Due to the gulf oil spill, we decided to be sidetracked somewhere different from our normal gulf coast vacation this year. We chose Hilton Head. There are some things you need to know if you are going to go to HHI. If you like lots of trees and shade with tons of bicycling paths, as well as golf and tennis, this is probably the place for you. If you want to see the ocean and be able to find places you want to go, you have to work at it.
As I looked at many condos, I found landscaping often would block the ocean breeze and view from the pool. If you like seeing the ocean from an ocean front condo, it is advisable to check out the views (VRBO is a good, reliable source) which probably will demand at least 3rd, maybe 4th floor. Many beaches we have been to have nice big wooden benches/lounges with thick cushions and umbrellas set up for rent. This beach had small wooden framed foldable lawn chair type lounges that could only be sat in, not laid on. We bought and hauled lawn chairs and umbrellas to the beach every morning. Besides the fact that we had driven all this way for the ocean, the pool was unbearably hot with no breeze unless you were in it at all times.
Navigation was the other challenge. South Carolina does love their trees, so you might see a Walmart sign at the base of a tree at the side of the main thoroughfare and then barely be able to see through the trees that there are stores back there. How to get to them was the next hurdle. Many times you had to take the crossroad before or after and then meander through a car lot or some other random business to get to where you wanted to be.
It is a beautiful place. Much of the beach is within private communities where you have to show IDs to get through. Coligny Square is a small beachy shopping area next to a public beach. Sea Pines (South Beach and Harbourtown) is a beautiful area that allows you to go into their private area--even to eat in a restaurant--for a fee per day. For driving around most of the ocean sides of the island, you would not know there is an ocean anywhere without going into some of these private areas. We stayed in the one called Palmetto Dunes. My husband would prefer to go back to other beaches, but I will be going back next summer with my PIGS (7 high school buddies) for our yearly trip. One of the group owns a lovely villa on the lagoon across the street from the beach where we stayed this year. We will probably go to Savannah, an outlet mall, and other sight seeing spots. We just need comfy digs to eat, laugh, sleep, laugh, talk, and laugh. Eating is especially important (therefore the nickname PIGS). Hopefully I can remember the names of the restaurants I liked for them next year.
