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During this off season it is important to remember the people who work to preserve and improve Edisto so that our generation and those ahead of it can continue to enjoy this special place. That’s why we are dedicating this month to more than sharing vacation rentals or your favorite eateries. There are more important things being done by local organizations, and the top of the list for us is Learning Through Loggerheads (LTL).

Learning Through Loggerheads is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the threatened loggerhead sea turtle. The group focuses specifically on the turtles and nests on the beaches of Edisto Island. Much of LTL’s work is done on beaches at Edisto.

Meg Hoyle and Susan Ford, the spearheads behind Learning Through Loggerheads, offer educational programs for visitors. You have probably seen the slogan “Lights Out for Loggerheads” around Edisto. LTL shares an in-depth understanding of the Loggerhead and how we stay out of their way in the reproduction process.

In that spirit, Learning Through Loggerheads offers an education opportunity that local middle and high school students would otherwise not have. Students serve as interns during the summer months where they actively participate in all aspects of the loggerheads’ protection. This educational program provides students from all walks of life with an opportunity that instills a lifetime love of learning and appreciation for the environment and conservation and ensures that future generations will continue to protect the sea turtles. For some students, this carries over into college and beyond.

LTL does so much to preserve the environment we all enjoy and much more. That’s why we are offering everyone the opportunity to give a few bucks to an organization that helps continue our way of life. From all of us at Edisto, consider making a small donation to Learning Through Loggerheads by clicking the PayPal button below.

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This is an excellent way to show your year-round support of Learning Through Loggerheads, education in the Lowcountry, and the Edisto Beach community.

It’s beginning to look at a lot like Christmas on Edisto.

As soon as vehicles make the turn onto Palmetto Boulevard they’re greeted with a lighted Nativity scene, fully decorated Christmas tree, and on almost every block a lit angel, Christmas tree, or wreath adorns the light posts.

This weekend, get into the Christmas spirit by attending the local Christmas concerts. On Saturday, at 6 pm the Edisto Community Chorus will perform their annual concert at the Edisto Beach Baptist Church located at 414 Jungle Road. On Sunday at 6 pm the Edisto Community Chorus will perform their concert at the New First Missionary Baptist Church located at 1644 HWY 174.

Next weekend, the whole town will come out to celebrate the upcoming holiday during the 21^st annual Christmas parade at 2 pm on Saturday, Dec. 10. The theme of this year’s parade is “A Sun, Sand, and Surf Christmas” and area businesses and non-profit organizations will line up at the 600 block with their heavily decorated floats.

The parade route travels down Palmetto Boulevard and ends at the Pavilion. To view the parade, line up on either side of Palmetto. Bring the whole family and pets to watch the event. Many of the floats throw candy at the crowds which is always a crowd pleaser, especially with the kids.

Also, bring along canned food to donate the food pantry for the families in need on the island. Every year, the participants in the parade collect several food items for the pantry. The pantry is currently in need of meat, rice, vegetables, and powdered milk, so consider stocking up on those items the next time you go to the store and bring them with you while you celebrate Christmas here on Edisto.

Don’t forget to head out to any of the establishments on Docksite Road like Edisto Watersports and Tackle, the Edisto Yacht Club, Thirsty Fish, Dockside Restaurant, Bay Creek Park, or the marina to check out the 7^th annual Christmas parade of boats. Read about that in a previous post here: http://www.edistobeach.com/blog/christmas-parade-of-boats/.

Forget singing carols, walking over freshly fallen snow, and drinking hot chocolate while taking an old-fashioned sleigh ride. Here on Edisto, Christmas is celebrated a little differently.

To begin with, there’s never snow and (unless you’re born and raised here) it’s rarely cold enough to bundle up and sip hot chocolate or cider. It’s not uncommon to walk the beach barefoot on Christmas Day or have the windows open while unwrapping presents. But that’s just what it means to be on Edisto during the holidays.

If you want to celebrate Christmas Edisto-style, try participating in the Christmas Parade of Boats. Anyone who wants to participate will get the chance to decorate their boat with just about anything Christmassy and cruise through Big Bay Creek.

The parade begins at 5 pm on December 10 at Live Oak Landing at the Edisto Beach State Park and down past the marina to Bay Point.

