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Hilton Head, SC
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Me and my friend are going to HHI for Spring Break the week of the 21st
through the 27th. We got rained out last year and hope to be able to do
more this time around. We need some info on the South Beach Club on the
island. Also, if there are any girls 16-20 going that week please email
us. -Chris,18/m Hello, I am a sophomore at Auburn University and a friend and I are
moving to Hilton Head for the summer. We would appreciate any job
opporunities or information about any resorts or restaurants hiring and
places offering 3-month housing. We are so excited about the summer and
would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you for your time. My friends and I are 16-18 and want to know where we go to party (teen
clubs or regular clubs) (nightlife). My wife and I are visiting Hilton Head Island, ou of season, in early
November 2003 - Is it too cold and therefore too late to see the Dolphins.
Thanks Ian Box My wife & I are planning our 1st trip to Hilton Head in a few weeks for
our wedding anniversary. Looking for suggestions on good places, fun
things to do. Would also like know what people think of the Westin Resort. My hushand and i want to renew our wedding vows while we are down there
on vacation in july. is there is a justice of peace there to do it and
what is their charge for it. we want to do it on the beach we will married
15 years. we want our 6 year grandson to see it. and also my grandson
wants to do some crabbing while we are there. he loves crabs legs. hope to
hear from you soon. Dear Sir/Madam: We will be coming to HHI for our second trip. We have 4
year old b/g twins. Can you or anyone recommend any particular activities
for them AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, can you recommend a reputable,
professional babysitting service? We will be staying at a condo near
Coligny Plaza. Much obliged for any information. Thank you. Our first trip to Hilton Head Island was May of 1994. We will never
forget it! We stayed at HILTONHEAD BEACH & TENNIS Resort. Had a wonderful
time. Easy walk to the beach, beautiful huge pool and from every balcony
from every rental at buildings A B & C you had a view of the ocean. We
have been back several times (each year) to visit the Island. As years go
by and destinations change so have our wonderful experiences. This past
March, we took the ferry boat at Daufuskie Island Embarcation(next to
Hudson's) to Daufuskie Island. What a great day trip this was. A short
trip from HH to Sav. is very memorable. Shuckers! River St. Great
experience. We love the whole area. Seven of us will be staying in the Shipyard Resort. (Southwinds
II)(feedback welcomed) This may not matter but we are African Americans
and would sometimes like to find an R&B lounge where everyone dances! Our
ages are 35 - 60 and looking to have a lot of fun, dance and laugh. I'm
sure the Island can accomodate all but these specifics would make such a
difference so that we not stay in our room the whole trip which is what
happens when not sure where to go. Thanks. Robi. (rrj1@bellsouth.net) I think you should visit Hilton Head because it has some entertainment
at Harbor Town and the Salty Dog Cafe and they have good food. If you like
to fish, I have went crabbing and shark fishing. I am 9 years old and it
is a great place for kids. The ocean is a blast!
As my birthday approaches, my friends and I are going back to HHI now
as a yearly trek. Last year, we spent a glorious Memorial Week at Sea
Pines. Having travelled a lot, I can tell you Sea Pines is definitely one
of the most serene vacation spots I've ever been to! We had a villa across
from Plantation Bay Center with an Ocean Course hole in our back yard.
Fantastic place. Here are some memorable bullets. Our first night we
toasted our first and last night's stay at The Salty Dog (good for drinks)
and were welcomed by two male streakers. During our stay, We did Wild
Wings (the best variety and quality in Wings anywhere, sit on the patio!),
and Crazy Crab at Harbourtown (We would have been better off at a Red
Lobster or ). The ladies of the crew recommend trying the Monkey Nut
cocktail at the outside bar at Harbour Town. We partied at Club South
Beach, across from Wild Wings. (Hip Hop, Rap, Club, Good vids, and
effective drinks, Recommended place to lose it at.) We played Old South
Golf Course, a challenging target golf type course with no boring holes
and water to keep you awake. I recommend it as I also played Harbour Town.
(I drank a 93 at OS and shot an 81 at HT) Great clubhouse, pro shop and
restaurant at HT(go early and have the breakfast buffet, later do a Shrimp
Po Boy!) Driving through last week, I stopped at the Smokehouse Bar and
House of BBQ. (It might win/place at local cookoffs but I've had better) I
will try Sticky Fingers this year. Sea Pines Beach Club has a great bar
and an Oceanview BBQ on Friday night for a very casual, by the beach, fun
dinner. I rediscovered bike riding at HHI. BYOB or rent one there.
Overall, HHI is definitely a great vacation experience. i would like to know if someone has some suggestions about some
moderately priced Day Spas on the Island? Thank You Need info on the Van der Meer tennis camp with accommodations at the
crown hotel We had a get together with high school friends at Wingo's Music Hall.
David Wingo is a most excellent performer. The music was great and we
danced the night away. Its the place to go when you come to Hilton Head. There is a house band that plays at Monkey Business and I am trying to
find out their name so i can book them myself~I think part of the name is
Imrov, The Improv?? Does anyone have any idea as to what band i am
referring to? We are four college friends in our mid 30's going to hilton head south
carolina in mid february. we are looking for good clubs to drink and
socialize at, any sort of fun night life activities would be helpful. your
suggestions are appreciated, thanks I am posting my comments to this site about our first vacation visit to
H= HI. We vacationed the week of 20-25 July 1998, it was sure hot and very
humid that week. We stayed at the Radisson Suite Resort which I would rate
onl= y average at best, however it was more affordable than many of the
accommodations at the various plantation resort areas. We had some
relatives staying at the Carolina Club in Shipyard Plantation, which gave=
us the opportunity to visit there many times during the week. Shipyard
Plantation=92s facilities and grounds were beautiful. I can sympathize w=
ith Joyce Mara who posted a comment to this travelogue on 5/18/98 and
comment= ed about HHI being an island of "gated" communities. To a certain
extent sh= e is correct. Unless you are staying in one of these "gated"
communities, = own a condo or timeshare there, or are fortunate to be
guests of someone vacationing there (as was our case), you do not get the
chance to see maj= or portions of this beautiful island and I feel that
can be most unfortunate. Here are some of the things we did that we
enjoyed: 1) Went on a dolphin cruise out of Broad Creek Marina on the S.S.
