Hilton Head

Not a week after we were through with Fayetteville, WV, and the kids were in Columbus, we took off for Hilton Head Island for a gathering of the Gates-Gates-Hopwood crew. The beach was fantastic, the pool was lots of fun, we had comfortable sleeping arrangements in the house, and dinners were amazing.

One evening Grandma Paulette & Grandpa Doug kept the kids so the Hopwoods could visit Palmetto Bluff and Jenn and I could visit Beaufort. We took a really cool walk around Hunting Island then had a wonderful dinner at the Old Bull Tavern. The food, service and drinks were incredible... one of our better restaurant experiences.

The beach where we were at, a stone's throw north of Sea Pines, was perfect. Long and gradual, with a nice tide pool during low tide that was great for seeing wildlife: hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, minnows & mussels.

The bike paths around the island are neat, and good for running in the shade, but think long and hard before you take bikes for young kids. Lincoln (7) was a good age for using the paths. Lydia & Henry (4.5) needed lots of (stressful) guidance to keep them on the correct side of the path and out of others' ways.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge was a morning stop for us that was fantabulous.

We loved the ocean...

... and, of course, the pool...

There were crafts, a visit to the local diner, sand castles, a light house climb, planet sightings, alligators, and just a whole lot of fun. (And notice the alligator just behind the kids in the photo below!)