Family Fishing Along the Kiawah River

One of our vacation highlights while we were down at Kiawah during the second week of June was the fishing. The ocean and inter-coastal waterways are teeming with a variety of fish whether it is flounder, reds, trout, shark and so much more. These areas are also plentiful for netting blue crabs and shrimp. For those anxious to shellfish, just remember to bring some cast nets or traps and be familiar with the SC fishing regulations. I am definitely going to give crabbing a try during my next visit.

Our focus during the vacation week was on fish. We managed to do all of our fishing from the pier at Rhetts Bluff on Kiawah Island. The Rhetts bluff area features two piers (only one for fishing), boats launch/landing, and even a gazebo to picnic or seek refuge from the rain.  There is even a portion on both piers that have covered sections. This little roof came in handy when we went fishing on our second day down in Kiawah and experienced a quickly approaching downpour.

With light fishing gear, tackle box, and my two sons and father in law along, we were able to cast some lines from the end of the pier using cut up squid and mullet. The squid is the ideal bait for inter-coastal fishing, as it is rubbery and the dense tissue stays on the hook pretty good in spite of the numerous bites. The fishing pier has a great stainless steel bait station to cut the bait and has a hose to rinse off.

What started out as slow bites for the first hour quickly turned to catching a bunch of croakers. (You’ll know a croaker when you catch one by the noise they make).  We then managed to catch even a few smaller sharks and a ray.  My father in law had a serious fish on his line until the line snapped. That was a painful reminder that we should have been using heavier line, especially when casting heavier baits towards the middle and deeper parts of the river. For those that want to get a little flavor of salt water fishing without going through the exercise of chartering a boat, I highly recommend doing some fishing along this Atlantic inter-coastal spot. It is also a great way to introduce fishing to the younger anglers.

Review of Publix Super Market in West Ashley – Johns Island South Carolina

In my thirteen plus years of vacationing in Kiawah, I have spent most of those visits doing my grocery shopping either at the Newton farms store (now a Harris Teeter) or at the local Piggly Wiggly (Johns Island). Those plans changed when the Publix store was built about five years ago within West Ashley Place shopping center (3642 Savannah Highway). My trip to this Publix from the Kiawah villa takes about twenty to twenty five minutes depending on traffic. 

Not sure if it is due to this store still being somewhat new, but cleanliness appears to be a priority of this Publix store; inside and out. The aisles always appear to be easy to navigate. The check out belts and deli counters are always spotless. Even the parking lot appears to be tidy.

Most store associates are extremely friendly. The deli help is super friendly as they occasionally offer up a shaving of sliced meat to sample. I also find it courteous that the check out attendants will sometimes point out store savings when I could be potentially getting ripped off because I overlooked a sale. Thanks guys.

It is a challenge for me to do any comparison pricing when measuring up Publix against  Johns Island Newton Farms (now a Harris Teeter). The island store price markup makes most items at Publix appear very inexpensive.  The real measurement would be comparing Publix to the local Piggly Wiggly (“The Pig”) or Food Lion. I can’t make that comparison because I do not shop at those other locations. Still, I like Publix prices and find pricing comparable to some of the items I can purchase at my home store in the Chicago suburbs.

Aside from being super clean, I really adore the Publix store brand items. Since first walking into a Publix, I have found most of their labeled goods such as their cheesecake, wheat bread, and cinnamon French toast sticks to be the best. If we could find away to bring home numerous cheesecakes back to Illinois in the dog days of summer, we would do it.

All in all, I would highly recommend those staying anywhere relatively close to West Ashley area (within thirty minute drive) to do their weekly shopping there.  You will save a bundle. Just remember to bring a really well insulated cooler if purchasing perishables.

How to Prevent Swim Trunk Rash at the Beach

There is nothing better than spending quality summer time with the family on the South Carolina beaches. Sand and surf can be pleasing to the senses until someone gets a bad rash from playing in the ocean and beach. There are plenty of reasons why people get sand rash in the trunks. Some fall victim to exposure to sand lice or sand fleas, though most rash issues are attributed to the salt water and sand and their abrasiveness to legs and groin area. The unpleasantness of such a bad rash can be a vacation game changer. At that point, even the simple activity of walking becomes a miserable experience.  This actually happened to me a few years ago down in Kiawah as my inner thigh became raw from a day at the beach.  A little detective work revealed there are ways to prevent this from happening. Here are a few tips to try and avoid getting rash when spending a day (or week) at the beach.