Pelican, which was very enjoyable. The captain related some very
interesting history and information about areas and properties along the
shore line. 2) As suggested many times on this travelogue we had dinner
out one night at Fitzgerald=92s. The meal was excellent with very good
service; 3) Watch= ing the fireworks at Shelter Cove on Tuesday evening;
4) Enjoyed riding bicycles one morning around the island near and on
Shipyard Plantation; 5= ) For something to do off the island we did a day
trip to Charleston, SC, t= o visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and
then did a visit to Fort Sumte= r (a very interesting Civil War era
National Monument); 6) We also enjoyed = a round of miniature golf our
last evening at Legendary Golf at 900 William Hilton Parkway. We had a
very enjoyable week and would go back again to HHI, however I fe= el May
or June may be better for less heat and humidity. Next time however,= I
think we will try to make arrangements to stay in one of the "gated"
communities. -- Alan Warminski , submitted 8/11/1998 My wife and I, and friends of ours returned from HHI 4/25/98, and had a
pretty good time. We stayed at the PLanters Quarters at Port Royal
Plantation, which was very very nice....& quiet! These timeshares are gold
crown rated with RCI and are huge! Three bedrooms, three baths(jacuzzi's
in two), living, dining, & sunrooms. This timeshare gives you access to
the Westin Resort health club, and outdoor areas...very nice. Since were
mainly golfers, we tried various golf course on or near the island. To: Hilton Head Travelogue BEGIN USER INPUT Once again, on April 15th, my wife and I left High Country of Vail, Colorado after another great ski year to escape what is know as "Mud Season" in Vail and go to Hilton Head where we stayed until our return at the end of May. I can't think of a better place to get a head start on sunshine and summer than at this very special and wonderful island just N. of Savannah, GA. It's got it all....great golf...beaches...restaurants.. tennis...bike trails and close proximity to both Savannah and Beaufort, SC which are oozing with Southern charm. The new Cross Island Expressway was being built last year and is now open. For a buck, if you are going to Sea Pines, Shipyard or the Forest Beach area, you can save a little time during crowded times. Unfortunately, the speed limit is only 45 and the local cops are hiding and waiting to pounce if you go faster, so if you are staying at Palmetto Dunes or any other place from there back to the bridge, you would be probably be better off just staying on William Hilton Parkway. By the way...be careful driving on the Island. Route 278 (William Hilton Highway) is the "main drag" and although divided, you have folks going well over the 45 MPH speed limit and some older folks creeping along in their Lincoln Town Cars at 25MPH and hardly a day went by that I didn't see an accident. Drive defensively and don't let a fender bender ruin your vacation. Here is an update of my previous comments for those who choose to read them. I must say that I have been amazed at the amount of E-Mail I have received from folks all over the USA and in one case...as far away as Great Britain from a lovely couple who live in London where he is a Dentist and she is a Industrial Psychologist. They ended up coming to HHI during the 1st two weeks we were there and, following my advice, they rented a house in Shipyard Plantation just down the street from our place there and we not only met, we played some tennis and had dinner together a couple of times. It's a small World. Meanwhile....on to the '98 update..... Again....I would heartily suggest that anyone arriving on the island, pick up a copy of a free booklet called " Hilton Head Island RESTAURANTS." You can find it anywhere from shopping malls to super markets to condo rental offices. It will give you a listing of most of the restaurants on the island complete with their menus and prices not only alphabetically by name, but by category...i.e. Seafood, Continental, American, etc. There are probably at least 200 places to eat and they range from excellent to just plain awful. I'll try to help you find the right place for your tastes. At this point, I must comment that, in looking at some of the submissions to the Hilton Head Island Travelogue, there are obviously a wide variance in opinions of what is good and what is bad. While I can certainly enjoy casual dining in a simple place, my wife, who is a gourmet cook and I, who am a member of the famous international gourmet and wine society...the Chaine des Rotisseurs, appreciate fine dining and service on certain occasions. To start with...I suggest you read my comments on the best....and the worst places (obviously in my opinion) that I submitted last year. I went back to a number of the best places this year and even gave some of the other ones a second chance after reading some positive comments by other folks after my departure last year. Let's start with the GOOD places. The OLD FORT PUB on Hilton Head Plantation still has great food....views at sunset... but the service has declined in my opinion. I took a party of 8 there for dinner there and was amazed that the white wine was served "room temperature" and it had to be placed in a bucket of ice before it was drinkable. The waitress, while very nice, was rarely to be seen during the evening. This was kind of sad since the place does have a lot going for it and maybe they need to increase their wait staff. If you want the best in food and service and a great view isn't as important as the overall ambiance and the dining experience itself....then...NENO iL TOSCANO is the place. Located in the Festival Center next to the Publix super market (by the way, this Publix has the BEST Key Lime pies with a graham cracker crust I've ever eaten...if you are eating in.....Get Some!)....Neno's features...fabulous N. Italian cuisine.with entrees priced from $14 to about $20. Food this good in most major cities would be at least double in price and Neno's wine list is extensive and fairly priced. This elegant place is definitely not for the Shoneys, Fudruckers, Wild Wings, Big Bamboo crowd. If you go....tell Neno...you heard about it from Gerry from Vail. This Italian gentleman will make sure you have a great dining experience. CQ's at Harbour Town is still very nice as is Cafe Europa. This year we had a waiter at Cafe Europa who, despite our mentioning that we would pass on an appetizer since we had come directly from having some drinks and appetizers on a yacht there at Harbour Town owned by some friends...he keep trying to push us into buying some of their appetizers. Maybe this was only an aberration and his aggressive manner was a product of his New York City upbringing (he made a point to tell us was where he was from). The good news is that the food arrived piping hot and was delicious. While I'm talking about Harbour Town, I mentioned the entertainment at the Harbourside Cafe last year. Great place for Happy Hour. This year they featured an African-American trio that played some laid back steel drum reggae and on 3 other nights a week a talented female singer and flute player was accompanied by her keyboard playing male partner as they played a mixture of easy to listen to music. It's a great place to check out the fabulous yachts and watch the sun go down....but the food there is awful so go elsewhere. Speaking of Happy Hour places....several people mentioned the Salty Dog Cafe located in Sea Pines at the S. Seaport Marina....I'm sorry...I think their best product is selling tee shirts. Kind of like HHI's version of the world famous hamburger and tee shirt emporiums know as the Hard Rock Cafes. TRUFFLES is still one of my favorites. Located at the Sea Pines Center...just about a mile down the road from Harbour Town...it offers great food in an eclectic setting at very reasonable prices and their desserts...like the "Mud Pie" are sinfully sensational. The OLD OYSTER FACTORY continues to amaze me at the crowds it draws. It is a very attractive BIG place on Marshland Rd overlooking Broad Creek that offers a wide variety of moderately priced food. This year...one of my guests had to send his fish back...it was extremely overcooked...but the good news is that they graciously took it back and returned with one that was just right in no time at all. A funny thing happened there that I'll share with you. Upon arrival, we were told we would have about a 20 minute wait and that there was some entertainment and a bar on the dock out back. We went out there and soon discovered that there was something else out there that was not advertised....namely...the pesky little bugs that come out in the late afternoon and early evening called "No-See-ums." While they are so tiny you can hardly see them...they must be all mouths and they can bite real good. Everyone was scratching their heads and slapping their exposed body parts including the entertainers whom I felt sorry for. Once we were seated, we had a table at a window overlooking the dock and were entertained by watching the unsuspecting customers arrive on the dock and immediately start scratching and wondering what was attacking them. The Old Oyster Factory is an OK place....but not sensational. Having read some comments from some folks praising some places I had panned a year ago....I foolishly decided to give two of them another look in '98. WILD WINGS was mentioned as a great place by some folks who vacationed there and I must admit that their chicken wings are excellent....however....the LOUD rock and roll music make them pretty hard to digest. I would suggest ordering carry-out if you must have them and pass on the smoke infested bar atmosphere and eat them at the place you are staying. Another place that numerous folks have written in about was "The BIG