101 Things To Do on Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah - Summer/Fall, 2013

Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah

Paddling the Lagonns of the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort Photo by Michael Lamarre

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Summer/Fall • 2013

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 1 TIMESHARE!

Table of Contents Snap this tag with your smartphone to visit our mobile website.

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS.............................6 ISLAND & AREA MAPS.................................. 91-97 1.

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Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum............................ 12 Climb a Lighthouse and See the View.......................... 12 Golf the Lowcountry.................................................... 14 Rent a Bike and Explore the Island............................... 15 Rent a Golf Cart and Explore Daufuskie....................... 16 Comb a Beach...............................................................17 Discover the Dolphins.................................................. 18 Take a Boat to Savannah.............................................20 Rent a Boat and Be Your Own Captain......................... 22 Do a Zipline.................................................................. 22 Learn About Our Wildlife............................................. 23 Encounter an Alligator.................................................24 Photograph Nature With a Pro....................................24 Go Birdwatching.......................................................... 25 Watch the Sun Set....................................................... 25 Explore a Wildlife Refuge.............................................26 Visit the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.............................. 27 Take a Wagon Ride...................................................... 27 Go Horseback Riding................................................... 27 Check Out Shelter Cove...............................................28 Check Out Coligny Circle..............................................29 Check Out Palmetto Bay Marina................................. 30 Check Out Harbour Town............................................. 30 Check Out Sunny South Beach.................................... 32 Check Out Broad Creek Marina.................................... 33 Take a Sunset Dinner Cruise......................................... 33 Take a Sailing Cruise..................................................... 34 Go Crabbing................................................................. 35 Cruise on a Catamaran................................................. 36 Fly on a Trimaran.......................................................... 37 Get Over It With Parasailing......................................... 38 Go Waterskiing and Tubing..........................................40 Get a Thrill on a Banana Boat.......................................40 Hit the Surf.................................................................. 41 Get Wild on a Waverunner...........................................42 Paddle the Lowcountry’s Waters................................. 43 Stand Up and Paddle...................................................44 Take a Raft Ride...........................................................44 Paddle the Paddy Wagon............................................44 Learn to Sail................................................................. 45 Go Charter Fishin’........................................................46 Fish the Fresh Waters...................................................46 Go Fly Fishing..............................................................48 Hunt for “Jaws”............................................................48 Go Trawling for Shrimp................................................ 50

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Take a Boat to a Restaurant......................................... 50 Picnic on a Sandbar...................................................... 51 Learn About the Gullah Culture................................... 51 Explore the Stoney-Baynard Ruins.............................. 53 Visit Historic Churches................................................. 53 Explore Historic Bluffton.............................................. 54 Visit the Heyward House.............................................54 Tour a Lowcountry Plantation..................................... 55 Encounter the Haunted Side........................................56 Look for Our Island’s Roots.......................................... 57 Visit Hilton Head’s Historic Forts................................. 57 Visit the First Freedman’s Village.................................58 Play at a Children’s Museum........................................58 Create Your Own Memories.........................................59 Meet the Small Animals...............................................60 Check Out Our Parks and Playgrounds........................ 61 Play a Round of Miniature Golf.....................................61 Watch the Fireworks....................................................62 Be a Pirate of the Calibogue.........................................62 Go to the Theatre......................................................... 63 Do the Music Scene.....................................................64 Visit a Lowcountry Art Gallery..................................... 65 Discover Daufuskie Island.............................................66 Do Daufuskie On Your Own.......................................... 67 Play Tennis....................................................................68 Try Disc Golf..................................................................69 Go Out to Wine and Dine..............................................69 Shop a Farmers Market................................................70 Travel Like a Foodie...................................................... 71 Shop ‘Til You Drop........................................................ 71 Buy a Piece of the Foot................................................. 72 Take a Trolley Tour of Savannah.................................... 74 Take a Specialty Tour of Savannah...............................76 Tour the Sites of “The Book”........................................76 See the Movie Sets of Savannah.................................. 77 Take a Riverboat Cruise................................................78 Shop the Cobbled Streets.............................................78 Be a Ghost Hunter........................................................80 Tour Savannah’s Historic Homes.................................80 Visit the Bamboo Farm................................................ 81 Honor the Mighty 8th..................................................82 Visit a Train Museum....................................................82 Visit Savannah’s Historic Churches.............................. 83 Party Savannah............................................................84 Visit Savannah’s Forts..................................................84 Get Carriaged Away..................................................... 85 Visit an Art Museum..................................................... 85 Don’t Miss Tybee Island...............................................86 Visit Colonial Wormsloe Plantation..............................86 Explore Beautiful Beaufort........................................... 87 Visit the Parris Island Museum..................................... 87 Visit Hunting Island......................................................88 Visit the Penn Center....................................................88 Explore the Old Sheldon Church Ruins.........................89 Turn Back Time in Historic Charleston..........................89 Experience a Southern Plantation................................90 Summer/Fall • 2013

G E T O U T O N T H E WAT E R !

DEEP SEA FISHING ABOARD “DRIFTER” $10 OFF K

drifter is a 60-foot party fishing boat using state-of-the-art equipment, fishing Hilton Head’s waters for 25 years. Bring the whole family and join our experienced crew for a great time.

Rods, reels and bait furnished.

Deep Sea Fishing 5 Hours: $67 Adults; 4 Hours: $62 Adults, $10 off for Kids 12 & under.

ids 12 & Und er

Shark Fishing

(June thru Aug.) 3 Hr. Shark Fishing: $57 Adults $10 off for Kids 12 & under

DOLPHIN WATCHING ABOARD “GYPSY”

Dolphin Watch: DOLPHINS GUARANTEED!

Close encounters with Bottlenose Dolphins. $15 Adults, $7 Kids (2 & under FREE). March thru November

Kid’s Cruise:

Educational 2-hour hands-on experience for children interested in the creatures that live above and below the our coastal waters. Shark fishing, cast netting, crabbing, and more. $20 Adults, $25 Kids. June thru August

Dolphins & More:

See dolphins, pull a crab pot, throw a cast net & learn about marine life. $19 Adults, $9 Kids. June thru August CRUISES LEAVE FROM SOUTH BEACH MARINA (the closet marina to the Ocean) 232 South Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC

(843) 363-2900

Summer/Fall • 2013

www.hiltonheadboattours.com

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 3

Calibogue Cruises Tours DAILY FERRY SERVICE TO DAUFUSKIE Calibogue Cruises offers daily round-trip ferry service year-around to this intriguing sea island.

Once there, you are free to explore at your own pace on foot or golf cart; or take a guided history tour. See historic island landmarks, visit unique Lowcountry art galleries, shop and dine, even swim and beachcomb on miles of our sandy beaches. Or just come for lunch or dinner and sit a spell.

DOLPHIN & NATURE CRUISE TO DAUFUSKIE Why take just a dolphin cruise when you can experience dolphins AND the wonders of Daufuskie Island. Learn about the area’s unique wildlife, an overview of Daufuskie’s special history, and what life was like growing up on a remote Sea Island.

GUIDED HISTORY TOUR OF OLD DAUFUSKIE Calibogue Cruises also offers a unique two-hour guided history tour of Daufuskie conducted by a knowledgeable local. Climb aboard a colorfully painted school bus for an excursion into Daufuskie’s special past. You’ll hear many wonderful stories of the Island’s history told by engaging and humorous guides.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

BY GOLF CART Golf Carts are available for rental for your own self-guided tour of mysterious Daufuskie. Maps are provided so you won’t lose your way. Explore at your own pace. Visit historic landmarks and the Island’s art galleries, walk the beaches, have a picnic or dine at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company.

See what life is like on this remarkable Sea Island.

SAVANNAH FERRY SERVICE Don’t fight the traffic. Join us on a round-trip ferry boat ride from Hilton Head to historic Savannah.

After docking at famous River Street, you’re free to explore the city’s numerous landmarks, shopping districts, and various restaurants. Ask about our trip options including a trolley tour or a stop-over on Daufuskie Island for dinner and sightseeing.

4 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

Tour Enchanted Daufuskie Melrose Landing (Private)

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BEAUFORT COUNTY DOCK & Marshside Mamas

FREEPORT MARINA & Daufuskie Crab Co.

Melrose Inn

Hilton Head Island

Lane Fuskie

County Public Beach

South Beach

Atlantic Ocean

Daufuskie Island

Ferry Service & Tours Depart Daily Cabins are available for rent year around.

Year Around from For prices and availability, call (843) 785-8342. Broad Creek Marina, 18 Simmons Road, located mid-island All schedules & rates vary seasonally so call ahead. off Marshland Road.

Want to spend the night on Daufuskie?

Calibogue Cruises

✱

Broad Creek Marina

• (843) 342-8687(tour)

www.daufuskiefreeport.com

SUPER SAVER!!

ALL INCLUSIVE DAUFUSKIE TOUR $59 per person Good on any trip!

Includes round-trip ferry trip, Lowcountry Lunch at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company, and the Famous Guided History Tour or Golf Cart Rental.

Advance reservations required. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Must present this coupon to receive discount. Expires 1/31/14.

Summer/Fall • 2013

SUMMER SAVINGS!!

Tues Only

TUESDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS $20 per adult, $10 child (2 & under FREE)

Cruise up Broad Creek for Summer Fireworks.

Bring your own picnic and cooler.

Advance reservations required. Child rate for ages 3 through 12.

Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Valid Tuesdays between mid-June to August, 2013.

Must present this coupon to receive discount.

