Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Photo Credit:©️2019 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone XR
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a warm and safe funtastic day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Click on image to enlarge.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: AJSP Lake; Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike. Enjoy all of God’s Beautiful Creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday-06 August 2025
Photo Credit:©️2019 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone XR
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy all of Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
One of my favourite places to visit for hiking and camping is Andrew Jackson State Park (AJSP) in Lancaster, South Carolina. It is considered a small State Park when compared to some others, however, it is beautiful, inviting, picturesque, and a wonderful peaceful environment to relax and explore nature.
When you arrive in the upper parking lot one of the first things you’ll do if you are planning to camp is to check in at the Office to confirm your reservation and your campsite is ready for you.
Later, after you settle into your campsite or if you’re visiting for just the day you’ll want to be sure and check out the Museum and the School. They both are filled with historical relics and information about President Andrew Jackson and his history within the Carolinas.
The Meeting House (Aka the Community Building or Chapel) is styled after the churches or “kirks” of the Scotch-Irish in the late 18th-century. It is ideal for groups of up to 60 people and includes a kitchenette.
Besides the history and historical artifacts located within the Museum and School, the AJSP has an historical garden. The Park holds two living history programs
Visiting Andrew Jackson State Park is a family friendly experience waiting to happen. Be sure to visit during the Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration in March and/or the Life of the Waxhaws Lantern Tour in November.
Photo Credit: ©️2018-2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhones X, XR, 11 Pro Max, 13 Pro, & 14 Pro Max
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park (AJSP); Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Stay tuned for the Which Way Challenge on Friday. This week our theme is (CWWC): Any Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails [Bonus if RED is included].
Aka Lanceleaf Tickseed, Sand Coreopsis
Photo Credit:©️2020 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Telephoto Camera
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Perennial Garden
Andrew Jackson State Park
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Smell the Flowers. See the Beauty in Simplicity. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Cee is back and allowing us to post any type of road, path, step, bridge or sign this week for her Which Way Challenge. This week I have mixed it up with a little new with a little from my favourite place from my archives. Hope you enjoy!
Cee’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)
God bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
It’s been raining a lot here this year even more so now that hurricane season is here. Where we live we mostly get tropical storms during hurricane season. It’s been raining more so on a nightly basis. Therefore, we we do get a beautiful sunshiny day Coleman and I try to take full advantage of it. We (Coleman) decides where we’re going and we go enjoy our day hiking. It’s definitely more amazing when we are by a lake.
Andrew Jackson State Park is one of our favorite places to spend our time hiking, relaxing, and enjoying the beautiful views in nature.
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #192
WHATSOEVER IS LOVELY CHALLENGE-2023
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️2023Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
For our time of reflection and remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001 Coleman and I paid a visit to Andrew Jackson State Park we we could have a time of relaxation, hiking 🥾, and just plain ole fun.
Mostly Coleman’s choices
for Pulling Up a Seat.
Coleman had some fun time at the Playground 🛝, then we walked around most of the lake (ignoring a trail closed sign for a short bit) and then proceeded back towards the Picnic tables 🧺 for a small snack. After his snack, it was back to the playground for him to burn off more energy and to enjoy himself in the Playground.
Fandango’s One Word Challenge – Seat
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Slides 1-6: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. Slides 7-8: iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens. f/5.6 • 1/200 • 135mm • ISO320
Location: Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max Telephoto
Location: By the Lake at Andrew Jackson State Park; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
On Monday, Coleman and I ventured down to Andrew Jackson State Park for a relaxing afternoon of hiking around the lake and in the playground.
The following depicts Coleman’s version on how to approach and go down a slide.
Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday-Almost wordless
Photo Credit: ©️2023Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. Enjoy the show. I appreciate y’all.
The place I consider my Haven of Peace would be around the lake at Andrew Jackson State Park. Whenever I feel stressed and need a breath of fresh air and communion with nature, AJ State Park has been my go to place for years. It used to be a short distance from where I lived, not so much now.
Nowadays,my circumstances have changed. I do not have ready access to a vehicle anymore, so I can not just jump in a car and go to AJ like I used to.
What I do lately is to go out to a park, a greenway, or any place out in nature where I can be amongst the trees, creeks, rivers, or lakes. I often (when I have transportation) go hiking with my grandson. He loves being out in the woods with me. It is so peaceful. We enjoy gazing out upon the water wherever we might wander. When we are out in the woods the trails we hike are more likely than not next to or parallel to a lake or river.
When near a lake or river we stop, relax, and breath it all in and let the stress or worries flow out of us. The waters emanate a soothing, calming affect which is extremely peaceful.
These are all photos taken around the lake at Andrew Jackson State Park, my Haven of Peace.
Nature Photo Challenge #14: Your haven of peace
Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #178
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters
God Bless. Thank you for visiting my Haven of Peace. I appreciate y’all.
