Turtle time
Realizing my childhood dream.
If you were anything like me as a child, you, at one point, had a dream of being a marine biologist. What did that mean to me as a kid? Simply put, swimming all day long with dolphins and shouting from the bed enthusiastically “I get to go to work today” every morning when I would wake up. Unfortunately for me, the dream was shattered instantaneously when I realized that, in large part, science was the one subject you had to excel in to become a marine biologist.
Hilton Head Island Showcases Great Food Along with Fireworks This July 4th!
Fourth of July weekend, a time to grab a lawn chair, stock the cooler and sport American flag swag. Better yet, head to the coast and Hilton Head Island for Atlantic ocean breezes, amazing firework displays and of course, a medley of superlative food and feasting choices.
Family Day Strawberry Picking
Last week I took my 15 month old son, Gray, to the strawberry picking fields at Dempsey Farms on St. Helena Island, close to Beaufort, SC. About an hour’s drive from Hilton Head Island, across the marshes of the Lowcountry, St. Helena is rich in history and culture (home of the Penn Center), along with being an active farm community. I love St. Helena, the smell of the salt-air and the “getting away from it all” allow for a sense of calm.
Dempsey Farms is located on St. Helena on the right side of the road toward Hunting and Fripp Island. The land is a true “working” farm and has been in the Dempsey family for generations. The day Gray and I went, Maryann Dempsey was running the stand and gave us the low-down on the land. Two generations ago, they opened the fields to the public to “pick” and now they grow everything from cucumbers to eggplant to tomatoes (see list below) and depending on the harvest, they allow for “pickers” like myself!
When I heard about the farm, I knew I had to take Gray – what a wonderful treat, right in our backyard! Salty Island air, expansive fields and fresh off-the-vine strawberries. Look how big it is, great to let the little ones run!
Four corners gallery shows the unexpected.
Charlene Gardner started Four Corners in 2005 as a framing shop for artists and art lovers. By 2007 it was a gallery. Charlene’s curious mind and restless enthusiasm made it obvious to her that framing put her in touch with artists who weren’t showing at other galleries.
Foodies best kept secret no more!
It’s no secret to the foodie friends and fans of Hilton Head Island that the island and environs are home to an incredible array of restaurants, cafes, and caterers with talented owners and chefs creating tasty, delectable menus. Hopefully this blog has highlighted some of those who are also embracing sustainable business practices by using in-season ingredients purchased from local farmers, fishermen and purveyors. Some are going a step further by growing their own produce and herbs, teaming with local farmers to compost their kitchen scraps and even “putting up” locally grown vegetable and fruits for later use.
Doing the Loco Motion on Hilton Head Island
“I want people to feel empowered by crossing that finish line,” says Laura Morgan with a big smile. Morgan is the founder of Carolina Cups—a 501c3 non-profit public charity dedicated to funding breast cancer education, screening, treatment, and clinical research—and the running shoes behind LoCo Motion—a 3-day charitable walk/run that will cover 10 miles each day from Sept. 30-Oct 2 to join the fight against cancer. Walkers and runner alike will compete (“With themselves, not others,” says Morgan) on a course that includes the hard-packed beaches of Hilton Head Island, as well as historic Old Town Bluffton on the banks of the May River. With LoCo Motion, Morgan hopes to achieve 3 specific goals:
