Sleigh Bell Stroll - Part 1

Jim and I attended the Sleigh Bell Stroll at Saluda Shoals Park for the first time and were quite impressed! The stroll was the kick off of Holiday Lights on the River.

It is the largest drive through light show in the Midlands of South Carolina.

More than 3 miles of lights, makes this an incredible treat to get one in the spirit. 

This was a 4 mile walk and worth every step! I would love to see the park offer more than 1 walking night for this amazing display. 

The creativity here is marvelous with suspended over head displays, lots of animation and unique designs.

All 12 days of Christmas were here from 12 drummers drumming

 to a partridge in a pear tree.

There are displays with a southern touch. This animated display shows Santa’s elf running away from an alligator.

Here Santa is shooting gifts over our heads into the bag on the other side of the street. The animation showed the gift moving along over head.

One of my favorites was the Polar Express which was quite long and elaborate.

The coal is in the caboose for the naughty kids!

There was no shortage of Santa delivering gifts via various modes of transportation.

Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

A laser show plays to iconic tunes.

There were some amazing scenes but the photos do not give them justice. They look so tiny on the computer screen.

The bridges over the Saluda River are decked out. 

This is a park Jim and I walk at least once a week. We have seen the unlit lights many times but seeing the park lit up at night was so much grander than I expected!

Yup, the rocking horse rocks!

If you go, the drive through is nightly now thru December 31st from 6pm - 10pm.

The Holiday Lights entrance is 6071 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia, SC. 

website

This post shows relevant holiday decor. The next post will be the unexpected lights that add so much fun to the experience!

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

The Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum

The Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum is a unique way to learn the history of Hilton Head Island.

A display of beautiful paintings of the lighthouse are here for viewing.

The history of the island is explained while you can see how many feet you have climbed. A 16 foot model of the Eagle, a 295 foot cutter which was used as a classroom for Coast Guard cadets, is along the wall. There is also the history of Coast Guard missions explained in the museum.

Hilton Head Island is notorious for golfing which the visitor can read up on here.

"Sea island cotton" was grown on Hilton Head which included the dark history of slavery. Civil War history of the island is explained. The population at the time was over 500,000 (today the permanent population is approximately 35,000). The Union troop invaded the island in 1861. It is difficult to imagine war on such a beautiful, relaxing island.

Post Civil War, the island was primarily occupied by freed slaves, many having received acreage and a mule to work the land. With fishing and farming, communities were built and the Gullah culture flourished. Gullah includes a language and culture.

It was in 1956 when the bridge from the mainland was built, changing the island forever. One of the entrepreneurs coming to the island conceived the Sea Pines Resort which is a huge area known as an environmentally friendly residential resort community. We drove through part of this area and it gorgeous with gigantic great oaks and other native plants and trees. The area features 650 acres of preserve. This is the section for the golfer of tennis lover.

Nature is another aspect of this museum.

Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the sensation of vertigo looking down.

Then the reward, the view!

Construction was going on to the adjacent restaurant make the view a little less attractive.

If you go, the museum is located at 149 Lighthouse Rd. It is open daily from 10m to sundown. The cost to climb the 114 steps is $4.95 per person.

website

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Autumn Gardens

Here are photos of an autum stroll through the historic district of Columbia, SC.

 There are some fall flowers around but the surroundings were mostly green.

One of my favorite trees is the mimosa (below) for its leaves. In the spring it is covered in pretty feather like flowers. This tree was introduced here from Asia in 1785 and planted in Charleston. These beauties are actually invasive so they now grow wild here as well in planned gardens.

The sky was so beautiful that day showcasing the marvelous variety of trees here.

This is the Hampton Prescott House.

A large greenhouse is being constructed on the grounds here that will be open to the public in the spring. It will be a hub for propagating and researching plants under the historic district's care. 

Holly trees are covered in beautiful berries.

Some bottle brushes are hanging on.

Across the street is the Robert Mills House.

The rose garden is still blooming.

I'm in love with the buds below. The flowers leave behind this waxy looking tulip shape that is gorgeous.

The romantic garden here features various sitting nooks.

I love what is done here with the stone and plantings in the crevices.

The hydrangeas are all dried up. I find them just as pretty now as when in bloom.

It had been years since we strolled here due to the pandemic so being back here was an extra sweet treat.

If you go, the visitor's center is located at 1601 Richland Street in Columbia, SC. The gardens are open Tuesday thru Sunday, free to the public. House tours are offered too for a small fee.

Website

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val