Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC was on our radar from the very beginning, but there is only so much you can do at any given time.  So, although we drove through Charleston well over a year ago, this was our first official visit to the historic city.  We arrived to discover that Charleston is very hot and humid!  I guess I should have expected it, but somehow that humidity gets me every time.  I suppose that's why I love the mountains as much as I do.  Even when it's humid, it seems to cool down quickly and the weather is constantly changing.

We spent our first evening with friends we met while staying on Ocracoke.    They were so kind to invite us into their home.  We are truly grateful to know them.  We had a wonderful dinner of Frogmore stew (also known as Brunswick stew). It was a mix of red potatoes, sausage, shrimp, and corn on the cob all boiled in a big pot in old bay seasoning.  It was delicious!!!!  We stayed much too late, but enjoyed every second of the visit.  We hope to reciprocate sometime soon if we can get them to visit Brevard!

Today we went downtown.  We parked at the Battery and walked to the market.  It is truly a beautiful city, set beside the water, gorgeous homes and businesses line the flower filled streets.  It is clean and pleasant and not intimidating like other cities we've seen.  If you've never had the opportunity to visit Charleston I would definitely add it to your bucket list.  We still have much more to see, but that will have to wait for another visit.  Luckily it is only about 4 1/2 hours away for us.

The kids cooled off at Waterfront park.  The fountains are not only beautiful but fun!  I honestly could have spent the better part of the day just relaxing in the park there.  We did not stay long though since we had much more to see.

We made our way down to the market and enjoyed checking out all the vendors.  We filled up on tasty samples from various food places and we found the much anticipated pralines for which I had been longing.  By the time we got back to our truck we were ready to head to the camper to relax.  I don't think we'll make it to Folly Beach this visit since it's a holiday weekend.  We're not much for crowds and have had our share of beaches this past month, so we will save that for a future visit.

Next stop, home sweet home Brevard!

Back to the Beginning

When we began this journey a year and a half ago we first stopped at Myrtle Beach, SC on our way to Florida.  I find it only fitting that Myrtle Beach play a role in our adventures now as we prepare to return to Brevard and settle down.  We again stayed in Myrtle Beach State Park which is truly a wonderful campground.  This state park is one of the nicest we found during our travels and we will continue to come back here to vacation in the months and years to come.  Being here reminded me of how I felt the first time we came.  We were excited and scared with so much unknown in front of us.  Now, in retrospect, we have grown so much as individuals and as a family.  I can honestly say that this was the best decision we could have ever made.  Yes, we've made sacrifices, but in turn we've had immeasurable return.  We've seen new things, learned new things, made new friends, and we've discovered new dreams we never would have known had we not pushed past our comfort zone.  So, Myrtle Beach was filled with fishing and fun, but mostly it was time to reflect and smile, knowing we are different because of this amazing journey!

Southport - A "Safe Haven"

The next leg of our journey took us through the town of Southport.  If you are not familiar, Southport is the setting of the recent movie "Safe Haven".  It's a beautiful coastal town with similar attributes to Brevard.  The downtown stores were fun and busy going into the holiday weekend.  We also got to experience the weekly  farmers market.  It was a short stop, but definitely a place I would return.

Carolina & Kure Beach

After only two nights in Surf City, we were once again off down the Carolina coast to Carolina Beach, NC.  This area had much more build-up than Surf City.  The beaches were much shorter than we were use to and reminded me of visits to the Jersey coast.  The sand was also much coarser than the fine sand of Ocracoke.  


We spent most of our time on Kure Beach near the fishing pier.  It was perfect conditions for the kids to surf and they had a wonderful time.  We did hear tale of a gator in the ocean earlier in the day, but we didn't have any encounters. We were always under the impression that alligators stayed out of salt water, but we learned that isn't always the case.  It was a fun day, but not our favorite beach on the trip.  Regardless, it's still fun seeing new places.  Next up Myrtle Beach!

Surf City, NC

Upon exiting the Cedar Island Ferry, we headed south down the North Carolina coast to Surf City.  With expectations based on name alone, we were pleasantly surprised to find a small fishing town without much build-up.  The island was lined with coastal houses, and only a few stores and restaurants keeping it quaint. 

 

Lanier's Campground was a wonderful stopping spot for us.  Their staff was friendly and the kids enjoyed playing pool and air hockey in the campstore area.  There was a pool that unfortunately we didn't get to swim in because of passing thunder showers.  We did get to crab, fish, and shrimp off the campground pier! Most was done with the cast nets which was great fun.  Catching shrimp was a whole new experience for us and we all got involved in the process. 

We also enjoyed visiting the seafood market.  We bought some fish and shrimp and enjoyed a feast!  It was definitely a place perfect for the Meile's and one we hope to visit again. 

Islands

June has been a month spent along the North Carolina coast. Our first two weeks were in Ocracoke. It is the place I've gone my entire life so it always feels like home. The first weekend we enjoyed the Ocrafolk Festival with my parents and neice. It was a whirlwind of music and fun. I had the opportunity to meet several other artists whose work is also sold at Local Color in Brevard. It was a terrific bond and a sweet reminder of home.  

The next week was filled with relaxing beach time, wonderful restaurants, some clamming and fishing. 

Week two was spent enjoying time with my family. It was sooo good to see everyone again and it was just a wonderful week!

Saturday we took the Cedar Island Ferry for another Meile first. We played cards and hung out with our neighbors and new friends from the campground.

It was a fabulous two weeks and a lead in to a weeks worth of new adventure. Stay tuned for our updates heading down the Carolina coasts.

Exploring North Carolina

It's been a long time since I've written a post, but we have simply been enjoying day-to-day life in Brevard. For those of you who don't know already, we have decided to make Brevard NC our permanent home. We have fallen in love with this little town and can't imagine living anywhere else.  

We spent a month living once again in our camper at Adventure Village in Brevard. We will also spend the month of July there before we rent our cabin again.   We are hoping to find our own home soon enough but we just take each day as it comes. 

WeBgypsies Photographic Art has been growing slowly but surely. I now have pictures in two stores and will have two photos in a local exhibit in July. I love the challenge of capturing an image that moves someone regardless if they've been there themselves. 

The kids are totally involved with Brevard Rock Gym and are so excited the Austin Family has taken ownership. The kids are hoping to do some competitions in the upcoming year.

Right now we are exploring the Carolina coast and enjoying the beaches. We always love a new adventure and hope Brevard holds some for us when we get back. 

Thank you for continuing to follow our adventures. We will post updates about our coastal trip soon. Until then live life!