Live Oaks, Fried Green Tomatoes, Moonshine and Gators

(If that's not a Southern title, I don't know what is!)

We spent our Spring Break week at one of our family's favorite spots, Kiawah Island, SC.

Every year I keep hoping we can learn to travel by car a little less like the Griswold's.  

Clearly we are not there yet.

At least Chewie got to come along this time and he did really well in the car and throughout the whole week. More importantly, the kids LOVED having him along for the fun.

We woke each morning to the tropical-like beauty of South Carolina's low country.

Despite the chilly temps, we did some bike riding and beach walking.

But, truth be told, many mornings were spent pajama-clad doing this:

And we were all OK with some TV and "device" time. It was vacation after all.

We did venture out to drive along the Live Oak and Spanish moss canopied roads to see the sights.

We visited a local winery and distillery on Wadmalaw Island, about 20 minutes from Kiawah.

Scott and I did some sampling of the Muscadine wines while the kids enjoyed a little iPad/iPhone game time.

In between the wine tasting and the distillery, the kids got to harass check out some farm animals.

Eliza Grace stalked one particular goose around the pens until the rooster shown below decided she had gotten close enough.

Meanwhile, Will was enjoying things that let him move, because, well, he's a boy.

(Charlestonians love their joggling boards.)

Next up was the distillery, a mere 50 feet from the wine tasting room.

  
The Peach moonshine.  Seriously good, I kid you not.

We left the distillery and headed to another Wadmalaw Island destination: the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea plantation in the entire U.S.A.

Eliza Grace got to ring the bell on the trolley and then it was off to learn about tea.

Fields of tea bushes -  I had no idea they looked so much like boxwoods.

 I loved this graceful old pecan tree on the property.
Eliza Grace gave a thumb's up to the tea, although, like the true Southerner she is, she added sugar to the sweet tea. 

Later in the week, we took a trek into Charleston proper to have a yummy meal at the Dixie Supply Bakery and Cafe (as seen on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives!).  

Scottie had the shrimp and grits.

I had the fabulous bacon, lettuce, shrimp and fried green tomato sandwich.  Oh my word, it was good.

The kids had some baked goods and then we were ready to check out some history.

This time we toured the Nathaniel Russell house, which boasts a fabulous flying staircase and beautiful gardens.

(I love this photo because they're holding hands)

After that, we let the kids burn off some energy down at The Battery before we headed back to Kiawah.

No trip to Kiawah Island would be complete for our kids without attending the Reptile Roundup at the Nature Center.  After all, it's not every day one gets to hold turtles, snakes and a 7 year old alligator.

(This little fella headed right to Will's warm armpit)

We did a little fishing for good measure...

and called it another great week at Kiawah Island!