1.       Remove mesh lining from swim suit to prevent rash. Most people swear that removing the netting or mesh liner inside the suit will go a long way to keeping away unwanted sand. Of course, the removal of the netting will leave potential for possible “exposure” so consider first putting on a layer of cotton briefs before wearing the altered swim trunks. Those that wear the lengthier board shorts can wear tight fitting spandex bike shorts underneath.

2.       Use outdoor beach showers to prevent skin rash. Many beaches have a nearby beach house with showers or even outdoor hoses to rinse off. Take advantage of such amenities whenever possible and rinse all sand and salt water away from the body and suit. This will go along way into preventing sand rash.

3.       Avoid starting the day wearing a damp suit to the beach.  If planning on swimming every day at the beach, then consider packing a second suit. Many rashes are created by wearing yesterday’s swim trunks that have not had adequate time to dry. Kids will run to the beach and the wet suit will soon get a head start on aggravating the skin before they have even set foot into the water. Make sure the suit is entirely dry to start the day or choose the backup trunks.

4.       Apply Protective Skin Barrier to Prevent Rash – Take precautionary measures before putting on swimsuit by applying a protective barrier to your inner thigh and groin area with skin barriers such as Body Glide, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, or A&D. You might scoff at the idea of walking around smelling “baby fresh”, but you will be re-assured to keep away the rash later on.

If you do fall victim to sand rash, then apply a coating of A&D or Gold Bond medicated powder to the affected area and it should be pretty cleared up the next day. Just remember then to follow the four tips above.

How to Protect Beach Cruiser Bicycles From Salt Water Damage

Spending time down in the Carolinas on vacation, I have seen a lot of bicycles suffer tremendous wear and tear due to sand, salt, water, and other elements. The salt air alone can quickly degrade a bicycle to an unusable state if not properly cared for. Most bicycles no matter how much TLC you offer them will eventually show some rust. Given the humidity and the salt air conditions, surface rust can appear in as little as a few weeks after bringing a new bike to the coast.  Rust on the surface will eventually slow down and serve more as an appearance nuisance than hinder your ability to ride the bike. If one is really afraid of getting rust on the bike, then consider rust proofing the bike starting with the inside tubing of the frame. That process involves taking the bike apart. That also is a prime reason why people on the coast ride beach cruisers obtained for a few hundred bucks knowing they will have a shorter life span. Those that have bikes on the coast can follow some of these easy tips to keep the bike in decent shape.

1.       Storage - Even if you don’t ride the beach cruiser on the sand or in the sea, there is a tremendous amount of humidity that can wreak havoc on the bike. Store the bike in a garage when not in use.  Keeping that bike out on the porch all season will expose it to salt spray in the air created by the nearby surf.

2.       Rinsing & Drying - Rinse salt and sand off bike with fresh water hose after going for a seaside ride. The worst thing you can do is leave the salt or sand on the bike for long periods of time which can wear away at the bike. Dry the bike off with towel or compressed air after rinsing.

3.       Tires  - Keep tires properly inflated. Bike tires underinflated can cause damage to rims if the bike manages to hit a deep hole or crack. Pedaling is also much less of a chore when tires are properly inflated.

4.       Chain - After finishing a beach or trail ride, remove any grit or debris attached to chain and relubricate if necessary. Bike chains are usually the first integral bike part to be destroyed by salt. Plan on going through a few chains if you are planning on having the bike for a long time.

Variety of Condominiums on Kiawah Island

 Those that vacation in Kiawah often ask the question, how much does it cost to live there? Well, that all depends on what one is looking for. The accommodation size can range from a one bedroom condominium all the way to twelve bedroom mansion with breathtaking views of the ocean and river marshes. In between these sizes are numerous smaller single family homes and tree house style cottages located all over the island. Condominiums or “Villas” will range in price anywhere from two hundred thousand upwards to over two million dollars depending upon the buyers preferences. Keep in mind these numbers are approximate of market conditions in 2014. Someone that reads this post fifteen years from now may see different numbers. Prospective condo buyers must also consider the HOA monthly assessments, taxes and insurance. This condominium guide for Kiawah is broken out between two groups or locations: East Beach and West Beach. The East Beach area includes immediate area surrounding the Sanctuary, Night Heron Park, and Turtle Point area. The West Beach is the area near the Straw Market and Cougar Point golf course. Regardless of choosing East or West beach locations, all condos are a close walk to the beach with some units having living room/bedroom views of the ocean.