To view the parade, stop by one of the many establishments along the route like the Thirsty Fish, Edisto Watersports, Dockside, Bay Creek Park, or the marina.

Edisto Watersports will donate a kayak and equipment to anyone interested in kayaking the parade route. Kayakers do not need to begin at Live Oak Landing; they can join the parade at EWT.

EWT will also advise kayakers on how to run Christmas lights or other decorations off of batteries so that no kayak has to hit the water without being full decked out for the holidays. Contact Robin at 869-0663 for more information.

Be sure to decorate your boat enough to stand out from the crowd; judges will be sitting at the Edisto Yacht Club to view and determine the most festive vessel.

If you want to join the Christmas Parade of Boats contact the Edisto Chamber of Commerce at 869-3867.

With Thanksgiving less than a week away there’s still time to plan your holiday down at the beach.

If you haven’t already booked your rental house, don’t panic, there’s still time to make arrangements and find a place to meet the needs of any sized family with any budget. Also, if you’ve never spent a Thanksgiving on Edisto you’ll be surprised to discover there are plenty of things to do. Read further to find out more.

Thanksgiving Day Meal

First, let’s focus on the food. Grover’s is offering a Thanksgiving Day buffet full of the traditional foods along with some southern cuisine favorites. All of the food, which includes everything from turkey with all the trimmings to southern favorites like red rice and seafood casserole will be made fresh by chef Nathan Smith.

In addition, there will be traditional pumpkin pie, gluten-free banana pudding, and for all of those who prefer a liquid dessert, a full bar with drink specials will be offered.

The buffet is from 11-3 and for $17.95 for adults, $6.95 for children 12 and under, patrons can participate in the all-you-can eat feast and then go home to relax on the beach.

Reservations will not be taken, so just show up with an empty stomach and be ready to eat. Grover’s is located inside the Wyndham Resort and is always open to the public.

Where to Stay

Now back to finding a place to stay. This time of year rental homes are at their most affordable, so consider staying on the beach and experience what it’s like to fall asleep in the middle of November listening to the pounding of the surf.

If you have a large family, Four Seasons should be able to meet your needs. This beach-front house offers seven bedrooms, seven and a half baths, and sleeps 17.

It’s located on Point Street so visitors have views of both the Atlantic Ocean and St. Helena Sound. This location is one of the best for anyone who loves to walk because there are views of uninhabited Pine and Otter islands.

The home offers a elevator, reverse osmosis water so that there’s no need to run off to town hall to fill up jugs, a boardwalk to the beach, and so much more.

Also, if you want to cook your traditional Thanksgiving meal at home, this home offers two dishwashers, two wall ovens, a five burner stove top, and a fully equipped kitchen.

This house rents for $2450 a week during the fall and winter months.

If you’re looking for something with a modest price tag, consider Beach Music on Palmetto. This house offers three different levels which is perfect for families with teens or college-aged children or anyone looking for a house that provides multiple living areas.

The ground floor of Beach Music offers a sleeping area, kitchenette, sitting area, and bathroom which would suffice as a mother-in-law suite or give teens the privacy they desire while keeping them close. The main floor has a great room, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. In addition, a full kitchen is on this floor, which is fully stocked. The third floor has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a sundeck with amazing views.

This house is located at 516 Palmetto Boulevard and is just a short five-block walk to the Piggly Wiggly, Pavilion, McConkey’s, and Palmetto Plaza shopping center.

Beach Music on Palmetto rents for $1800 a week.

One of the most affordable beach front rentals this holiday season is Courtright. This is an older beach cottage with the old Edisto appeal.

It sleeps eight and has three bedrooms with one and a half baths. An additional rental unit is available under the house which rents for an additional $100. This area sleeps six.

Courtright has amazing views of the sand dunes, sea oats, and sparkling Atlantic Ocean. The covered porch with wooden rockers really makes this house and gives visitors a chance to look out over the ocean no matter what the weather is like.

Courtright rents for $920 a week.

Things to Do

Once you choose your house and arrive on Edisto Beach for your Thanksgiving getaway, you’ll discover there are still plenty of things do even though the temperatures are cooler and the pulse of summer is gone.

