R2 Thoughts for You What’s So Great About Boone, Charleston And Hilton Head?
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, NC. Do you see the “blue ridge?”
Entering The Great Smoky Mountains. Does It “look smoky?”
September 1 to September 13, 2009, was the time span of my last vacation. My wife and I spent two days in Boone, NC, one day in Charleston, SC and one week on Hilton Head Island, SC. This was a driving vacation which resulted in our staying overnight in Knoxville and Chattanooga, TN, as well. It was the third time we have visited Charleston and the sixth time we have spent at least a week on Hilton Head Island. Obviously, we like those two destinations. :-)
A Blue Ridge Mountain stream behind our friend’s house.
The first day was spent driving to Knoxville, TN. We rested there for the night after a meal at Puleos Grille. The next morning we drove south and east through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Asheville, NC, and to Boone, NC. My wife and I have a friend who lives in Boone, NC. We spent two days visiting, sight-seeing in the Blue Ridge Mountains and learning about how our friend does hand-weaving.
Our “weaver” friend’s workshop.
View from our Courtyard Charleston room.
On September 4 we drove to Charleston, SC, where we stayed at the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront. That evening we went to the old part of Charleston for an “unscheduled” French Quarter Art Walk, some shopping and a nice meal at Magnolias restaurant, one of Charleston’s most popular restaurant which is located at the site of the city’s original Customs House (circa 1739). Later that evening, we returned to the Courtyard where I had a white russian literally made by a white Russian. You see, the bartender at the Courtyard was a young white woman from Russia and, well, you know the rest. :-)
Our view from our villa!
After breakfast the following morning, we drove to HIlton Head Island. We had a villa at the Marriott Grande Ocean Resort reserved for the week of September 5 – 12. Upon arriving at the resort we immediately rented bicycles for the week, stocked up on supplies for eating and drinking and I discovered that I left my extra shoes at the Courtyard in Charleston. That meant I had only one pair of shoes for the week. Really, what that meant was that I would have to buy a pair of shoes real soon. :-) I did on Monday at the local outlet mall.
Our week on Hilton Head Island was filled with lots of bicycling, partying with friends, golfing, going out to eat and relaxing. Some of the pictures on this posting give you a visual idea of what it was like.
Biking on the beach of Hilton Head.
We left Hilton Head on Saturday, September 12, and drove to Chattanooga, TN where we had dinner at Portofinos, a restaurant owned by Greeks that serves Italian and Greek food. We have eaten there enough that we now “sort of” know the owners. After a night’s rest, we returned to St. Louis on September 13.
The majestic Atlantic Ocean.
Every vacation starts and ends the same way for me. I’m always happy to leave home and go on vacation and happy to “vacate the vacation” and come home. What’s so great about Boone, Charleston and Hilton Head? It was my latest greatest vacation! :-)
Sunset over Dafuskie Island as viewed from Hiliton Head.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures. There are more photos on my website. Simply point your browser to R2’S PHOTO ALBUMS after arriving at the site. Also, please forgive the format of this post where the “words are woven through the pictures.” I guess this was inspired by our friend, the “Boone Weaver.” :-)
R2 Thoughts for You 