Young Family Getaway

This morning I am writing from the beautiful Isle of Palms, where we have landed for a week of fun and relaxation with Lawrence's family.  We all took off from Louisville on Friday (us in the afternoon...Dick, MT, Tony and Sydney at around midnight) and made the 10 hour drive to the coast of South Carolina, specifically Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms. Because we've spent our last six or so family vacations out west, our kids haven't had the recent joy and privilege or a road trip (nor have their sometimes not so patient parents), but we all did great, and Lawrence and I enjoyed having long talks and control of the radio during the ride while the kids slept and watched movies. 

Loaded and ready!



Dramamine is wonderful thing to give an energetic 9 year old

 We stopped for the night in Clinton, SC and after a quick breakfast at the hotel we were back on the road.

Fueling up...now let's get to the beach!

MT, Tony, Sydney and Dick drove through the night so they beat us to the beach.  We have condos within the same complex at Wild Dunes...we are staying at Seagrove, within the Wild Dunes resort on the Isle of Palms (yeah, it confuses me too).  We made a quick pit stop in their condo because ours wasn't ready yet, changed into our suits and hit the beach.  What a beautiful day!  The weather is spectacluar...in the 80s with a constant breeze (I told Lawrence it's like you have a fan on you the whole time, which on the beach is a wonderful thing).  The kids (and grownups) had so much fun in the ocean, which is wonderfully warm right now. 

MT and Sydney walk out to the waves

Tony takes a go at the skim board

Lawrence snapped this of Sarah and me after making us pose for a nice picture before this wave hit us!

Tony and Dick relax under the tent

After a great afternoon at the beach we headed over to a nearby shopping center to have dinner and pick up some more groceries.  We happened upon a great little place called Gilligan's that was offering all-you-can-eat shrimp, which sounded like the perfect way to kick off a beach vacation.

The gang at Gilligan's

One of many plates of shrimp!

This morning dawned clear and bright.  I think Dick was the first one on the beach, but it wasn't long before the clan made their way down to join him.  I've been savoring one of my favorite vacation rituals...an endless cup of coffee with several magazines (and I must say enjoying it from the deck while watching the ocean makes it just about perfect).

Mmmm...heaven.

We are set up for day...our comfortable tent, kites flying, kids playing.  Looks like it's going to be another great day!

The view from our deck