What I Did On My Summer Vacation, Part 3.

[kv0925]

Okay, last summer vacation post! The only side-trips we really took from Myrtle Beach were down to the Murrells Inlet area, where we wanted to visit a place called Brookgreen Gardens. What an awesome place! It was an antebellum plantation that eventually became a botanical and sculpture garden and a state park with a small zoo attached. We went with the girls, and enjoyed it in spite of the sweltering heat. Highly recommended if you ever find yourself in the area.



We arrived shortly before the front gates were opened, so I was able to hop out of the car and grab a shot of the sculpture out front of the place. A good indication of what lies within!






An interesting take on Don Quixote, far more pathetic than comic.


And Sancho Panza as well.


I don't believe I've ever seen more dragonflies, in both variety and quantity, than I saw at this place. This one was actually short a wing, though it didn't seem to keep him too grounded.



We ate lunch at the restaurant in the gardens, which was a little more fancy than we usually go for. But good! I had their signature sandwich, which was a club sandwich with apple slices and a nice tangy mustard. I wasn't sure I'd care for the apple slices on a club, but oh man, that was maybe the best sandwich in recent memory. Really yummy!


After lunch, we made our way to the zoo area, which focused on wildlife native to the area. They had a really interesting aviary, which was essentially a patch of cypress swamp that had been enclosed with screen. Apparently the first and/or largest of its type, very cool.


It was populated mainly with fairly tame night herons, I think black-crowned.




Otters!






They had an enclosed butterfly pavilion, but it was an extra charge and everyone was hot, so we skipped it. But they had a nice nectar garden outside, and I spotted this hummingbird taking advantage!


There was a pretty nice children's storybook play area, which the girls enjoyed.


Cinder-Amy!


Hallie as Rapunzel.







The tickets for the place were good for 7 days, and since we'd cut our visit a bit short and missed a lot of the grounds, Heather and I decided we'd go back to see some more and roam the sculpture gardens.




There were lots of lubbers too!


And gorgeous sculpture everywhere. Did I mention this place is awesome?










And a wonderful alley of majestic old live oaks--you know I'm a sucker for those!



On our way home we stopped at a little visitor center in the Francis Marion National Forest, which was a nice spot.



Instead of Savannah, we decided to head over to St. Simons Island for our overnight stay. I wanted to check out the lighthouse there, and it seemed like a nice place to check out. I found a resort online that looked a lot nicer in pics than it actually was--it wasn't bad, but it was an independent place with a VERY dated feel, a bit run-down. Not too bad, though. After settling into the hotel, we went out to check out the Fort Frederica National Monument.


And this place turned out to be pretty awesome too. It preserves the grounds of a fortress and town that were built by the British in 1736, and was inhabited until 1755 or so. We weren't really sure what to expect from the place, since it wasn't really on our original list of destinations, but it was a pleasant surprise--a rathr large place, fun to explore, and very interesting. Here Amy is checking out one of the many foundation remnants from houses and shops original to the town.


It also had a bunch of great old trees, of course.


Of the fort itself, all that's really left are some earthen berms and this powder magazine built of tabby, a cement made from crushed oyster shells.




This cannon (the metal part, anyway) was found in the water off the fort, so it's suspected to be original.




A group of deer (including a few fawns!) came out of the woods to graze. Fairly used to humans, I suppose.





After the park we grabbed some dinner and headed to the lighthouse area. The lighthouse itself was closed for the day (and we didn't go back the next day, so no climbing, bah), but we had fun on the nearby waterfront park area.



















The next morning we checked out a very nice park and playground on the island before hitting the road for the final stretch back to home.






There was a nature trail from the park--I only checked out the first little bit of it, but came across a neat little fairy village.


On the road again. :)

And that was the trip--thanks for looking, again!

Comments

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

Great photos again! Wow to the insects and birds photos. I also loved the shot of one your daughters heading to the pier.

[cp.livejournal.com]

Bah, I'm late to reply, but thanks very much! :)

[goblue.livejournal.com]

I love St. Simon's! I think of it as the less crowded, less golf centered, outlet mall free Hilton Head. Except it might have outlet malls by now, I have no idea. I just checked, I haven't been there since 2010.

[cp.livejournal.com]

We were reasonably impressed by St. Simon's too, it felt not-at-all commercialized and really quite quaint and natural. Our kinda place, in other words. :) I'd considered stopping by Hilton Head, but I figured it would be essentially another Myrtle Beach, maybe just more upscale (read: snobby).

[nick-101.livejournal.com]

Those are awesome pictures. Glad you and the girls had a great time.

[cp.livejournal.com]

We certainly did, thanks!

[mspeacockwi.livejournal.com]

the gardens are absolutely beautiful!

[cp.livejournal.com]

It was an awesome place, especially considering how out in the middle of nowhere it was. I'd go back for sure!

[re-vised.livejournal.com]

Whoa...what a beautiful place! Those sculptures are incredible. It's neat they preserved the old village like they did! I love daydreaming about what places like that must have looked like way back when.

[cp.livejournal.com]

There were a LOT of sculptures, too, I only snapped a few because otherwise it would have felt like taking inventory. :) There were some indoor spaces with smaller works too, it was all very nice. And yes, for almost 300 years old, it was impressive to be walking around what was once a thriving little town, if only for a few years. There was more left of it than I would have expected!