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 5

Directory of Advertisers Accommodations/Timeshare Resort Source/RMC Property Management.............1 Vacation Time Rentals............................................74 Westin Hilton Head Resort and Spa........................71 Art Galleries / Arts & Crafts Art Cafe................................................................. 59 Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.............................. 64 High Tide Beads......................................................73 The Sandbox Children’s Museum.......................... 59 Bike Rentals Bicycle Billy’s......................................................... 16 H2O Sports Nature Center.................................... 41 Coconuts Bike Rentals............................................15 Pedals.................................................................... 14 Boating/Watersports - Tours & Rentals Calibogue Cruises............................................4-5, 16 Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat.............................. 49 Carolina Moon......................................................... 9 Commander Zodiac............................................... 45 Crabber J II..............................................................35 Dolphin and Nature Cruises.................Back Cover, 17 Dolphin Discoveries............................................... 43 Dolphin Seafari............................................21, 35, 51 Flying Circus............................ Inside Front Cover, 18 Gypsy.................................................................3, 63 H2O Sports............................................................ 41 Holiday...................................................................18 Island Explorer....................................................... 19 Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 43 Live Oac............................................................ 13, 49 Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Safaris.........................23 Outside Hilton Head.................................................7 Palmetto Bay Water Sports..............21, 35, 43, 45, 51 Parasail Hilton Head.............................................. 39 Pau Hana...................................... Inside Front Cover

Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises............................25 Sea Monkeys Watersports..................................... 42 Sky Pirate Watersports.......................................... 38 Spirit of Harbour Town............................................ 9 Sumo Charters....................................................... 36 UFO Parasailing......................................................37 Vagabond Cruises.................................................... 9 Charter Fishing Bonnie Rae Charters...............................................47 Bulldog Fishing Charters.........................................47 Capt. Hook............................................................ 49 Catmandoo............................................................47 Drifter.......................................................................3 Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 43 Live Oac............................................................ 13, 49 Moneric Fishing Charters........................................47 North End Charter Fishing Fleet.............................47 Outside Hilton Head.................................................7 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Runaway.................................................................47 Dining - Restaurants, Tours & Dinner Cruises Calibogue Cruises............................................4-5, 16 Captain Fishy’s Family Seafood Restaurant.......10-11 Dolphin Seafari............................................21, 35, 51 Express Restaurant Delivery...................................72 Frosty Frog Cafe & Daiquari Bar.............................70 Marshside Mama’s............................................ 21, 51 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Savannah Riverboat Cruises...................................79 Savvy Savannah Tours............................................76 Spirit of Harbour Town............................................ 9 Up the Creek Pub and Grill....................................... 8 Westin Hilton Head Resort and Spa........................71 Horseback Riding Lawton Stables...................................................... 29 Jetskiing Palmetto Bay Water Sports..............21, 35, 43, 45, 51 Sea Monkeys Watersports..................................... 42

on Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

Published by 101, Inc. P. O. Box 23465, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 Phone: (843) 682-3205 • Fax: (843) 682-3205 Email: margot@101thingshiltonhead.com Our Staff Gregg Gardiner Margot Else Our Printer Quad/Graphics Midland, MI For advertising information or additional copies of the magazine (postage fees to be applied), call (843) 682-3205 or email margot@101thingshiltonhead.com. Every effort has been made to provide accurate information, however any rates, special offers, schedules and services are subject to change without notice and are not guaranteed by the publisher. The “101 Things to Do” brand is a registered trademark and cannot be used for any purpose at any time without the expressed written consent of the owner, 101, Inc. No part of the book may be translated or reproduced in any form, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. © Copyright 2013, 101 Inc. All rights reserved.

6 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Kayak Tours & Rentals H2O Sports............................................................ 41 Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 43 Outside Hilton Head.................................................7 Palmetto Bay Water Sports..............21, 35, 43, 45, 51 Sea Monkeys Watersports..................................... 42 Kids’ Activities Adventure Cove..................................................... 61 Art Cafe................................................................. 59 Capt. Hook............................................................ 49 Crabber J II..............................................................35 Dolphin Seafari............................................21, 35, 51 Gypsy.................................................................3, 63 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum..................31, 73 Island Recreation Center....................................... 64 Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 43 Lawton Stables...................................................... 29 Live Oac............................................................ 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head.................................................7 Pirates of Hilton Head........................................... 63 The Sandbox Children’s Museum.......................... 59 Vagabond Cruises.................................................... 9 Libraries Heritage Library Foundation..................................57

Marinas Broad Creek Marina Adventures.............................. 8 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Miniature Golf /Arcades Adventure Cove..................................................... 61 Museums Drayton Hall.......................................................... 90 Gullah Museum of Hilton Head..............................53 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum..................31, 73 Heyward House Historic Center............................ 54 Rose Hill Mansion...................................................55 The Sandbox Children’s Museum.......................... 59 Parasailing H2O Sports............................................................ 41 Parasail Hilton Head.............................................. 39 Sky Pirate Watersports.......................................... 38 UFO Parasailing......................................................37 Sailing Charters & Instruction Carolina Moon......................................................... 9 Commander Zodiac............................................... 45 Flying Circus............................ Inside Front Cover, 18 H2O Sports............................................................ 41 Pau Hana...................................... Inside Front Cover Sumo Charters....................................................... 36 Shopping Art Cafe................................................................. 59 Bargain Box............................................................72 Ed Funk Photos..................................................... 36 Frosty’s Closet........................................................70 High Tide Beads......................................................73 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe..........................31, 73 Sightseeing Tours Calibogue Cruises............................................4-5, 16 Oglethorpe Trolley Tours.................................. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours.....................................75, 78, 81 Savannah Riverboat Cruises...................................79 Savvy Savannah Tours............................................76 Spirit of Harbour Town............................................ 9 Symphony Orchestras Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra......................... 65 Theatres Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.............................. 64 Ziplines Zipline Hilton Head.................................................. 8

On the cov er

Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah

Paddling the Lagoons of the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort Photo by Michael Lamarre

Canoeing the Palmetto Dunes lagoons. For more information, see Editorial #36, Paddle the Lowcountry’s Waters. Photo by Michael Lamarre, www.picturesofthe Lowcountry.com, email michaellamarre@ icloud.com.

Winter/Spring • 2013

In Shore • Offshore Charters Evening Shark Fishing

Custom & Shared Excursions Everyday!

Tubing

Completely Custom Designed Day Just For Your Family!

Unbelievable Experience!

Kayak Nature Tours Daily Kayak Dolphin Tours

le Sunset Padd

Water Ski Wake Board • Tube

Surf Camps Paddleboard Camps & Rentals Beachside at The Westin Resort

SUP Yoga

Lessons • Rentals Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga

20’ Pontoon Boat Up to 12 Passengers

For reservations & information call

800.686.6996 • 843.686.6996 Make your reservation online at

m!

oose Fro Summer/Fall ch To C• h2013 So Mu

www.outsidehiltonhead.com

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 7 est. 1979

A l o wc o u n t r y h igh f o r 2 h o u rs .

Come fly @ Zipline hilton head, our 2 hour eco-adventure tour thru the live oaks, looking out at the water, the boats and marshes. Soar on 8 interconnected ziplines and 2 suspended sky bridges, all from towers and tree platforms to 75 ft... all the way to our thrilling finale, a dual cable racing zip ride.

Hey, want a quick zip? You can just do the Racing Zip Ride... grab a friend and fly 900 ft. to the finish line!

And after you zip, come sip and dine next door at our Up the Creek Pub & Grill, chosen by “Southern Living” as one of the 4 HHI restaurants to enjoy.

ZipLinehiltonhead.com

E TH EK P U CRE &

843.682.6000

pub grill

Reservations preferred. Please book early. Must be 10 years old, weigh 80 lbs. to 250 lbs.

33 Broad Creek Marina Way (1 mile from Cross Island, off Marshland Rd) HHI

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A l o wc o u n t r y UP !

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Our good ol’ Hilton Head hideaway, Up the Creek Pub & Grill, invites ya’ all to come on UP! to our outdoor decks with unbelievable water views overlooking the boats, marshes & live oaks.

Drink UP & chow down while enjoying some good, good food with good prices. Customer-rated best burgers, fresh salads with fish or chicken, tacos, quesadillas, awesome hush puppies & our house smoked bbq pulled pork and wings. Our really big, brew selection is a thumbs UP, too.

We’re real convenient to our ZipLine hilton head 2 hour tour next door. Dolphin tours, pub charter fishing, parasailing & Daufuskie tours also leave from our Broad Creek Marina docks. grill We’ve got music Monday & Friday nights & Saturday afternoons which makes that chillin’ a whole lot easier. Inside or out, we just want you to relax &…feel the breeze.

We’re a one stop casual, fun up so mark it all down for your vacation planning.

K E UPCRE & E

TH

upthecreekpubandgrill.com

843.681.3625

Open Daily 11:00 a.m. until...... 18 Simmons Road (1 mile from Cross Island, off Marshland Rd) HHI 8 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

Harbour Town Cruises 1 famous Harbour, 3 fabulous boats, and 21

exciting, original cruises. It’s the reason we have been under the Lighthouse for 25 years.

Marine Reseach

Conducted in Partnership with the

KIDS FREE on Ocean Dolphin Cruises

when they climb the Lighthouse Not valid on Fireworks, Bubble Gum or Special Event Cruises. Cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, or offers.

Univeristy of South Carolina

Vagabond

(on select cruises)

Vagabond

Join the crew for one of our great sightseeing cruises! · Ocean Dolphin Cruise · Sunset Dolphin Cruise · Daufuskie Island Adventure · Sunset & Fireworks Cruise

$5 OFF

Adult Tickets Valid with cash or credit card Not valid on Fireworks, Bubble Gum or Special Event Cruises. Cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, or offers.

Call (843) 363-9023

for schedules and reservations.

Spirit of Harbour Town

Spirit of Harbour Town Cruise in comfort on the Island’s fastest and only air-conditioned vessel.

· Fireworks Dinner Cruise · Historic Savannah Cruise · Paula Deen Cruise to Savannah · Sunsets & Prime Rib Dinner Cruise

FREE Sea Pines G at e Pa s s

You must present gate pass when you purchase tickets Not valid on Fireworks, Bubble Gum or Special Event Cruises. Cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, or offers.

Call (843) 363-9026

Carolina Moon

for schedules and reservations.

Carolina Moon

Come sail away aboard Hilton Head’s newest catamaran. Experience the best of the Calibogue Sound. · Afternoon Sails · Sunset Sails · Private charters available

Call (843) 363-9446

for schedules and reservations.

Updated Summer/Fall • 2013

15% OFF any purchase at The Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe

with your Vagabond Cruise Ticket Stub Restrictions Apply.

Cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, or offers.

schedules and discounted tickets available online at www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com www.vagabondcruise.com. Find the Vagabond Cruise page on Facebook.

• 9

Things to Do at Pal Water Activities Founded in 1959, Palmetto Bay Marina is Hilton Head’s first marina. Its free-spirited Key West style, three restaurants with both indoor and outdoor dining, two outdoor bars, shops, and numerous water activities makes it a one of Hilton Head’s most popular destinations.

Captain Fishy’s Family Seafood Restaurant Not Fancy, Just Fabulous!

The tradition continues!

Open Daily Year Around 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

(843) 671-3474 www.palmettobaymarinahhi.com 10 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

US 278

POPE AVE

ARROW RD.

�

TARGET RD.

Full Vegan/ Vegetarian Menu Available � Free Samples from Our Gluten-Free Menu

From the Sea Pines Circle, take Palmetto Bay Road towards the Cross Island Parkway to the second traffic light (Arrow Road). Turn right onto Arrow Road, then take your first left (Helmsman Way).

Continue along until the road ends at Palmetto Bay Marina.

PALMETTO BAY MARINA SEA PALMETTO BAY ROAD (to Cross Island Parkway) PINES CIRCLE HELMSMAN WAY

GREENWOOD DRIVE

For the past 31 years, Palmetto Bay Marina has been the home of great seafood at affordable family prices. Come and join the family fun, dining inside or out on our pet-friendly waterfront patio courtyard.

