WHEN: June 1-2, 2013
WHERE: Beaufort and Hilton Head, South Carolina
Driving through the park
WHERE: Beaufort and Hilton Head, South Carolina
Now that December 1 has passed, our anniversary in 2014 is closer than our anniversary this year. Even still, I wanted to try and recall and capture a few memories of this year's anniversary (like so many of the moments of the last 6 months), before they are overshadowed by next year's. I think I can recall what we did...? Good thing it's 2013 and every device we have now includes a camera.
One thing I don't recall was how exactly we decided on the location - Hilton Head, South Carolina. We really enjoyed our brief stop in Hilton Head with my parents last summer, and have since wanted to return for another visit. Hilton Head is one of the most beautiful coastal locales anywhere in the Carolinas, in my opinion. It's only a 2-hour drive from Charleston and made sense for a weekend anniversary getaway. Throw in that one of our intended stops was Beaufort, SC and that made it a done deal, I suppose.
What's so great about Beaufort, SC? Well, since we had never been there, how were we supposed to know? All we knew about Beaufort was that it is pronounced "Bew-fort" in South Carolina. We learned that early on, after growing familiar with the town of Beaufort, North Carolina (pronounced "Bow-fort") while living in the state. I pronounced the South Carolina city incorrectly on a phone interview for a job in Beaufort, SC while we were still living in North Carolina. Maybe that's why we moved to Virginia first, since there is no city of Beaufort there to mispronounce. I still have to pause when I think of how to pronounce each city in its respective state.
But seriously, why Beaufort?
One thing I don't recall was how exactly we decided on the location - Hilton Head, South Carolina. We really enjoyed our brief stop in Hilton Head with my parents last summer, and have since wanted to return for another visit. Hilton Head is one of the most beautiful coastal locales anywhere in the Carolinas, in my opinion. It's only a 2-hour drive from Charleston and made sense for a weekend anniversary getaway. Throw in that one of our intended stops was Beaufort, SC and that made it a done deal, I suppose.
What's so great about Beaufort, SC? Well, since we had never been there, how were we supposed to know? All we knew about Beaufort was that it is pronounced "Bew-fort" in South Carolina. We learned that early on, after growing familiar with the town of Beaufort, North Carolina (pronounced "Bow-fort") while living in the state. I pronounced the South Carolina city incorrectly on a phone interview for a job in Beaufort, SC while we were still living in North Carolina. Maybe that's why we moved to Virginia first, since there is no city of Beaufort there to mispronounce. I still have to pause when I think of how to pronounce each city in its respective state.
But seriously, why Beaufort?
Maybe because in Stacie's May issue of Coastal Living, Beaufort was voted the "2013 Happiest Seaside Town".
We weren't there long enough to see how "happy" the community was, but it sure was beautiful.
Like Savannah (though much smaller), it reminded us of a mini-Charleston.
The grand, southern houses were the same.
The neighborhoods and expansive coastal landscapes were similar.
There is even more Spanish moss on the trees.
The trees there cry weep Spanish moss
The Rhett House Inn
I almost booked us a room here, but instead opted for a cheaper, ocean-front hotel in Hilton Head. Maybe next time - it sure is charming.
I almost booked us a room here, but instead opted for a cheaper, ocean-front hotel in Hilton Head. Maybe next time - it sure is charming.
We were pretty happy in this seaside town :)
We did not watch any of American Idol last season, so little did we know that last year's winner (Candice Glover) is from Beaufort. The small downtown was covered with storefront scenes like this, as Idol had wrapped up just 2 weeks prior to our visit.
After lunch by the water, we walked down to the waterfront...
After lunch by the water, we walked down to the waterfront...
...and from the swinging park benches, felt the wind roll in off the water.
It was a short visit, but we felt like we saw a lot. We are still happier in our seaside town of Charleston, but the small city was a nice change of pace.
HISP is the most visited state park in South Carolina (over 1 million visitors per year) and one of only a few undeveloped sea islands in the Lowcountry.
This place is beautiful. It reminded me of Jurassic Park. I half expected to stumble upon a dinosaur nest. :)
Happy by the seaside
Driving through the park
The beach. Empty. Isolated. Beautiful.
It was surrounded with large pines and palmettos, which is not common in developed islands.
(See the protected sea turtle nests in the dunes?)
It was interesting to see how the ocean had overtaken trees, roads, and buildings.
(See the protected sea turtle nests in the dunes?)
It was interesting to see how the ocean had overtaken trees, roads, and buildings.
The prettiest part of the island.
We love the beach. We love each other more.
We arrived too late to be able to climb Hunting Island Light (built in 1875). Decommissioned in 1933, it is the only publicly-accessible lighthouse in South Carolina.
We wrapped up our tour of the park with a stop at the 1,120ft. fishing pier, for a beautiful sunset vista.
We did not do any fishing, but watched many of the locals doing their best. We did see plenty of wildlife, though.
Birds
Lots of deer
A juvenile raccoon
Fishing for mollusks and crustaceans in the oyster beds
Fishing for mollusks and crustaceans in the oyster beds
...there's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby...
No, we didn't visit the African savanna. The estuaries around Beaufort are some of the largest on the East Coast. Great place to catch a summer sunset.
We drove the rest of the way to our hotel in Hilton Head. It was rainy the next morning, so the ocean front hotel option did not pan out as planned. I ventured out to the beach for a few minutes just to dip my feet in the water, then came back to the pool to swim for a while (in the rain) while Stacie got ready. Then we went out for brunch, which the sun did decided to come out for.
We drove the rest of the way to our hotel in Hilton Head. It was rainy the next morning, so the ocean front hotel option did not pan out as planned. I ventured out to the beach for a few minutes just to dip my feet in the water, then came back to the pool to swim for a while (in the rain) while Stacie got ready. Then we went out for brunch, which the sun did decided to come out for.
My coworkers had recommended a local spot at the Palmetto Bay Marina, which has a number of restaurants lining the marina along Broad Creek.
And I thought car repairs were expensive
I appreciated this clever sign
Happy in the Palmetto State, and all its seaside towns
Happy to have this woman to share my life with.
Looking forward to another anniversary, and another summer on the shore.
Here we come, 2014!
Here we come, 2014!
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