Lovin' the Lowcountry

We were in Charleston, SC for a week of vacation last week with family and friends!  I managed to drive around the old village of Mt. Pleasant and found some charming houses.  This vacation was very active with so little time!

This little cottage sits on the marsh and has spectacular views!

This grand home is on the Isle of Palms.  I adore the landscaping...well, the house, too!

This old bike was tucked on an old cottage porch near the sea.  L.O.V.E.

I am still dreaming of my cruiser bike...not a need, just a want, so I am saving my pennies!

We loaded our bikes and rode to the beach...

...for some fun in the sun!

And a little diggin' in the sand.

We played tic-tac-toe at dusk...my favorite time on the beach!

With family and friends, we took a canoe/kayak trip down the Edisto River. 

My daughter is nine and paddled five miles by herself!  The water was low with little movement, so this was a task! 

She cools off with a splash after all the hard work!

My youngest daughter guzzles down a bottle of water beneath the beautiful oak trees drenched with Spanish moss.  The trees are mesmerizing! With the big smudge on her face, you would think she had put in a long hard day of paddling; however, we hadn't even left the bank yet!

At five, she did her fair share of the work! 

My sister, her oldest son and our dear friend Daniel paddle close by for the nine mile trip, supposedly a three hour tour.  "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailin' man, the Skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour. A three hour tour."
  

The water was very low, so the trip took all day!  When I travel with this crowd, I have learned to expect anything! As part of our 'survival skills' lesson, we learned that we did not pack enough water!  We had a compass and matches, though!  Our survival book says to pack items to sustain you for a full 24 hours, even if it is only a three hour tour!  All along the river, there were these makeshift zip lines and tire swings.

  The wildlife is amazing.  These beautiful great white egrets were nesting in this old tree.

And this hawk was perched looking for his next meal.  We actually got to see him catch his dinner!  I'll spare you the pictures, but what a site to see!

We certainly didn't want to be a part of this guy's meal.  This gator is located in a pond on the island.

Speaking of meals!  We stopped by a roadside diner called 'Jack's Cosmic Dogs' for their famous hotdogs.  It is a throwback in time!

We also enjoyed going to the old Pitt Street Pharmacy with its original stools and counter top and ordering an ice cream float.  You walk into these places and feel like it is 1950!

We dressed the kids and took them to a fancy restaurant called, 'The Boathouse.'  It indulges mom for them to get dressed up and to learn some manners!  When they were younger, I used to beg for a break, but now that they are a little older, I enjoy hanging out with them!

We made our regular visit to the farmer's market to buy some fresh fruits and vegetables.

My husband splurged and let the kids have a coke.  He never lets them drink coke!  So much for getting our healthy meal at the market!  We ended up eating there and taking our fresh goods home for the next night!  Can you see the sheer delight on her face?

This old joggling board reminds me of times gone by.  These are very popular in downtown Charleston and are lots of fun for bouncing!

There is nothing better than the smell of the ocean, the breeze on your face and the freedom of the open space!

I love the Lowcountry with its marshy smell and ocean breeze.  I love the restaurants and the history.  I love the beach, the sand and the ocean...and all the treasures we find!

 

Thanks for stopping by to see some of the Lowcountry of South Carolina!

Megan at Little Blue Prints asked me to write a post about my Summertime Favorites!  Stop by to see my favorites and check out her sweet blog!  While you are there, check out her other guests and their summertime favorites!  You are sure to find some great ideas and come across some really cool new blogs!  Thanks Megan!  I had a lot of fun with this! 

On another note, Happy Father's Day to Rob!  He deserves this special day for all the time and effort he pours into reaching the hearts of these three little people!