Free Parking • No Gate Fees (843) 785-7131 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC

www.palmettobaymarinahhi.com Winter/Spring • 2013

•

m etto Bay Marina Dining

•

Shopping

• Banana Boat Rides • Boat Rentals • Daufuskie Water Taxi • Dining • Dinner Cruises • Dolphin Watching • Eco Tours

Loc C h o a l ’s “Be ice a s st Sinc Marina ” e 20 06 • Sailing • Shopping • Stand-Up Paddle Boarding • Sunset Tours • Tubing

• Fireworks Cruises • Fishing Charters • Jet Skiing • Kayaking • Paddle Boat Rentals • Parasailing

Parasailing Banana Boat Rides USCG Licensed Captains

Winter/Spring • 2013

Out of This World Experiences!

Fun For All Ages!

(843) 686-4386 • www.flyufoparasail.com

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 11

1

Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum should be your first stop for all things Hilton Head. This is place to go to gain a better understanding of the Lowcountry’s cultural heritage and history, its ecology, and its residents, both past and present.

The museum is headquartered on historic Honey Horn plantation. This 68-acre property on the banks of Jarvis Creek is considered one of the Island’s most historically significant spots, dating back 300 years. It contains the only original plantation house still standing on the Island today, a collection of some of the oldest buildings that exist on Island, and the state’s largest Southern Red Cedar tree dated at 1595.

There is no charge to just stop in to view their displays and walk the grounds. You can also sign up for numerous year-around history and ecology tours, and programs that are fun and educational for the whole family.

The museum is open year around on Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is located at 70 Honey Horn Drive at the north entrance of the Cross Island Parkway.

For more information about museum programs, call (843) 689-6767.

2

Climb a lighthouse and see the view

When the Sea Pines Resort founder Charles Fraser built the Harbour Town Lighthouse in 1970, the skeptical

101 Photograph

101 Photograph

The renovated 6,000-square-foot Discovery House contains permanent and temporary exhibits as well as the fun Kids Zone.

Take a walk on the designated Horn Trail that features marshside boardwalks and colorful interpretive panels detailing the flora and fauna of the region. You’ll also see many of the property’s early buildings as well as the cemetery.

public nicknamed it “Fraser’s Folly.” With no significant maritime traffic and no rocky shoals, why build a lighthouse?

Fraser’s folly soon became Fraser’s foresight. His redand-white-striped lighthouse soon became a landmark and the symbol of Hilton Head Island.

Climbing to the top of the lighthouse is one of the most popular visitor activities. It is also a museum, displaying a valuable collection of 19th Century and Civil

12 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

Summer/Fall • 2013

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 13

BIKE RENTALS The Finest Equipment on the Island!

There is a difference ... come see for yourself!

71 Pope Avenue (843) 842-5522

FREE Pick-up & Delivery

FREE Locks, Baskets & Child Seats

$600 OFF 2 or more bike rentals at the weekly rate with this ad

Mens • Tall Mens • Ladies • Kids • Burley Karts • Allycats • Tandems Mountain & Hybrid Bikes • Adult Tricycles War-era photographs and artifacts. Pause on large landings to read about the Island’s legends and history starting with the Yemassee Indians, through the Island’s Civil War era, the construction of the lighthouse itself, and the Island’s development. Don’t miss their old-time photo booth for a fun souvenir of your visit to Hilton Head.

At the top is the world’s only store at the top of a lighthouse with access an outdoor wrap-around balcony that has a panoramic view of Calibogue Sound and Harbour Town.

This is a great spot for “photo ops” and sunset viewing, and a popular venue for engagements (averaging one a day), weddings, and receptions.

The lighthouse is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to sundown. There is a small entry fee with special rates for children.

Other lighthouses in the Lowcountry that you can climb include the Tybee Island Lighthouse and History Museum, east of Savannah, and the Hunting Island Lighthouse on Hunting Island State Park, east of Beaufort.

There are two other lighthouses in the Hilton Head area, but they are closed to the general public: the 1881 Range Rear Lighthouse, also known as the Leamington Lighthouse, located in the Leamington section of Palmetto Dunes; and the Haig Point Lighthouse on Daufuskie Island, built in 1873.

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3

Golf the Lowcountry

Hilton Head’s mild climate, appealing natural surroundings, and careful development predetermined that this area would become one of this country’s most popular golf destinations.

Maritime forests, tidal marshes, and sandy beaches are the backdrop to 26 on-island golf courses laid out by some of the industry’s greatest course designers, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Davis Love III, Pete Dye, and Robert Trent Jones. In addition, within an hour, there are an additional 40 courses in Bluffton, Beaufort, Savannah, and on Daufuskie Island.

Golf Digest and Golf magazine have continually rated a number of the area’s courses high on their “Best Of” lists.

Your choices are endless. You can play anything from a nine-hole executive course to the world famous Harbour Town Golf Links in the Sea Pines Resort where the RBC Heritage is played every April. The Hilton Head Celebrity Golf Tournament is played every Labor Day Weekend on three area courses to help raise funds for local children’s charities.

Hilton Head is also a year around center of golf schools for all ages and all abilities. Top teaching professionals use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to help improve your swing and your game.

Summer/Fall • 2013

4

Rent a bike and Explore the Island

Hilton Head Island is perfect for bike riding. Not only is it beautiful, it’s flat. When you first arrive here, you can’t help but notice all the bike riders. They are all over the place, meandering the miles and miles of designated bike trails, riding on the beach, exploring the Island’s beautiful treasures.

The Island is linked through a system of trails, allowing you to cycle from one end to the other. With more than 12 miles of hard-packed sandy beaches and more than 53 miles of paved public bike paths, biking is a popular activity for visitors and residents alike. It’s fun, it’s affordable, and it’s a great way to take the family on a scenic tour while avoiding traffic.

The town’s public bike trails follow alongside several main roads, starting at the south end of the Island at the back gate of Sea Pines and ending at the north end of the Island at Hilton Head Plantation. In addition to the public paths, there are nature and bike trails within the private plantations accessible to residents and guests. Many kiosks are located along the pathways with an island-wide map on one side, and a localized map of the area on the other. Guidelines and

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markings exist to ensure safety for cyclists. Where there are bike trails, cyclists should stay on the trails, not on the road.

For more information about our public bike trails, please contact the Town Hall at (843) 341-4600.

If you didn’t bring your own bicycle, there are many conveniently located bike rental and sales companies that offer a wide variety of two- and three-wheeled bicycles, from beach cruisers and comfort bikes to tandems and mountain bikes.

Most companies have a free delivery and pick-up service and a full line of accessories such as helmets, child carriers, baskets, locks, and even covered kiddie carts.

Rentals are available by the hour, day or week.

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5

This Is How You Get To Daufuskie

Hilton Head’s Only Public Ferry Service (Trips are fully narrated)

Also offering: • Dolphin and Nature Cruises • Guided History Tours • Cruises to the Old Daufuskie Crab Company Restaurant Ferry Service & Tours Depart Daily from Broad Creek Marina, located mid-Island off Marshland Road.

Call ahead for seasonal schedules and fares.

Calibogue Cruises History • Nature • Beauty • Southern Hospitality (843) 342-8687 (TOUR) • Toll Free (877) 340-8496 www.daufuskiefreeport.com

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Advance reservations required. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

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16 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Rent a golf cart and explore Daufuskie

Try something completely different, an experience you’ll remember for a long time. Explore Daufuskie Island by golf cart.

To get to Daufuskie, you’ll need to take the public ferry, operated by Calibogue Cruises. You can also hire a shuttle service (operated by Palmetto Bay Watersports), signup for a private charter aboard a six-passenger boat, or rent a boat to “drive” over on your own.

Once you arrive at one of Daufuskie’s two marinas (Freeport Marina with Calibogue Cruises or the County Dock), golf carts are available for rent. Calibogue Cruises owns their own carts so a supply is available when you step off the boat.

If you go by shuttle or private charter, make sure you ask about making arrangements for a cart.

You can rent carts by the hour, half-day, or full-day (about six hours). You’ll probably want to rent for at least two hours to give you plenty of time to explore all that the Island has to offer, from the beautiful beaches to historic Gullah sites. Don’t forget to take time to eat at one of the Island’s two restaurants, the Old Daufuskie Crab Company at Freeport Marina and Marshside Mamas at the County Dock.

Just like renting a car, you must have a valid drivers license. You will be provided with a detailed map of the Island’s roads and significant landmarks.

Be aware that this island is undeveloped and sparsely populated. It feels almost deserted (there are less than 300 full-time residents). It is mostly woods and the sites of interest are very spread out. There are a few paved roads, but you’ll be mostly traveling on sandy lanes.

Remember that cars and trucks (yes there are some) go much faster than a golf cart and have the right of way, Summer/Fall • 2013

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101 Photograph

so you’ll need to pull over to let them pass. If you need to stop to look at the map, don’t stop in the middle of the road.

There are many blind curves. And remember that just like with cars, do not let your young ones drive, and do not drink and drive. There are police on the Island.

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6

Comb a beach

Every year over two million visitors flock here to enjoy the warm sunshine and more than 12 miles of beaches that encircle Hilton Head. Beachcombing is a natural activity, literally and figuratively. All ages have fun searching for crabs, shells, sand dollars, starfish, driftwood, and other treasures.

A number of companies offer private beach walks and beachcombing tours. These tours explain the importance of the dunes, the sea creatures in the ocean, the different types of seashells you may find while walking the beach, or the forces that are responsible for shaping the beach. These trips are available during the day and at night under the full moon.

Summer/Fall • 2013

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Visit the beaches on remote islands such as Daufuskie Island. Or pull up on a sandbar or shell bank that yields the freshest of treasures. Bring a picnic if you wish.

You can also rent a boat to go exploring remote islands and beaches on your own. You’ll be provided with map and instructions on where you can and cannot go.

Tybee Island near Savannah and Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort are also great beaches to comb.

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7

Discover the dolphins

Hilton Head dolphins are as friendly as the people here. They show up in all the populated places – the Atlantic beaches, the sounds, and the creeks. Their graceful, silvery bodies never fail to catch attention as they arc through the waters or pop up to grin at you with their smiling faces.

It’s no wonder dolphins are so easy to spot. The Carolina coastline has a warm-weather population of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins estimated between 1,200 and 2,000, shrinking to around 600 in the winter. It’s still a mystery where the others go in winter, but they always seem to return to greet the tourist (and the shrimping) season.

Summer/Fall • 2013

Dolphins

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• 19

All boats are U.S. Coast Guard inspected, and all operators are licensed and knowledgeable.

The larger boats offer amenities such as on-board rest rooms, snack bars, more legroom, and shaded seating.

Pontoon boats, hard-bottomed rafts, deck boats, Florida flat boats, and smaller sailboats and catamarans will seat fewer people, give you more personal attention with your guide, and get you much closer to the dolphins.

Kayaks put you right on the water, and your interpretive guide will be close by to assist you with your kayak, answer questions, and point out natural phenomena.

Photo courtesy of Howard Costa

Dolphins are friendly, but remember they are wild animals with teeth. It is also important to keep in mind that the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act strictly prohibits the feeding, touching and harassment of dolphins. Resist the urge to pat their heads or throw them a bite to eat. If reported, civil or criminal penalties could be imposed.