Styles and Comparisons of Kiawah Villas

Tennis Club – East Beach

Every year we visit Kiawah, we rent a two bedroom villa; specifically one of the tennis club villas near the Sanctuary and Roy Barth Tennis Center. These residential buildings contain four condos: two units on first floor and two units above. Those condo units vary in size from one to three bedrooms. The floor plan is sectioned off with separate living room, dining area, kitchen, etc. A listing for a one bedroom villa could go anywhere between low 200’s to low 400’s all depending on condition and extras. The larger two or three bedroom villas go up in price but even that price will vary depending on how updated the unit is. These villas seem to be a good purchase for those looking for a second home without the maintenance headaches. The other factor to consider when shopping for a villa is the views. Most of these villas have relaxing screened in back porches that overlook lagoon, woods, or tennis courts. Expect to pay slightly higher price for lagoon views.

Mariners Watch – East Beach

These units seem lovely, though I have never stayed in one, their listing prices start in the in the low $200’s. These units have an open floor plan where the kitchen, dining, and living room are all open to one another, and only the bedroom and deck/patio are separated. The Mariner’s Watch condos are located in East Beach village.

Parkside Villas – East Beach

These condos are situated along lagoon adjacent to Night Heron Park. The location is perfect for park/pool access with the beach only a short walk away. The Parkside Villas are all two and three bedroom units with several of these units having a decks overhanging lagoon with pier access. The two bedroom units are priced around the mid $300’s.

Turtle Point Villas – East Beach

These condos also located in East beach are a style similar to Tennis club Villa in appearance and price. Most of the Turtle Point villas are situated along Green Dolphin way. Prices for Turtle Point range from $200s to 400’s.

Windswept Villas - East Beach

These condos are located off Sea Forest Drive situated dune side facing the Atlantic (water approximately 75 yards away). Five story condo/townhome style building consisting of 1 through 3 bedroom units with shingle style siding. Close proximity to Night Heron Park. These tree house style units range in prices from $300K upwards to $2 Million. Like the Sanctuary, the height of these condo buildings makes them highly visible when walking along the beach.

Courtside Villas - West Beach

Open efficiency floor plan style layout with screened in porch. Mostly one bedrooms approximately 615 sf. Units are located close proximity to West Beach pool and Straw Market. Prices for one bedroom condos average in $200’s.

Duneside Villas – West Beach

These townhome style units are closest proximity to Ocean in West Beach. Villas located off Duneside drive between boardwalk markers #1 and #2. These villas range in size from three to five bedrooms.

Fairway Oaks Villas – West Beach

Condo units located along Dunelin Court in West Beach situated along Cougar Point golf course. Villas range from two to four bedroom units; with prices ranging from $300K upwards to $700’s.

Inlet Cove - West Beach

These are 3 bedroom “raised cottages” with wide open floor plan that is approximately 1,300 sf. They are raised, meaning you park your vehicle below the unit. These units are within close proximity to beach, pools, and fishing/crabbing pier. Price range from $400 through $900K. I probably should not have included these in a post about condos, but these fun tree house style homes have a unique feature and appearance worthy of mention.

Seascape Villas – West Beach

1 to 4 bedroom condos located in West Beach are a stone’s throw to Ocean with several units having ocean views. Close proximity to West Beach pool. Price ranges are from the low 200’s upwards to over $1.5M for three bedroom units.

Shipwatch Villas – West Beach

Shipwatch includes one and two bedroom units that overlook the Ocean. Each bedroom has its own private balcony. Amenities are very close with pool and children’s playground located across from the condos. Units are currently priced in $300K to $400K range.

Review of Rita's at Folly Beach

While we were down in the Charleston low country back in the later part of June, we had decided to spend a day at Folly Beach. As we have traveled to the Carolina coast for the past twelve years, this was our first time making it out to Folly. As you pull into town, there is a sense of fishing meets surfer meets college spring break atmosphere. We parked in a pay lot close to the pier of which I recall being approximately eight bucks for the afternoon. The downtown shopping district is pretty small and the retailers consist primarily of t-shirt & surf shops, bars and restaurants. It only takes about an hour or so to stroll downtown and cover most stores. I am not a big shopper so after one or two shops of seeing the same thing (t-shirts, shells, sharks teeth, beach toys and towels), I waited outside the stores with my kids while the wife looked at the merchandise.