BAMBOO" at Coligny Circle. I thought it was dark and dismal last year and it's WW II theme was a little "cutesy" and strange for a beach place...but I thought I'd give it another shot in '98. Sorry folks, its still DARK & DISMAL with really MEDIOCRE food from a confusing menu that offers a strange variety of things from their "War-Dog" to meatloaf and California veggie wraps. All the cutesy bamboo in the world couldn't make this place a good place to eat. This S. Forest beach hangout is the place to go if you think putting on a sleeve-less Tee shirt or a tank top is fine casual attire and the nachos at the ball park are gourmet food. You'll feel right at home with the other folks who love this place. Aaaaargh ! Another spot mentioned by a number of folks was AUNT CHILADAS on Pope Ave. Again...it is close to Coligny Circle and a lot of people who come to Hilton Head and find a reasonable place to stay in the S. Forest Beach area frequent it. The menu is a dead give away...in that it features both Mexican and Italian food. Huh!!!! The result is very average food at higher prices than the quality should suggest. The decor was a little strange and looked like it had been picked up at a garage sale somewhere. It featured a fake bird perched on a large ring but the bird was not at the bottom, but rather sitting cock-eyed at an angle part way up. We decided to try it the night we arrived and were soon joined by a bus tour group of senior citizens that had a "package deal dinner" there. Our young waitress, tried her best, but had the annoying habit of referring to everyone as "Guys"....as in..."Have you guys decided on what you want?.....How's the food Guys?.....Can I get you Guys anything else? " etc. It was kind of amusing to see here continue that line of banter with a long table full of blue haired 70 to 80 year old ladies next to us. I would bet the same crowd that loves Wild Wings and the absolutely horrible Big Bamboo thinks this is the greatest. That's the beauty of HHI....there's something there for everyone. No....I didn't even think about giving HENRY's another try this year....it has taken about a year for my stomach to get over it last time so that was enough for me. The CAFE @ WEXFORD is a cute little place that features reasonably priced french food and we enjoyed it last year. This year, we took a couple from Colorado that had come to visit us there on the Sunday that was Mother's Day and we surprised to see that they had not only reduced their menu that evening, but had cranked up the prices about 50% as well. Gouging the public is not the way to win friends and influence people. We alternated eating out about 2/3's of the time with eating in at our place and once again found the wonderful seafood at great prices offered up by BARNACLE BILL's to be fabulous. Every day he gets in extremely fresh seafood at his stand on William Hilton Parkway between Palmetto Dunes and Port Royal on the W. side of the road (Shelter Cove side). We enjoyed Wahoo, fresh Salmon, jumbo Shrimp, Oysters, Blue Crabs, Tuna, and Sea Bass which was cooked and smoked on our grill and it was sensational. He can even get you live Maine Lobsters if you give him a day's notice. So...if you want to pick up a bottle of wine and enjoy some great seafood at your place there....go see Bill and be sure to tell him that Gerry from Vail told you to come see him. I guarantee he will treat you right. ABE's Native Shrimp House is located not far from Barnacle Bill's as you head toward Shelter Cove and features a $10.95 "Early Bird" buffet. I had read about it in a golf magazine so we decided to try it. This African-American family has been there since 1968 and features down home cooking including fried fish, BBQ ribs, okra and chicken but..while the food is plentiful and filling...it is pretty heavy and not for someone who is trying to watch their weight. It was also pretty hot in there in May and their A/C is barely working so be forewarned. Interesting ! As for GOLF.....really no changes from last year in that I played a number of the courses both on and off island including the famous Harbour Town Golf Links and found all of them to be a lot of fun. Pick up the local paper....the "Island Packet" which is 25 cents and you can find advertised deals on golf in it. If you are staying at a condo or hotel resort, they often have deals on golf or packages available which will reduce your cost of playing. One new course I played this year was the Golden Bear Golf Course at Indigo Run Plantation a couple of times and enjoyed it. It features on board computerized screens on each golf cart that tell you how far you've hit your drive...how far it is to the green from anywhere on the course and the clubhouse has a monitor showing where every cart is on the course at all times. Very unique. If you are into TENNIS....and are staying at a Plantation, you should check with the club there regarding their programs. At Shipyard Plantation, they had a round-robin doubles mixer every afternoon from 4 - 5:30 PM on the clay courts for only $10 per person with wine and beer afterwards. A great way to meet some other folks and have a lot of fun. Again...if you need additional advice or suggestions send me an E-Mail
and I'll do my best to get back to you. Hilton Head is a great place to
spend your vacation and if you decide to go, I hope you love it as much as
we do. All the Best...GERRY from VAIL. (gazman@colorado.net) My wife and I and friends just returned from HHI (june 3, 1998). We had
a wonderfull time. The island is a great place for families, very
relaxing, and a huge beach. We stayed at the Disney Resort, a great place
to stay. Disney also has it's own Beach House on the ocean in Palmetto
Dunes. We really like the Hilton Head Diner, just below Shelter Cove
Harbor. The food was great, breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has a huge menu
and the service was fast. We also liked Guiseppi's, located in Shelter
Cove Plaza. Great pizza and you must try a "weggie". There are several
very good mini-golf places for children and adults. Had lots of fun there.
We did some shopping at the factory outlets in Buffton on the mainland,
just over the bridge. We took a dolphin cruise on a 20 foot patoon boat(
holds 6 people) down the broad creek. We saw about 20 dolphins, some came
right up to the boat. Our guide was great. We plan to make HHI our only
place to go to the beach. Richard M. Smith, Lincolnton N.C. rsmith@tntie.com
My wife and I just got back from our HH vacation (4/3/98 - 4/7/98). We
had a GREAT time. We used many of the recommendations from submissions to
this site, so we wanted to contribute our opinions as well. For
accommodations, we stayed at the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort, in
an Ocean Front Villa. It was nice, clean, and inexpensive. Folly Beach is
clean and quiet. Our only complaint is that we felt we were away from the
real "action". Most of the cool places to go were about 5 miles down 278
towards Sea Pines and Coligny plaza. When we go again, we'll probably stay
in Palmetto Dunes, or somewhere near Forest Beach. Those seem to be the
best places for the 20-somethings. The food selections were great. Our
favorites, in order, were Steamers, Makotos and Shuckers. Excellent
service at them all and the ambiance (sp?) was very nice at Steamers and
Makotos. Shuckers was a little out of the way and desolate. The Salty Dog
was ok, but we were expecting something more. The location of SD is great
and it seems to be a good hangout spot. The Wild Wing Cafe also probably
is a happening place, but we went for lunch on a weekday, and it was just
alright. I did like the different flavors of wings, though. We went to
Coconuts Comedy Club and ordered gourmet pizza that they bring in from a
pizza shop across the street (don't remember the name). It had to be the
best gourmet pizza we've ever had. Try the Vegetarian. There is plenty of
other things to do there; enough to be able to go back consistently and
never have the exact same experience. We had a chance to go to the finals
of the Family Circle Cup and had an awesome time. We'll be doing that
again. Island Water Sports was very good for waverunners and parasailing.
The employees were very friendly, yet professional. For a beach
experience, we recommend Forest Beach. It had the most people on it. Make
sure to go bike riding, its almost impossible to avoid it. We don't golf,
but we enjoyed playing at several of the mini-golf places. We really like
the The Pirates Island Adventure golf course. Oh yeah, and we enjoyed the
Dolphin Cruise at Broadcreek Marina. We spent almost a whole day shopping
at the outlets in Bluffton. Bluffton is across the bridge from HHI, but it
is probably only a 15-20 minute car drive away from most places on the
Island. We'll definitely be coming back to HH for years to come. March 20, 1998 Hi, My name is Bill and Hilton Head is awesome!!! I have
been going there ever since I was 10 years old. I am now 23. Hilton Head
has wonderful bike trails. They are very uncrowded and allow you to become
part of nature. Some of my favorite restruants are Alexanders, the Oyster
Factory, and Reilly's. My favorite hotel is the Westin Resort. Although
the rooms are expensive, you can't beat the ocean view. The pool-side
facilities are excellant. The Westin also has an outstanding seafood
buffet 7 days a week. Fishing is great...My dad discovered that the best
place to fish was in a lagoon on the golf course. Within minutes the bass
started biting. As my mother would say, watch out for the Alligators. One
day when she was taking out the trash, a dog rubbed its nose against my
mother's leg and she screamed thinking it was an alligator. Thank goodness
it wasn't an alligator!! If you are ever chased by an alligator, remember
to run in a zigzag. If you like birds, Hilton Head has a ton of them.
