A wound down weekend at Deep Water Vineyard

Deep Water Vineyard is located on Wadmalaw Island at 6775 Bears Bluff Rd. I've never been to a wine tasting before that was from the winery itself and I wasn't sure what to expect , especially being someone who doesn't drink. Why go to a wine tasting then? Because Deep Water Vineyard makes everyone feel at home. I took my friend who loves a good wine and we had a great time. I know some might be worried about going to a place like this at first. Am I going to be around a lot of loud drunks who can't respect my personal space? Is this a safe place to go being way out on the islands? I can tell you it definitely is safe and your personal space is definitely respected. If I were looking for a place to wind down from my week, this would be the place I would go. It has southern style and charm and even with all the people there, you are not crowded in the least.

The drive out there takes about an hour from the Charleston area. It is a serene escape hatch that really starts to get you into the mood for an island adventure with an oak lined road that keeps the southern heat at bay. On our way there we came across other interesting sites such as the Angel Oak and when you go further down the road you run into the Tea Plantation.

Deep Water Vineyard is best described as a big backyard that they have invited everyone to come and enjoy. The vineyards are open to everyone to walk through with a breeze that is sweet and light. They have animals to interact with and we actually got a chance to sample the food trucks that we missed out on before (you can read about that here). The wine tasting and moonshine tasting costs you a total of 11$ and they card you at the table where you buy your tickets. With that cost you are given: a wine glass and a shot glass, a sampling of four wines and six flavors of the famous Firefly moonshine.

They do events as well!

The wine tasting was informative, fun and lasts about 30 minutes. We then moved on to the moonshine tasting which had a significant line. Be prepared to wait in this line for a little over 20 minutes because the moonshine tasting takes about as long the wine tasting. All of their products are for sale and they also have a gift shop with wine or southern related things on display.

Tips and tricks for this adventure:

1. This area is wheel chair accessible. It is not on ground that is developed so plan accordingly.
2. It can be tough to find the entrance. Go slow down the road and be on the look out for a black gate with a wine glass on it. It also has two different signs on the sides of the gate. One for firefly and the other for the former name of the Deep Water Vineyard which is Irvin House Vineyard. This sign will be changed in the next couple of years, but until then that is your marker.
3. It is hot out there so be sure to bring water with you.
4. They do allow dogs as long as they are well trained and on a leash.

When you go I would recommend the event they have called Weekend Wine-Down. This is the event that my friend and I attended. I will be going back to this idealic area as soon as possible! To learn more about Deep Water Vineyards visit their website or Facebook Page.

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YMCA Flowertown Festival - a taste of everything Summerville

The Flowertown Festival, also known as the azalea festival, is a yearly event put on by the local YMCA and several supporters. It's designed to be a fundraising event and that lets you experience everything that Summerville has to offer!

There is a lot going on at the Flowertown Festival so lets just jump into the need to know's:

1. The event is mostly wheelchair accessible. They have done better this year than in previous years, however, the wheel chair accessible area is limited to the main road. After that you have dirt/gravel walk laid down to facilitate wheel chairs, prams, and strollers. When it rains this walk becomes muddy and difficult to maneuver, so plan ahead.
2. It is hot out there! This festival takes place during the Spring. Here in South Carolina that can mean temperatures between 75-100 degrees. This area is semitropical so rain is also not out of the ordinary. Be sure to take sunscreen, plenty of water and a hat just to be sure you are covered.
3. Animals are not allowed at this event. Even though this is an outdoor event, they do not allow recreational animals. Service animals are welcome and should be properly tagged so everyone can see.
4. Friday is the best time to go. People coming from out of town are settling in and haven't made their way to the festival just yet and locals are still working. If you want a less crowded experience, this is what we suggest.
5. Parking can be a chore. Several churches around the festival provide all day parking for $5 a day. The free parking is vast, but can fill up quickly if you don't get there early.

There are many things to see at this annual festival. People give away free samples and it is a great way to add some southern decor to your home. This is an international festival and that means some of the vendors you see will not be from South Carolina. If you are wanting something authentically southern be sure to check with the vendor before purchasing. As locals, we continue to go for the food. Several different vendors hand out free samples and if you get your picture taken by the Summerville Journal Scene they will give you free ice cream! A little tip for staying out of the sun: if you go beyond the table set up behind the food you will notice an incline and a then a side walk. This is a great place to sit in the shade and enjoy your food. The only thing asked is; you do not go into the yards of the people who live on the street and please pick up your trash!

We suggest that you take a least two days to participate in this event because of how large it is. This is a free admission event and you are not required to purchase anything. My husband and I go and have a lot of fun just looking at everything that people have to offer. This type of festival also lends itself to great photo opportunities for families and friends a like. I like to always get a picture with the big cup of sweet tea that McAlisters Deli has sitting next to their booth. This festival sits in middle of Azalea Park for which the festival was originally named. The park includes gazebos, ponds and statues to enjoy, take pictures by and generally have a great time.

Overall this is an enjoyable event that you can attend every year and one we hope you will enjoy on your next wander!

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T.I.G.E.R.S Preservation Station, a lasting impression

T.I.G.E.R.S is an experience I had been waiting to attend for about a year. I went with a friend and my husband expecting to hold or pet baby tigers and interact with larger ones. This is something I expected because of the way a couple of brochures I was able to find read. However, when you get there it's not exactly what you might expect. Don't get this traveler wrong; it was still a great experience. It was simply dampened a bit by my dashed hopes of interaction.

T.I.G.E.R.S Preservation Station is located at Barefoot Landing Hwy 17 N, North Myrtle Beach, in what we unofficially dubbed, a mini Broadway at the Beach. It's a lovely area with dining, shopping and no crowds. Perfect for anyone who wants to do basically the same kind of thing, but in a low key setting. The tiger show starts at 5 p.m. and is designed to be a preview of the Myrtle Beach Safari. As a result you will be able to see and hear two adult tigers, several baby tigers, a baby wolf cub and a monkey. If you would like to hold the babies the price for the first person is $100 and any subsequent person is $25. This is where the brochure and initial website reading gets tricky. The website clearly states that holding and feeding cost a fee; however, the brochure reads little different. It can lead you to believe that you may pet said animals without a fee, but holding them and getting a picture costs money. And so, therein, lies our disappointment.

Enjoy the slideshow below of the tigers!:

Even with said disappointment, we stayed a good half hour just listening to the baby tigers mini roars and watching the adults nap, play, and generally do tigery things. You can see the baby wolf and monkey when they bring them out for pictures.

Tips for finding the tiger viewing:

1. there are no signs for it so the closest thing you find for a sign to indicate you are in the right area is the one for Alligator Adventure.
2. Once you turn there, go down the road till you hit a parking lot and your tiger destination is on the left.
3. Another way to know you are in the right area is to find the Longhorn Steakhouse and make the turn directly across the street from that restaurant.

This adventure is wheel chair accessible and they have plenty of parking and bathrooms. Be aware that people do bring their dogs and small children here. They also have an unofficial Facebook page that contain more reviews for the safari: Myrtle Beach Safari Wild Encounters.

My final conclusion is that I would go there again. It wasn't what I expected, but, it was awesome to see these animals as close as I was able to and to hear the babies and watch them play. You will definitely find the trip worth your time.

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