Vacation Day 9-Savannah

We spent our last day of vacation in Savannah, Georgia.  The town is full of history, but we had a short period so we loaded up on the trolley which had the top 15 stops in the city.  I tried to absorb all the history, but it was way to much (and very hard with a two year old).  We did see where John Wesley lived for a short period of time (Founder of Methodism).

And we got to visit a gorgeous Catholic Church

Julia Robert's famous phone booth...

check out these fancy gutters...

Matt and Caroline riding on the trolley

We visited and walked the Savannah City Market

Saw the famous Paula Deen Restaurant

Saw the first SCAD building

...all from the seats of this lovely trolley

And who can forget the famous Forest Gump bench!  This is a replica in the Savannah museum.  The original bench is in the Paramount Studios, but we did get to see the lawn where the "bench scene" was filmed.

Savannah had one of the first public dental offices.  Below is a shade guide for the dental crowns.  I have to say...I was pretty impressed with the set-up.

We went to a lot of amazing, historic, and memorable places this year on vacation, but I think Matt and I will agree that the memories that will last forever are the memories of our family time.  We laughed and had so much fun with Caroline.   Those are the memories I wish I could bundle and keep forever.

Vacation Day 8-Hilton Head Island

 We journeyed to Hilton Head for the day.  We arrived early so we spent a little more time at the beach.  Anytime Caroline sees water she now asks if we can go to the ocean.  She is a beach lover! 

 After the beach we went to the park for a short bit and then for a New York deli lunch.

 Tonight we went to eat at Crazy Crab and after dinner Caroline participated in the crab race. 

 Caroline and Daddy picking out her crab

 Ready for the race...go crabs go!

 Off they go!

 Below is a picture of Caroline's crab, which won! Fast crab!

Vacation Day 7- Hunting Island, SC

 This picture below was taken before lunch yesterday on King Street.  Today we left for Hunting Island State Park.

 Happy Memorial Day (a little early)

Hunting Island is South Carolina’s single most popular state park. Five miles of beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest, a saltwater lagoon, and  an ocean inlet.  Of all the lighthouses in South Carolina, the Hunting Island Lighthouse is the only one in the state that is publicly accessible.  Two movies-Forest Gump and GI Jane were shot in this lagoon.



We enjoyed playing on the beach, digging in the sand, and finding little crabs...

We are off to Hilton Head tomorrow...

Vacation Day 6-Charleston, SC

 Today we traveled to the famous Ashley River Road.  There are three plantation homes that are historically famous to visit in Charleston.  We originally thought we would visit the three quickly and then move to the next attraction for the day.  Boy-were we wrong!  We traveled to Middleton Place first (see picture below) and found that is has miles and miles of landscaping, walking, and quarters to visit.  A must see if you visit Charleston!

Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and home to America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens. The Garden Club of America has called the 65 acres “the most important and most interesting garden in America”.  Built in 1755, the House Museum interprets four generations of Middleton Family.  It is birthplace of a signer of the Declaration of Independence.   The property has miraculously remained under the same family stewardship for some 320 years.

Gotta love some old oaks...ahh the south

 Drayton Hall-Ashley River Road

 Magnolia Plantation-Ashley River Road

 Below are pictures taken of Caroline in the stables at the Middleton Place. 

 ...the sheep attacked the stroller....Ha! You should have seen Caroline-she was having a moment!

 We were just walking along and there it was...an alligator!  I thought these things were supposed to be either behind a fence or contained in a swamp...Not so much down here!

 Caroline feeding a calf

Vacation- Day 5 Charleston, SC

We arrived at Charleston early afternoon and went for a historic carriage ride.  All the carriages line up around the square. 

Here is our carriage from Carolina Polo Co.  I felt so bad for our horse...it had been a long day, and he was tired!

Caroline and Daddy getting ready to go for a ride.

There are 3 different routes your carriage can take, but you or the driver do not know the route you will be taking until you arrive at the front of the carriage line.  At the beginning of the line a lady uses the Bingo system to give you your number of which city route you will be touring.

Below is the original church of Charleston.  There is literally a church on every corner! 

Below is the original city wall of Charleston.  In the pre-revolutionary era the people would build walls around the cities for protection during the war.

The original meeting building

Meeting Street is where the towns people would meet during the revolutionary period.

Below is one of the 75 pre-revolutionary homes that still stands.  There are only 75 original homes that still have not been touched. The other homes have been repaired due to 5 major fires the city has had.  There are SO many homes in Charleston and they are placed so close together, that when a fire would start it would damage a multitude of homes at one time. 

However, when doing ANYTHING to your home on the exterior it has to be approved by the city of Charleston.  That includes paint, changing windows, or adding landscaping.  How crazy?  Can you imagine anytime that you would like to add something or change something to your house having to get a permit?  I will say that I have never seen so many beautiful and historic homes in one area.

Below is another one of the 75 pre-revolutionary homes still standing.

And check out the roads...dream roads

After our downtown tour we went to the farmer's market and then enjoyed eating a seafood dinner over-looking the market.

Next on our list was Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. 

We got to view the USS Yorktown CV 10 in the Charleston Harbor.

 

Then...for Caroline's favorite part of the evening.  We ended the evening at Waterfront Park.  The park has several fountains for the children/adults.  The park also has miles of riverfront walking paths and lawns for play.

Matt and Caroline wading at the first fountain.

View of Fort Sumter from Waterfront Park.

Then...Caroline met the queen fountain.  It was love at first site.  She would run in circles squealing and laughing.  She would probably still be running in circles if we did not make her leave.  Over the hour adults and children played and laughed in the fountain.

Family Picture

Caroline did not want to leave the fountain, so Matt had to go in for the gusto and get her.  I haven't laughed that hard in a while watching Matt preparing to get Caroline out of the water:)