Federal laws still won’t stop them from following shrimp boats and waiting for an easy meal when the shrimpers cull their catch. These intelligent animals also know to hang around marinas where fishermen clean their fish; and a few old-timers that were in our waters before the feeding ban will still follow pleasure boats, remembering the days of legal free handouts.

You may be lucky enough to see dolphins “strand feeding,” a phenomenon documented and studied by Jacques Cousteau and other marine biologists. At low tide the clever dolphins will team up and herd a school of fish onto a shore and then beach themselves to enjoy a feast. If you are out on the water around sunset, try to find a shrimp boat anchoring up. If you can get close (but not too close), you’ll find dolphins hanging around the shrimp boats to feed.

Many tour operators on Hilton Head can take you out for a guided, narrated dolphin watch in boats ranging from large double-deck boats to small craft like a kayak.

The larger boats may not require reservations, but the smaller boats require them several days in advance in the busy season. It’s best to call ahead in any case.

20 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

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8

Take a boat to Savannah

A “must do” for any visitor to Hilton Head Island is a boat cruise to Savannah. Skip the hassles of driving, figuring out directions, and finding a parking space. Just sit back and enjoy a bucolic cruise, complete with picturesque Lowcountry waterscapes and wildlife, arriving at Savannah’s most central location, River Street. Cruises come with a multitude of amenities and tour options.

Calibogue Cruises will take you to historic River Street where you can spend the day shopping or exploring the on your own. They also offer trip options such as joining up with a trolley tour for an overview of Savannah’s Historic District, or a stop-over on Daufuskie Island on your return.

Summer/Fall • 2013

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Located in Palmetto bay Marina Bait and Tackle Drinks, Snacks, Ice

The “Spirit of Harbour Town,” operated by Vagabond Cruises, offers cruises to Savannah three times a week in a climate-controlled luxury yacht. They dock right in the middle of River Street for optimum access to shopping and restaurants. On Thursdays, you can combine their regular cruise to Savannah with Old Savannah Tours’ Paula Deen Experience, a trolley tour that includes lunch at one of her famed restaurants.

Small boat operators (around six passengers), such as Live Oac and Outside Hilton Head, will take you to Savannah on a customized trip to spend the day shopping and exploring the historic district on your own. Bear in mind that these companies’ boats do not have an enclosed cabin (they may or may not have a canopy), nor do they have restrooms.

All boats operate year around, but schedules and options vary by season so make sure you call ahead.

You should allow for a full day for a round-trip to Savannah. Snacks and beverages are not necessarily included.

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Summer/Fall • 2013

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 21

10

101 Photograph

9

Rent a boat and be your own captain

If you are looking for an exciting activity, rent a boat and be your own captain. This is an exciting way to combine adventure and sightseeing for the whole family or a group of friends.

Circumnavigate Hilton Head or Pinckney Island; find a remote beach for a picnic; sunbathe and take a refreshing deep-water dip; go fishing; crossover to Daufuskie Island; visit the popular sandbar on the May River; watch a sunset or the Tuesday night fireworks.

Boat rentals are available year around. You can rent for two, four or eight hours. All boats are USCG-approved and range from 16-foot run-abouts that seat six people to 24-foot pontoon boats that seat 14. Most boats are canopied and come equipped with all safety equipment as well as depth finders, coolers, GPS systems, VHF radios, and even stereos.

No experience is necessary and all companies provide instructions and maps for you to follow. However, a word of caution: Be aware of the time of day and the tides, which can vary as much as eight feet. If you are not paying attention, you could easily find yourself stuck and stranded.

You must have a valid driver’s license, signed documents, and put a security deposit against damages on a credit card. Some companies require that you pay for your own gasoline, which is available at the marinas.

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Do a zipline

There are plenty of beaches and golf courses on Hilton Head Island, but there’s only one zipline, perfect for those seeking an adrenaline rush.

ZipLine Hilton Head’s course takes you on an exciting two-hour “canopy tour” through indigenous live oaks and loblolly pine trees. You’ll see the views of Broad Creek and its expansive marshes, boats cruising, and plenty of birds and wildlife, maybe even dolphin.

This sky-bound adventure starts low and slow, usually in a group of eight people. You’ll be harnessed into state-ofthe-art equipment and guided the whole time by two trained professionals. As you zip along a cable and pulley system propelled by gravity, the course gets higher and faster.

There are eight lines with heights to 75 feet. The course includes two suspended bridges, and an aerial staircase. It ends with an exhilarating 900-foot Racing Zip Ride finale, complete with dual-cables so two people can race to the finish, perfect for adrenaline junkies, young and old alike. If your time is limited, just try the Racing Zip Ride finale.

They also offer “night zipping” on their two-hour course. During the summer on Tuesday nights, get an awesome view of the Shelter Cove fireworks display from their treetop towers. Imagine – zipping through the trees while fireworks explode above you!

Photo courtesy of ZipLine Hilton Head

Summer/Fall • 2013

ZipLine Hilton Head is located mid-Island at Broad Creek Marina, 33 Broad Creek Marina Way off Marshland Road. Reservations are preferred. Age and weight restrictions apply. Large groups can be accommodated with enough notice.

ZipLine Hilton Head (843) 682-6000 Ad p. 8

11

Learn about our wildlife

As you explore the endless array of outdoor activities on Hilton Head Island, you are sure to come across the natural inhabitants. Winged, feathered, scaled or furred, they are all impressive and enjoyable to observe, but require the utmost respect as you come upon their terrain. Several rules of engagement exist to ensure a pleasant experience for all.

If you come across our most famous creature, the American alligator, do not feed or harass it. They are wild animals and can outrun a small dog or child. You may see them sunbathing on the banks of ponds and lagoons, or even making the rare appearance on our roads or sandy beaches.

These large reptiles demand and deserve respectful distance.

Hilton Head is a prime nesting area for the loggerhead turtle. Strict laws protect these beautiful giants and their

Photo Howard Costa

LOWCOUNTRY WILDLIFE PHOTO SAFARIS Special Seasonal Tours Around the Calendar Year

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Call to join a scheduled tour, plan your own private trip or ask about discounts for your own group.

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www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 23

nests found along the ocean’s shore. The town even passed an ordinance banning lights on the beach after 10:00 p.m. to avoid confusing the baby turtles as they make their first mad dash to the ocean. If you happen to come across a nest, do not touch it, and contact the Coastal Discovery Museum (843-689-6767) or the Sheriff’s Department (843-785-3618).

Fines and jail time can be enforced upon those who disrupt the nests of these endangered species.

As you adventure out on the waters of Hilton Head, you’re sure to make friends with the Island’s friendliest mammal, the bottle-nosed dolphin. However, keep in mind that the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act strictly prohibits the feeding, touching and harassment of dolphins and other marine animals. Resist the urge to pat their heads or throw them a bite to eat. If reported, civil or criminal penalties could be imposed.

For those interested in marine research, the University of South Carolina Beaufort recently entered into a partnership with Vagabond Cruises to conduct marine ecology and wildlife research aboard the Vagabond.

For more information, contact Vagabond Cruises at (843) 363-9023.

12

Encounter an alligator

June, build nests on the banks of lagoons and other fresh or brackish bodies of water. Females will lay an average of 30 eggs that will hatch in about two months. Hilton Head’s alligators grow to an average of ten to 14 feet.

Don’t get too close, and definitely don’t feed or harass them (it is actually illegal to feed an alligator). These critters can outrun humans and most other animals for a short distance, and when provoked, become aggressive. Mother alligators are especially protective if you approach their young. It is wise to stay away from the banks of lagoons and never fight over your fishing line if an alligator snags your catch.

To learn more about alligators, sign up for a onehour guided alligator tour on the lakes within the Sea Pines Preserve aboard a canopied boat. A guide will detail facts about the wildlife and the surrounding area, with special focus on the American alligator and its behavior. The tour accommodates 12 passengers of all ages, including infants and toddlers. Advanced reservations are required.

You can also take a guided kayak tour into the black waters of the May River.

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13

Photograph nature with a pro

If you want to see one of the area’s most intriguing inhabitants, the American alligator, you probably need to go only as far as the nearest fresh water or brackish lagoon.

Alligators go into a modified form of hibernation (estivation) during the winter, emerging in March when the winter “thaws.” Adult males will then establish their territory and emit loud roars, or “sing,” to attract females who, around

In the Lowcountry, “photo ops” can be found at every turn: moss-draped oaks, vistas of sandy beaches, dolphins racing at the bow of your boat, glorious silhouettes at sunset.

Shutterbugs have a wonderful time from dawn to dusk.

For an amazing nature and sightseeing excursion, take the opportunity to join a guided photographic tour. More

Photo © Eric Horan

Photo by Ed Funk

24 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

than a guided eco tour, this type of exploration is geared to a photographer’s sense of place, time and light. A professional photographer will take you on a journey to the best locales to capture the essence of the Lowcountry. Visit pristine barrier islands; explore the salt marshes and fresh water swamps; witness spectacular views and dramatic wildlife behavior.

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14

Go birdwatching

In December 2012, the local chapter of the Audubon Society conducted their Annual Christmas Bird Count. It revealed 152 bird species and a total of 38,003 birds.

Large blue herons and white egrets pose handsomely beside lagoons and marshes. Dark and spooky anhingas look magnificent as they stretch their wings out to dry, and gulls and sandpipers scold you on the beach. Both the amateur and the avid birdwatcher quickly recognize Hilton Head as a prime place for birding.

All species of herons, egrets, and ibises seen in North America are present in the Hilton Head area. The casual bird lover will see plenty of feathered creatures on almost any guided nature tour. Guides and naturalists will be able to identify the most common species for you.

For more specialized birding, two places on Hilton Head have qualified with the State of South Carolina as “Important Birding Areas”: Ibis Pond in the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge and Lake Mary in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Both sites are home to densely populated rookeries in springtime.

Another ideal birding location is the 50-acre Audubon Newhall Preserve on Palmetto Bay Road. It has a two-mile walking trail system. You will see a wide variety of plants and trees as well as itinerant birds. A trail guide is available in a kiosk at the entrance for a self-guided nature walk. The preserve is open during daylight hours. Parking is available.

There is no entrance free.

Birding is so popular and such an essential part of the Lowcountry experience that most guided ecotours include bird watching as part of their excursions. You can tour by kayak or on boats ranging in size from small six-passenger canopied boats to sailboats to double-deck excursion boats.

Most nature tours are offered daily year around.

15

Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises a P icture s ays

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Watch the sun set

Hilton Head Island’s distinctive scenery, combined with its mysterious light, makes sunset viewing an enduring Summer/Fall • 2013

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 25

Photo by Flying Circus Sailing Charters

Lowcountry pastime. Any place on the western side of the Island will give you a good sunset.

From South End locations such as Harbour Town, you can watch the sun set over Calibogue Sound and magical Daufuskie Island. Walk out onto Harbour Town’s pier or climb the Harbour Town Lighthouse for stunning sunset views.

