I was able to visit South Carolina the summer going into my junior year. My parents had made plans to go with another family who I had known since I was little. It was also considered a birthday present for my sister and I since we really wanted to go somewhere on the East Coast before school started back up. We were really excited just because this was our first time driving far for a family trip, but all five of us would be smashed in my mom's Toyota highlander.

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My dad did extensive research on where to stay and best dining experiences so we ended up agreeing on staying in Hilton Head Island. My family and I left for South Carolina on July 21st around dinner time. We passed through Kentucky and Tennessee, it was really cool to watch the scenery shift from country side and dead crops to multitudes of trees and mountains.  

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When we arrived in South Carolina the atmosphere just seemed vibrant; abundances of tropical trees, continuous chirp of birds, and freshly paved streets. We were moving sluggishly through traffic all of us itching to get out of the car. Immediately all the windows of the car were rolled down, we could hear the crash of the Atlantic Ocean against the shore. My dad was exhausted from driving all night and the rest of my family was craving a hot breakfast. I didn't care about sleep or hunger, I wanted to be on the beach.

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The hotel was right on the beach, secluded from the busy roads deep in a wooded area surrounded by bicycle shops. We checked into our rooms and ran straight to the beach. The beach was a buzz with people, kids building sandcastles and others splashing in the waves. My family friends and I would play multiple games of beach volleyball each day. There's nothing like feeling smooth, warm sand between your toes. I couldn't stop myself from smiling, this was exactly where I wanted to spend the end of my summer.

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Lunch, when we planned to stay at the beach, was spent at food trucks serving fried seafood and french fries. Other days when we made plans to go explore Hilton Head, we ate at small locally owned restaurants with giant burgers and fruit salads. For dinner we would typically visit the most popular pizza places or Mexican restaurants. We would try something new at every meal that we wouldn't have the opportunity to try at home.

 

On our excursion days we decided to rent bikes and ride all over Hilton Head to see the most popular tourist attractions. We had the opportunity to visit the largest stable on the island containing at least eighty horses. They were all very eager to see people. We also snorkeled in the Atlantic, it wasn't anything compared to snorkeling in Hawaii but still amazing to see fish swim beneath you. My dad even picked up a blue starfish he found while snorkeling. This was amazing to me because I had never seen a starfish before in person.

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I'll always want to return to South Carolina someday in the future for a beach vacation. It was an awesome trip just because I got to experience a lot of new things I wouldn't be able to do in Peoria. I hope reading this article made you want to experience it for yourself!

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