Hilton Head Island Favorites

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Favorite thing: Hilton Head is all about Nature, but it is Nature groomed so that it looks pretty and doesn't interfer with the main playground - kind of like Disney for Golfers. It is a pretty island and has nice beaches, but it also has an attitude about it which is really irritating. My sister won't visit here because of the "Plantations", and while I think she's being too PC about it, I find the gated community concept terribly elitist, and hate the idea of covenants. It is arrogant to charge for admission to a place where the main goal is to induce you to spend your money for their additional profit. At the very least the sign and light restrictions are dangerous at night.

Fondest memory: Seeing the birds outside the elevator of our condo and realizing that there was a birds nest on the top of the REAL lighthouse of Hilton Head. We did enjoy walking the self guiding trail next to the museum also.

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Favorite thing: People who own property on Hilton Head are not allowed to:
a) Park a pick-up truck on the island at their house
b) Have a garden in their yard
c) Paint the house except in a few mandated colors so as not to spook the deer or something. No red roofs allowed, even on the Red Roof Inn
d) Dry laundry outside.

The Hilton Head website remarks:
"All business’ signs are the same colors. Soft shades of tan, green, rose, and dusky blue are mostly the only colors allowed because Hilton Head prefers everything to blend into the environment instead of looking over-developed.

Personally I'd like to be able to find a restaurant or gas station without using binoculars.

Another problem with Hilton Head:
" There are more than 10 gated communities on Hilton Head Island, a handful more past the bridge to the mainland, and plenty of ungated neighborhoods scattered in between. A Hilton Head Island gated community is locally referred to as a plantation. Shipyard Plantation, Palmetto Hall Plantation Club, Wexford Plantation, Port Royal Plantation, and Hilton Head Plantation are some examples.

I'm not at all happy with the idea of gated communities. For instance to see Fort Mitchel, you have to get through community gate. To eat at a restaurant that is in one of the communities you have to go through a gate, and at least ONE gated community has a toll charge for all the cars that go through the gate.

Favorite thing: The beach is outstanding - nice and wide, firmly packed sand easy to walk on, and crowded only in certain areas

Fondest memory: When I cross the bridges to the Island and look out across the water I feel an immediate sense of relaxation. There is much to do, yet nothing has to be done. The Islanders are friendly, Southern and polite and for the most part are unhurried and laid back.
I am surprised by the number of restaurants, including dozens of fine dining locations, and the quality and quantity of golf courses. As a nature lover, I never tire of watcing the Dolphins play in the ocean and the Osprey zooming down for their lunch (the alligators are interesting as well).

Favorite thing: I would mostly suggest this trip to an avid golfer. As I said before I was pretty much still a kid when I was there, so other than the beach and the beachside bar (I had just turned 21), there wasn't much else to do, other than mini golf (as I'm not a regular golfer). My aunt and uncle have briefed us on the golfing as my uncle is an avid golfer.

Fondest memory: I loved the beach and the beachside bar. We stayed at a family friend's time share condominium as a favor owed to my dad.

No digital photos to share.

Favorite thing: Traffic can be a real challenge on the island, From April to August the main roads are very busy. Your best bet is to walk or rent a bicycle. If you are planning on doing some shopping or sight seeing in Bluffton plan on an hours wait at peak traffic hours

Another thing to be aware of is the heavy amount of pollen in the air. You will notice durring spring and summer a fine greenish yellow powder covering everything, this is pollen. If you have allergies make sure you bring appropriate medicines and use precautions.

For more information about Hilton Head,
visit http://hiltonheadislander.com

Favorite thing: The heat and humidity often can bring a thunderstorm a day. Usually in the afternoon. They normally don't last long, and you'll be back to your sunbathing in no time, but take this time to relax, and listen to the rain and thunder. Sometimes at night, you can catch lightning out over the ocean, too. :-)

Favorite thing: Located in Sea Pines Plantation is the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. If walking around wooded areas, lagoons, ponds, bird watching, etc. is your thing you might enjoy this. You can walk through this from Greenwood drive entrance, which has maps of the area at the entrance or drive back to the preserve from an entrance located on Lawton Road, by the Hilton Head Prep School. Admission to Sea Pines Plantaion is $5.00.

Lawton Stables also offers guided tours on horse back. I believe $20 to $30 last I checked. I would suggest doing the horse ride during the cooler times of the year though. Not my kind of thing, but kids usually seem to have a nice time on horse back :)

Insect wise March or april are usually rough and so is the early fall. Personally the sand gnats are my biggest complaint, mosquito's second. "Off" for the Mosquito's and for the gnats, lol good luck ;)

As for the many Alligators you will see, please trust me when I say Alligators can move faster than you can. I've seen gators move, up close, their lazy appearance is deceiving. Treat them with respect, take pics from a distance and keep your kids and pets close to your side. Never get in between a wandering alligator and a water source. And please do not feed them.

When walking through the Forest Preserve you may run into a snake, most likely non-poisonous, but same guideline, respect.

The preserve can be a nice place if that's your type of thing, Picnic Area, Horse Back rides, even an alligator tour (although you can get the same results just looking on your own). Have fun

Favorite thing: The surrounding areas of Hilton Head have really been developing for the past decade. I remember in '91 I could make a trip from Hilton Head to Beaufort SC with little worries, unfortunately it's not the case now.

If you're doing any traveling to the near-by areas (Beaufort, Savannah, Charleston, etc.) avoid going off island (HWY 278) 4 to 6PM M-F. Traffic can really get congested, especially on a Friday during the summer. And if it's raining I guarantee a fender bender will delay you along the way. The morning hours 8 to 10AM coming on island can get congested in the Bluffton Area.

Travel between North to South end can be shortened by using the 278 By-pass, costing $1.00. You can get to the same place by staying on 278 business, just more stop lights and traffic.

Going to Sea Pines? If the Main Gate entrance at the end of 278 is backed up, go down Pope Avenue towards the beach. Head down to Coligny Circle and take the exit infront of the Holiday Inn. Leads you to the back (ocean) gate of Sea Pines. You can get your pass there ($5) and enter the plantation.

Be mindful of bikers, especially on the south end and within any plantation. Lots of families with kids roaming about in spring/summer. It's not uncommon for them to not see/notice the biker stop signs on the bike paths, so driving with them in mind is much appreciated.