Well, I just wanted to tell you about some of the highlights. Hi...Mom and
Dad! Take me back to Hilton Head! Hello! I lived in Hilton Head for the entire 1997 summer, on an
internship program for Resort Recreation & Tourism Management. All the
restaurants I have read about on here are awesome. Some of my faves were
Hinchey's, especially for Wed. night $1 bottles, Brew Pub pizza is
awesome, Wild Wing cafe luch buffet is the best ever, Big Apple Bagel has
great sandwiches. Anywhere you can eat Alaskan Snow Crab Legs...take
advantage of it! Seafood in Iowa just isn't the same. So, words of advice
for vacationers...RR&TM activities at the resorts are good, worth the few
bucks you pay for it, and your kids will have fun...ask the staffers to
babysit if mom and dad want a night out, cuz the interns make squat. DO
NOT take your children to RR&TM's Kid's Club. I headed that day camp all
summer. The kids run wild, basically just swimming all day, they get a
gross lunch, and it is so hot, with no access to air conditioning, that
your kids will probably get sun poisoning. There have been a few GREAT
kids there, though. Usually the vacationers... If you hit the WaterFun
Park at Comfort Inn, Navid (operations manager there) is awesome, tell him
HELLO for me! Krista Klockentager klockentager@wartburg.edu Just came back from Christmas on Hilton Head, first time there. Stayed
at the Hyatt which has nice ocean front rooms @holiday rates ($69). Golf:
The golf courses (except in Seapines) are closed on Christmas but it seems
to be an annual tradition for everyone to go out and walk them on xmas.
It's lots of fun. i started going to hh in '94 in 3 yr time back 5 times. i do not golf
tennis or party. i do nature. nat'l geo does not have the dolphin
encounters hh offers. hours of video--feeding on shore, doing seaworld
tricks...not for hand-feeding or applause. hats off to islanders who
recognize the need to keep nature's bounty free and unspoiled. my desire
is to come to your bounty and spend the rest of my life trying to preserve
it and let it teach our youth to preserve and share! comments submitted
12/26/97 most recent visit 10/08/97 We took a dolphin cruise with Captain Zodiac Cruises. It was great! Our
captain, Jackie, was wonderful. She was very knowledgable about all of
wildlife in the area. The boat was a small one (18 feet), which let us get
really close to the action. At one time, the boat was completely
surrounded by dolphins. We had a great time and would definitely do it
again. Just got home last night. We (2adults 3 kids under 12) had a ball. we
went on boat trip called The Holiday and loved the dolphins so much we
rented our own 16 ft. Skiff from the broad creek marina and really got up
close. we had great food we cant even pick out a favorite we went to Crazy
Crab, Crazy Nicks, Gieusippis, The Hofbrauhaus, and Abes Native Shrimp
House. Bike rentals are a must. We are going to try to come back next
summer! Just returned from HHI, (8/17- 8/24); stayed at Shipyards Carolina Club
in 3-br condo. Super facilities. Boat trip to Savannah fun, especially
trolley ride, but grab a drink and use facilities before boarding trolley!
Gastronomic low point of trip: Big Rocco's Italian (?) Restaurant. Didn't
think anyone could screw up spaghetti. They did. Very forgettable place,
hot, noisy, mediocre service and mostly inferior food. However, the
HOFBRAUHAUS on Pope Avenue - WUNDERBAR! Excellent food (try the
Schweinebraten), delightful German music by Bob, neat atmosphere and
really nice people. Another superior meal at Nantucket Seafood House on
New Orleans Road. Owner Jim Laferriere and waitress Kerry were most
accommodating. Hilton Head Diner quite good, but so busy. Our first time
at HHI, but we want to go back. Pat and Ellen Wright of Detroit area. Just came back from Hilton Head Island (8/2/97 - 8/8/97). My first time
there. We stayed in Palmetto Dunes Resort in a great condo right on the
beach. The facilities were beautiful. The tennis and golf were abundant.
For people who like to shop, the outlet stores were everywhere. We took a
day trip to Charleston and to Savannah. Both cities had alot of history
with the civil war and the old restored homes and the large historic
districts. Would definitely recommend Savannah. Should read the book
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" because it is a non-fiction book
about old Savannah. It refers to actual houses and gardens etc that you
can see on a tour. Restaurants that we went to were as follows : Old
Oyster Factory - Great and saw Mark Messier- hockey player Wild Wings Cafe
- a little loud but wonderful wings Brick Oven Pizza - Excellent for a
light meal Little Venice - not good South Seaport (at Sea Pines) - great
view and good food Will probably go back again --- Can't wait. Be sure to
walk around Harbor Town and Sea Pines Plantation. We also took a dolphin
cruise and the dolphins came right up to the boat. They did something
really crazy, they so "strand feeding" in the marshes, they force little
fishes to the edge of the marsh and "corral" them to land and eat them. It
sounds bad but it was very interesting and it is rare for us to see but we
did see it happen (during low tide). We just returned from Hilton Head Island after spending four days there
with my teenage son & husband. The island is very beautiful, but if you're
a Northerner like us, you will find it too humid. If you can adapt, you
should have a great time. We have been going to HHI for the past ten years and love to stay on
South Forest Beach on an oceanfront villa. This spring we stayed at
SeaSide Villas directly on the Ocean. If you go, request the one on the
first floor with the great wooden rocking chairs!! Our most enjoyable
moments were sipping coffee in the morning while rocking on the chairs and
watching the sun come up!! We love the beach for bike riding - it's great
for small kids since the sand is hard-packed and you can always stop to
explore the starfish or jellyfish that wash up on shore. Even better is
biking along side the dolphins as they feed offshore. We love to eat at
Aunt Chiladas - just a short walk from the SeaSide Villas (#123). They
have a great happy hour and we love to play the trivia game!! Looking
forward to our visit next year. My family and I just returned from our HH vacation. Let me just say
that the island is absolutely incredible! I am already planning my return
trip, although I have a feeling that I won't be able to go back for
awhile. We visited HHI again this year (6/07/97 to 6/14/97) and had a bodacious
time. The beaches are so very wide at low tide and bicycling is a must
here. We especially enjoyed the restaurants Great Plains Cattle Company
and Crabby Nick's (used to be Shoney's). We rented our great beach
cruisers from Sand Cats (785-3210). I included the phone number because
they dont seem to be to well advertized. We have a time share at HHI but
dont even want to exchange. Just wish HHI would halt new construction of
condos though it is becoming to to metopolized or perhaps has been for a
while. Beyond that though HHI is a terrific place to vacate to. I enjoy
the tennis here immensely. Golf is very prominent too but not my game.
Check out Harbour Fest at Shelter Cove Harbour for music, eats, and
fireworks on Tuesday night or perhaps Thursdays, better check first for
exact days. You gotta come here and just have fun! Gerry from Vail's...MISC HILTON HEAD INFO. If my coments on restaurants
made you want to eat out every night while you are there....Great...but in
the event you want to cook in I have a couple of suggestions. First, most
of the supermarkets like Harris Teeters, Publix, etc. there have deli
depts. and you can pick up a a great selection of items at a reasonable
price. Being from a place hight in the Rockies...I was looking for seafood
and found a real gem in BARNACLE BILL's. He's located on the main road
(Rte 278) between Shelter Cove and Folly Beach Rd. just before Port Royal
and is right next door to the outdoor Speedway Gas Station with the lowest
gas prices on the island. His fresh seafood is phenominal and his prices
are lower than the supermarkets. He has
shrimp...Tuna...swordfish...crabs...and about every other kind of fresh
fish you can think of. He gets in different stuff all the time. Tell him I
sent you and he will take care of you. Suggestion.....if it rains and you
are bummed out because you can't go to the beach there are some other
things to do that are fun. They have a number of outlet Malls in the area
if you are into shopping. Drive down to Savannah.....it is a beautiful old
southern town that oozes charm. I would suggest taking one of the
motorized trolley tours. They leave every 30 minutes from the Visitor's
Center on MLK Blvd. on the W. side of town. Go down to River Street. There
are a lot of real tourist traps there, but I found the SHRIMP FACTORY to
be a very nice place to eat. The Pirates House is a classic tourist trap.
