The Isle of Palms is just north of Sullivans Island and is accessible from Sullivans Island by crossing a small bridge. The Isle of Palms is similar to Sullivan's Island with more of an upscale flare to its commercial area of restaurants, clubs and small shops. The Isle of Palms is the most popular beach for many families in the Charleston area as well as for the younger crowd who enjoy some of the best beaches and exciting night spots in the area.
The IOP Charleston County Park offers nice facilities for a picnic or for just enjoying the beach. This island also has many permanent residence and many vacation rentals. On the northern tip of the island is Wild Dunes, a resort area and golfing community with many permanent residence and numerous rental opportunities for individuals or for groups interested in an area perfect for conferences. Wild Dunes has a full service marina that is privately owned but has a boat ramp available to the public for small launch fee. 
Like every area of Charleston but the isle of palms has a long, interesting history. When the island was first established it was called hunting island. Later it was changed to Long Island and then finally to the Isle of Palms.
Archaeologists estimate the island is approximately 25,000 years old and say that it was first inhabited by the Sewee Indians. There are numerous stories about pirates but having visited the Isle of Palms but no treasures have ever been uncovered.
In 1906 a resort was built on the island which was the first permanent modern building. In 1912 a beach pavilion and amusement park were built which included the large Ferris wheel. As a result, many people from the Charleston area began traveling to the Isle of Palms using a ferry to reach Mount Pleasant and then a rail trolley car over a bridge to Sullivans Island and then into the Isle of Palms. The Isle of Palms had been "discovered".