Family Beach Portraits

Are you and your family visiting Kiawah Island or Seabrook Island this summer? Would you love an extra special memento to remind you of your visit? You should consider family beach portraits.

Years ago when our children were younger, we had family beach portraits taken. It was amazing how the photographer, whom we'd never met before our appointment, was able to capture the essence of our children.

Last summer I knew it was time for an updated family beach portrait. Our older daughter was heading off to college. Perhaps it would be our last summer vacation as a family (Moms worry about these things!)?

I contacted Judy Percival of JP Photography, Kiawah Island, SC, about photographing our family on Seabrook Island. Judy was a delight to work with even in the sandstorm conditions we had the evening of our photo shoot. How she was able to get such great shoots of our family with wind and sand blowing is still a mystery to me.

Here's a sample of our family beach portraits:






Do consider a family beach portraits photographer for your next beach vacation. You'll have a keepsake of all the fun you had at the beach.


And, yes, our college aged daughter will be back at the beach house with her family this summer!

Sea turtle season on Seabrook Island, SC

It's that time again--sea turtle nesting season. On May 19, 2009, Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol(SITP) located the first loggerhead turtle nest of the season.

Nest #1 was found on the Edisto River Beach near the Pelican Watch condos.

To follow the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol and the 2009 nesting season online, check SITP's website often.

If you're lucky to be visiting Seabrook Island this summer, keep a watch out for the turtle patrol. They're the folks wearing green tee shirts that say "Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol."

You usually find the members of the turtle patrol walking the beach early in the mornings looking for turtle tracks (or crawls). The SITP are eager to educate others about loggerhead turtles.

See you on the beach!

Seabrook Island 2nd Annual July Run

Lace up those running shoes! It's time to start training for Seabrook Island's 2nd Annual July 10K Fun Run. Here are all the specifics:

Date: Friday, July 3, 2009
Time: Race begins at 8:30 a.m. EST
Length: 10K or 6.4 miles
Course: Race starts and finishes at the Fitness Center near the Beach Club. Runners will remain on Seabrook Island Road for the duration of the race.
Cost: $15.00. If registered by June 19, you'll be guaranteed a run t-shirt.

Other important information:

Race day check-in will begin around 7:30 a.m. You'll receive your running bib at this time.

This course is a flat course. Water stations will be located at every mile. Remember it is hot and humid on SI in July. Keep hydrated!

A cash bar featuring bloody marys and mimosas will be available at the end of the race.

To register, call the Fitness Center at 843-768-7964

Speed Traps

One of my Seabrook Island neighbors recently got a speeding ticket on her drive back to the island from Charleston.

Apparently, the speed limit is not clearly posted as you turn off HWY 17 onto Main Road (I believe it is 35 mph before the bridge).

While I encourage all drivers to slow down when traveling on the roads on John's Island ( how else will you be able to fully appreciate the magnificent live oaks lining the roads?), here's a website I found to locate speed traps: SpeedTrap.org

Click on the "Find Speed Traps" button in the upper navigation bar. You can search by state and then by town.

If Seabrook Island is your final destination, please remember the speed limit inside the gate of Seabrook Island is 25 mph. It is closely monitored for the protection of bikers, walkers, joggers, etc. Security has been known to write speeding tickets for 26 mph.

**As a safety precaution, drivers, please do not pass bikers in the traffic islands located throughout Seabrook Island.

Hurray! It's picking time!

Strawberry picking time that is. If you're headed out to John's Island, Kiawah, or Seabrook Island, plan on making a stop at Stono Farm Market. Fresh strawberries along with other cool season crops are ready for the eatin'.

For the adventurous folks, head over to the Ambrose Family Farm and pick your own strawberries for $1.75/lb. The farm is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. (they are closed for holidays and rain).

Be sure and check out the farm's website: www.ambrosefamilyfarm.com

Save the Date--Food and Wine Festival

The 2009 Charleston Food and Wine Festival was a huge success! Plans are already in the making for the Fifth annual Charleston Food and Wine Festival to be held March 4-7, 2010.

Tickets for the 2010 Food and Wine Festival will go on sale September 3, 2009.

Below is a recap of the 2009 event:

• More than 15,000 guests attended the festival
• Over 50 events were held during the 2009 Food and Wine Festival
  
• $50,000 will be donated to MUSC Children's Hospital, the Food and Wine's designated charity for 2009
• 3,000 pounds of food was donated to Crisis Ministries
  
• 3,000 pounds of cardboard and 8,000 pounds of glass were recycled during the course of the festival

For more information on the 2009 event and to get up to minute news on the 2010 festival, visit the Charleston Food and Wine Festival's website.

Seabrook Island Club updates

The Seabrook Island Club (SIC) will soon begin opening its new facilities. The first venue to open--the new Seabrook Shoppe.

The grand opening for the Seabrook Shoppe is set for Friday, May 15th from 5-7 p.m. The regular operating hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

In the past, the Seabrook Shoppe has offered visitors and property owners a selection of home decor, clothing, souvenirs, and other sundries. It will be fun to see what will be offered in the new shop.

The new SIC Beach Club pools are scheduled to open on Wednesday, May 20th. The operating hours for the pools for the summer will have the pool opening at 7 a.m. for lap swimming and closing at 8:30 p.m.

The new Pelican's Nest restaurant will open Wednesday, May 20th for lunch starting at 11 a.m. For the summer, Pelican's Nest is open daily from 11 a.m. until the last person leaves.

On Friday and Saturday nights from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. , there be live entertainment at the Pelican's Nest.

Please note, amenity cards are needed to access the club's pools and Pelican's Nest restaurant.

Full Moon Fun on Seabrook Island!

Saturday, May 9th is a Full Moon night, which means beach party on Seabrook Island.

Come out and join friends and guests for a Seabrook tradition--Full Moon Bonfire and Beach Party. Folks will start arriving at the North Beach Boardwalk around 7:30 pm. The sun sets at 8:08 pm and the moon rise is scheduled for 9:02 pm.

Bring food, drink, a log for the fire, and chairs if you want to sit.

Parking for non-property owners is available in the parking spots along Oyster Catcher Court.