Another place to consider is BEAUFORT, SC. IT is another historic old
coastal city and several movies like Prince of Tides, The Big Chill, The
Great Santini...were filmed there. A Final note....They will be
"Renourishing" the beach at HHI this summer and they began in May up near
Pt. Royal and will be moving along towards Sea Pines and pumping sand back
onto the beach this summer. If they happen to be working where you are
staying....don't despair, just jump in your car and go to another place.
There are a number of public beaches on the island and the sea and sand
are the same....right. Well that's it for now. All the Best, Gerry from
Vail Recently, I sent in a note to the Hilton Head Island Travelogue
following our return from an extended stay in April and May of 1997. (You
can read it in the travelogue) Foolishly, I suppose I offered to give
advice on the best RESTAURANTS...GOLF deals...and other items of interest
on the island...but I wan't prepared for the onslaught of requests from
all over the USA from a lot of nice folks. While I have tried to answer
each request, it has become an awesome task so I will try to sumarize my
opinions, advise and counsel at this time. While I realize it maty not be
for everyone, I hope you will accept it as the "Straight Scoop" from a guy
with on financial interests in answering your questions. If this doesn't
work...then you can reach me at my E-mail address and I will try to help
you. Thanks for your understanding... GERRY from VAIL. Just returned on May 23rd to Vail, CO where I live after being at HHI
for half of April and most of May, 1997. We rented a lovely 3 BR - 3 1/2 B
house right on the golfcourse in one of the plantations there and really
enjoyed the area. We ate out about 4 nights a week and a variety of
restaurants and discovered some really good ones...some tourist rip off
ones...and some that were just plain medicore. We cooked in about 3 nights
a week since our place had a super outdoor grill and got some great FRESH
seafood while we were there. We discovered a place called BARNACLE
BILL's...which sells FRESH seafood and Bill's fish...shrimp..crabs...etc.
was clearly the best on the island. There are some other places that sell
seafood...but beware...some of it is frozen and not fresh and Bills prices
are great and the fish is fabulous. He is located right on the main road
(Hwy 278 - Hilton Pkwy) right next door to the Speedway gas station whicvh
has the lowest price's on gas on the island. It is towards the bridge from
Palmetto Dunes and Shelter Cove and on the Shelter Cove side of the road
before you get to Folly field road. Tell Bill that GERRY from Colorado
sent you and I'll bet he treats you right. If anyone is interested in the
best restaurants and the ones to avoid...send me an E-Mail message and
I'll get back to you. Looking at some of the comments posted here....some
must be posted by people who are either kids or else they don't have a
clue about what is good dining. Ex....Fuddruckers... come on...no my idea
of gourmet food. If you send a message...let me know how old you are and
the kind of food and atmosphere/prices you like.. so I'll have an idea
what to suggest. All in all...HHI has something for everyone and is a
great place to visit. P.S. I call give you some tips on how to get the
best prices on greens fees and where to play if you are a golfer. All the
Best... Gerry Z. gazman@colorado.net We just returned from a fabulous week in Hilton Head Island. We have
gone there over the past five years and had always stayed in a hotel
(Crystal Sands) but this year because we were traveling with five of us,
we decided to rent instead. A perfect choice. The weather the Week of May
2-11, was in the low 80's, the sun and the blue skies over the lagoons and
ocean was incredible. We tried new restaurants, Quarterdeck in Sea Pines
(great for sandwiches and light dining, overlooking the yatchs and water);
Hudson's, (okay if you like seafood); the HH Diner for breakfast is great;
Guiseppes for pizza, fab; we went mini golfing; my husband and son golfed;
drive to Savannah for the day (only 45 minutes) - history and culture of
the south - walk River Street; visit Shelter Cove at night, for live
entertainment from 7.30p.m.Tues.-Sat. If you like steak and ribs we would
recommend Damons, (Wexford), a magician comes to the table to entertain
you. Great place to go every year, can't wait to return. after visiting hh for my first time in the summer of 1996, i was in
love!! hilton head truly has it all!! sun, surf, friendly people and
awesome sights! in my opinion: a must see: gregg russel (excellent family
time) good food: crabby nick's (casual dining) must do: definitely watch
the sunrise and sunset!! it is gorgeous!! i will be returning to hh upon
my graduation in 1998!! i love it!! hilton head is #1 with me!! I spent last summer in Hilton Head. I worked at MOSS CREEK It's a great
place that any one would want to retire to. I also worked at the
Timberland factory store. If you need a new par of shoes thats the place
to go. Jane Hays is the manager. Very nice women if you go by tell her Tom
said Hi. The EDDIE BOWER outlet is another can't miss Debbie Martin the
manager is very friendly and will always make you smile. If you see her
tell her i said hi also. If your looking for something to do during the
day. The TIKI HUT is your best bet. The Pina coladas are great, and the
live music keeps you in a good mood. Shelter Cove is a great place to
visit also. Just returned from a March spring break to Hilton Head. Stayed at the
Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort. Very reasonably priced -- $420 for
six days; cute, small, efficiency apt-like room with bedroom, double bunks
in hall and fold out bed. Liked it very much. Had great access to the
beach; too cold for the pool, but it looked well maintained. Unbelievably
quiet. Rented terrific new bikes from Sand Cats for just $18 each per
week. Enjoyed riding along beach. If you have kids, check out Main Street
Golf, especially if you have a tight budget. Best deal around. Calibogue
trip to Savannah we regretted. Expensive place for husband and kids to
nap. Should have driven. Only about 5 minutes worth of guide talk given.
Wasted money. Enjoyed biking to Shelter Cove. If you go to Harbour Town or
anywhere in Sea Pines, take lots of bug goo -- as somebody else wrote,
don't know what they are, but they bite. Best thing was relaxing on beach.
Buy beach paddles and ball, frisbee at Walmart and get tan. . . Went
horseback riding inland and enjoyed that a lot too. $20 adults, $15 kids
for an hour. Fun, fun, fun and lots of gators around. My family has been going to Hilton Head Island for the past 7 years. We
have always stayed at Sea Pines Plantation at the Marriott's Monarch
Resort. It is a beautiful place to vacation. This year (March 97) we
bought a time share at Marriott's Grande Ocean Resort and it was
beautiful. My twin sister,Megan, and my friend Kristin and I went with our
parents and had the best time. We rode bikes all over the island swam in
the ocean and just relaxed. The best place to eat we think is Jump and
Phils, best place to meet guys is the grocery store by the Holiday Inn or
on the beach by the Holiday Inn. Oh,we met this really cute guy at the
Grande Ocean Resort when we stayed there he had a goat-t and a University
of Miami hat,and his name is Andy,and we never really got to talk to him
so we just want to say hey if you are reading this, we were the three
girls in the Royal Tern building on the third floor who wore hats all the
time. We have gone to Hilton Head for three years during the summer. We have
a timeshare at The Island Club. It is located directly on the beach. It is
a very nice and relaxing place. Last year,unfortunately,we were chased out
of Hilton Head by Hurricane Bertha(on my birthday). My parents were taking
me out to dinner at The Old Fort Pub,but we never got there. We usually go
to the Cracker Barrel, order Giuseppi's Pizza,Fudruckers(when we arrive
for lunch),and Antonio's Italian Restaurant. We have been to
Fitzgeralds,Carmen's, and Crabby Nick's also. We go minature golfing and I
have always wanted to go on the Dolphin cruises. Hopefully this year, if
we go,we will get to try out some new places. If you have any
suggestions,just e-mail me.(if you are between the ages of 15-18 and male
definately e-mail me)!! Bye!! From Jenn-15/f. Notes for HHI - We have enjoyed vacationing at Hilton Head's Shipyard Plantation for
several years now. We stay, and I would strongly reccommend, Beachwalk. It
is just behind the Crystal Sands Resort about 150 yards to the beach.