From North End locations, Skull Creek and Pinckney Island provide the scenery.

Mid-Island, western facing views are of Broad Creek and its marshes teeming with wildlife. Palmetto Bay Marina is a popular sunset viewing location as is Shelter Cove Harbour.

If you are on Daufuskie Island, make sure you catch the sunset views from the Beaufort County Dock.

You can also view the sunset from the water aboard boats ranging in size from double deck excursion boats, small six-passenger canopies boats, or by sail boat and kayak.

Most ecotour companies offer sunset cruises.

16

owned by the family of Charles Coatsworth Pinckney, a signer of the U.S. Constitution.

This wild haven, combined with its picturesque views, makes Pinckney a popular place for hiking, biking, bird watching, and photography. You can also circumnavigate the island by kayak or boat, either on your own or with a guided tour. Numerous clearly marked grassy trails lead you to secluded ponds and promontories teaming with birds, alligators, dolphins, wildflowers, and swampy woods.

The trailhead begins at the shady parking area, but the gravel road has no tree canopy, so you’ll want a hat. Come prepared with a supply of drinking water for the Island has no water or bathroom facilities. Trail guide maps are available in a box by the road and give distances to various sites. Because the dense growth along trails and ponds is home to all sorts of creatures including snakes and stinging insects, visitors are urged to stay on paths at all times.

The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Admission is free. At certain times of the year parts of the island may be closed to protect wildlife from disturbance.

Please respect the warning signs.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, located about 45 minutes by car southwest of Hilton Head, lies along the Savannah River and comprises over 29,000 acres of bottomland hardwood trees, tidal rivers, creeks, and freshwater marshes. You’ll see alligators and thousands of migratory birds can be seen in the area during the winter. You can drive a four-mile tour along the levees. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (843) 784-2468.

Explore a wildlife refuge

The Lowcountry’s estuarial ecosystem has led to the preservation of three national wildlife refuges that are open for exploration.

The Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, located off of Hilton Head Island, is a 4,000-acre refuge originally 26 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of The Sea Pines Resort

Summer/Fall • 2013

The Ernest F. Hollings ACE (Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers) Basin National Wildlife Refuge, located about two hours north of Hilton Head on US 17, is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast. This ecologically significant 350,000-acre preserve acts as a habitat for many endangered or threatened species, and is a popular area for bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, and camping.

Grove Plantation, the refuge’s Visitors Center, is a former rice plantation house built in 1828, and is one of only three antebellum mansions that survived the civil war in the ACE Basin area. It also serves as the office for the National Wildlife Refuge and field office of The Nature Conservancy. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission to the refuge is free. It is open daily, except holidays, from dawn until dusk.

For more information, call (843) 889-3084.

18

Take a wagon ride

Imagine it is 1850. You’re living on Hilton Head, a remote Sea Island, the child of a cotton planter. No one lives nearby. The woods are deep and dense, full of fascinating critters. The road is just a sandy lane, bordered by large oaks dripping with Spanish moss. The only way to get around is on foot (probably shoeless), or by wagon.

Kayak Hilton Head (843-684-1910) Ad p. 43 Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Safaris (843-592-4193) Ad p. 23 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7 Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises (843-681-3728) Ad p. 25

17

Visit the Sea Pines Forest Preserve

When Charles Fraser and his family founded and developed Sea Pines in 1959, they had the foresight to establish a 605-acre tract of forest in the heart of the plantation dedicated for a wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation.

Today, thousands of years after nomadic Indians made this island their home, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve remains one of the last natural tracts of land on Hilton Head Island.

Visit a 4,000-year-old Indian Shell Ring, a circular mound of oyster shells discarded by Indians; see where rice, indigo, and cotton were grown; spot the same species of wildlife that were hunted by Island residents in the 1700s.

Guided walking tours, family wagon rides, alligator boat tours, and trail rides on horseback all explore the nature and history of this tranquil enclave: Spanish moss-canopied woodlands, peaceful lagoons and ponds, salt marshes and tidal creeks, antebellum rice fields, old logging trails, rookeries, and wildflower meadows. Trail rides on horseback are offered by Lawton Stables.

The Preserve has entrances on Greenwood Drive (between the Greenwood Gate and the CSA Security Office) and off Lawton Road at Lawton Canal Road. There is ample parking and no charge to explore the bike trails and marked hiking trails on your own. If you are not staying within the Sea Pines Resort, there is a daily gate pass fee for entry.

H2O Sports Nature Center (843-686-5323) Ad p. 41 Lawton Stables (843-671-2586) Ad p. 29 Summer/Fall • 2013

Photo courtesy of The Sea Pines Resort

You can relive that experience with a guided family wagon tour of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Sit back, relax, and let the storyteller take you along a memorable journey.

You’ll learn about the Island’s history. You’ll go through the woods to search for turtles, alligators, birds and other critters.

See the old Carolina Gold rice fields and the ceremonial Indian shell rings. You’ll pass by Lake Joe, Fish Island, and the Heritage Farm. Just imagine.

The wagon tour operates on a seasonal schedule so make sure you call ahead for the schedule.

H2O Nature Center (843-686-5323) Ad p. 41

19

Go horseback riding

Back in the late 1800s, Lawton Plantation consisted of a main house and 50 cabins for freed slaves. The plantation house doubled as a schoolhouse. Nothing remains of the original plantation house, but the location serves as a www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 27

20

Check out Shelter Cove

The giant bronze statue of Neptune, Shelter Cove Harbour’s most famous landmark, furnishes an ideal family photo. But look a little closer. This is actually one of the world’s largest working sundials, with the king’s long trident spear serving as the time indicator. If you aren’t there during daylight hours, come back, then challenge your scientific abilities by reading the graph etched into the platform telling you how to adjust for correct time any month of the year.

Neptune’s Watch is not the only thing that draws people to Shelter Cove Harbour. It is the Island’s largest deep-water marina. It is from this marina that you embark on some of the Island’s most popular water activities - dolphin and nature tours, numerous watersports and fishing charters.

During the summertime, Shelter Cove is a “must do” for Tuesday night fireworks.

This Mediterranean-style village, located on the “sunset” side of the Island, is convenient to all areas of the Island. It is centrally located at 1 Shelter Cove Lane, just off the William Hilton Parkway (US 278) across from the entrance to Palmetto Dunes. The Harbour backs onto Broad Creek, which bisects the Island like the laces on a tennis shoe. The village is surrounded by a number of harbor-oriented firstclass villas and condos, and also features a number of shops and restaurants.

101 Photograph

wonderful launching point to visit the historic and scenic Sea Pines Forest Preserve on horseback.

Lawton Stables’ 23-acre equestrian facility offers escorted trail rides through the tranquil Preserve, revealing Lowcountry scenery at the gentle pace of a horse, in and out of the trees and around the lakes.

Trail rides are scheduled daily year around and are available for adults and children eight years old and older.

Reservations are required. This is also a great way to entertain a group of people, perhaps a family reunion or company outing.

Lawton also has a small animal farm, which is free for everyone. In addition, for a small fee, children seven and under are able to take pony rides around the small animal farm on one of their adorable Shetland ponies.

Not to be missed is Harley, who has become a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Harley is an 18.2 hand Clydesdale horse (the kind you see in the Budweiser ads). Feel free to give him a pat. He may be big, but he’s very friendly.

Lawton Stables is located at 190 Greenwood Drive (you can’t miss the horses grazing in the pastures). It is also home to the International Riding Academy and the Wish Upon a Horse Therapeutic Riding Center.

Lawton Stables (843-671-2586) Ad p. 29 28 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Crabber J II (843-422-5110) Ad p. 35 Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat (843-785-1700) Ad p. 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

Photo by Sansing McPherson

Summer/Fall • 2013

Discover the beauty of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve Trail Rides • Pony Rides • Small Animal Farm Summer Riding Programs • Private Lessons • Gift Store non-profit Therapeutic Riding Center

open 7 days a week

190 Greenwood Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

843.671.2586

www.lawtonstableshhi.com www.iridingacademy.com www.wishuponahorsehhi.org

21

Check out Coligny Circle

Unlike most towns, Hilton Head does not have a “city center”. It is more a collection of strategically placed shopping and gathering areas. But, if you ask local residents, Coligny Circle and the surrounding Forest Beach area would be voted the “most likely” downtown – the Island’s heart and soul.

The reasons are numerous. It is easy to find and it is freely accessible (no gate fees) by foot, car and bike. It is located at the end of Pope Avenue at South Forest Beach Drive. It’s also on the most popular public beach. Plus, there are many shops and restaurants.

Coligny Plaza first opened for business in 1956 making it the oldest shopping area on the Island. It is a delightful place to wander, spend some money, and unwind. Frosty Frog Café and Daiquiri Bar is famous for their 100 kinds daiquiris, indoor and outdoor dining, and live entertainment.

Across the street is the Beach Market with more shops and restaurants.

And then you come to Hilton Head’s most popular and busiest beach. Although it can get crowded, you don’t need to walk far to find plenty of space in which to spread out.

Don’t miss the new interactive water fountain, playgrounds Summer/Fall • 2013

101 Photograph

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 29

and volleyball nets, rest rooms and changing rooms, a picnic pavilion and rental concessions, vending machines and showers.

The beach is wheelchair accessible and public parking is available.

Frosty Frog Cafe and Daiquiri Bar (843-686-3764) Ad p. 70

22

Check out Palmetto Bay arina

Before there was Sea Pines, there was Palmetto Bay Marina, opened in 1959.

What was once an old lumber dock at the end of a dirt road is now a thriving full-service marina that has over 5,000 feet of docks and the Island’s largest boat lift capable of hauling a 77-ton boat from the water - an amazing process to witness.

The marina’s free-spirited Key West ambiance makes it a popular all-day destination. Water activities, restaurants, and shops will keep folks of all ages and interests busy from morning to night.

Go dolphin watching and nature touring. Take an exhilirating sail aboard a catamaran. Rent a kayak or take a guided kayak tour. Rent a boat or a paddleboat and explore

on your own. The adventuresome types will want to try wave running, parasailing, tubing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, and knee boarding. Or try the latest craze, stand-up paddle boarding.

Daily shuttle service to Daufuskie Island operates from here, as does a dinner cruise to Daufuskie’s landmark restaurant Marshside Mamas.

Now you can eat! Between three restaurants (all with both indoor and outdoor dining areas), you can find a meal from sun-up to moonset. The central courtyard features two outdoor bars for spirited libations. The atmosphere is made even more remarkable by the splendid views across the bustling waterway of Broad Creek to the mansions of Spanish Wells.

If you like to shop, you’ll find men’s and women’s resort wear, accents for your home, T-shirts, souvenirs, and snacks to take on your nature tour. Buy jewelry and art by local artisans. There is even a place to buy healing products, including healing stones and incense.

