New Year's Eve--Already

Like so many, I find it hard to believe that 2010 is over. The months flitted by like a wisp of cloud over the Blue Ridge Parkway.

To celebrate (and to prove the year actually did exist), I created a chronological slideshow of our Carolina adventures. Places like ACE Wildlife Refuge; Hunting Island; Savannah; Fort Fisher; South Mountain State Park; Airlie Gardens; Pocahontas State Park in Virginia; Linville Falls and Blowing Rock; Sunset Beach to find The Mailbox; Carrot Island and more. Showing once and for all that you can pack a lot into one day if you're willing to drive a little, or even a lot.

View the slideshow in the box below (I recommend adjusting the speed to 3 seconds per photo) or click on the link beneath it to view a full version in Webshots.

2010 in Review

Wherever you are, or wherever you may go, we wish you a safe and happy New Year. Blessings.

Snow Day!

A snow system moved through the Carolinas this past week, dumping snow on a good portion of both states, giving some a white Christmas and others, a headache from accidents and power outages.

Our snow arrived shortly after midnight the day after Christmas, so we awoke to a winter wonderland. This being the south, it began to melt the following day, but we did snap a few photos.

And the photo that I'm so proud of, I actually uploaded it to the Weather Channel and another news show!

I love the snow. Even more, I love that it's usually gone within two days. Stay warm and drive safely!

Books: Two SC Lowcountry Resources

Every time I think I have a solid grasp of places to visit around the Carolinas, I hear about a dozen more, so I'm always searching for field guides with information on unexplored destinations. During the last two trips to South Carolina's Lowcountry, I found the following treasures.

Lowcountry Daytrips: Plantations, Gardens, and a Natural History of the Charleston Region by William P. Baldwin III

After providing an informative introduction on the Lowcountry, the author divides the SC coast from Murrells Inlet to the Savannah River into eleven daytrip tours, using Charleston as the starting point (of course!) Within each tour, Mr Baldwin directs visitors to several points of interest in the area, and includes history, facts, and directions for each location. Some places, such as Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, are well-known. Some I've never heard of, and still others, such as Bushy Park and the Indigo vats near the Cooper River, I wouldn't have thought to visit.

A source of new places to explore and oodles of history made Lowcountry Daytrips a great find, and worth the ten dollars we spent.

George Washington's Guide to the Waccamaw Neck and Georgetown by Sharon Carlisle

A spiral-bound book that guides visitors on the route George Washington took along the Waccamaw Neck during his famous Southern Tour in 1791 sounds a bit cheesy. But in addition to providing blurbs from President Washington's journal—giving readers a glimpse into the early days of South Carolina's history, government, and landscape—Ms. Carlisle points out places newer guides may not include, such as the Wachesaw Landing, where the Waccamaw Indians once hunted and buried their own; Litchfield Plantation; Hobcaw Barony; a one-room schoolhouse; the ruins of Prince Frederick's Church, and more.

Using fantastic detail, Ms. Carlisle shares her knowledge of the history, landscape, legend, and culture along the 30 x 3 mile strip of land south of Myrtle Beach. She even includes photos.

The book was published in 1991, so some information may be a tad out of date—famous Murrells Inlet resident Mickey Spillane is referred to in the present tense—but the book is loaded with history and places to visit. The only thing I don't like about it is the lack of clear directions. However, I now know what to look for.

Both books will go on the Carolina reference shelf with others I've mentioned in the past. For a list, check out my "Guides to Help You Find Your Way" post.

The Return of the Swans

Sorry, but after reading @InnerBanks (Swanquarter, Hyde Co, etc) recent Twitter tweet, I couldn't resist...

The snowy swan arched her wings and rising up, took flight. And soared across the tundra ice in search of warmer nights. Though weary from the journey of a thousand miles or more, she pressed on southward to her goal on Carolina shores.

At last! The oval lake of blue appeared within her sight. The snow swan then arched her wings and ended there her flight.

Landing in the shallow waters, she at a cypress moored.

And there she rested for a month on Carolina shores.

According to Inner Bank's tweet, the swans are back around Swanquarter and Lake Mattamuskeet. We'll be heading east in the near future!

The Last of Autumn

Autumn is waning, and yards and forests are now sporting bare trees and carpets of dead leaves. According to several of the locals, eastern North Carolina saw more color this year than in years past. We took a few photos of the squash, apple, and pumpkin-tinted tapestry at its peak.

Soybean ripe for the harvest:

Harvest time! Typical traffic jam this time of year:

Reflection in Blackwaters:

Color in my own front yard:

I've always said autumn is the best time to explore the Carolinas. Not just because of the colors, but because crowds have thinned, and with leaves falling, views are even better. And with the colder weather, the migrating swans and geese will soon arrive. Nothing could be finer. Hope to see you around a Carolina town or trail soon.