I have always wanted to live at the beach and, for the next month, get to do just that! SC State Parks is having a "snowbird" special for 30 day periods for their coastal parks. Since we wanted to stay close by my parents (we will return there for New Year's to celebrate Christmas with my kids and extended family), this was the perfect place.
We quickly realized that it's a good thing we will be here for 30 days as there is so much to do - both inside the park and the surrounding area. We've been here a week already and can see why it comes so highly recommended by our RV friends. There's something to be said about walking out of your rig and hearing the rumble of the ocean!
Shortly after we got here, we went to explore a bit. We took a long walk on the beach and then walked around the park a bit.
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| Bird on a stick!! |
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| Birds sunning themselves |
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| This guy was all by his lonesome! |
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| We saw these guys right off of the boardwalk from the Nature Center. |
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Dan heading to the beach after a bike ride.
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I was on a mission during our walk to see an alligator. We finally saw these two little guys. Next time we need to bring the binoculars!
My sisters Cathy and Barbara came to visit us over the weekend. We enjoyed spending time at Atalaya which was the winter home of Archer Huntington and Anna Hyatt Huntington.
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| Different organizations or civic groups decorated the various rooms with a wide variety of themes. |
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| Cathy, Dan and Barbara enjoying the tour. |
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| The weather was gorgeous albiet a bit windy! |
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| Posing in the courtyard of Atalaya. |
After an early dinner of spaghetti with grilled italian sausage, we headed to Brookgreen Gardens "Nights of a Thousand Candles". In the early 1930s, the Huntingtons established Brookgreen Gardens to preserve the floral and fauna of the area and to showcase art in a natural setting. Although we would have liked to see the gardens during the day, we enjoyed the sights (over 5500 candles) and sounds (handbells and bagpipes) that the holiday event offered.
Sunday afternoon, we had plans for a kayaking adventure with Bill, Nancy, Gin, and Syl. Nancy had read the tide charts and timed it perfectly! No need for the trolling motor on this trip!
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| Taking a short break! |
I didn't take too many pictures on this trip as I was too busy chatting with friends and enjoying the scenery (minus the snake we saw!!). We spent a few hours on the water and all agreed we need to do it again soon.