Prices are very ($795 for a three bdrm, 3.5 bath) cheap in the sport
season (middle of August) and the weather and surf are still comparable to
the heart of summer. Clean pool, free tennis, and golf discounts
available. Villas are very secluded in a beautiful setting typical of
Hilton Head. Don't miss the excellent seafood buffet at the crystal Sands
Resort for under $20. Other eateries I would suggest are Shuckers for
lunch, of course the Salty Dog for a casual night on the Calibogie Sound
for margaritas and peel-and-eat shrimp, and a place called Steamers
(beside the Holiday Inn). It seems like nobody knows about this place, but
it is excellent-huge portions and very affordable.For golf either Shipyard
Golf Club or go off the island to Rose Hill for about $23 for 18 and a
cart. I would also suggest spending a day or at least part of a day in
Savannah. Take in its old world charm, plenty of antique shops, and have
lunch on the water at the Shrimp House. Oh, don't forget to pick up a
caramel apple the size of a softball, maybe bigger, at the candy store on
the water. I can't give away all of my secret spots, but hopefully these
few tips will make your stay more enjoyable. Bye for now. My just returned from a week in the Charleston area attending our sons
wedding. We enjoyed Boones Plantation, uss Yorktown, the carriage ride
downtown. We did not enjoy our accomidations at the sea cabins at Isle of
Palms. They neglected to tell us that there was daily maid service for an
extra charge, clean towels were an extra charge and I have slept on a
better matteress in a $29.95 motel room. We did enjoy the wedding,
rehearsel dinner at Magnolia's and all the other tourist things that we
did.We were there 2-18 to 2-25-97 HI! MY FRIENDS AND I WERE IN HHI LAST YEAR FOR SPRING BREAK, AND HAD A
GREAT TIME. WE WILL BE THERE AGAIN THIS YEAR FROM MAR 21-31, SO IF ANYONE
IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHERE ALL THE HAPPENING PLACES ARE WRITE
BACK TO ME, OR COME FIND US AT HINCHEY'S CHICAGO & BAR GRILL AT THE
COLIGNEY PLAZA NEXT TO THE HOLIDAY INN OCEANFRONT.(3/6/97) WE JUST RETURNED FROM HHI, 2/23/97, AS USUAL HAD A GREAT TIME, WE GO
ABOUT 3 TIMES A YEAR. EACH TIME THERE WE NEVER MISS EATING AT SAN
MIGUEL'S, ALL YOU CAN EAT FAJITA NIGHT-EXCELL. 211 PARK-EXCELLENT FOOD BUT
OUR WAITER WAS TERRIBLE, A LETTER WILL BE SENT TO MGMT. CAFE BELFAIR (OFF
HHI) TWENTY STAR!!!!!DON'T MISS IT.JUST PASTA IS FANTASTIC, EXCELL.FOOD!
MR.BENSONS CHINESE ALL YOU CAN EAT AT THE MALL IS REALLY A GOOD DEAL
HENRY'S NOT TOO GOOD, MISS IT!COMING FROM SANIBEL ISLAND TO HILTON HEAD WE
CAN APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY AND PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT, HOPEFULLY IT WON'T
BE OVERBUILT, I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE NEW HIGHWAY CUTTUNG THROUGH,
BUT THEN AGAIN I DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE TRAFFIC. GOOD PIZZA ON MAIN
STREET. BAKED GOODS AT COLIGNY BAKERY. SIGNE'S IS ALSO A GOOD CAFE WITH
EXCELL.FRESH FOOD. SKILLETS IS GOOD, BEST GROCERY SHOPPING IS AT AT HARRIS
TEETER.THIS TIME WE HAD GREAT SHELLING, FOUND TONS OF MINI SHARKEYES IN
PERFECT CONDITION...REMEMBER DON'T TAKE LIVE SHELLS! DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT
INTO ABE'S, PERHAPS NEXT TRIP. ENJOY YOUR STAY AT HHI, WE ALWAYS DO AND WE
CAN'T WAIT TO RETURN. AG 2/24/97 Hi! i am a 12 year old that has had the great experince to explore the
wonders of Hilton Head Island.we were traveling down to Orlando,Flordia.
but we hade made reservations at Hilton Head for 3 days and 2 nights.Since
this was 3 years ago I was 9 and my little sister was 2 and a half.We
justed wanted to go to Disney World(like any other kid).I thought it would
be boring and un intersting. but little did I know that I was just
starting the begining of a family ritual .i had fun and loved the beach
while my sister liked the starfish and sat in a little tidal pool of
water.After thoese three wonderful days my parents did not want to leave!
My dad wanted to show my mom time shares down there .But she refused
too.so this left my dad a little disappointed.i mean having to leave a
beautiful island and wondering if you will ever return. So after we got
back from our trip,my dad decided to ook into buying a time share.His
brother(my uncle0 had various time shares around the world).My dad chose
Mariott's Grande Ocean Club Resort.(without a tour or seeing the looks of
things!)so we have been going down to HHI for a while now and love.Our
time share is right on the beach and there are 4 pools and 1 in the
making!i love HHI and eveything there! i love eating at Land's End and the
Westen which is a resort but has a excellent restaurnts.It is a buffet
with Alaskin crab legs and salad bar soup and a 13 foot dessert table(my
favorite!) The beach is not crowded like other beaches.There are not big
tidal waves but there is enough to keep your boogie board going.i also
went on a Dolphin Crusie which was really cool.Lastly,I hope you vist HHI
and love as much as i do! In the past four years we have vacationed at HHI and stayed at the
Crowne Plaza Resort (formerly Crystal Sands), but this year we thought we
would rent a villa in Evian, if possible. Could you send rental info or
possible agencies to contact. We need to sleep 5. We have come down the
last to March breaks, and the two summers prior. In March we found other
than golf and tennis, you could not veg in the pool or the ocean. Weather
was great (60s and low 70s) but not as nice as being in the hot summer
time. More action and people and activities to do in the warm months. Also
at the Crowne Plaze (which is a fabulous hotel) we found in March a lot of
business conventions there and they took over the hotel more or less.
Otherwise, a great holiday spot for young and old. My son roller blades
and bikes all day long and my self and my daughter find plenty of
shopping. The Southern hospitality is great. My husband got a hole-in-one
in Shipyard's course and that was a bonus on last year's holiday. Golfing
is expensive especially if you want to take a teenager with you. Las Vegas
Golf & Tennis is a great place for golf and tennis bargains, and so is
Players World. Guiseppe's great for salad and pizza. Up here in Toronto we
look forward to a friendly visit to HHI in the very near future. It is
only a short 17 hours drive down and it is such a beautiful drive. Any
rental information would be appreciated. Thanks. 1/7/97 - We have been visiting HHI during March and April for the past
few years and always look forward to returning. We have enjoyed staying at
the Adventure Inn in a nice room with a kitchenette for quite reasonable
prices for being on the beach. Weather has been between 70 and 80 degrees
F. Mostly we just hang out at the beach all day, walk the shoreline, and
try a few restaurants during the week. Fratello's has fine Italian food,
the Brew Co. had delicious, large portions, and of course... BEER. There
are many places to rent bicycles if interested. We took a sunset ship ride
to watch the dolphins. It's also only 30 minutes from Savannah, Georgia
which is an extraordinary city to experience. I went to Hilton Head a year and one-half ago for the first time; after
four days there, I called a realtor because I knew I wanted a home there;
bought the first house from the car phone on the way home to Maryland;
have sold and bought again since then; just came back from Christmas '96
vacation there where temperatures were in seventies and even eighties one
day; love the restaurants, especially Stellini's, Neno's, Brian's and Cafe
Wexford; the new fine arts center is fabulous; so much to do day and
night; new movie theatres now bring total up to about 20. Would be willing
to talk with anybody about the place and where to stay; my place is
presently rented, but I know others that are good. It's heaven on earth!!!
