Charleston Children's Museum

While in Charleston we decided to take the kids to the Children's Museum, which turned out to be a great idea.  We arrived first thing, which was a great idea as by 10:30 am the place was packed, unpleasantly so.
Noah loved the water table room and the art room the most, while Owen loved the pirate boat and the castle the most.  It was funny to see how much they differed in what they really liked.  Noah wouldn't have any part of the boat or castle (which is definitely where I would have been if I were a kid), but not Noah.  He was totally content to spend his time in the water area.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

One of the days we were in Charleston, we headed out to the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.  We picked a very hot day to do this, thankfully the plantation was as well shaded as I remembered it.  The place had a great petting zoo that entertained Noah.  It had a beautiful house, lots of little lakes (alligators included) and pretty much everything you would expect to find in a plantation and garden.  Next to Morris Island Lighthouse, this was by far one of my favorite places to visit.


Magnolia Plantation




Noah and I walking around the gardens



Noah looking at the plants



the bridge on every postcard you'll see of the plantation




Noah and I under a LOT of bamboo




Alligator!!!!!  No, he wasn't in a cage.




Noah and Dad examining their surroundings.




egret in the swamp.





Noah looking out the swamp





snake on the side of one of the paths



Morris Island Lighthouse

While in South Carolina, we made the drive to Folly Beach (which was a madhouse) to visit one of my favorite sights the last time I had visited the area: Morris Island Lighthouse.  I love the place.  I was half hoping the tide would be out enabling me to perhaps walk a little ways out to it, but it wasn't to be.  Instead, I got a bunch of cute pictures of the boys!

Morris Island Lighthouse



Noah and Owen on the beach




Noah wasn't too sure about this sitting in a tree thing.



both boys in the tree



one of my favorite sights in all of Charleston.





The Smith's



Noah and Owen playing in front of the lighthouse...well, kind of.

Morris Island Lighthouse.

Fort Moultrie

After the aquarium today, we also stopped by Fort Moultrie. The boys ran around, played on the cannons, generally had fun until it started raining.

Fort Moultrie

Noah climbing the wall.

Isle of Palms

During Spring Break, we went to South Carolina and stayed on the Isle of Palms, just outside downtown Charleston.  Beautiful.  I love it here.  Noah loves it here.  Noah went to the beach and had a blast running in and out of the water.  At one point, he found a hermit crab and everytime it ran, Noah started giggling at it.  We stayed until the boys turned blue.  Needless to say, they passed out shortly after returning.

the crab Noah found

South Carolina Aquarium

After arriving in Charleston, our first official trip was out to the South Carolina Aquarium.  Extremely kid friendly, and both boys absolutely loved it.  We got to pet starfish, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs and sting rays.  We also got to feed some stingrays.  All in all, both Noah and Owen thought that place was pretty awesome.  Mom did not find the huge bridge run taking place making it impossible to not detour around Charleston 20 miles too awesome however.

Noah checking out the turtles

Noah and Owen checking out a horseshoe crab.

feeding the stingrays

for some reason, this girl wouldn't leave us alone for pictures.