Lately, temperatures have been in the 60s and 70s during the day and get down into the 50s at night, which is perfect for opening the windows and letting the salty sea air drift into your house. These temperatures also make it more pleasant to get out and walk the beach or explore the island on foot.

If getting out on the water is what you love to do most, rent a kayak from Edisto Watersports and explore the creeks that twist through Edisto’s marshlands.

You can also visit the Serpentarium’s winter light fest and get ready for Christmas. Read all the details here: http://www.edistobeach.com/events/serpentarium-christmas-light-display.

No matter what you decide to do, visting Edisto this time of year promises to be full of relaxation, good times, and good food.

When the golden beams of the sun’s light shine through the Spanish moss draped trees at the Edisto Island Presbyterian Church it’s easy to think that a slow-moving shadow was just that – a shadow – but maybe, it was something else.

As far as ghost stories go on the island, the Presbyterian Church, or more specifically, its graveyard, is home to one of the most popular haunts around.

This is the story of Julia Legare.

Back in the mid-1800s, Julia Legare was visiting family on the island. She became ill and slipped into a coma. Her family anxiously awaited the day she would wake up, but that day never came. The family physician declared the young girl dead.

The child was lovingly dressed for her funeral where loved ones would pay her one last goodbye… or so they thought.

In those days, long before the deceased were treated with embalming fluids to preserve the body before burial, the ceremonial activities surrounding death were conducted at a rapid pace in order to avoid the inevitable decomposition. Poor Julia was buried on the same day of her death after loved ones had a chance to pay their respects.

Her little body was taken from the church and interred in the family’s mausoleum. After she was placed inside the crypt, the marble door was closed, and securely locked, providing a sense of finality to the tragic death of the child.

Julia’s family went on with their lives as best as they could after suffering the loss of a child so young and in time the pain of her death was replaced with happy memories from her life.

After 15 years had gone by, another death in the family required the mausoleum to be opened. It was then that the family realized what a tragic error they had made.

Julia’s remains, which had so long ago been entombed, were crumpled at the foot of the mausoleum’s door. She had been buried alive.

It is thought that her respiratory and heart rates had dropped so precariously low that they were undetectable by the family’s physician and so he declared her dead. When she was interred that fateful day, she was merely in a coma, and not dead. This led to the horrible realization that she had woken up in her own tomb next to the entombed remains of long-dead family members where she was unable to escape and had to wait for her actual death to come and free her of the terror she had woken up to.

The girl’s remains were entombed once again, as were those of the relative whose death led to the grim discovery, and the door was securely closed once again.

Still reeling from the horrible discovery at the mausoleum, the girl’s family members visited cemetery to pay their respects. When they did, its door was open.

Thinking that the open door had to have been the result of being improperly secured at the recent funeral, they shut the door again, and walked away.

A few weeks later, a clergyman at the church saw that the door was open and ordered it to be closed. This happened again and again and again throughout the decades. Chains and unbreakable locks were used to keep it sealed tight, but they would always break and the door would open. As little as 50 years ago a door was put on that could only be removed by industrial heavy machinery and that door was also opened (little Julia must have been particularly mad at that door because it was not only open but completely unhinged from the mausoleum).

That’s when everyone gave up trying to close the door. To this day, the original door is nothing more than broken marble that sits in the grassy doorway to the tomb.

Now that there is no door to the J.B. Legare mausoleum, it is thought that Julia’s spirit can rest. But there are still some who say that she guards the mausoleum just to make sure that nobody dare get the notion to put a door back on the very building that killed her all those years ago.

Visitors head out to the church every year just to walk over to the cemetery and take a look at the mausoleum and walk inside. Some report feeling an essence around them and others claim to have captured images on their cameras that cannot be explained. As for what Julia thinks of it, well, it seems as though she is just fine with people visiting the tomb – just don’t even think about shutting the door.

Picture this.

You spend the day enjoying all of what Edisto has to offer with the beach, nature trails, shops, and restaurants. Then you want to kick back and relax for a couple of hours to watch the sun as it slowly sets in the west and casts orange, pink, and red hues over the water as another perfect day at Edisto comes to an end.

