Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places

I'm a day late linking up with Kelly's Korner SUYL: Favorite Vacation Spots. I had another post planned for yesterday, but I thought what a great opportunity to show off the beautiful places our lovely state has to offer. While I absolutely love to vacation in the Carribean, I do have a fond passion for my hometown state South Carolina, or South Cack-a-lacky as we like to say, and enjoy soaking up all it has to offer. Especially it's historic, charming, one of a kind lowcountry.

I'm sure you've heard of Myrtle Beach and Charleston [that's usually where we vacationed until recently], but let's take it a little lower...to Beaufort County and St. Helena Island, some of the most historic sites of European colonization on North America.

We spent our first wedding anniversary in Beaufort, my first visit there. It was gorgeous. Just like Charleston, but smaller, more charming and laid back. We stayed at the Rhett House Inn Bed & Breakfast. With palmetto trees, an antebellum white house complete with a huge porch, and a glass of sweet iced tea, I felt like Scarlett O' Hara for sure. This is as Southern as it gets folks. We had the best time and Beaufort has so many great seafood restaurants, tiny shops, and Hilton Head Island is just a 20 minute drive. Be sure to take a horse and carriage ride tour around Beaufort. You'll learn where they filmed Forrest Gump and where Pat Conroy lived, just to name a few.

St Helena is today connected to Beaufort, the county seat, by US Highway 21. Quick bridge to get you to the island. First you'll see Harbor Island , where we visited last June. Beautiful secluded beaches, great fishing, and incredible sunsets. Everything just feels so secluded. No fighting over umbrellas or "spots on the beach" here.

Next you mozy on down the road to Fripp Island. Our first visit to Fripp was last August! Absolutely loved it. We went with Chad's family and our nephews had the best time. In a place where there's nothing to do, there's actually SO much to do. It's the best kind of fun. No theme parks, putt putt, dinner shows, etc... just the best kind of make your own family fun.

All the boys needed was a boogie board and the waves!

They also have an awesome pool and tons of kiddie pools, which were nice.

There's a couple of restaurants on Fripp or you can travel into Beaufort. We even took a little cruise around the marsh to see dolphins. Yes, the pelican even posed for this photo.

The boys also enjoyed finding new creatures on the beach. In some places there wasn't a soul for miles and as many crabs, sea shells, and "fishies" as you can find.

There's also plenty of deer and alligators roaming around Fripp. No, seriously. I couldn't get the picture to post but the boys enjoyed going right up to the deer and feeding them. Ok, the alligators - not so much. Thank heavens they are somewhat secluded in ponds.

The men enjoyed fishing at sunset.

There's also the Hunting Island State Park

[they filmed Jungle Book there, and that's exactly what it looks like - a jungle]

There's a lighthouse you can climb, oodles of sea shells and natural wildlife at its best.

For more of our lowcountry adventures, visit these posts here, here, and here. There's even a great Southern Living article about Harbor Island, so be sure to check it out and come on over to South Carolina - there's always smiling faces and beautiful places!