From what we gather, South Carolina is divided into three regions. We're in the Upstate (and the Peidmont because we're so close to the mountains. The Midlands is obviously the middle of the state. Finally the Lowcountry is down by the coast.
The ever wonderful Miss Susan has even more wonderful parents that own a home in the Lowcountry and offered to let us all spend a weekend down there. It is really a different world down by the ocean. There was spanish moss hanging from every tree and we finally got to see many Palmetto trees. The house was located on the edge of a marsh with a river that ran through it and a big dock from which you could launch your boat or cast a net to catch some shrimp (but only in the summer). 
This is during low tide. We came out later and the water was much higher. the house was very cool not only because it was so nice, but because it was located on a private island that has its own golf course. We got to take out the golf cart and take a tour. Most of the ponds on the islands also have alligators, but we didn't see any because it was a chilly rainy weekend. (We did see some on Sunday as we were leaving.)
We spotted a lizard that had sneaked into the house and was hiding on the blinds. Mister Paul pulled it down so we could get a closer look. Henry petted its tail.
I didn't touch it because we took a closer look and decided this lizard had been inside for a while and it was pretty close to death if not there already. Mister Paul took him outside. Hopefully he made a full recover.
On Friday we made the trip to Beaufort and to Hunting Island State Park to see the lighthouse.
Papa and Mister Paul took Henry to the top. Miss Susan chickened out at the first platform. Mama decided to go in her place, but also chickened out at the first platform. I was too little and they wouldn't let me climb up.
This is a long fall down 170 rusty 130-year-old stairs. Especially if you're carrying a 50 pound drum of oil in the dark. Yikes.
While everyone was up top, I played on the old foundation of the lighthouse keeper's house.
It was a little chilly, but we stayed bundled up.
When the boys came down, papa took mama back up to the top. She was a big wimp and spent the whole time clutching the railings and not really enjoying a minute of it. She did walk around the top twice and yelled down and waved to us.
Next, we decided to head out to the beach.
Papa got some good shots while we combed the beach for shells.
Henry walked out on the barrier into the water.
Mama and I gave it a try too.
Henry correctly identified this horseshoe crab- or at least the exoskeleton of a horseshoe crab.
We walked back to the car on the boardwalks through the "woods." Mister Paul said that the jungle scenes for the movie Forrest Gump were filmed on an island nearby. It sure looked like a jungle to us.
Look at the wild animals!
Mama took this picture of a pond by the visitors' center. We don't think the fountain is doing a good job of preventing the muck from growing.
We forgot to take the camera on the rest of our trips. We went back to Beaufort to visit a delicious candy shop. On Saturday, we visited Savannah. It was a cold rainy day, but we got to drive around the historic district. (Papa's already started researching historic townhouses for when we buy our vacation home- har har.) We also got out and walked around the shops on River Street. We got to visit 2 more candy stores (my aching belly) and ate at a delicious restaurant that served shrimp and grits, slow roasted beef roast and fried green tomatoes.
Unfortunately, we had to leave for home on Sunday. We had a great time and fully intend to take the Martins up on their offer to let us visit again next summer!
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