The marina’s location near the mouth of Broad Creek gives you quick access to Calibogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, something very important to those interested in chartering one of their fishing boats. The marina is located at 86 Helmsman Way at the end of the Cross Island Expressway.

Capt. Fishy’s Seafood Restaurant (843) 671-3474 Ad p. 10-11 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 21, 35, 51 Flying Circus (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover, p. 18 Palmetto Bay Marina (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 21, 35, 43, 45, 51 Pau Hana (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover UFO Parasailing (843-686-4386 Ad p. 37

23

Photo courtesy of Palmetto Bay Marina

30 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Check out Harbour Town

Harbour Town is “must do” - a great place for the whole family to spend a whole day. It is the center of activity within The Sea Pines Resort.

Start your day in a rocking chair under the Liberty Oak, an ancient tree that was saved from destruction by Charles Fraser during the construction of Harbour Town. Visit the Charles Fraser Statue, a tribute to the man who conceived and constructed this island’s first resort and residential plantation. Let your kids vent their energy at the Gregg Russell Playground. There are also over 20 shops for your browsing pleasure and numerous restaurants that feature everything from seafood to steak.

Climb the 114-step Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum, Hilton Head’s signature landmark. When you reach the top, shop in the charming Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe, open daily from 10:00 a.m. to sundown. From there you must go outside and take in the 360 degree view “from the top.”

Summer/Fall • 2013

Experience Harbour Town Lighthouse

Climb & Learn Shop & View Open Every Day 10 am to Sundown

(843) 671-2810 149 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head www.HarbourTownLighthouse.com

FREE

• Old Time Photo Booth • Webcam • 25¢ Scenic Viewer

FREE

Sea Pines Gate Pass* *Dolphin Cruise for Kids*

* to be refunded with a purchase of $50 or more. Does not include admission. Not valid with any other offers, promotions, or discounts. Expires Summer/Fall • 2013 1/31/14. 101

with each paid child admission to the top of the Lighthouse. Valid with purchase of a paying adult (cash only). Not valid with any other discounts or offers, on holidays, bubble gum or fireworks cruises. Expires www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com 1/31/14. 101

• 31

Photo by Susan McCann, Island Photography, provided courtesy of Haroubr Town Yacht Basin

On the pier, you can select from any number of activities out on the water – pirate sails for the kids, sailing, nature tours, parasailing, wave running, boat rentals, charter fishing, and dinner cruises. All ages would enjoy a leisurely scenic nature cruise aboard the “Vagabond,” or a dinner cruise aboard the “Spirit of Harbour Town.”

Don’t miss the H2O Nature Center located between the bakery and CQ’s, where you can make reservations for any number of guided nature tours as well as activities for the youngsters. It also has live animal exhibits, hands-on displays, and nature-related merchandise.

If you are not staying within the Sea Pines Resort, there is a daily gate pass fee.

Carolina Moon (843) 363-9446 Ad p. 9 H2O Sports (877-290-4386) Ad p. 41 H2O Sports Nature Center (843-682-5323) Ad p. 41 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum (843-671-2810) Ad p. 31, 73 Pirates of Hilton Head (843-363-7000) Ad p. 63 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 Sumo Charters (843-671-4386) Ad p. 36 Top of the Lighthouse Shop (843-671-2810) Ad p. 31, 73 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9023) Ad p. 9

24

Check out sunny South Beach

If Hilton Head Island is shaped like a foot, South Beach is its big toe. And this toe just keeps on tapping – from sunrise well into the nighttime hours. Many consider this southern-most point on Hilton Head to be the most 32 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of The Sea Pines Resort

“happening” place to be and a visitor favorite.

Located at in the Sea Pines Resort, South Beach Marina Village (232 South Sea Pines Drive) is modeled after a New England-style fishing village. It is a great place to congregate, people watch, and spend the day with so many different things to do.

The morning hours bustle. Coffee drinkers sit at an outdoor café. Cyclists and joggers head out to the bike trails.

Beach goers saunter across the road to spread their blankets for the day. Charter fishing boats head out for another day of “fresh catching.” Kids run along the dock, anxious to climb aboard their rented jet ski or sailboat. Nature lovers climb aboard a Zodiac raft for a guided dolphin tour.

Here you will also find a number of water activity companies, everything from waverunners and kayak rentals, to fishing charters and parasailing.

By noon the gift and souvenir shops are full. The restaurants team with hungry customers. The spacious parking lot is full and cars line the roadside.

And then, the evening fun begins. Sounds of Jimmy Buffet fill the air while crowds of diners collect on the expansive waterside deck. Kids line up for face painting while the smell of an outdoor grill tempts even the staunchest of dieters. Sing-alongs keep everyone in the spirit of a perfect Hilton Head vacation.

Unless you’re staying within Sea Pines, there is a fee to pass through the gates, but it’s good for the whole day because once you’re there, your big toe just won’t stop tapping.

Commander Zodiac (843-671-3344) Ad p. 45 Drifter (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3 Gypsy (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3, 63 Summer/Fall • 2013

Photo courtesy of Broad Creek Marina Adventures

25

Check out Broad Creek Marina

There is so much fun to be had at this mid-island hub that the owners have decided to call this marina “Broad Creek Marina Adventures.” You can spend the whole day in this one spot.

Start off with a two-hour zipline canopy tour, and then sour to 800 feet on a parasail. Talk about Lowcountry highs!

After a scrumptious lunch at Up the Creek Pub & Grill’s outdoor deck, relax on a 90-minute guided dolphin watching boat tour. For the afternoon, charter a fishing boat or rent a speedboat to explore the waterways around Hilton Head.

It is also here that you will find the public passenger ferry service to Daufuskie Island where you can experience the mystique of a remote Sea Island Gullah culture. You can also take the passenger ferry to Savannah’s Historic District for a day of shopping and sightseeing.

In the evening, you can book a sunset cocktail cruise.

During the summer, get an upfront seat for the Island’s Tuesday night fireworks spectacle from the marina’s dock and its various boat cruises. Or, if you take a nighttime zipline tour, you can view the show from the course’s treetop towers.

End your day with drinks, dinner and live music at the Up the Creek Pub & Grill, named by Southern Living magazine as one of Hilton Head’s “must go to” restaurants. Featuring an outdoor deck overlooking Broad Creek, the pub is open from 11:00 a.m. until late night.

The marina itself features 46 in-water slips as well as covered dry storage. It offers the full range of marina Summer/Fall • 2013

services, including a maintenance and repair shop, fuel and pump out services, electricity, Wi-Fi as well as laundry and shower facilities.

The marina is located on Broad Creek mid-Island off Marshland Road at 18 Simmons Road, between Mathews Drive and the Cross Island Parkway. There is ample parking and no gate fees. For more information about the marina, call the Dock Master at (843) 681-3625.

Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p.4-5. 16 Dolphin and Nature Tours (843-681-2522) Ad Back Cover, p. 17 Up the Creek Pub & Grill (843-681-3625) Ad p. 8 Skypirate Parasailing (843-842-2566) Ad p. 38 ZipLine Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8

26

Take a sunset dinner cruise

This is one unique dining experience offering both beauty and romance – a sunset dinner cruise. Dine on first-class cuisine while the setting sun paints a beautiful panorama of the Lowcountry.

Aboard the “Spirit of Harbour Town,” operated by Vagabond Cruises, every table has a waterfront view from the vessel’s large windows. This is Hilton Head’s only on-board dinner cruise. The all-you-can-eat Prime Rib Buffet is expertly prepared, but what you’ll notice most is the view.

If you’re planning on visiting Savannah, don’t miss Savannah Riverboat Cruises’ various dinner and evening entertainment cruises aboard replica old-fashioned www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 33

riverboats, the “Savannah River Queen” or her sister ship, the “Georgia Queen.” They also offer a Saturday Luncheon Cruise, a Sunday Brunch Cruise, and numerous daily river cruises.

The sailing schedules vary seasonally, so check on days, times, and menus.

Savannah Riverboat Cruises (800-786-6404) Ad p. 79 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9

27

Take a sailing cruise

Slicing through Hilton Head’s sparkling waters aboard a sail boat, with the warm sun shining above and the fresh wind blowing through your hair, invigorates the senses and relaxes the mind, providing the perfect excursion for families, friends and lovers.

Numerous companies on Hilton Head offer an array of sailboat charters and rentals. Some offer narrated ecology and sightseeing tours as well as the ever-popular “Happy Hour” sunset sails. There are small charters (two to six passengers) as well as large group charters (up to 49 passengers). All are USCG-approved and captained.

Some boats are single-hull; some are multi-hulled (catamaran or trimaran). One is even a 12-meter America’s Cup boat.

If you prefer a more stable sail, you might want to opt for a multi-hull that will not lean as much as a single-hull. One the other hand, you might want to choose the thrill of the single-hull’s “tipping.”

Most charters offer morning, afternoon, and sunset sails. Some will take you out to watch the summer fireworks displays or on moonlight cruises.

You’ll also find that most companies invite you to bring along your own beverages (yes, even adult libations) and snacks, but will be happy to provide catering services if need be.

Chartered sailing excursions will take you through the Broad Creek, Calibogue Sound, or Port Royal Sound, giving you glimpses of the most coveted waterfront properties in the Lowcountry as well as natural, untouched land that provides a habitat for hundreds of species of birds and marine life. And you’re bound to see dolphin.

If you would like to go on your own private sailing adventure, you can rent a sailboat, or even take a sailing lesson.

Carolina Moon (843-363-9446) Ad p. 9 Commander Zodiac (843-671-3344) Ad p. 45 Flying Circus (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover, p. 18 H2O Sports (877-290-4386) Ad p. 41 Pau Hana (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover Sumo Charters (843-671-4386) Ad p. 36 Photo © Eric Horan

34 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

28

Go crabbing

Adventure Cruises presents . . .

Let’s Go Crabbing!!

Aboard the “Crabber J II”

Feeling a little crabby? An easy and relaxing family activity is crabbing. There are no hooks to bait or wiggly worms to deal with, and many people think crabs are a lot easier to cook, clean, and eat.

In the state of South Carolina, you don’t need a license if you are crabbing with three or less drop nets, fold up traps or hand lines. Fishermen need a license to crab with a crab trap or pot.

Equipment is minimal - a bucket, a crab net (available at any hardware store, bait shop, or Wal-Mart), 10- to 12-feet of sturdy string with a chicken neck attached above a twoounce sinker. A dock, pier, boat, or sea wall makes the best crabbing site, although you can do it from shore if there is no wave action.

The e ruis best c or your f s e valu n dollar! vacatio

O 32 Ye ver Exper ars of ience

Great Family Fun for All Ages!

Catch Crabs, cruise and see the sights along the marshes of Broad Creek aboard the “Crabber J II”. Trips are 1 hour 45 minutes long. All equipment provided. Always calm water.

Operates daily except Sundays April through September.

Reservations required.

Win a free t-shirt if you catch the most crabs!

