News staffer Natalie Schliekelman (middle) stands with Anna Gebo (left) and Kate Fitzpatrick (right) on the beach at Hunting Island, South Carolina. Schliekelman has been visiting Hunting Island with the same group of friends since elementary school. Photo courtesy of Paul Schliekelman
News staffer Natalie Schliekelman reflects on her memories of camping with friends at Hunting Island, South Carolina throughout her childhood.
Hunting Island is a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. It has five miles of beach, a lighthouse and 100 campsites.
Hunting Island is the location of some of my best memories. It’s the place that has kept me close with many of my best friends, even if we don’t get to see each other throughout the rest of the year.
My family first camped at Hunting Island with some friends in 2012. In the eight years since, I have visited more than 30 times, spending a total of over 100 days there.
The experience starts with the car ride. The drive is a little under five hours, and my siblings and I spend the entire ride getting increasingly excited as we spot the first palm tree and finally, the ocean.
When we arrive on the island, the first thing we do is jump out of the car and run to the beach. We take off our shoes and run onto the sand and into the shallow waves. After that, it’s time for the best part: spending time with my friends.
Most days, we’ll hang out on the beach and bike around the campground. Sometimes, we’ll walk to one end of the island, where there are hundreds of tide pools, or the other end, which has a tree boneyard. We’ll hike around the interior of the island, force each other to climb up the lighthouse and play Mafia around a campfire.
A 360 degree photo shows the beach at Hunting Island. News staffer Natalie Schliekelman has been going on vacation at Hunting Island since second grade. Photo by Natalie Schliekelman
Hunting Island has been an integral part of my childhood. All of the years of traditions and shared memories are always going to be there to connect me to my friends. Thinking about going there, being with my friends, feeling the wind in my hair and the salt water on my skin, makes me feel happy.
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