The kids had a week of Fall Break vacation in October and on the 17th we all drove down to Hilton Head Island, SC and stayed for a week. The leaves were beginning to turn on the way down and it was a very pretty drive through Kentucky, the Smokie Mountain area of eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina and then down through South Carolina. We rented a condo on the beach down on the southern coastline of the island and it was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in the complex at the corner of Avocet and North Forest Beach Drive. The unit had three rooms and both balconies had a nice view of the beach.
It was a little chilly the first two days, but then it warmed-up to the point that we were swimming in the Atlantic the last four days we were there. On Sunday, James and I played 18 holes at the Golden Bear Golf Course at Indigo Run. It was a very nice course but very tight. Everything on the island is built to impact the environment as minimally as possible, so the golf courses and the housing are all blended in with the trees with no signs of clear-cutting anywhere. Even the shops and commerically zoned areas have low signage and are hidden back in the woods. It makes finding things around the island very interesting/challenging. There are bike paths everywhere and bike rentals are a booming business.
I hit balls at the Shipyard Plantation a couple of days and it was a very plush 27 holes as well. I had thought about booking a teetime at Harbourtown for James and I, but it was $255 per person not counting the fore-caddy. Several of the reviews said that the caddy’s wouldn’t let people finish-up holes and putt-out – and that there was a generally rushed tempo enforced by the caddies as part of club policy. I was torn but ultimately there was so much to do on the island and the kids really just wanted to swim. I will get Harbourtown another time.
We went shopping on Monday and bought souvenirs and some clothes for the kids. The seafood we had there was pretty awesome. There was a small, unfancy place called “The Grumpy Grouper” that we pigged-out at twice because it was so good. We ate Italian one night and ate sushi another night. We all gained weight and decided we needed to exercise when we got back home.
Sharon and Kayleigh spent a ton of time in the waves practicing their body-surfing. I joined them each day but also laid out on the beach with Melissa and read. Stella got in the tidal pool and spent most of her time building sand castles and harassing sea gulls. James split time building elaborate sand castles and swimming with the girls.
Savannah is very close to HHI and we had thought we would make it down there so I could show Melissa around. Ultimately we didn’t make it because we still hadn’t hit every place and done everything on Hilton Head. On our last day there we all went to Sea Island plantation and walked through Harbourtown and had ice cream at the Salty Dog Cafe. We also did the tour of the Harbourtown Lighthouse and walked the 114 steps to the top and took photos.
We all agreed that we will be going back. We have found the perfect place to spend Fall Break from now on.