Road Trip 2011 Part 2: The Charleston Adventures Day 4

Finally, a good beach day!

Wednesday was reasonably warm and most importantly, not rainy!

So we hit the beach and explored our little island vacation home...

Since it was the off season we were practically the only people on the beach, especially early in the day.

Between the dunes and the puffy grey clouds, I was in photographer's heaven!

I even found this creepy little guy along the surf.  He was pretty creepy looking, but harmless enough.  In any case, he didn't protest when I picked him and moved him farther out into the water.

Here's Earl daydreaming that he owns one of these gorgeous beach houses!

We didn't do anything besides enjoy the sun, surf, and sand.  It was a beautiful beach day!

But the real magic began as the sun went down...

A mist settled over the beach...

giving everything a very surreal appearance.

So we headed out armed with buckets, shovels, and a kite...

we harnessed the wind... 

and dug for buried treasure...

and then watched the full moon rise over the eerily still ocean waters.

We stayed out until the mosquitos chased us back inside, and then we sat on the balcony for several more hours, not quite willing to end this day. 

Fortunately, we had a really fun activity planned for the next morning....

Road Trip 2011 Part 2: The Charleston Adventures Day 3

Tuesday dawned rainy, but the sun was beginning to peek through the clouds. 

There was hope for a sunny day!

While the weather was deciding what to do, we decided to head back to the city and visit the South Carolina Aquarium.

Among the many other fishy wonders, we saw an albino alligator.

(Which perhaps would have been more impressive if not for King Louie at the Louisville Zoo. )

Outside the aquarium was the bay and a beautiful view (THE SUN!) of the suspension bridge.

Earl even made a friend...

The architecture of Charleston is amazing.  I love the old buildings and all those magnificent wooden doorways!

The best way to see the city?

Carriage tours, of course!

Poor Bill the horse was loaded down with over a dozen tourists....good thing Charleston is not known for steep inclines...

We plodded along past dozens of historically insignificant sights...

Afterward we gave Bill some much-deserved love and headed off to find some grub....BBQ was on the menu!

When we returned to our condo we sat out on the deck and watched the lightening dance in the clouds in the distance.

With a view like this, we were feeling very spoiled!

Road Trip 2011 Part 2: The Charleston Adventures Day 2

Our second day in Charleston also turned out rainy and cold, so we decided to divide and conquer.  The ladies (minus Anna) headed to the Old Exchange and Provost in the city.

The old cobblestone streets were phenomenally beautiful....albeit difficult to walk on. =)

The Old Exchange was built on the original wall of the city, dating back to the 1600's.  The building had many uses over the centuries, most importantly as the place South Carolina ratified the Declaration of Independence, and the dungeon was used to hold many political prisoners during the War for Independence.

Upstairs held the honor of hosting George Washington during many formal dances.

The views out the windows of the ballroom showed the city of Charleston, steeped in history and beauty.

While we ladies were getting our dose of history, the boys and Anna braved the weather at Patriot's Point. 

They were able to tour numerous naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier and a submarine.

Our "two peas in a pod" 

These two were practically connected at the hip the entire week.  It was such fun to go on vacation with best friends!