Hilton Head Vacation

Hilton Head Beaches

2009-10-28T15:10:00.000-04:00

Hilton Head has several miles of beaches available to vacationers. It is not a big time surfing area. The waves are small so you don’t see a lot of surfing at all. Usually you will see body boards and the like. Apparently, the beaches are not sharply angled, they are relatively flat which is the reason the waves are not too high.

The beaches that we have been on gave us plenty of room and you could go pretty far into the ocean without the water getting to high. In the mornings you will see runners and people riding bikes on the beach. The lower tide leaves behind a harder packed sand which is really easy to run on.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn on South Forest Beach Drive. The beach was easily accessible. We also had a pool accessible to only those that were staying in the hotel, as well as a bar that was a popular spot in the evenings.

There were also a couple of volleyball nets behind the bar area where you could play if you were so inclined. It appears that you have to get in those spots early, otherwise the nets would be occupied. They were usually occupied just about all day on the days we were there.

We didn’t have to worry about parking since we were guests at the hotel. We were given a pass and never had to worry about finding a parking spot. Attendants made sure that unauthorized vehicles were removed from the parking area.

Hiton Head Vacation | Visiting The Sea Pines Resort

2009-10-23T13:33:00.000-04:00

Sea Pines resort is a must see for most visitors of Hilton Head Island. There are several areas to visit. The ride in is interesting as well. You have these huge trees hanging all over the roads, shading the homes. The golf courses are plentiful. You have the Salty Dog Cafe as well as the big lighthouse in Sea Pines. Both the Salty Dog Café and the Lighthouse are extremely crowded, so be ready to spend some time at both places. Remember to get a T-shirt at the Salty Dog Cafe., that is a must.

We ate at the Salty Dog. It is a nice experience. It wasn't as much fun as it could have been for us since it was raining. You do have to stand in line for quite a while to get in....not a big deal. There are areas to sit if you need to. The food was good. I sampled a bit of everything, chicken, crab legs, even filet mignon. It was very good. The kids enjoyed a magic show after we finished eating.You also have to get one of those T-shirts that everyone has. I will tell you though, that going into those little shops are a nightmare. You cannot move. They are just loaded with people and you think you are never going to get out!

Parking in Sea Pines public areas is all but impossible, but they provide free parking just inside the main gate and a free shuttle to Harbour Town, South Beach, Sea Pines Center, the Beach Club and other locations. It can be difficult at times. This year it took us forever to find a parking spot. The one we did find was quite a walk away from the lighthouse.

In the summer, most of the restaurants are really busy. So make sure and get reservations if you can. Also, some restaurants offer better deals earlier in the day. Actually, some restaurants offer some great deals earlier in the day. So if you want to save some money, try eating out earlier. I will say that it does seem that no matter how early you go, you will be standing in line. I suppose that is just part of the experience. It was no big deal to me.

Holiday Inn Oceanfront In Hilton Head

2009-10-08T11:12:00.008-04:00

On our last trip to Hilton Head Island, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront. The hotel was right on the beach which was fantastic. The stay was great. We didn't really have any problems with anyone or anything there. It was very comfortable and the service was very good. The whole family enjoyed it.

The Pool
The pool at the Holiday Inn was restricted to people who were staying there. The front desk gave you a couple of IDs that you had to take with you when you went to the pool. This prevented the pool from being overcrowded. Everything was well taken care of, as you would expect at Hilton Head. Security frequented the pool area and there were never any problems to speak of. The surroundings were comfortable. Sun and shade were available there. You have a nice view of the ocean from the pool. The beach was about 20 steps from the pool area.

Customer Service
The service at the Oceanfront location was great. We had everything that we needed. Anytime we requested anything, the staff supplied it immediately. Both checking in and checking out was smooth, no problems whatsoever.

Parking
Holiday Inn monitors the parking area, making those that are not staying at the hotel leave. You are supplied with a tag to place in your car when you are at the hotel. So, no problems there.

Roundabouts
There are roundabouts nearby the hotel. Some people have never experienced them and might be a little confused. It is not problem at all. You get used to them after a few trips.

Pros and Cons

Cons
The only thing I didn't like, and it was a minor thing, was the balcony. You can barely fit on the thing. The balcony is probably about 1 ft. in width.....I am not kidding. You can stand on the balcony, but that is just about it. No one really used them other than to hang their beach towels on them to dry.

Pros
Overall staying at Hilton Head Oceanfront was great. We never had any problems. Everyone was pleasant to deal with. We would definitely stay there again.