Did you know that Punxsutawney Phil is accurate less than half of the time? Yes, it is true. It is estimated Phil’s forecasts have had a mere 39% accuracy rate since they began in 1887 (although data from some early years is missing). One could merely toss a coin and be as accurate as Punxsutawney Phil. However, if you ask the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club they would state that Phil is always correct. What do you think? Is Punxsutawney Phil always correct? Do you watch & listen to his predictions?
Can squirrels predict winter? Well, maybe. Punxsutawney Phil is a squirrel. Groundhogs are squirrels. Groundhogs are one of the largest members of the Sciuridae family, which includes squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, prairie dogs, and more. Did you know that? Maybe, maybe not. It is an interesting true fact.
Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow this morning? According to folklore, if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early. For those of you who love winter, you’re in luck. Today, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so we will see six more weeks of winter weather.
I don’t know if you believe groundhogs can predict winter or not. I’m not sure. Spring never begins before March 20th anyway. It would be nice though if the cold dreary days could be over and the clear warmer days could begin sooner. That might only be wishful thinking since it is predicted for us to have six more weeks of the cold winter weather.
This being Groundhog Day, I chose to delight you with my favorite Squirrel photos. Happy Groundhog Day!
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #121
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time. I appreciate y’all.
Shadows captured January 2022:
Reflections Depicted at Andrew Jackson State Park:
Reflections Recorded at Lake Haigler:
Shadows of a 2022 Christmas Tree:
Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Shadows and Reflections
Photo Credit: (c)2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved.
God Bless. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate y’all.
It is sometimes grown in gardens for its attractive foliage and flowers, though it can prolifically seed, easily becoming a lawn weed.
Photo taken @ Andrew Jackson State Park in April 2018 with an Apple iPhone X.
Photo Credit: ©️2018@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Bren’s Floral Friday Challenge.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.
God Bless. Thank you. I appreciate y’all.
Posted as part of John’s Cell Pic SundayChallenge.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Last on my iPhone 13Pro
Last on my Canon Rebel T3i
Photo Credit: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Posted as part of Brian’s Last Photo on Card Challenge.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: 2022@gfpacificbeeintrodpection.com
Posted as part of Jez’s Water Water Everywhere Photography Challenge.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: 2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Posted as part of Cee’s Black and White Photography (CBWC) Challenge.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Photos Credit: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Posted as part of Mama Cormier blog ‘s challenge Thursday Trios.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️2022@gfoacificbeeintrispection.com
Posted as part of Mid-Week Monochrome. Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness photography challenge.
God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: 2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
Posted as part of Kate’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
God Bless. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed your visit. I appreciate y’all.
This photo is from my archives and was taken back in May of 2019 at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster County, South Carolina with an iPhone XR.
Posted as part of John’s Cell Pic Sunday Challenge.
Photo Credit: ©️2019@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Photo Credit: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com
God bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
Photos taken on May 22, 2019 @Andrew Jackson State Park with an iPhone XR
#WordlessWednesday Wordless Wednesday
God Bless. Thank You! I appreciate y’all.
A bench is a wonderful place to sit and catch your breath. A place you can enjoy the view. A place you can read. A place you can relax. A place you can reflect on life, On what God has done for you.
This particular bench is one I take advantage of when visiting Andrew Jackson State Park. I love the views from here of the lake. I thank God for His beautiful creations and the delight it brings me.
God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.
A different perspective of trails at Andrew Jackson State Park. Black and white captures of wooden portions of the lake trail.
Have a blessed day! Always good to look 👀 at things differently occasionally. Brings about new perspectives and admiration for the beauty around us.
Andrew Jackson State Park is a wonderful place to spend outside whether it is for a day trip or for camping. It is one of 47 State Parks, Historic Sites, Resort Park, and Recreational area within the State of South Carolina. These areas are protected by the South Carolina State Park Service.
There are many interesting areas and fun activities to do in the State Park. From visiting an old schoolhouse similar to what Andrew Jackson would have attended, to various statues like the Boy of the Waxhaws. A museum is on site which includes the campground office and a small gift shop. There are 2 hiking trails with a length of one mile each. 1 trail begins at the meeting house and the other begins to the left of the fishing dock. The second trail is the one I use the most. It makes a loop around the lake with a moderate dirt path.
Other activities that you could choose to do would be to go fishing, canoeing, row a boat on the lake, enjoy the gardens, and camp in one of the sites in the campground. There are 25 camp sites available to rent. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. When I visited on Saturday with my grandson only a few sites were open for rent. Reservations can be made online and there is a discount for seniors 65+. There is also a playground children can use to play. I know my grandson loves to play on the playground.
