Hilton Head Vacation 2011

We had a great time at the beach!  I already shared a little about our vacation here.  This year's vacation was as close to perfect as we could ask for.  The weather was wonderful...temperatures were in the high 80s and low 90s all week with a nice breeze the entire time.  We also got smart and set up a tailgating tent on the beach, and the added shade allowed us to stay on the beach the entire day!  Wonderful!

Here were some of our favorite activities:

1) Building sandcastles of different varieties

Even the daddies built sandcastles this year.  They were given the challenge to build a sandcastle that could withstand high tide.

 It was an engineering marvel!  It had walls, pools and channels strategically placed to direct the water away from the sandcastle (in the very back with the driftwood flag).  As long as the driftwood was standing after high tide, then Daddy had "defeated nature!"

The test begins...

It looks like it will hold.

In the end, the sandcastle was able to withstand 2 high tides and Daddy defeated nature!  He celebrated with a beer!

2) Riding the waves on the boogie board

 Jack riding the waves

Jack and Granddaddy were a great team this year.  Jack knew just how to control the board and Granddaddy could pick out the best waves to carry him all the way into the shore.  It was so much fun to watch.

Will the surfer boy

Will loved boogie boarding and could not get enough of it.  One day, the water was rough and the waves were pounding him, but Will would not give up.  He wanted to ride those waves! 

3) Playing on the beach

4) Celebrating our country's birthday

 We start the morning off with the Firecracker 5000 5K race...

 

 Proof that I actually ran in the race.

And end the day watching the fireworks over the Harbour Town lighthouse.

5) Exploring a local farmer's market

Sampling the Lowcountry's version of gumbo.  It was different than the Cajun gumbo that we are used to, but it was good enough for us to buy a bowl to share!  Two of my other favorite samplings were the caramalized onion and pickled beet hummus and the soybean pesto...both were so good!

Jack and Will's favorite was dancing to the Cupid Shuffle at the Music Man's tent.

It was a great vacation and we all can't wait to go back next year!