The highlight to the day was a stroll down the grand pier, checking out Morris Island lighthouse and finally stopping for lunch. As newcomers to Folly, we did not know one restaurant from another thus we chose Rita's (2 Center Street) as it was closest to our car in the nearby lot. Rita's is a very open airy restaurant that has a wall of open doors/windows that can easily open in times of cooperative weather. The day we visited it was pretty hot thus the large doors were down so we appreciated the a/c environment to escape the Carolina heat. We were easily able to find a table as we were only the second group of customers for a later lunch. The menu was to our liking as the main features included burgers, sandwiches and salads. Appetizers had a couple seafood options which include peel and eat shrimp, crab and artichoke dip and several other decent finger food selections. The deep fried pickles caught my eye but I didn’t find any other takers in the group willing to go along and order with me. Overall the menu was pretty small and basic, but I was okay with that as I was looking for a sandwich and a cold drink.

   

The orders from our table included the likes of burgers, sandwiches, salads and kids meals. My choice was the flounder BLT which was a mile high assembly of tasty flounder, bacon, juicy tomatoes, and lettuce on thick “French toast” style bread covered with a pimento mayo. The addition of bacon to this fish themed sandwich was a huge bonus. I didn’t expect it but I never shy away if someone wants to add throw some bacon on my plate. This alternative to a “BLT” was amazing and cured my desire for a quick seafood fix. The other bonus to the meal was the homemade seasoned fries. Delicious. I can’t form an opinion on the others meals, though they looked pretty decent.

RITAS – THE SERVICE -

The young woman that waited our table seemed efficient and prompt with the iced tea refills, though I would have been shocked had she been slow; given there were only two tables occupied at the time. Not sure why there weren’t more patrons, unless they were all at the beach. I would expect the big rush to be during evening hours up through close. This joint appears to have live music and I was even amused to see a cigarette machine next to the restrooms. I can’t remember the last time I had seen one of those!

All in all, in my next stop in Folly, I will most likely pay another visit to Rita's again for a flounder BLT or a pimento burger, delicious fries, and perhaps a frozen cocktail to beat the heat.

Importance of Knowing Tide Schedules

When spending time on the coast one cannot ignore the daily effects of the tides that roll in and out a few times throughout the day. In fact, the low country tides hit their “highs” and “lows” twice a day.  Science tells us the ebb and flow of the tidal water levels is nothing more than gravitational influences of the sun and moon. It can be really important to know the approximate times during a twenty four span as to when tides are peaking or at the lowest point. Let’s put the science of gravitational pull aside for a minute and understand how the tide can impact our day at beach and having fun on the water.

Going to the Beach at low tide

Be alert to daily tide schedules and plan your trip accordingly. If you are looking for lots of beach space to play bocce ball, volleyball or build a sand castle, then you may want to consider going out to the beach when tide is low. The downside to going to the beach at low tide is that you will have to walk a lot further to the water’s edge to get your feet wet! You may also have to swim out quite a ways to get to get into the deeper water to body surf or use a wave board.  On the flipside, another beach benefit to low tide can be those leftover tide pools that often leave behind sea treasures and occasional critters such as a horseshoe crabs, fish, and plenty of shells. These small pools also can be ideal places for young little swimmers to cool off without fear of getting knocked over by waves in the ocean.

Going to the Beach at high tide

Going to the beach at high tide can also be eventful, but exercise caution. High tide may bring the water’s edge all the way up the entrance to the beach or sand dunes. That doesn’t leave much room for spreading out a spot on the beach and planting your chair and umbrella. The high tide can also bring about more turbulent waves with potential for dangerous rip currents.

Dolphins Behavior and Tides

Tides can also influence dolphin and fish movement between the ocean and inter coastal tributaries. In Kiawah, the tidal schedule does not necessary mean more or less dolphin sightings in the Kiawah River.  However, a low tide may increase potential to see dolphins pursuing smaller bait fish by beaching themselves on river banks and strand feeding.  While I have witnessed dolphins escorting kayaks and canoes on the river, I have not had the luxury of witnessing a dolphin feeding on the banks.

