Halloween 2023: Sand Dollars, Spooks and Silliness
Hunting Island State Park, October 27 - 29, 2023
Site #159
We made the quick trip down toward Beaufort from Charleston early in the morning and pulled into this awesome pull-through site early. This was the first trip we brought the dogs in a long time, but since we had been here before, we knew where we were going to be able to walk them easily!
Set up was a breeze and since we were so close to Halloween, we pulled out our decorations for both the site and for Geraldine!
Geraldine’s fancy, scary face..
Skeletons & Spidery Spooks
Even Phoebe the Pilot got decorations!
Spooky lights on our awning…
Once set up, we decided to go exploring and take the dogs out to the beach. We did a quick walk and found some cool shells and made a plan to head back later with the full moon out. Unfortunately, when it came time to do that, the girls wanted to stay put, so Auntie hung with them and Steve and I were able to take a walk out and enjoy the beach under the full moon.
Auntie, Kaety & Sammy begin to explore the beach
Auntie and Kaety on the beach
Mommy and Kaety on the beach
Daddy could hardly keep Lila out of the water!
Beach bum…
The Hunting Island lighthouse (which was closed) from the beach
The dunes are so peaceful…
Full moon over the beach
Looking down the beach at the full moon
Lovely night beach walk.
Horseshoe Crab shell (he was dead)
Low tide view of the sand on the point - SO COOL.
Shell haul!
During the walk, we picked up over 30 sand dollars, thinking they were stranded/dying because they were just literally laying on the beach, not buried! As we were walking back to the place we were parked on the beach, a couple of ladies came running after us and explained that the sand dollars were, in fact, probably alive because it was low tide and as such came uncovered on the beach. Also, it is over $1000 fine to take live sand dollars from the beach! YIKES!!
So. Many. Sand dollars!
As a result of the good samaritans chasing us, we took a picture of the treasures we found and then transported the sand dollars to the shallows around some large rocks where they could be protected and yet still be in their natural environment. No sand dollars were harmed in the excursion! (We went back to check the next day and they were all “gone” / buried which was relieving!)
Part of our treasures included finding a live conch in a REALLY cool shell. Unfortunately (fortunately?), because the conch was VERY much alive (he was so cool…we actually had him sticking to our hands at one point!), we had to also put him back into the shallows with the sand dollars so that he could continue to live and grow in his very cool shell. He, too, had moved on the next morning when we checked for him. :)
My SILA mug on the “shallows” where we released the sand dollars
Conch (in shell) - mug to demonstrate size :)
While we were there, Grace went “fishing” in the shallows with a cup and a bucket. She caught 7 minnows by hand in the shallows. She was VERY excited!
Later that evening, Auntie and I headed out to walk around the campground at dusk to see peoples’ Halloween decorations and show off our “spooky attire”. It was really fun, but unlike in previous years, they had no trick-or-treating at the campground - they moved it all over to the main park and the lighthouse. We decided we didn’t want to drive over there and set up dearly to do trunk-or-treating, so we just walked the campground and saw some very inventive spooked out sites.
Festive headband and earrings courtesy of Auntie
Sweet decorations!
We both loved this set up!
Grace’s festive roller-blading outfit ;)
Later that evening, we were able to convince the whole crew to head to the beach to see the still-spectacular full moon. And yes, Grace wore her crazy get up LOL.
Grace walking up the dunes, out to the beach in her flashy get-up
The dunes by moonlight…
It’s dark, but it’s an actual family photo where we are all smiling and looking at the camera, so I’ll take it!
The ocean by moonlight
Steve in the moonlight
A moonlight kiss :)
“Sister” fun on the beach
Our last day, I booked an extra day at the campground, despite the fact that we had to head home, but it did mean that we could leave later since the drive home is only about an hour and a half. We spent the morning at the beach, playing in the surf and just enjoying the lovely warm weather and blue sky-filled day before heading out and hitting the road around 3:30 to go home. 
Cool clouds over the dunes!
Beachside antics
Love our red beach “umbrella” - how did I not know we had this? It will definitely be used again!
Hunting Island, we’ll be back. Still one of our very favorite campgrounds. And the site we were in was PERFECT!
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