South Carolina Gem

It may not be a secret place to people in the Southeast or East coast,  but we Northwesterners don't know much about Beaufort, SC, and it's wonderful!

Barely an hour from Savannah, we visited the 5000-acre Hunting Island State Park and walked six miles of trail through a mixed forest of pines, desciduous trees and palm trees.  Even Spanish moss.  With clear blue skies, 70 degrees and no humidity, it was a magical place.  Also in the park, we climbed 137 steps to the top of an 1859 lighthouse for views over the forests, beaches, marshes and the Atlantic Ocean. 

It's not spring break but all the towns we're visiting are brimming with people!  I don't look much like the women here.  Today I had on shorts and my hiking boots.  There was a large group having a picnic near the lighthouse and every single woman, I checked carefully, had on a sundress and sandals. 

Downtown Beaufort is charming.  Right on the river with a park/walkway and a series of "porch swings" all along the walkway.  Lots of interesting looking, closed shops and restaurants.  We drove through street after street of massive antebellum homes with several-hundred-year-old oaks in the yards.  Amazing!

Drove onto Hilton Head Island but there wasn't much to see from the main road other than lots of trees and incredibly well-kept businesses.  Having landscaping around your business -- nice landscaping -- is obviously a requirement.  Even the oil change place had colorful flowers, shrubs and trees.

Tomorrow we will probably stick around long enough to redeem the coupon the hotel gave us for a free chocolate at a chocolate shop in  the historic district!