The State Park has two picnic shelters that can be rented out to groups or family gatherings. The Friends of Andrew Jackson along with the State Park host an annual Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration. The celebration is free with park admission. It is a day filled with reenactments, living history demonstrations, and a chance to learn more about Andrew Jackson, our Seventh President of the United States. For the past two years the celebrations had to be cancelled due to CDC guidelines and the Covid-19 pandemic. In years past, I have helped with the various needs and planning which takes place to make the celebration a success. This year it is taking place on March 19, 2022, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
In November, Life in the Waxhaws Lantern tour is held in the evening usually beginning around 6:00 pm and lasting until approximately 7:30 pm. It is wise to bring flashlights with you if you plan to attend the tour. Tour groups are lead every 30 minutes. The Lantern Tour is designed so you can understand what life was like back in the 18th century. Each event gives you a glimpse of what it was like for Andrew Jackson and the events that helped shape the community.
While you walk or hike around the park you might have chance encounters with animals that roam the park. Bicycles are allowed on the paved roads throughout the park. Whatever your mode of transportation you choose, you’ll love getting around the park and enjoy the serene atmosphere of being in nature.
God Bless. Get outdoors and enjoy nature. Visit State Parks. Visit Andrew Jackson State Park whenever you travel through South Carolina. I know you’ll be glad you did. It is a wonderful experience.
I trust you enjoyed seeing my visit to Andrew Jackson State Park. Till next time, Stay safe. Stay Healthy. Enjoy Living.
Words and Photos are mine @gfpacificbee.
Welcome to Part Four of Would you rather go camping or to the beach? So far, we have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of going to the beach and the advantages of going camping. Today we’ll discover some of the disadvantages of going camping.
Camping will be fun they say…. It’ll be great, you’ll see. Nobody tells you in advance how much work goes into camping. First of all, you need to decide what kind of camping you are going to do. Are you going to be tent camping? Are you going to camp in a recreational vehicle? If you do not have the equipment or the RV, you’ll either need to purchase them or rent them.
Disadvantages of Camping:
Before you go camping, you’ll need to decide if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and if it is the right thing for you to do. You’ll also need to plan ahead. Decide which type of camping you’ll be doing, what equipment you’ll need, and what food to bring along with you. You’ll also need to decide if you’ll be going alone or bringing family and/or friends along. Whatever you decide, plan on having fun.
God Bless. Get Outdoors and enjoy nature. Have fun and don’t forget to bring the sunscreen. Please feel free to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate y’all.
What does your ideal day look like? Ideal is a standard of perfection. It can exist as a mental image or concept of what you perceive to be perfect for you. What one person imagines their perfect ideal day to be can be totally different than what you or I think would be a perfect day. An ideal day would consist of all your required or desirable elements, or characteristics wish to have as part of your day. What are some of the elements that you would need to exist to enable your day to be perfect?
What would my ideal day look like? What are some of the qualities that would facilitate my day to become ideal? I love to have peace and tranquility in my day. My ideal day would begin by rising to the sunrise welcoming me to the great outdoors. In my ideal day I would be walking through the trees, the forest and watching the sun’s reflection off the water at Andrew Jackson State Park. It is my favorite place to commune with nature and enjoy a peaceful, calm, relaxing day. After a nice enjoyable walk around the lake, I would be relaxing in my camping chair reading a book. For me reading helps calm my mind and releases tensions and anxiety. Ending my day would be reclining by a serene, peaceful campfire eating a meal cooked over the open fire. That would be genuinely satisfying.
I enjoyed reflecting on my ideal day. Hope you enjoyed my day with me. Let me know what your ideal day would be like. Please like, follow, and or comment. I would love to hear from y’all.
I have more than one favorite photo if that is even possible. This photo was taken at my favorite place to visit, hike, and camp. The place that I like to spend my free time when possible is at Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster, South Carolina. I enjoy walking around the lake and enjoying the sun reflecting off the water and the “visitors” that, sometimes, show off their beauty. The lake is where I like to spend time in nature, reflect on my life. It is the place I enjoy observing the beauty and wonders which God has created.
Why do I consider this photo my favorite? I love how the sun is reflected off the water and the visibility of the water ripples. I photograph the lake and the nature trails each and every time I visit the state park. No two photos are ever alike and the views even though the same are different. It might be the same location, but the glimmering of the sun is different on each visit.
To find out more about the lake or about Andrew Jackson State Park, visit https://southcarolinastateparks.com/andrew-jackson .
This post is one of several I am posting as part of the bloganuary challenge. Feel free to like, comment, and or share my blog with your friends. #bloganuary
Thank you Hammad! Have a terrific weekend.
Thank you Hammad! He sure does. He’d rather be outdoors and in the woods any day than to be indoors.
An amazing and lovely gallery from your archive, Deb 🙂
Coleman sure love the outdoors 🙂
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 
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