Bridge is a delight to walk across -- not so with the JI connector. I just think the distance is not an issue without specifying where in each town.
I'd say a funky restaurant is one with a cool vibe.. Not chain, not trying to look like chain. Maybe local art on the walls, vibrant colors, home kitchen feel? Not funky food I hope!
Woodfire Heart Grill (think its changing right now); Brick House Kitchen; Black Bean Company -- and then though not restaurants per se, there's the Terrace Theater & it's environs. Some local Mt P restauarants are duplicated in JI like LaHacienda & Mustard Seed but just feel different there. And can we s-t-r-e-c-h to include the Pour House?
And is Bowens Island within JI?
Disclaimer: I ain't recommending these establishments, just trying to ID funky!
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