Original photos and firsthand stories from Ron & Michelle.
R&M Adventures
Original photos and stories from our adventures beyond the ship.
View AdventuresBehind Every Photo Is a Story.
State parks, wildlife, road trips, and unexpected stops—captured in our original photographs. Ron and Michelle completed South Carolina’s original 47-park Ultimate Outsider challenge, collecting every stamp in the official book. Along the way, their adventures carried them across South Carolina and beyond as they healed and worked to regain their health. As the park system expanded, they kept exploring—and have now visited 49 of South Carolina’s 50 state parks.
The Next Chapter Is Just a Click Away
Discover where we went, why each place matters, and then open our real photo album to explore the complete adventure.
Brookgreen GardensRead Story →
Where It Is Murrells Inlet is a historic fishing village about 13 miles south of Myrtle Beach, known for its salt marsh, seafood heritage, and relaxed Lowcountry character.
Why It Matters Founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, Brookgreen brings sculpture, botanical gardens, wildlife, and Lowcountry history together across 9,100 acres.
- Location
- Murrells Inlet • Hammock Coast
- Adventure
- Gardens • Sculpture • History
- Photo Dates
- November 3–7, 2020
Orange County ChoppersRead Story →
Where It Is We visited the former Orange County Choppers headquarters in Newburgh, New York, in the Hudson Valley north of New York City.
Why It Matters Founded by Paul Teutul Sr. in 1999, OCC became famous through American Chopper and its bold, one-of-a-kind themed motorcycles.
- Adventure
- Custom Motorcycles • TV History
- Photo Date
- June 14, 2011
Myrtle Beach State ParkRead Story →
Where It Is The park sits on the Atlantic Ocean along South Carolina’s Grand Strand, close to Myrtle Beach but protected by a peaceful oceanfront maritime forest.
Why It Matters Opened in 1936 as the first park in the South Carolina system, it is known for its fishing pier, nature trails, campground, surf fishing, and quieter beach.
- Adventure
- Beach • Pier • State Park
- Photo Dates
- 2020–2022 Album
Charleston Naval Base MemorialRead Story →
Where It Is The Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial stands inside Riverfront Park on the Cooper River in North Charleston, on part of the former naval base.
Why It Matters The memorial honors the military personnel and civilians who served there during the base’s 95 years, with a ship-like pavilion, flowing stream, and powerful sailor statues.
- Adventure
- Naval History • Memorial
- Photo Date
- February 16, 2021
Calhoun Falls State ParkRead Story →
Where It Is Calhoun Falls State Park rests along Lake Russell in Abbeville County, where western South Carolina meets a wide, quiet shoreline.
Why It Matters Pine-covered points, waterside camping, trails, swimming, fishing, and open lake views make it a peaceful park—and a wonderful place to watch the sky change.
- Adventure
- Camping • Fishing • Sunset
- Photo Dates
- 2021–2022 Album
Alligator — Huntington Beach State ParkRead Story →
Where It Is In Murrells Inlet, Huntington Beach State Park—one of South Carolina’s premier coastal parks—faces Brookgreen Gardens across U.S. 17 and protects beach, salt marsh, freshwater lagoon, and maritime forest.
Why It Matters The park and Brookgreen share the Huntington legacy. Atalaya Castle was Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington’s winter home and Anna’s sculpture studio. Ron and Michelle volunteer here as park hosts—and this alligator clearly preferred the road.
- Location
- Murrells Inlet • Grand Strand
- Adventure
- Wildlife • Beach • Atalaya
- Photo Date
- November 4, 2020
Port Royal Boardwalk & Observation TowerRead Story →
Where It Is Port Royal sits along Battery Creek in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, with the Henry Robinson Boardwalk extending beside the water toward a public observation tower.
Why It Matters A peaceful waterfront walk where the boardwalk, observation tower, and Battery Creek open up one of the Lowcountry’s best wide-water views.
- Location
- Port Royal • Battery Creek
- Adventure
- Boardwalk • Tower • Estuary
- Photo Dates
- April 24, 2023
Pretty Place Chapel & Bald RockRead Story →
Where It Is Pretty Place and Bald Rock are scenic mountain stops near Cleveland, South Carolina, where the Blue Ridge opens into long layered views across the upstate.
Why It Matters An open-air mountain chapel paired with the sweeping Blue Ridge panorama at Bald Rock—two unforgettable views in one upstate day.
- Location
- Cleveland • Blue Ridge Mountains
- Adventure
- Chapel • Scenic Overlook
- Photo Dates
- 2020–2023
Stumphouse Tunnel & Issaqueena FallsRead Story →
Where It Is Stumphouse Park is near Walhalla in Oconee County, where an unfinished railroad tunnel, Issaqueena Falls, and forest trails share one mountain property.
Why It Matters Step inside an unfinished railroad tunnel, then follow the forest toward Issaqueena Falls for history and nature in the same park.
- Location
- Walhalla • Oconee County
- Adventure
- Tunnel • Waterfall • Trails
- Photo Dates
- 2020–2021
Hamilton Branch State ParkRead Story →
Where It Is Hamilton Branch State Park occupies a wooded peninsula on Lake Thurmond near Plum Branch, South Carolina, with shoreline camping and easy access to the water.
Why It Matters A lake-centered escape with shoreline campsites, long-water sunsets, quiet coves, fishing, paddling, and room to slow down.
- Location
- Plum Branch • Lake Thurmond
- Adventure
- Camping • Kayaking • Lake
- Photo Dates
- 2021–2023
Hunting Island State ParkRead Story →
Where It Is Hunting Island State Park is a barrier-island park near St. Helena Island in Beaufort County, with maritime forest, Atlantic beach, lagoon, and lighthouse scenery.
Why It Matters A barrier-island adventure through palmettos and maritime forest to Atlantic beaches and one of South Carolina’s most recognizable lighthouses.
- Location
- St. Helena Island • Beaufort County
- Adventure
- Beach • Lighthouse • Forest
- Photo Dates
- 2020–2023
Table Rock State ParkRead Story →
Where It Is Table Rock State Park lies along the Blue Ridge Escarpment near Pickens, South Carolina, where its landmark mountain rises above forest, lakes, trails, and historic park buildings.
Why It Matters A classic South Carolina mountain park where historic craftsmanship, forest trails, clear lakes, and Table Rock itself shape every view.
- Location
- Pickens • Blue Ridge Escarpment
- Adventure
- Mountains • Lakes • Trails
- Photo Dates
- 2020–2022