From July 31 – August 7th, we visited Charleston, South Carolina. We stayed in a house in Folly Beach and had nearly perfect weather every day. Thank you Daddy and Nina! We love you!
Welcome to the first family vacation in 2021! 
1104 East Arctic Ave Folly Beach, SC 29439 
Folly Beach, a few steps from our house. 
Annika lounging and enjoying the sun. 
Enjoying the sun and sound of the water. 
Annika would not love this image but I think she looks cute. 
“Our” umbrella and beach chairs on Folly Beach. 
The living room of our house on Folly Beach. 
The kitchen and breakfast table of our house on Folly Beach. 
My family. 
Elias and David. Having fun after cooking and drinking – a little too much? – late into the evening. 
Another family dinner. (Note PLL’s displeasure at the camera being aimed in his general direction.) 
Annika driving the VW, feeling pretty darn good. 
I have a picture of PLL on the beach when he was a little older than Elias. His expression is the same: Do you really have to take a picture of me? 
We missed capturing the rainbow but had a good laugh anyway, having our picture taken. 
David and I were walking along the beach and a couple exclaimed they had never seen a rainbow at Folly Beach. 
I just had my pedicure with Annika and was enjoying the feel of the sand. 
First day in Folly Beach, on our way from the airport, we ate at LoLo’s Seafood Restaurant. 
Enjoying the beginning of vacation. 
Okay, not the most flattering – except Annika – but we’re having fun. 
Sunset from LoLo’s. 
Me, happy for all of us to be together. 
Annika, concentrating. 
Annika, in her naturally beautiful state. 
Lunch with the guys, early August 2021. 
Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp Company on Folly Beach. 
Elias , slightly exhausted after a long night of work, flew into Charleston and went to lunch with Granpat and David. 
Granpat and Elias enjoying each other’s company. 
Something I am sure was delicious at lunch. Only David will remember exactly what it was. 
This elaborate Bloody Mary was part of the reason Elias’s first lunch in Charleston was so fun. 
Another round, anyone? 
Market Hall in Downtown Charleston where all sorts of things – including human beings – were bought and sold. 
We ate dinner at Hyman’s after an afternoon of shopping. The only thing missing from this picture is the line of people standing all along the sidewalk. We went super early and only had to wait 45mins! 
We saw lots of artwork and crafts made by the Gullah Gechee people. 
A corvette parked in Downtown Charleston. It must be a vacation because David took pictures of fancy cars. 
We spent part of one afternoon visiting the world-famous South Carolina Aquarium. It was amazing! 
A proud mother and her son. 
One of the rescued turtles we stood and watched. 
At the aquarium. 
A creature trying to avoid the people staring at him, at the aquarium. 
One of our less successful restaurant visits: Loggerheads. We ended up waiting over an hour, having the meal comped when we finally complained, and paying the food server a tip in cash. Woohoo! 
Another one of our less-than-stellar restaurant visits. 
Waiting in line at Bowen’s restaurant. We did not end up eating there but waited long enough to elicit Annika trying to put on a cheerful face. 
Am I saying something fascinating – or am I just hard to hear? 🙂 
We spent part of an afternoon at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site. 
Plaque about the reasons for saving the plantation. 
Some of the admittedly beautiful trees, planted to evoke the Grand Old South. 
Listening to the tour guide tell us about the plantation’s history. 
The cabins where the enslaved people lived. 
Annika and Elias going to swim. 
The sound of the water was very soothing. It was not too hot or windy, either. 
ESL, ARL and PLL. (heart emoji)