Adults $20• Children (3-12) $15• Ages 2 & under $5 (Cash Only) Convenient Mid-Island Location•Shelter Cove Harbour•Dock C (Bus. Hwy 278 across from Palmetto Dunes Resort)

No Gate Fees • Free Parking • Stay All Day

Call (843) 422-5110 for schedule & reservations www.hiltonheadisland.com/adventure

DISCOVER DOLPHINS!!!

Photo © Eric Horan

Crabs don’t like to be seen, so if your chosen spot has murky water, the crabs may be close to shore. If the water is clear inshore, then throw your line further out. Tie the line to something – the pier rail, the bucket, or a sturdy stick that you can push into the sand. Then … wait.

You’ll be able to tell when a crab is nibbling at your bait, give him time to get a good grip, and then pull him up far enough to scoop the net under him. He has to be five inches point-to-point to be a keeper. Also note that a crab with an orange spongy underside is a female with eggs. The law requires you to throw her back.

Keep your crabs wet or on ice until you cook them in a pot of boiling water seasoned with lemon, salt, and crab boil.

Cook about 15 minutes or until they’re deep pink around the claws.

If you would like to learn more about crabbing, there are companies that will teach you how to catch crabs using crab pots, crab lines, and cast nets.

Crabber J II (843-422-5110) Ad p. 35 Gypsy (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3, 63 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 21, 35 Live Oac Adventures (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Summer/Fall • 2013

rks F i r e wuor s To

A sk A b o O u r “ 1 0 1u”t S p e ci a ls •Daily Nature & Sunset Cruises

•Crab trap and castnet demonstration

Operated by Palmetto Bay Watersports

(843) 785-2345

•Daily 1.5 -Hour Calm Water Tours •Morning to Sunset •On-board aquarium (seasonal) •Hands-On.... Great for Kids!

•Private Tours Available

PA LMETTO B AY MA R IN A • N O GATE FEES • FR EE PA RKING

www.palmettobaywatersports.com

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 35

29

Cruise on a catamaran

Photo by Flying Circus Sailing Charters

Photography by Ed Funk 11 Hunters Green Bluffton, SC 29910 Tel: 843-815-9455 Cell: 843-368-1414 Email: funket@hargray.com www.edfunkphotos.com

Framed & Matted Photos Available At: The Beaufort Art Association Gallery Fordham Market in Beaufort The Hilton Head Art League Gallery Island Ideas on Hilton Head Island Pluff Mudd Art in Bluffton The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery 36 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

For a tranquil experience on the water, take a sail on a sailing catamaran. You’ll feel totally relaxed as you take in the serene Hilton Head Island waters. The only sound you will hear is the wind in the sails. Have fun quietly sailing amongst the dolphins, taking in the Lowcountry’s scenic waterways and incredible wildlife. Catamarans are very safe, stable and offer 360-degree views.

An excursion on these catamarans is the “environmentally-friendly” way to see dolphins up close and observe the wildlife and nature abounding in the Hilton Head waters.

In operation since 1989, both the “Pau Hana” and the “Flying Circus” offer two-hour dolphin watch nature tours, sunset sails, and summer fireworks cruises. The 53-foot “Pau Hana” is Hilton Head Island’s biggest sailboat with comfortable seating and walk-around deck space, easily accommodating up to 43 passengers. Ideal for family and friend outings, you are welcome to bring your own food and libations. It also is the perfect party boat and is available for private parties, weddings, reunions, and more. The 30-foot “Flying Circus” is limited to six passengers maximum for intimacy and comfort, and does daily cruises that are fast and lots of fun. They operate out of Palmetto Bay Marina, located at 86 Helmsman Way at the end of the Cross Island Parkway.

Launching from Harbour Town Yacht Basis in the Island’s newest catamaran, the 40-foot “Carolina Moon.”

She carries 24 passengers and offers sails daily, including a sandbar excursion.

Summer/Fall • 2013

Also launching from Harbour Town is the 27-foot “Stilletto,” which offers dolphin watch and sunset tours.

Carolina Moon (843-363-9446), Ad p. 9 Flying Circus (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover, p. 18 H2O Sports (877-290-4386) Ad p. 41 Pau Hana (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover

30

The Parasail Experience That’s Out of This World

Fly in a trimaran

Vaka. Ama. Aka. Proa. These are not typos. They are Polynesian terms that refer to the structural components of a three-hulled sailing vessel (trimaran) made popular in the 1960s and 1970s.

The “vaka” is the main hull. The two smaller outrigger hulls (the “amas”) are connected to the vaka with lateral struts called “akas”. The derivation of these words is from the original “proas” (boats) constructed over 4,000 years ago by Pacific Islanders.

The beautiful 38-foot trimaran “Sumo” is a popular sailing charter. Her sleek lines are pleasing, her three sails enticing, and her stable three hulls are reassuring. You just know this is going to be an invigorating yet smooth, safe and quiet adventure.

“Sumo” offers year-around daily sailing cruises for six passengers around Hilton Head’s waters, weather permitting. Hourly, half-day and full-day sails take you about the Calibogue Sound. On some days when the winds are just right, you may just find yourself out on the Atlantic approaching Tybee Island before you know it. For the adventuresome types, the captain will show you how to steer the boat and trim the sails.

Fly high in space Get wet or stay dry

Bring your favorite co-pilot Fun for all ages USCG Licensed Captains

Palmetto Bay Marina, 86 Helmsman Way No Gates Fees • Free Parking

(843)686-4386 Photo by Suzanne LeMehaute Photography

Summer/Fall • 2013

www.flyufoparasail.com

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 37

THE ONLY WAY TO FLY!!

EST & LONG FLIGHTS EST D HIGH E ISLAN H T ON

PARASAILING BOAT RENTALS TUBING & WATERSKIING COCKTAIL CRUISES (FREE BEER & WINE) DOLPHIN ECOLOGY CRUISES

ABO ASK UT "101 OUR SPEC " IAL

(843) 842-2566

BROAD CREEK MARINA (18 Simmons Road, off Marshland Road) www.skypirateparasail.com

In the evening, stretch out on “Sumo’s” suspended trampoline, relax, and take in one of the Island’s finest art shows, a colorful sunset.

The “Sumo” is berthed at the Harbour Town Yacht Basin (149 Lighthouse Road).

Sumo Charters (843-671-4386) Ad p. 36

31

Photo courtesy of UFO Parasailing

38 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Get over it with parasailing

Parasailing is flying in a parachute, suspended by a harness and towed by a speedboat. It is very safe and conducted under the watchful eye of a captain certified by the FAA and US Coast Guard.

Go solo or fly tandem. Choose how high you soar, from 400 to 800 feet in the air. Get wet or stay dry. Whatever you choose, you’ll see the Lowcountry for miles in every direction.

Once your captain has given you instructions, you’re taken out for a ten-minute ride. As the boat tows you aloft, you’ll find the harness soft and comfortable. The ride is so gentle and quiet you won’t even hear the sound of the boat below. If you want, the captain can carefully slow the boat Summer/Fall • 2013

Call for Directions Ask about our “101” Special

Summer/Fall • 2013

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 39

and let you drift down until you skim the surface.

There are weight restrictions, but the ride is designed for any age, regardless of skill or physical limitations.

From early spring into September, you can get the best natural high. Think of your bragging rights with friends when you get home.

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32

Go waterskiing and tubing

USCG-licensed captains drive all boats. Bear in mind, however, that these activities operate only during the warmer months.

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33

Get a thrill on a banana boat

How about an extreme day. Experience the thrill of speeding behind a powerboat on nothing more than a pair of water skis or a bouncy rubber tube.

You’ll quickly learn why this island is such a popular vacation destination – it’s our wonderful waterways where you can punch the “go fast” button, cut loose, yell and laugh.

Sign up for a standard one- or two-hour trip, or customize your own family ski day. If you just want to ride along, that’s fine, but some companies may charge a “ride only” fee. Rates usually include all equipment and instruction. No experience is necessary.

Photo courtesy of H2O Sports

For an action-packed outing on the water, take a banana boat ride.

What is a banana boat? Almost exactly what it sounds like. It is a big inflatable raft roughly shaped like a banana that is pulled behind a speedboat.

The boat captain can adjust for the age and bravery of all the members of your group. From a slow and tame ride for little Jimmy all the way to a white-knuckle adrenaline pumping thrill for dare devils.

While the other members of your party are on the banana you can either enjoy the sight of them bouncing, splashing and spraying, or you can simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery of waters around Hilton Head.

Banana boat rides are available between April and October .

Photo © Live Oac, LLC

40 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

H2O Sports (877-290-4386) Ad p. 41 Parasail Hilton Head (843-686-2200) Ad p. 39 UFO Parasailing (843-686-4386) Ad p. 37 Summer/Fall • 2013

Harbour Town

Where the Fun Is! • Parasailing • Wakeboarding • Banana Boat Rides • Paddleboarding • Guided Kayak Tours • Dolphin Watching Under Sail • Boat Rentals • Alligator & Wildlife Tours • Nature Center • Bike Rentals • Forest Preserve Eco-Adventures

Photo courtesy of Sunny Daze Surf Factory

34

Hit the surf

Anthropologists guess that around 400 A.D. a form of belly boarding on wood planks was introduced in ancient Hawaii. It was later combined with the Tahitian pastime of riding waves in canoes.

Over the centuries, the art, sport and culture of surfing have evolved. It has even taken on new forms, including wakeboarding, wakesurfing, kneeboarding, boogie boarding, and most recently, stand-up paddle boarding and wakeskating.

Due to the wide continental shelf and occasional sandbars, the Island produces normal beach breaks and is a safe spot for beginners. Hilton Head shores mostly have smooth, sandy bottoms.

The best time of day to catch a wave is during mid- to high-tide. The best time of year to surf the Hilton Head area is from August to December, but beware of hurricanes and storms that are close to shore because the surf gets too high and the conditions too windy. You’ll find very strong currents during the spring tides. Watch out for stingrays during the spring months and jellyfish during the summer. Lifeguards will put out warning flags if these conditions exist.

Summer/Fall • 2013

H2O Sports

Harbour Town Yacht Basin

843-671-4FUN (4386) TOLL FREE 1-877-290-4FUN (4386)

149 Lighthouse Road • Hilton Head Island www.h2osports.com www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 41

Surfing (as well as boogie boarding and “other articles to ride the surf”) is permitted on all public beaches except in areas designated for swimmers.

Companies providing wakeboarding, wakesurfing, kneeboarding and wakeskating excursions operate during the warmer months, usually April through October. Lessons and equipment rentals for surfing and stand-up paddle boarding are available year around, weather permitting. You can purchase boogie boards at any grocery store or large retain chain.

Hilton Head’s waters are safe and uncrowded so you can feel free to go “fast and bouncy” or “slow and cruise.” It is not uncommon for a dolphin to swim along side of you.

All wave runner companies rent by the hour and offer both single, double and triple passenger machines. You need a valid drivers license to rent, and note that some age and weight restrictions may apply.

Once you have checked in and picked out your flotation vest, you must review all the operational and safety features of your craft as well as the rules of the waterway.

