A Fortress and a Light

Before leaving the area, we took a drive out towards the coast.  Our first stop was on Cockspur Island at Fort Pulaski National Monument...

This fort was really cool.  It had a moat filled with water going around it and little wooden bridges that you had to cross to get inside...

Once inside, we got situated to watch the cannon demonstrations.  The guys shooting the guns were great with kids, they invited them out onto the grass to get an up close look and ask any questions they might have (they always have questions ;) ).

I don't know where they all came from, but a large crowd gathered as the demonstrations began.  It was really interesting (and REALLY LOUD :)!)...

When the smoke had cleared, we wandered off to see the rest of the fort...

The second level was a little different than what I've seen before.  There were NO sides towards the interior!  Gah!  It made me a lil bit nervous to be up there with energetic boys that were all amped up from the gun show...

I tried my best to keep their attention focused towards the outside of the fort, aka the part with sides on it ;)...

damage from Union fire during the Civil War...Fort Pulaski was under Confederate control

Back down and ever so glad :)!...

Just as we were coming out of a room in one corner, the kids noticed something different about the bricks on the wall.  Signatures were carved into the brick, dating back to 1861.  Wow...

We finished up our tour with a stop in the main gift shop and then it was time for the kids to turn their Jr. Ranger books in for review.  Badges in hand, we headed off to our second destination...Tybee Island.

Tybee Island was slam packed with people.  Not my idea of a good time at the beach.  So, we checked out the lighthouse and then got back on the road towards...South Carolina :)!