The best way to do this is on one of the sunset cruises offered by Edisto Watersports. Passengers go out on a skiff just before sunset so that there is ample time to explore the waterways and watch the sun as it fades away.

Now that it is almost fall, the skiff goes out at about 5:30 pm. It winds its way through Big Bay Creek and surrounding waterways while making several stops along the way so that riders get a chance to learn where they are and how the areas are significant to both Edisto and the lowcountry.

After leaving the dock, the captain points out the islands that can be seen in the area off of the coast of Edisto. These islands include Hunting Island State Park, Harbor Island, Saint Helena Island, and Otter and Pine Islands.

One of the first stops (keep in mind, you do not get off the boat; it simply floats by points of interest so there is ample time for photos and appreciation) is Pine Island. This uninhabited island is maintained by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. It offers visitors a chance to look over the white sand beach, dense forest, and see any wildlife that might be resting on the beach or on the limb of one of the many fallen over trees with weather-worn trunks.

From there, the tour goes on through Pierre (sometimes called Peter) Creek. The remains of an old plantation can be seen just past the trees of Peters Point. The plantation was once one of the grandest of homes on the island and prospered greatly during the cotton crop days of the 1800s, but the Civil War and later, the boll weevil, were too much for the plantation owners to overcome and the house and land began to fall into disrepair.

Just past Peters Point there is Bailey Island, which is a true island in every sense of the word. This island is accessible via bridge if one were traveling by car, but almost every homeowner in the area has a dock so that they can easily leave their homes and cruise the creeks.

One of the best parts of the trip is that it offers passengers a chance to take a look at historic Middleton Plantation from the water. The privately owned plantation features the traditional red roof, white siding, and black shuttered look of an old southern home. In addition, the plantation’s former kitchen, which occupied its own building back in the 1800s, sits off to the side of the house and has since been turned into a guest house. Both buildings offer a glimpse into the island’s prosperous past.

After Middleton Plantation, the skiff makes its way back to the dock, but there is still much to be seen. The wildlife indigenous to the area always finds a way to fit into the scenic landscape. Dolphins will appear all throughout the trip feeding along the banks of the creeks or splashing in the mouth of Big Bay Creek; sea birds like the herons, ospreys, pelicans, and even the occasional bald eagle will eye the skiff from their perches on a dock; and even the deer that live all over the island might dart out from the trees from time to time.

Overall, the trip makes for the perfect blend of entertainment, relaxation, and even a little education. Passengers are free to bring coolers on board and can even work on a six-pack while being ferried through the creeks.

The trips are $35 for adults and $15 for kids 10 and under. Call 869-0663 to book your trip.

This weekend will be a welcome relief for anyone who’s been on Edisto the past couple days. Strong wind, rough seas, and torrential downpours have made this early part of October dreary, but the clouds are forecasted to move on and make way for sunny skies this weekend. The timing couldn’t be better as this Saturday is the annual Fall Festival.

At 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, Jungle Road will be transformed into a thoroughfare of fun as vendors from all over Edisto will set up booths for the festival. Festival-goers can pick up locally made arts and crafts, snacks and beverages, and everything in between. In addition, the Edisto Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the event, will have games and activities for children.

Charitable organizations will also be present at the festival. The Edisto Belles, a breast cancer awareness group, will have their all-pink booth set up to raise funds for breast cancer research. Information items about breast cancer will also be available.

Animal Lovers of Edisto will offer puppy hugs for $1 to raise funds for their organization. Stop by their booth and snuggle two 10-week old lab mix puppies for a good cause. Keep in mind the puppies are up for adoption along with the three grown dogs at the rescue facility.

The festival will be in the first and second block of Jungle Road in front of the Jungle Road Park and next to Palmetto Plaza. The road will be blocked off to traffic, so feel free to let the kids run loose.

If festivals aren’t your style, the weather will be bright and sunny with temperatures in the high 70s. It’s the perfect time to schedule an ecotour or take a ride out to Otter Island to do some exploring. The trails at the Live Oak campground off Highway 174 are excellent this time of year because the humidity is gone, making the two-mile walk through Edisto’s maritime forest pleasant.

This time of year means plenty of rental houses are available at a discounted rate, so if you haven’t already booked your house, do so now by clicking here and get ready for your fall vacation.

