As I mentioned last week, our family went to a new location this year for our family vacation. As beautiful as Fripp Island is itself (you can see lots of pictures from there on my Facebook page), I think the bulk of my favorite images came from neighboring Hunting Island.
As best I can tell, Hunting Island is entirely a State Park (aptly named, Hunting Island State Park), which has its benefits and drawbacks. Given that it is a State Park, it is wonderfully maintained. There is a section of groomed beach there, but there rest remains wild (more on that in a future POTW). You’ll also find lots of opportunities for birding, and you’ll spot an alligator or two pretty easily as well. The downside to it being a State Park though is that it closes… which stinks if you want to get in well before sunrise to take pictures. However, while we were there (late May), the timing of the gate opening was just a hair before the sun popped up above the horizon, so if you hustle, you can be on the beach in time (no star trail images though 🙁 ).
Now, I’m not particularly a lighthouse guy… I mean I like them, but I don’t go crazy over them, but the setting of the lighthouse on Hunting Island is quite beautiful. As the sun comes up it strikes the side of the lighthouse and lights up the tree trunks around it as well. It is definitely worth getting up for.
–Dan Thompson