1/2/97 Restaurants: Best meal with excellent food, good service and a cheerful
atmosphere was Neno al Toscante. It's new so you need to call and get the
number. It's worth the effort. La Maisonette is OK, but not great. Avoid
Crabby Nick's; it's not too good. I love Hilton Head Island. I've been ther twice int the last two years
and i plan to keep going back. It is such a great atmosphere and a
relaxing place to stay. I absolutely love it . It is so different than
Ohio (which is where I'm from) There is so much more to do there. Sight
seeing bike rides fishing the SAlty Dog Cafe. It has to be one of my
favorite places in the U.S. After spending a week on Hilton Head (10/12-19th), we cannot wait to go
back for another week. We stayed at a time share in Sea Pines Plantation.
It is called Monarch by Marriott. The weather was absolutely great and the
water temperature was in the high seventies. We took a boat trip on the
Calibogue line to Savannah for a four hour tour of the old city and then a
two hour bat trip back. A great value at $33 per adult. Try it you'll love
it. The sea food is great, especially the shrimp. Try Nantucket Seafood.
Two 1lb lobsters for $24 with all the fixings. Crazy Crab is touristy and
expensive, but food is ok. Bike rentals are a must as there are many miles
of paved bike trails throughout the plantations. Saw many alligators on
our daily rides. We definitely will go again!! MSS My wife & I just got back from our first stay at Hilton Head
10/12-10/19), and we both agree that it was one of the nicest places, if
not THE nicest, that we'd ever stayed at, and we've traveled a lot! We
stayed in Sea Pines, at South Beach, and we couldn't have picked a better
spot. Our villa overlooked the water, where the Atlantic and the Sound (?)
met. Deer walked by our porch in the morning, and every day we watched the
dolphins swim and play. Sundowns were beautiful, whether watched from our
deck, while riding bikes on the beach, or having a drink outside at the
Quarterdeck. Best tennis is at VanderMeer. If you like German food try the
Hofbrauhaus. Had another wonderful time during easter weekend of '96. Too bad I was
only there for the weekend. Sometimes college sucks when you're forced to
leave HH for classes. Anyway, I think I packed two weeks of fun into three
days. The weather was fantastic (as if I could have expected anything
else), and the new Ocean Course really showed its teeth. The redesign was
great Mark!! Truffles in Sea Pines Center is still one of the best! Some
of the bike paths have been resurfaced and everything was as beautiful as
ever. Thanks to everybody that participated in the Great Beach Party that
weekend. Hey everybody in Cincy, Chicago, Atlanta, and NY. Can't wait to
go back soon!! Hi, my girlfriends and I are back from HH (8/29-9/2). We had the best
time. Action Sports took us on a great tour on waverunners. The Island is
absolutely beautiful and the people are so nice. We managed to find the
crowd bet. 25-35 every night for some dancing and mingling. Thursday night
at Kat Man Du is the best. Crazy Nick had some great seafood and clam
chowder. Can wait to go back. Over the past 2 years, my wife and I have traveled all the way from our
home in Tokyo to relax on the spectacular island of Hilton Head. This
year, we especially enjoyed an excellent dinner at Abes Shrimp House. The
"Smothered Shrimp and Crabmeat" special was exceptionally savory! We also
had a nice time sailing out on the catamaran, "Flying Circus." It is quite
large and since the number of passengers is limited to 6, there is plenty
of space to stretch out enjoy the scenery. Viewing the dolphins was an
additional pleasure, but please do not participate in the growing number
of tours that go out and throw food at these dolphins in order to attract
them to the boats. It is not only against the law to feed these amazing
creatures, it creates a situation where the dolphins start to rely on
these tours for their survival. Hilton Head Island, its lovely
surroundings, and the creatures that share this area do not deserve or
need this type of exploitation. Follow up from my earlier note... H2 is wonderful. My family went for
the first time and returned two days ago. Spectacular weather!!! Great
golf courses include Hilton Head National and the Cupp course at Palmetto
Hall. The Ocean course at Sea Pines was nice, though not great. Finally
the RTJ course at Palmetto Dunes makes my driveway look like a PGA caliber
track (RTJ is HORRIBLE!!!!). The Castaways and the Oyster factory were
both terrific and the Hilton Head Brewery was good. We can't wait till
next year!!! Visted HH fro teh first time in July of '96. Recommendations: I am a 21 year old college student who has been to Hilton Head Island
at least 22 times. It is a great place to go. There are so many
activities, but I'll only tell you a few due to space. I enjoy the Murder
Mystery Cruise. It doesn't begin operating until mid June. There are two
on the island one departs from Shelter Cove and other from Harbour Town.
It is exciting solve a mystery, if you can go on fireworks night it is an
added treat. For the younger crowd I suggest Coconuts Comedy Club (you
have to be 18). If money isn't a problem I also suggest chartering a boat
to go night shark fishing out of South Beach Marina. Shuckers is a fun
place to hang out when there are hermit crab races. The beast beach for
the young crowd is the Holiday Inn. If you need any more information or
suggestions don't hesitate to email me. I could chat about Hilton Head for
hours. I have been going to Hilton Head ever since I was about 3 or 4. I have
always enjoyed it. I am 15. We have stayed at BEACH AND TENNIS RESORT many
many times. I like it a lot. It is very nice. If you have any specific
questions about it I will be glad to answer them. If you have any children
it is great because at the pool area they have activities for kids. Let me
think of some places you can go. We ALWAYS go see Greg Russell at
Sea Pines. He is great for kids. There are a lot of teenagers down there,
so it is fun for me too. I could tell you a lot of things that we like to
do down there, but I don't want to waste so much room, so if you would
like to know more, or have any questions that I might know the answer to
just E- Mail me. I hope I spelled everything right! We visited Hilton Head last (1995) and loved it. We plan to return in
July, 1996 and will stay again at the Shipyard. One of our pleasures was
riding bikes everywhere. Be sure to rent them ahead for the week.
Restaurants we liked were the Wild Wing (very casual & laid back) - very
good wings & salads; Crazy Crab was excellent; Fuddruckers had great
hamburgers (our teens enjoyed it). Does anyone know anything about the
Savannah Trip by ferry? We would like to try it this year. Thanks, The
Schmidts. My family and I have been vacationing at Hilton Head every summer since
I was a little girl. We enjoyed staying at the Marriott for many years in
Shipyard Plantation, but it has changed over to the Crystal Sands within
the last few years. I still think it is the most beautiful stretch of
beach on the island. Some of our favorite restaurants include: The Crazy
Crab at Harbour Town, The Old Fort Pub on Hilton Head Plantation,
Alexander's on Palmetto Dunes (a great deal if you catch the early bird
special from 5-6) and last of all Hudson's. Another family tradition of
ours is the 4th of July at Harbour Town. It is a perfect setting for the
fireworks and Greg Russell is sure to entertain kids of all ages !!! I recently moved to Hilton Head and I love it! As a golfer, I have
found so many great courses to play and one excellent golf school--The
Golf Academy of Hilton Head at Sea Pines. I took their Four Day Golf
School which included a round of golf on Harbour Town Golf Course in Sea
Pines. The Practice facility is in Sea Pines and was beautiful. The Golf
Academy of Hilton Head at Sea Pines has got it together! We spent a wonderful week in Sea Pines during March, and can't wait for
next year. Cycling is our favourite pas- time, as well as quiet walks in
the Forest Preserve. We enjoyed a marvellous dinner at Fitzgeralds on
South Forest Beach Road, but the favourite has to be the Harbourside Cafe
in Harbourtown - even with the aggressive birds! Today is April 2, 1996, and we have been back from Hilton Head for
three days. It was our first visit there and a wonderful experience. The
golf courses were beautiful and well-maintained (even though they were
quite wet) and the 'gators on the course were complacent. Our favorite
courses were Island West and Rose Hill. As for restaurants, The Oyster
Factory and Brian's are not to be missed, they were excellent! We are
definitely planning a return! Since the mid 80's I have attended the
Family Circle. I have had the I have met the professional players,
received autographs, and taken photos. I have made new friends whom I meet
each year. I enjoy eating at C.J.'s and Cafe Europa. We have come to Hilton Head for about ten years now, and are planning
to retire there. We usually rent a condo in Shipyard and play tennis at
Shipyard Racquet Club. We are avid tennis fans and usually take in the
Family Circle Cup tournament. Our favorite places to eat include: John
Braddock's Seafood House (including The Salty Dog Cafe), Hudson's, Just
Pasta and The Old Oyster Factory. All have great food and great service!