There are some people who say the good things in life never last; those people have never been to Edisto.

This thought struck me today when I decided to get out of the house and go down to the beach. Instead of hitting up the normal beach access closest to my house, I got in the car and drove – with the windows down – to Point Street. I pulled my car to the side of the road, parked, and headed for the water.

Instantly this feeling of déjà vu came over me and as I paid more attention to my surroundings I realized I drove right up to the house I used to stay in 25 years ago. Right next to the house, there’s soft white sand that cuts a swath through the sea oats, sand spurs, and scrub brush blossomed over with wild flowers. It’s this path that has always stayed in my mind because it is among the first paths I ever walked that took me straight to the beach.

As a child, that path seemed to go on forever. I remember holding onto my mom’s hand as my bare feet bounced as quickly as hot grease on a skillet over the sun-baked sand (nobody could ever keep shoes on me as a kid). I remember being distracted by the wildflowers that lined the path and wanting to pick them, but I never did seeing as they were always protected from little fingers by threatening sand spurs. Plus, nothing could ever fully distract me from the ultimate goal: getting into the surf.

It was enough back then to just go up to my thighs and splash around with my sister. I never went in too deep where my oldest siblings played – that was just too scary. I didn’t learn to love the scary part until I was older and then it was almost impossible to get me out of the breakers. Now, however, I seem to have reverted to my thought process that the “deep end” is scary because I only like to wade in the surf and look out over the beach and seemingly endless Atlantic.

When I stood in the water today, I kept looking back at the house and remembering showing the sharks’ teeth that I found to my grandparents, flying a kite with my uncle, being chased with bugs by my brother, getting beach balls stuck in the palm tree with my sister, making sand castles on the beach with my mom, and trusting my dad to take me in the deep end during low tide just as long as he never let me go.

Like many of the old cottages from back when Edisto was dotted with simple beach homes (a far cry from some of the almost palatial homes that have popped up over the years) the house has been updated, but it is still very much the same. The memories I have seem imprinted all around it so intensely that just looking at the house is like watching a home video of my past while still standing in my present.

Many things have changed here at the beach since those days 25 years ago, but nothing can ever change the true spirit of Edisto that lives inside all of us who call this place home.

Over the weekend some of Edisto’s smallest residents were present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the town’s Bay Creek Park. Unfortunately, those residents were eaten.

The Edisto Shrimp Fest kicked off at 11 on Saturday at Bay Creek Park. This event marked the grand opening of the park (which has been around and used for more than a year already) next to the marina. From 11 to 5, residents and vacationers alike came out and enjoyed some Lowcountry boil and hot dogs. In addition, the band Fat Alice played.

Here’s a look back at how the park came about.

It wasn’t long ago that the area used for the park was occupied by the seafood market known as Bell Buoy’s. This ramshackle market with its sun-worn wooden look was a landmark on Edisto. It was owned by the Bell family and had some of the best fresh seafood caught right off the shore. Mrs. Bell used to make casseroles and desserts that were so legendarily good that they were often purchased a long side of a couple pounds of shrimp and snow crab.

For the lucky few who knew about it, there was also a jewelry store on the top floor of the market. Visitors could schedule an appointment to go upstairs and see what treasures Mrs. Bell had to offer.

It was a tradition for many families to make a stop at Bell Buoy’s every time they came to the island and the scenic seafood shack provided a great backdrop for countless photo ops.

But about five years ago, the family sold the property to the city. The house and market on the land was torn down and there was nothing on the property for a long time. A lot of drama ensued with some locals being upset over the fact that the city paid millions for the land and subsequent park. But after a while, the drama blew over and the park was finished and ready for business.

Now, it’s hard to even remember the old fish market that used to be on the land. The park offers wide open spaces, a dock for visitors to look out over Big Bay Creek or drop a line in to catch some fish and crab, and there is a structure where vendors can come every Wednesday to sell arts, crafts, and foods indigenous to the lowcountry.

While there are generations of Edisto-lovers who will always remember the area as being the former site of Bell Buoy’s, the park provides a new generation of locals and visitors with a place to go and begin their own traditions.

Did you participate in Shrimp Fest? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!