Harbor Island

We started our summer out strong, beginning with a week long family vacation to Harbor Island, SC. Harbor Island is located outside of Beaufort and it is a private gated community with a pool club and beach access. We had never even heard of Harbor Island before, but when we learned that it was quiet and not over crowded it seemed to be the ideal place to relax for a week.

We rented this cute yellow beach home in the photo above. It had a bedroom loft upstairs with three beds so it worked out perfectly as the three older kid's room and they had ample star and sunrise views each evening and morning.


There were many water holes located throughout the area and all types of wildlife. While we were there we saw many rabbits, various birds, raccoons and an alligator.

It was very scenic and the evening sunset could be seen beautifully from the deck of our house...

We spent a good bit of time hanging out at the pool area. The younger ones enjoyed the large baby swim area. And Ryan and Emma ventured into the bigger adult pool to swim.

We spent some time at our beach access as well which we quickly learned was a matter of good timing. The beach was a tidal pool area so during low tide you had to walk long distances to reach water but then during high tide, there literally was no beach because the water was slamming the front steps of several homes.

We packed a picnic lunch during the middle of the week and drove two miles down the road to Hunting Island State Park. We were able to walk around the Hunting Island Lighthouse, which is the only historic lighthouse still open to the public in S.C.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch near the beach and then spent the rest of the afternoon playing on the shore. The kids loved the big waves and looking for sea shells. It was a beautiful natural looking beach and we would enjoy visiting there again someday.

Michael got some fishing in whenever he had the chance. He was able to get the kids out a few times with him to do their own fishing. This picture of Michael and Emma was taken from our deck while they fished in the lagoon next to our house.

And of course I had to have my mini beach photo shoot before we left. These pictures weren't taken in the best of circumstances.

The air conditioner in our house had just quit working and the temperature in the house was climbing to over 90 degrees. Both Emma and Avery stubbed their toes and made them bleed on our walk to the beach area - how does that happen!?! And the kids were worn out, hot and tired at the end of a long day. So...that said. I tried not to press real hard as I took a few pictures.

Sweet baby Eden...
We had a very enjoyable week eating and cooking our own fresh seafood, visiting with my mom, playing with our kids, and cruising around in the golf cart that came with our rental. We'd love to do a week away again and might check out the neighboring Fripp Island next time.