The atmosphere on the island is the most relaxing we've ever known and we
are looking forward to doing the "snow bird thing" there when we retire
from Michigan's cold winters! My wife and I lived on Hilton Head for about four years, all of which I
spent teaching tennis at the Port Royal Racquet Club by the Westin hotel.
I guess I am a little biased but I think Port Royal is the nicest place to
play. If you love tennis and would like to play on grass courts, stop by
Port Royal and give it a try. If you stop by the club, say hi to Dana
Landin (a great head pro), and Denny and Tanda Bianco (Director). Tell
them I said hi. Enjoy your time on the Island, it is beautiful!! My wife and I have been visiting HHI since 1984 and plan on returning
as often as possible. What a fantastic place! We travel a great deal and
have seen many gorgeous places but without a doubt HHI ranks near the top.
I could go on forever but I'll get to the point of recommending a few
things to do and places to eat. Our favorite restaurant that we've ever
been to period is Cafe Europa in Harbor Town. You can spend more and you
can be more pretentious, but you will be hard pressed to find better food,
service, or views in North America. For the ultimate in peaceful calorie
burning (not an oxymoron) activities take a kayak tour of Pinckney Island
just behind/beside HHI, preferably at sunset as we did. And finally for
the ultimate free activity, walk along the miles of wide, flat, beautiful
beaches that HHI offers. If you do visit HHI, please take care and leave
it as you found it. We have enough Myrtle Beaches but very few HHIs. We have held our family reunion on Hilton Head for the last three years
and are planning a fourth visit this summer, 1995 We have 14 family
members renting one big house. It's great that we can find such wonderful
accomodations every year. There's something for everyone to do..biking,
swimming, shopping, and lots of dining. Our favorite spot is the Crazy
Crab. We like the atmosphere at the HarbourTown location, but the wait is
really, really long. So we go to the one at the other end of the island
(on 278, right before the bridge to the mainland). Has anyone ever
attended the "Murder at the Mansion" mystery at the Barony clubhouse? I'd
be interested in some opinions. It's usually held on Tuesday nites. Also,
does anyone have information about transportation to the Savannah airport?
Are there any buses or limos that go there? My family and I have been visiting Hilton Head every April for the past
9 years. We absolutely love it. We are big into tennis and especially
golf. Play mostly at Shipyard and Palmetto. Favorite casual eating is
Damon's. Our kids love the beach, and yes, they're allowed on the golf
courses (even though they are only 6 and 3 respectively) Looking for a
good game of men's singles or doubles (USTA rating of 5.5) from April
7-19. Please contact me at nick_wolff@stkamer.stortek.com if you are
interested. Anyone have any good ideas for the kids other than the
beach....ie. places to entertain them during the day or early evening?
Look forward to hearing from you. Hi again. Just would like to throw in a few more of my favorites. Most
uncrowded bike paths=the south beach to harbour town connection. Most
scenic=see above (winds through harbour town golf links). Best
mexican=Aunt Chiladas. Best Overall place to stay=Sea Pines (e-mail me for
specific recommendations). Night life for people my age (15-18)=e-mail me
for what I can really tell you, but Harbour Town and Holiday Inn are
always fun and full of people. Have we met before????=drop me a line if
you know me. I've been there every year over Easter for 18 yrs. Can't wait
to go back either!!!! Just got back from a great week on Hilton Head Island. The best place
we found for "happy hour" was at Margarettas in the shopping plaza next to
Wexford. The prices were very reasonable and Starr behind the bar had lots
of good recomendations on places to go and things to see. Managed by Kim
and Chris, its a small friendly place. Our server was Kelly, Kim's sister.
The portions were, well, large. The truth is I could not finish. We all
had a take home "swan" full of great mexican food for a future lunch.
Golfing was good for this time of year. Favorite course was a toss up
between Old South and Island West. Look forward to a return visit. A place where kids and adults can have fun is the Island Putt and
Drive. The kids can have fun by the playhouse. It is a little
Discovery Zone inside. There is a driving range for adults and a putt-putt
course. It is fun and exciting The Discovery Zone also has video games.
The Island Putt and Drive is located on Folly Field Road. The phone number
is 842-9990 and the hours are from 9 am to 9 pm. You'll have a great time!
Hilton Head is by far my favorite vacation spot for fun in the sun.
While there, check out the power boats and jetskis down at Harbor Town,
and stop by the Quarterdeck for a little reggae on Wednesday happy
hour. If you are looking for a romantic dinner interlude, try
Harbormaster's at Shelter Cove, or for a casual seafood experience try
Scotty's at Shelter Cove. If you're young like me, sat away from Big
Rocco's for nightlife, stick to the Brew Company, Big Dog's Cafe or
Zack's. Don't forget Remy's or Shag's for the really late night
drinking fests, or really early morning for that matter. A great casual
place to go is Wild Wing Cafe, great beer, wings, music and people. I have
plenty more great tips for those in their twenties/early thirties to do!!!
I'd be happy to hear from anyone who would like to update me, or hear some
more suggestions! Well, I'm only eighteen but I've been to Hilton Head every year of my
life!! My parents and younger siblings are there right in October even
though we usually go over Easter. This is the first time they have been in
the fall and they say that it is still as beautiful (except the azaelas
aren't in bloom). I'm sure they will be back for the two weeks surrounding
Easter and I hope that the people here at Vanderbilt in Nashville don't
mind me taking off for a few days to visit my favorite spot on earth (and
my family too I guess). Recommendations include: best golf = the new
Ocean Course at Sea Pines, best tennis (least crowded) = Van Der
Meer, longest wait for good seafood = Shuckers, best food with
reservation = CQ's at Harbour Town, best party = Heritage Week at
Harbour Town, best accomodations = anywhere near the ocean on Sea Pines,
don't miss = live Heritage and/or Family Circle. More will follow
in later days. Bye. i love the area and find no shortage of things to do. favorite
restaurants.... best hamburger: boathouse at salty fare marina... best
sunset: quaterdeck in harbor towne... best fine dining: stoddard room on
daufuskie island... best italian: cafe primo... most romantic spot: spring
island.... best cold beer: hilton head brewing comp.. most over rated:
haig pt.... must miss: alexander's.. best shrimp: abe's... have a great
time and email me with your favorites! thanks! From age 9-18 my family and I spent a week or two on Hilton Head
Island. It is a beautiful, fun place. I haven't been there for about 10
years but hope to take my own family there soon! I have fond memories of
searching for sand dollars, shrimping, crabbing, taking walks on the beach
and getting to watch the giant sea turtles lay their eggs. For all but one
year we stayed in Sea Pines. Dining was great there, too....Ballard's
Shrimp House, Hudson's, Hofbrahaus, etc. If anyone reads this and would
like to update me on what's still there and what's new, please e-mail me
at cjacobso@crom.jjc.cc.il.us. My husband and I were fortunate to be able to spend a week in Hilton
Head this summer. This was our first visit. We were absolutely amazed at
the beautiful, smooth, wide beaches Hilton Head offers. One evening, we
took a walk on the beach, and to our delight their happened to be a full
moon-What a sight. The moon lit up the water and the beach with a dazzling
brilliance.
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