Boating and Tides

Fisherman and pleasure boaters departing inter coastal docks in the direction of the ocean should also be familiar with the tide schedule.  Not being familiar with tide levels during the day and evening can be challenging when navigating under bridges, over sand bars, and through narrow channels. 

For future reference, I added a link on this site to monitor daily tides whether in Kiawah or anywhere  in U.S.

Is a Cockroach also a Palmetto Bug?

Working in restaurants a good portion of my younger days, I recall a few kitchen visits by cock roaches here and there that came in with produce deliveries and by other wayward means. These critters can disarm you when you see them scaling a wall showing off their giant antennas. Their ability to breed quickly and spread germs is the worry of most restaurateurs and property managers. The image created by these critters is an environment created by uncleanliness coupled with bad sanitation practices. While dirty conditions can encourage roaches to thrive; there is often a misconception that these pests are the automatic creation of uncleanliness. Take a warm climate such as the southeastern U.S, and you will likely see a large amount of these roaches in the wild whether in fields, lawns, parking lots, just about anywhere. Though in Dixie, they are referred to as Palmetto bugs. I have seen plenty of them in Florida up through the Carolinas. These critters definitely keep the exterminators busy and profitable. My trips to the south have really changed my opinion on the stereotyping of their presence as being “unclean”. While on vacation on Kiawah, I will take my dog for a night time walk and see plenty of them scurrying across the sidewalks. Stay at a hotel, rent a villa or home in the south, and you may one or you may not see one scurrying across the floor. If you do see one, please do not indict the property owner or manager as running a dirty “house”. Tourists leaving doors and windows slightly ajar will likely provide an opportunity for these critters to take up residency at which point the presence of the bug is not the landlords fault, though it becomes his or her problem. So are they Palmetto bugs or Cock roaches? Well, up here in the north, I still refer to them as Cock Roaches since we do not have palms. Down in the low country or Florida, I call them Palmetto bugs. Regardless of the label, just remember to keep an open mind that these critters are prevalent down south. Their ambition is to get inside your lodging looking for a wayward crumb or two. Keep your place clean and keep doors and windows shut.

Sun Protection Tips: From a Carolina Beach Traveler

Every visit to Kiawah Island usually involves a painful lesson in sunburn. These “ouch” moments always return to rear their ugly head despite bringing adequate supplies and varieties of sun block and sunscreens. While lotions are most common, I will pause and give kudos to the sunscreen manufacturers for coming out with canned “sprays” that make application a slam dunk time saver.  These easy spray-on applications go on evenly and oily messes are avoided. The process is great for families as kids can be lined up and sprayed in a matter of a minute. The spray on style of sunscreen also makes it easier to spray one’s own back when there is no assistance available. That being said, we still packed our thick 50 spf lotion as “back up”. The lotion is much cheaper, but I will still gladly spend the extra money to get the spray on stuff. Stores will usually carry these items on sale early spring (right before spring break). I was able to get two cans of spray on SPF50 for about eleven bucks back in March.

The painful lesson learned on our beach trip last year was getting a sun burned back. On my first trip to the beach that year I was under the false pretense I was adequately coated  with block all afternoon. The return to the umbrella was met with gasps from others stating how red my back was. It was evident the salty and sandy surf had washed away the lotion off my back leaving it exposed for a few hours. Sleep was a challenge for two nights during that trip. This year, I went into our vacation prepared with a u/v protected swim shirt.  The shirt set me back a measly nine dollars and did the job. Trying to find a swim shirt for kids is a snap at large retailers such as Target, Kohl’s, or Wal-Mart. Trying to find swim shirts for adults is not as easy.  Search engine pursuits under adult swim shirts had me directed to upscale beach attire e-stores that were pretty pricey, though a little over the top. I resorted to purchasing a black u/v protected workout shirt at Meijer for a paltry nine bucks. It did the job all week!

This June 2013 trip to South Carolina did not disappoint. I got burned again but in a different spot, my head and feet. The feet and head seem to be the last places I would have considered “covering up”, but they were exposed. My head was exposed as I had worn a visor to the beach. My feet were never sprayed so they were lobsters at the end of the day. Taking away a few burns from the past few years I have managed to highlight key reminders to myself to stay burn free at the beach:

Keys to staying burn free on the beach:

1.       Umbrella – Spend adequate time under the umbrella.  Bring one or rent one if you have to. It is money well spent and you will return home burn free. It is also a great way to catch up on your reading and keep your snacks and beverages cool.