Hilton Head Vacation: Visiting Savannah, GA

2009-08-11T17:42:00.009-04:00

Visiting Savannah, Georgia
While at Hilton Head, also take a trip to Savannah, Georgia. It’s one of my favorite cities. It was the United States’ first planned city. There’s a park on every block. The only drawback is that Savannah didn’t do the best job in keeping some of the history. You will often see something old right next to a new building….kinda strange.

A must do once you get to Savannah is to eat at The Lady and Sons restaurant. It's the famous restaurant owned by the Food Network's Paula Deen and her sons. It’s some of the best food I have ever had. The food is great and so is the atmosphere. I would also recommend that you get reservations, or you will be waiting forever….you may not even get in. Paula Deen also has a merchandise store next to it where you can get autographed books and other paraphernalia at pretty good prices.

If you like shopping you will like Savannah, especially antiques. There are several antique stores there.

Savannah is a great place to visit. In the summer it will be busy, so expect to have you patience tested and try and be like us southerners….take your time. You’re on vacation, no need to hurry.

A Vacation In Hilton Head

2009-08-11T17:25:00.006-04:00

Hilton Head, South Carolina is a popular vacation destination for thousands of familes each year. I should know, my family is one of them. Some people prefer a laid back atmosphere to take the family. If that is you, then Hilton Head is the place for you.

There are many things you can do on your trip to Hilton Head. Of course you have the beach, which is not crowded at all compared to some of your other South Carolina beaches. You have pretty much anything you want at your disposal at Hilton Head.

Hilton Head island's busy season is pretty much the same as all other beach destinations. We went the last week in July. I would say it definitely could have been worse. It was not too crowded for my tastes. I will say the Saturday that we were there was a bit more crowded, but that is to be expected. The weekends will always be more crowded.

I have never been any other time, but I have been told that around Thanksgiving and the Valentines holiday, certain restaurants will close for a few days to tidy up. Most of the water activities are unavailable. I have also been told that certain trips like the Hilton Head to Savannah boat trip is still an option. If it’s too cold to swim, you can always play golf. If I remember correctly, there are over 20 golf courses in the area, so if you like golf, Hilton Head Island is your place.

We have gone on the busiest times. Sometimes you don’t have a choice. Most people take their vacations in the summer. The kids are not in school so it makes traveling easier. It is pretty busy during July and August. If you want to get into a good resaurant, you may want to get reservations. We did that in Savannah when we went to Paula Deen’s restaurant, The Lady and Sons.

According to various travel websites, visitors to Hilton Head Island arrive and leave on Saturday. Which probably explains what I mentioned above. It will be more crowded on the weekend, especially Saturday. This year we arrived on Sunday, which was actually very easy. Traffic was not a problem, and neither was checking in.

Go on the net and check about the tides on Hilton Head before you go, just to give you an idea of how fast they can rise. They seem to rise at a pretty good clip, maybe this was just because I actually paid attention this time! If you are a runner, the mornings are best, there is a lot more hard sand to run on earlier. Obviously the beach is less populated too. You will just have the early birds trying to find sea shells. You will have plenty of room to do your morning runs or walks. Everyone we met out there was very friendly. How could you not be considering were we were. Those little crabs were out in full force those early mornings. The other half and I both had them crawling up our ankle on a couple of occasions.

Rules on Hilton Head Island
Be aware of the regulations at Hilton Head. No alcoholic beverages on the beach. Don’t think you can get away with having a few brews either. Don’t take anything living from the beach. Sometimes that can be a challenge with the kids, some of them wanted to take the sand dollars and starfish that floated up in the mornings.....that is a big no no!

It is against the law to walk on the sand dunes. Something I didn’t realize until later on. Apparently, the dunes are very fragile. They are held together by the grass you see growing there. Apparently those areas are very important to the beach as a whole. It’s against the law to walk on them. Just use the little overpasses and you will be fine.

Bicycles on Hilton Head
Bicycling is popular on Hilton Head, and there are many bike paths all over the island. I have never seen so many people biking in my entire life....they are all over the place. Especially at the Sea Pines Resort. There are two good reasons to travel by bike - there's no parking problem and it's good exercise. There are plenty of places to rent bicycles. You see people on bikes everywhere.

Be careful of driving around people on bikes. It’s not unusual to see someone almost get hit. It’s both drivers not paying attention and at the same time some people on bicycles forget what they are doing. Just have your head on a swivel.

Hilton Head Island is a great place to take the family. I love going there and will continue to do so. I can be a little pricier than some areas, but I feel that it is worth it. My whole family enjoys it and I am sure yours will too.

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2009-08-01T22:28:00.001-04:00

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