Archive for the ‘Day Trip Ideas’ Category

Down a sandy road, outside of Charleston, SC, on John’s Island lives a majestic tree, the Angel Oak. It’s a huge tree. Thought to be one of the oldest things, if not the oldest – living or man made – east of the Rockies, the tree boasts nearly 25 feet around in girth, and is said to be possibly over 1500 years old.

Earlier this week we stopped by on our way out of town to see the old lady. I haven’t been for a visit under her welcoming arms since a child, and this was my children’s first visit.

It might be called Angel Oak, but I think it looks more like a wild sea creature that has crawled out of the Charleston Harbor to take a rest.

The long arms wind in and out, some even going into the ground to rise again.

Here my mother is telling the children to try to see the wild shapes and faces in the trunk of the tree. They sure are trying hard enough.

And these two? These two don’t know what the others are up to. They think they’re too cool for school.

(That’s why I like being behind the camera, I get to people watch and observe and hopefully avoid goofy looking pictures of myself as much as possible. And believe me, I can make some goofy looking pictures.)

The Angel Oak is a little crippled in places, being helped along like an old woman might be at the ripe old age of 1500, but she’s still beautiful nonetheless.

I wonder what stories she might tell. What storms she’s weathered. What droughts she’s thirsted through. She’s a tough old thing.

If you’re ever in the Charleston, SC area, plan a trip out to say hello (or “hey!” as we say in the South) to the old gal. There is no admission, but, because she is a protected treasure, as she should be, there are hours of operation. For more information visit http://www.angeloaktree.org/.

Millions and millions of people have visited the Golden Gate Bridge. Tons of people drive over it every day as part of their daily routine. So a few weeks ago when we saw it for the first time in real life I wasn’t expecting too much.

It’s a bridge. A big bridge. A big bridge painted a pretty color in a hip city.

But boy was I surprised.

If you’re never seen it in person before, it’s huge. Huge. After growing up always seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in pictures and movies (anyone remember the intro to “Full House”?), I wasn’t quite prepared for the scale. Pictures don’t convey the size well. It’s a big booger.

I know all of y’all out there that have seen it in person are just cracking up at me, but for real, it’s an amazing engineering feat. A marvel indeed.

If this gives you any idea…look here’s a delivery truck.

And here on the ridge of this hill are people. People, people.

Speaking of walking, one of my good friends, Denise, says her great, great grandmother Carrie Elisabeth Sayre Adkins, was the first woman to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. That would’ve been cool huh?

What really impressed upon was the fact that it was built long before modern technology. I mean there are certainly bigger bridges now – more elaborate ones today. But this one was built without all the help of innovative machines, computers, etc. that we have today. Sure machines and tools were used but nothing like what is used in industry these days.

Can you just imagine the hundreds of thousands of calculations that had to be done in the planning stages alone?

(Sorry for the photo quality. These were taken through a car window, so ick.)

The Golden Gate is an incredible accomplishment. With all of the special effects we’re exposed to daily, and space age technology that most of us use, I think we’ve become so desensitized by truly remarkable things. This bridge was built with ingenuity, braun and determination.

For me our visit to the Golden Gate was a great reminder to me that we’re created to create – to create and to work. The Golden Gate inspired me to look beyond what I think my limits are. It’s a great example of what can be achieved with thought, study, discipline, hard work and a lot of creativity.

Yes, I was impressed.

Have you seen anything marvelous lately? Anything that tickled your fancy? Something that impressed you to bits? I can’t wait to hear about it.

Last April, while visiting my parents, we hopped in the car and drove to another world.

Nah, it wasn’t really another world, but it felt like it. Plus it sounds so dramatic to say so.

And I’m all into the drama of it all.

Oooooh.

Aaaaah.

Ohhhh.

Back to the point of the post.

Botany Bay on Edisto Island is like no other coastline I’ve experienced in South Carolina. And growing up in SC I’ve seen much of its coast.

Botany Bay is on the wild side. And that’s a good thing.

Beaches, maritime forests, salt marsh, tidal creeks, freshwater ponds and hammock islands make up the 4,630 acres of natural beauty to enjoy at Botany Bay. The land, formerly owned by the late Margaret Pepper, is now managed by the SC Department of Natural Resources and is open to the public for educational and recreational opportunities. Mrs. Pepper’s goal was to preserve the natural state of the land. And I’m glad she did. It’s beautiful.

We spent most of our time at the beach. Even though it was an unusually cold and windy day for April in the Low Country, we strolled out to the beach to wonder in awe at the view. It was almost shocking.

And while it looks like a war zone this cycle of erosion has been happening here for years as beaches are built up in some areas and washed away in others; to and fro, back and forth the land moves.

It’s a fun place to explore.

A perfect place for a game of hide-n-seek.

Everywhere I looked there were unusual pieces of wood, shells and trees calling out to be photographed.

Below is the underside of a tree trunk. Cool huh?

I could take pictures of shells everyday. I’d be happy with that.

A professional shell photographer I shall be, shooting shells by the seashore.

Botany Bay is definitely a photographers dream.

Can’t wait until our next trip. It’ll be neat to see how the beach has changed.

If you’re interested in visiting Botany Bay or learning more about it, here are a few links you may find helpful:

Botany Bay Ecotours

An article by South Carolina Wildlife (Department of Natural Resources)

Edisto Island Preservation Alliance – Botany Bay

Do you know of any natural preserves to visit that you’d like to tell us about? Please share.