I have a secret.

Actually I vacillate from wanting to shout if from the rooftops, to not telling a soul. It’s our favorite vacation spot, Eleuthera. (Although we haven’t been since 2007.)

I hesitate to tell about it for 3 reasons:

1) We don’t want it to change.

2) I don’t want to sound snooty.

3) Everyone’s ideal of what makes a vacation great is different.

But I’m forging ahead.

(And for the record, I’m not snooty.)

Eleuthera is one of the out islands of The Bahamas. While it’s the next island east of Nassau, Eleuthera is worlds apart from the bustling, loud, touristy, cruise ship docking neighbor to the west.

Quiet and laid back you’ll find no amusement parts, little to no nightlife or mini golf on Eleuthera. Eleuthera is all about being in and around beautiful, crystal blue water that’s teeming with colorful sea life.

This is a giant starfish. Starfish, sea turtles and other creatures can be discovered all over the island.

Eleuthera is Greek for freedom – which is certainly what you feel when you’re there. We like to drive around and explore different beaches. For a small island Eleuthera offers quite a variety of things to see.

There are gorgeous coral and rock formations to explore on the windward side of the island.

A few minutes away by car you can be on the super calm leeward side with a completely different undersea vibe.

There’s everything from soft pink sand bottoms, to grass flats to pretty rock formations.

The people are wonderful too – friendly and eager to help you find those special fishing or snorkeling spots.

These gorgeous girls were friendly. Love those uniforms – they match the sea!

There’s very little crime on Eleuthera. The place has a real small town feel.

The crazy thing is for such a lovely place there are very few tourists.

You can drive your rental to one of the island’s most popular beaches, and if you see more than 10 people on a one mile stretch of pink sand, it’s a busy day.

Eleuthera is surprisingly affordable. We’ve found it to be less expensive or comparable to many vacation destinations in the U.S. And if you can redeem some of those airline miles like we did, all the better.

We’re hoping to get back to Eleuthera this summer. We’ll see.

And maybe I’ll run into you there as well. Hey, you never know, it’s a small world.

Do you have any favorite vacations destinations you can share? Do blue waters do it for you? Or do you like snow capped mountains? Maybe you like bustling city full of life?

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.

We’re bombarded with negative messages everyday. Bailouts to bad weather. Hogzilla to swine flu. It’s good every now and then to take a respite from all of that. A couple of weeks ago, while visiting my inlaws in NC, we had the pleasure of attending a community pickin’. Not a pig pickin’. Or a nose pickin’. (We don’t do that around here.) But a pickin’ of the musical variety. Bluegrass and country music to be more specific.

These community pickin’s have been popping up around the area for some time. Gifted musicians and music fans come from all around to visit these different pickin’ parlours or “Pickin’ Parties” for lack of a better term. To listen. To play. And to forget about the Lizard Man for one evening. What could be better than a night of music and fellowship?

This particular pickin’ was in Staley, NC. The musicians circle around, break out in Little Cabin Home on the Hill and the fun begins. They take turns leading the music and everyone jumps in, even if they’ve never played that particular tune before. It’s fun to watch.

Here’s Julie, a fiddle player and the only lady in the bunch. She’s a member of the all girl band, The Sweet Potato Pie.

This young fella began on the upright bass. The upright bass is cool.

Yep, I’m looking at you. I’m talkin’ about your bass. That’s one cool bass.

I wanna to learn to play the stand up bass.

The stand up bass and the banjo. The banjo rocks.

And the dobro. Beautiful instrument, the dobro.

I can hear it now… Merle Haggard’s Sing Me Back Home…

“Sing me back home to a place I used to know, make my old memories come alive, take me away and turn back the years, sing me back home before I die.”

The singing and pickin’ continue. Around the circle it goes. Where it stops nobody knows.

Here’s a familiar face. It’s my husband and our daughter.

I’m surprised these pictures are any thing close to being clear as I was slightly nervous for my daughter. This was her first time singing in a group of strangers and all adults. Most of the musicians didn’t know the song, Come On Up to the House, but just jumped right in. See the proud daddy? Pure joy.

For him to play and sing with his daughter is a treat beyond measure. And look. He’s looking at his daddy (pronounced “diddy” around those parts) and thinking, “Look Daddy. Look what I made. Isn’t she just the greatest?”

He’s so proud. Me too. She’s something for only being 14, if I do say so myself.

But why don’t I let you check her out for yourself. (Please excuse the sound quality, the videographer was camped out right next to the banjo, so there’s a bit more twanging going on and the timing, etc. is a little wonky as it took everyone a while to catch on to the tune. Definitely a home video.)

It was a fun night for all. As I said before, these pickin’ parlours have been popping up all around. Maybe there’s one near your neck of the woods? If so, why not take your family? Enjoy some real talent and maybe make some new friends in the process.

Are there any other local goings on you can share with everyone? Maybe your neighborhood has a regular block party? Or is there a square dance hall nearby? Or do you like to stand outside around a fire with your favorite buddies eating s’mores and watching for shooting starts? Whatever it is, do tell.

Keep on pickin’ you pickers out there!