| Recently my wife and I needed to be in the vicinity of | | | | Next I want your attention to go to the south beach |
| Parris Island South Carolina So we searched on | | | | marina this simple little marina is a happening place for |
| Vacation homes by and found a nice condo for | | | | families with little ones. The local club sponsors so |
| ourselves. We spent the week Prior to my son's | | | | shows with musicians and people in large animal |
| Graduation from Parris Island as a marine, on the island. | | | | costumes. Lots of fun. Cool misters to keep down the |
| Island life is fun interesting and educational. In this article | | | | mosquito's lots of eats and drinks. You love it. The |
| I will familiarize you with the islands high lights. Its | | | | other marina is harbor town This is the one with the |
| challenges and its beauty. | | | | photo opportunity with the fake light house. You can |
| First let me say Hilton Head Island is just 12 miles long | | | | pay $5 dollars to climb to the top but I for one don't |
| and 5 miles wide. While there I learned it is the only | | | | think it is worth it. |
| east coast estuary for Sea Turtles. The female | | | | The island itself is divided into plantations. Each |
| comes ashore in the dark and lays her eggs in the sea | | | | plantation was a previous parcel of land, now he seem |
| grass on the dunes. Then after the incubation period | | | | to all have a golf course and rental (time share) and |
| the eggs hatch not always all together but usually at | | | | Fine hotel all on the same property. Now why would |
| night. The young turtles follow the brightest light | | | | you build or stay here well if you check the path of |
| hopefully the moon to the ocean. If they are lucky this | | | | various hurricanes for the last 50 years they always |
| happens before day break and the gulls pick them off. | | | | seem to miss this part of the main land locals will tell |
| Now the local oceanographic group will mark the nests | | | | you it is the long shallow shelf that goes out miles |
| so no one steps on them. But local laws about lights on | | | | before the drop to the continental shelf. The told me it |
| the beach have been insufficient to stop visitors and | | | | steers the hurricanes away my research seems to |
| vacationers. From doing some very harmful things to | | | | verify that is true. So that make the island a great |
| the young turtles. I.E. luminaries for a wedding, left on | | | | investment. But many families have been vacationing |
| the beach for someone else to clean up. Unfortunately | | | | on Hilton Head Island for decades. |
| for the young sea turtles in the adjoining nest they | | | | Lastly we found that this area is in the Gulf Stream |
| hatched that night and the multitude of lights confused | | | | this water is usually 8-10 degrees warmer that the |
| them of the entire hatch only one made it to the | | | | Labrador current off the coast of North Carolina. |
| ocean. The rest perished exhausted on the beach in | | | | These two current come together in the outer banks |
| dunes. | | | | at the Hatteras light house. Then push off at an angle |
| As an island it has some great sites to take in both | | | | toward the British Isles. The Labrador current is the |
| with the conservation and because of the | | | | slower and colder current moving at only.6 miles per |
| conservation. For instance if you are lucky you might | | | | hour. While the golf stream moves at 4-6 miles per |
| see the bottle nose dolphins that frequent the sound | | | | hour. I myself am old enough I liked the warmer water |
| and the creeks, Now creeks in this area are brine | | | | of the Gulf Stream. 8 degrees makes a big difference. |
| water or sound water that comes in a large cut in the | | | | Now mode of travel yes you can get around by car |
| island from previous Hurricanes. I recommend you visit | | | | but you may also rent a bike for the week. Or rent |
| the Broad creek marina and check out riding to the | | | | water craft. I took a wave runner out into the sound |
| other island. Daufuskie island, there are very few autos | | | | for one hour under supervision and had a great time. |
| on the island. You can rent a golf cart and travel to the | | | | This island is ideal for biking around with the family |
| far side of the island to the Atlantic and experience a | | | | either early morning to late evening. Many plantations |
| beach before man had it all built up. Very few people | | | | have bike paths next to but off the road way. It is truly |
| were on this beach the day we were there total of 4 | | | | a family friendly vacation spot. Did I do it all or visit |
| people. After a storm is the best time to find shells that | | | | every thing in one week nope. I will go again and I hope |
| have not been picked over by hundreds of people. On | | | | you will check out this wonderful family friendly site for |
| the trip back to the dock the dolphins were in broad | | | | yourself. If you make it to the salty dog café them |
| creek as we slowly motored up the creek. | | | | Salty Bill sent you. |