We moved from Chicago to a laid-back remote island in the South you can only get to by boat. We love it so far.

Thu, 05/04/2023 - 11:41

A mother, father, and twin children sitting on a couch — The Downing family moved from Illinois to an island off the coast of South Carolina.
Nicolle Downing

Nicolle and Michael Downing both grew up in the Midwest but recently agreed to a change of pace.
In 2022 they moved their family to Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, near the Georgia border.
They love perks like morning runs on the beach, but getting off the island can be a headache.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicolle, 45, and Michael Downing, 53, about their move from Chicago, Illinois, to the Haig Point neighborhood on Daufuskie Island, a 10-square-mile, mostly car-free community off the coast of South Carolina near Hilton Head and the Georgia border.