2.       Sun block Sprays – This is a great way to quickly and frequently stay protected from solar rays. Perspiration and frequent trips in and out of the water will remove the initial application of block. Spray on screens or blocks will make this step a breeze. Many people get burned because they avoid re-applying protection when it involves creams or lotions because it is such a hassle.

3.       Sun block on Hands and Feet – The two most forgotten areas must be protected. Remember to apply block on tops of feet. Sandals and water socks are not enough protection as they still allow small holes to expose feet. Keep the head protected by wearing a light breathable hat. Leave the visor at home. Also spending adequate time under the umbrella will protect the head.

4.       Use Water Resistant Sun Screens and Blocks – Opt for the lotions and sprays that hold up to water. Some of these products will resist water for up to eighty or ninety minutes. In the Carolina sun and surf, I would reapply every hour. Reapplication is also mandatory when salt and sand remove the protective screens.

5.       Swim Shirt – This extra protection from the sun will be a lifesaver for the shoulders, back and chest. Go with a swim shirt or workout shirt that has u/v protection label. Light t-shirts or undershirts will not work as they allow harmful rays to penetrate the skin, especially if the top gets wet.

2013 Summer Trip to Kiawah

The 2013 family trip to Kiawah was fun as always and included a few new activities.  The temperature for the last week in June averaged a high eighty degrees Fahrenheit and was extremely humid. The water temperature of the Atlantic appeared in the low 80’s and the tidal pools were even warmer. It is interesting as the tide recedes and leaves behind several of these little pools for the kids to play in. One of these tidal pools left behind several horseshoe crabs resting on the pool bottoms. These crabs sort of camouflage themselves by burying themselves on the sand bottom floor and are very difficult to spot. These prehistoric looking crabs are very sinister looking, but totally harmless as they do not bite or sting.

As fun as the beach was, I had my limits with a very hot low country summer sun. Day one of vacation was spent almost entirely on the beach. Despite the constant re-applying of sun block, I managed to get the tops of my feet and my head (was wearing a visor) burnt. Next time I will dedicate more time under the umbrella.

We managed to get in some biking on day two. We biked the trails in the East Beach area through Tennis Club, Turtle Point, and up along Dolphin Way. We found a few golf balls by the Turtle point golf course as we biked. We also managed to circle back by Night Heron Park. We took a stroll through the Night Heron Nature center to show our youngest the cool island critters on display. He was enamored with the Alligator pen featuring four young gators. This trip also allowed me to check out the recently added Night Heron water park which was very impressive. The downside to this water attraction is that the resort does not allow non resort guests to pay daily admission for use of the pool. You have to rent though the resort to get access to the pool. Biking back to the villa, we saw several species of birds along the trail including Osprey and a few herons.

The golfing for the week included a trip to Kiawah’s Oak Point just off the island. The course was in pretty decent shape and played very quickly as there were not too many golfers pushing us during mid day. It was a very hot round of golf, though we had a cooler of several bottles of ice water to keep hydrated. Our other round of golf for the week was at Legend Oaks in Summerville (over an hour from Kiawah).  That course is also in decent shape due to numerous rains the low country has experienced in June.

One of the highlights of week was the Wednesday trip to Bohicket Marina for the Children’s fishing derby. The marina hosts this event every Wednesday in the summer. The derby lasts one hour and costs only five dollars. The admission includes use of fishing poles that are already baited with squid. The top anglers in their respective age category receive a t-shirt. I am proud to say two of my three kids won. My youngest caught a 13 inch Whiting and my daughter caught an eleven inch toad fish. Toad fish are very ugly and seem to have numerous teeth. I was happy that the staff unhooked  that little monster and spared  me that unfortunate task. Our middle child came up empty at the fishing derby and was a little upset. He was a good sport congratulating his siblings, but I felt I had to make it up to him. His grandfather and I took him to Rhett’s bluff pier/boat launch later that day to try and catch him a fish.  His good sportsmanship paid off as he caught a baby shark off the pier. He was elated to finally land a fish.   

This was our 12^th or 13^th trip to Kiawah (I have lost count) and it was as fun as our previous trips. We added a few twists and turns this time around such as Kiawah River fishing, Marina fishing, and a half day trip to Folly Beach.  I am already missing the low country and look forward to the next trip and creating more family memories.