2015 in Pictures

To build on my previous post, I thought it would be nice to summarise my year in pictures I have taken.

Here are my top pictures of 2015:

Starting off January with one of the best emails ever!

Driving in snow!

Enjoying a bright slushy with a view like that in Barcelona

Exploring the streets of Barcelona where the Cheetah Girls 2 was filmed- Life = made.

Witnessing a beautiful sky like this in the UK

Baking the perfect batch of Hot Cross Buns for Easter

Taking one last photo before the dip dye was chopped off

Buying this sweater, which pretty much summed me up

Saying goodbye to revision notes and year two university exams was such a relief

Taking silly photos with Charlotte on our way to Birmingham

Blowing out the candles of my Birthday and Leaving cupcakes, of course whilst wearing Minnie ears!

Landing in New York to see this this!

Getting to Times Square early because of jet lag and taking this picture!

Arriving in Hilton Head Island and seeing this view whilst cycling across this bridge everyday

Trying my first Mickey waffle

Receiving the badge of honour!

Getting up at 6am to see this everyday before work

Going to the beach whenever I wanted

Slicing my finger on a tomato slicer and having to get stitches 

Trying my first Chick-fil-a

Doing a ghost tour of Savannah in a hearse

Walking down Main Street and seeing this for the first time in over 5 years

Being inspired by Wishes for the first time ever

Witnessing another beautiful sunset

Seeing a shark in the ocean!

Exploring the beauty of Charleston

Another beautiful sunset

Feeling lucky to be able to have spent 3 months on this beautiful island

Taking a selfie of my last ever shift at work

Getting my first tattoo

Saying goodbye to this view

Fro-yo!

My welcome home!

Finding this photo from an asda shop which I had accidentally taken

Watching One Direction before they take a break

Seeing the natural beauty from many walks

Falling in love with London

Getting festive

Watching christmas carrolers 

Whilst sipping on a festive drink

Going back to Disneyland Paris after ages and being blown away by the Christmas lights

Seeing this view!

Baking Mince Pies which were delicious

And there we are. As another year draws to a close, take a look back on your pictures from the year and you can see just how much you have achieved. Memories are precious, so taking photos are a great way of preserving them.

I wish you all a happy new year full of health and prosperity!

x

Hilton Head Island: America's Best Kept Secret

This is one of America's best kept secret.

Hilton Head Island is a hidden gem on the east coast of the USA. It lies southwest of Charleston in South Carolina, and northeast of Savannah in Georgia.

I had the opportunity to live and work there for nearly 4 months this summer, and felt the need to share my discovery with the travel blogging community. Although it is a well known vacation destination for most Americans, Hilton Head is relatively unknown here in the UK. When I was offered the job, I had to do a lot of research of where exactly I would be living.

One thing I will highlight in this post is that I left the island with great sadness. It's beauty captivated me and made me want to return for the rest of my life.

Set in the state of South Carolina, this Lowcountry resort oozes the southern charm that the south is known for, yet it provides an escape from the buzz of the mainland and daily life.

It is surrounded by postcard perfect beaches where you could spend all day sunbathing and dipping in and out of the warm atlantic ocean. Be careful of sharks though, I happened to see many whilst out there!

The summer sun and heat makes this place a great destination to catch a tan, yet the sea breeze keeps the humidity under control for an overall pleasant climate.
Being an island, there's plenty of delicious and fresh seafood restaurants to choose from including the famous Salty Dog Cafe which is internationally recognised. If you visit there, buy a t-shirt!

The island is home to the official marine animal of South Carolina, the bottlenose dolphin, so a dolphin cruise is a must! Other island activities include paddle boarding, surfing, kayaking and the well known mode of transport, biking! The island features numerous bike paths and scenic routes for a leisurely afternoon bike ride.

Golfing plays a big part in the island, and I actually rented a villa where the golf course was literally my backyard!
It is also home to a PGA golf tournament in the Sea Pines resort. To get a fantastic view of the golf course, go up the Harbour Town lighthouse to take in the stunning views.

 You will find many beautiful houses that are owned by wealthy families here, but the island isn't expensive to vacation. Hotels like the Marriott, Omni, Holiday Inn as well as a Disney Vacation Club resort are found here. These accompany the array of bars, restaurants, shops and clubs found on the island.

Off the island, you have the chance to explore the nearby Old town Bluffton for a taste of the quintessential southern charm.
Savannah is only 45 minutes drive away and is known as one of the friendliest cities in America.
Charleston is a must to visit as well, and is only around 2 hours drive from the island.

Although you cannot fly directly to Hilton Head from the UK, you can get connecting flights that stopover in Atlanta, Charlotte and New York. I thoroughly recommend that you visit this island if you are looking for somewhere different to visit, or like many people do, you are looking for somewhere to stop off and stay on your way to Florida or the surrounding states.

A few days spent on this island will leave you feeling well rested and eager to return to the charming island that is Hilton Head.

City of the South: Charleston

Finally a blog post! I wrote this during my time in South Carolina, and have finally got around to uploading it.

I've been living here in South Carolina for nearly 3 months now, and recently had the opportunity to visit one of the well known cities of the South, Charleston.

It's previously been ranked as one of the friendliest cities in the US, and having been to Savannah already, I was expecting the same sort of vibe.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Charleston Church

Charleston sits on it own in terms of culture and let me tell you, it's one of the best cities I've ever visited.

Charleston stole my heart, from the vibrant shopping scene on Kings Street, to the tranquil views of the Atlantic ocean from the marina and downtown. Charleston oozes southern charm in every crevice. 

The buildings look quaint with the typical porches and rocking chairs. The brightly coloured, carribean style mansions near the bottom of the city provide picturesque promenade walk views. All I could vision whilst walking by the water was myself sitting on the balcony in a rocking chair, watching the sunset and boats go past.

Waterfront Promenade

Of course, this city has had its fair share of devastation, which I found out whilst walking past the church that was struck by the horrible shootings this year. Every part of the pavement outside was filled with flowers, something I find so ironic. How there can be so much love outside a place where one person walked in with so much hatred.

Southern Style House

Charleston still however retains its vibrancy and beauty. It's a college town, so along with high street shops, you'll find college outfitters which is a great place to pick up an actual american college tshirt. 

Eating wise, you'll find everything from Mediterranean and oriental inspired cuisine, fast food, local eateries and of course south style cuisine.

If you ever visit the South, make sure you try corn bread and hush puppies! They are a delicacy.

My time in Charleston was short but sweet, and very rarely do I leave a city with sadness about not knowing the next time you will visit. To experience the beauty of the USA, make sure Charleston is on your list of places to visit.