H2O Sports (887-290-4386) Ad p. 41 Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

35

Get wild on a waverunner

Looking for an intense and exhilarating way to explore Hilton Head? Try getting wet and wild on a wave runner – a very safe and fun water activity for all ages.

This water sport has been around since 1929 when a one-man standing unit was called the “ski board,” similar to a powered surfboard. The present day wave runner was invented in 1968 as a “bus for the sea.”

42 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of Palmetto Bay Watersports

Summer/Fall • 2013

You will be shown the boundaries, if any, of the riding area.

You will be accompanied to the riding area by a guide who will stay within sight to make sure you’re safe.

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36

Paddle the Lowcountry’s waters

50% OFF KIDS • $15 OFF ADULTS on guided kayak tours w/this ad

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Photo by Kelli Baxendale

Paddling is a Lowcountry “must do,” whether its by kayak or canoe. It is one of the best ways to enjoy the natural gifts the Lowcountry has to offer and a perfect family activity.

Paddling is quiet. It’s down low so you can get close to nature. Peacefully go at your own pace. It will give you some of the best photo opportunities of your vacation. Go single or double.

Rent a kayak or canoe to go on your own, or signup for a guided two- to six-hour kayak tour with a trained interpretive naturalist.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced paddler, you are covered. Explore our waterways and see dolphin; canoe the lagoons of Palmetto Dunes Resort; visit Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge; paddle the May River or the black waters of the New River; visit near-by islands such as Daufuskie or Bull Island; see the Lowcountry at sunrise, sunset, or full moon; experience the summer Tuesday evening fireworks; try kayak fishing or a daylong special interest trip.

Once you’ve checked in and selected your flotation vest, instructors will teach you how to hold the paddle and Summer/Fall • 2013

Kayak Rentals & Guided Tours

Take a guided kayak tour of Broad Creek and its surrounding waterways OR Rent a kayak to venture out on your own!

Hourly & Daily Rates Open Everyday Conveniently located in Palmetto Bay Marina

843.785.2345

www.palmettobaywatersports.com www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 43

steer your craft. If you are going out on your own, they will provide you with maps showing you “no go” areas such as oyster beds and sand bars.

Then paddle away and enjoy. Race, drift or splash – it’s up to you.

38

Take a raft ride

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37

Stand up and paddle Photo courtesy of Commmander Zodiac

Photo courtesy of Outside Hilton Head

Old school surfers in Waikiki used outrigger canoe paddles while standing on their boards to surf the waves.

This eventually led to the “hands-free” surfing style we know today. But now there is renewed interest in this South Seas sport, and stand-up paddle boarding is one of the fastest growing water activities in the world today.

Safe, fun and easy, stand-up paddle boarding has taken Hilton Head Island by storm, particularly because it is great in flat water and low surf, and it is a great activity for the whole family. Because glide and stability count most in this sport, it is a phenomenal core workout for those who favor a Pilates-style fitness regimen. World-class surfers, fitness gurus and watermen alike have embraced this latest exercise trend.

Stand-up paddles boards are available locally for rent or purchase. You can also sign up for daily clinics or group excursions.

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For an exhilarating guided water tour with plenty of photo opportunities, be sure to consider the thrill of riding in a hard bottom inflatable zodiac-type raft.

The rafts are comfortable, covered, fast, and have shallow drafts perfect for exploring out-of-the-way spots such as tidal creeks and numerous uninhabited islands and beaches.

These memorable small personalized guided nature expeditions will bring you up close to dolphins as well as birds and other wildlife. You’ll learn all about their habits and behaviors as well as the unique ecology of our salt marshes.

Most companies also offer customized beachcombing excursions to Daufuskie Island and nearby private islands, specialized photography excursions, sunrise and sunset tours, and summer Tuesday night fireworks trips.

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39

Paddle the Paddy Wagon

For a unique way to tour the Island’s tidal creeks and marshes, rent the “Paddy Wagon,” a four-passenger paddleboat. As Hilton Head ‘s newest form of family fun, this is a “green” way to get out on the water.

Give your legs a good workout, or just drift with the current. Your choice. The boat comes equipped with a bimini top for shade. Bring your own cooler and don’t forget the camera. You can even try fishing or just explore.

No experience is necessary and it is great for all ages.

Summer/Fall • 2013

You can rent by the hour from Palmetto Bay Watersports, located at Palmetto Bay Marina.

Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 21, 35, 43, 45, 51

Yahoo Travel Gives Us � � � � �

Photo by Palmetto Bay Watersports

40

Learn to sail

Have you ever seen sailboats silhouetted at sunset and thought, “I wish that was me sailing out there?” Ever thought, “I want to do that,” when you saw a boat quietly cruise by under full sail, people laughing in the wind and sun?

So, just do it - learn to sail. When better than during your vacation on an island? The Hilton Head area offers you some fantastic opportunities to learn the ropes of this exciting sport.

(843) 671-3344

SOUTH BEACH MARINA www.commanderzodiac.com

Walk On Wdinagt..e.r!

Paddleboar

It’s fun! It’s easy!

843.785.2345

Palmetto Bay Marina

Photo by Commander Zodiac

Summer/Fall • 2013

Hourly and Daily Rates Year Around Rentals or Guided Tours with Instruction www.palmettobaywatersports.com www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 45

Private and group sailing lessons are available for all ages, and special junior sailing schools are held for children ages seven to 16. Friendly USCG-licensed captains will teach the basics or refresh rusty skills. Reservations are required.

The sailboats and catamarans are also available for rent so you can explore beautiful Calibogue Sound on your own.

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41

Go charter fishin’

The waters of the Lowcountry are an angler’s paradise.

Just choose your fishing adventure – we have it all: Fresh and brackish water lagoons; inshore and near shore in creeks; rivers and tidal lagoons or estuaries; “monster” shark fishing; and offshore “blue water” deep sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream.

The area is rich in shark, marlin, spot, cobia, red snapper, grouper, bluefish, king and Spanish mackerel, sheep head, flounder and the sea trout.

There are basically two kinds of fishing boats for hire – large “party boats,” and the smaller traditional “charter boats.” Both types can offer deep sea offshore, nearshore, and inshore fishing trips, and provide bait, tackle, and your fishing license.

All captains are happy to provide instruction and most will be willing to clean your catch.

“Party boats” are licensed to hold a large number of people. They feature walking space and come equipped with all the amenities, including a galley and multiple restrooms.

Their rates are lower because you are sharing the charter with a number of other people.

“Charter boats” generally hold up to six people. Most have canopied seating areas, some will have bathrooms and enclosed cabins, but they are not large and are not usually equipped with a full-service galley or bathrooms.

For out-of-town visitors wondering about fishing regulations in the state of South Carolina, offshore fishing uses South Carolina law up to three miles offshore. Beyond that, Federal regulations apply.

If you are going saltwater fishing from the shore or on your own boat (or a rental), you need a South Carolina saltwater fishing license if you are 16 years old or over.

However, if you will be fishing with a charter boat, you are already covered by the boat’s license.

Also be aware of the laws regarding “tag (or catch) and release.” If you catch undersized fish, or fish over the limit, they should be released back into the water to ensure the future of fish populations. If you are fishing with a charter, the captain will assist you in determining what you can keep.

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42

Photo by Debbie Clegg

46 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Fish the fresh waters

What’s a vacation without some leisurely time to kick back and drop a fishing pole into the water? If you aren’t a heavy-duty angler, you have kids in tow, or you just don’t want to spend the time or money for a charter boat, then try some lazy, gentle freshwater fishing in one of the Island’s many lagoons and ponds.

You may see folks sitting by one of the fresh water lakes and ponds within our gated communities. You, too, can have that kind of easy, lazy experience - just grab a pole and bait, and you’re all set - almost.

Summer/Fall • 2013

North End Charter Fleet

Located on the docks at the Chart House on Squire Pope Road

We’re captains, coaches, and teachers - we’ll show you what we know.

And we’ll clean your catch for free!

�

Big Fis h • Big Boat • Big Ti me 40+ Years Fishi ng Lo cal Waters

• Wide, covered, comfortable boat with private restroom • Ice, bait, tackle & licenses provided • Maximum 6 passengers Captain Bill Parker USCG Licensed Captain

(843) 384-6511

www.runawayfishingcharter.com

�Fish Aboard a 32-Prowler �25 Years Experience Fishing in Local Waters �4, 6 & 8 Hour Trips �6 Passenger Maximum �Bathroom on Board

3 Hour Shark Trips

“Let the big dog eat!”

Specializing in Offshore Fishing King Mackerel, Cobia, Grouper, Red Snapper, Tarpon & Monster Sharks

LY FAMI FUN!

No long “No & No GaWake” Zones te Fees!

Hilton Head island, sC Captain Eric will customize a trip for you; from teaching trips for youngsters and families to exciting trips for experienced fishing enthusiasts.

Monster shark trips are also available.

• Groups up to 6 passengers • 27-foot Key West

Ask About Our “101” Specials Capt. Christiaan Pollitzer, USCG Licensed Captain

(843) 422-0887

jrpollitzer@yahoo.com • www.bulldogfishingcharters.com

Bonnie Rae ChaRteRs 4 Hour & 6 Hour Trips

www.moneric.com

(843) 816-0215 (843) 341-3742

Holder of SC State Record Bluefin Tuna 396 lbs.

4, 6, & 8 Hour Charters Available Year Around

Redfish - Trout Cobia - Sharks Flounder - Mackerel Tarpon

FoR inFo Call Capt. Joe Cox

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Summer/Fall • 2013

Captain Eric Moore

North End Charter Fishing Fleet USCG Lisenced

Capt. Jim Scott Middleton knows these local waters. Join him aboard his 27’ Pro-Cat for an unforgettable fishing trip, complete with dolphin sightings.

Tarpon … Cobia … Sharks … King Mackerel … Spanish Mackerel Redfish … Jack Crevelle … Bluefish … Trout … Sheepshead • Bathroom on board • Max 6 passengers • Families Welcome

www.catmandoosportfishing.com

(843) 304-1033

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 47

43

Go fly fishing

Hilton Head Island has become the fly fishing mecca for the Palmetto state. Whether backcountry, inshore or offshore, most all South Atlantic game fish can be successfully targeted depending on the time of year.

When it comes to shallow-minded anglers, spot tail bass (a.k.a., red drum, redfish, or channel bass) is the staple here and can be caught year around. However, the best sight casting occurs during the fall and winter months. Speckled trout and flounder add to the shallow water experience. As spring arrives, cobia season warms up in Port Royal Sound.

The females can reach well beyond 70 pounds, but the average size fish is in the 20 to 30 pound range.

Summer months consist of fast inshore action as Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, and jack cravelle invade current rips and artificial structure. For the big game enthusiasts, tarpon are the ultimate nearshore experience.

Be sure to talk to your guide, charter captain, or outfitter about the latest fly fishing information and licensing requirements.

Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

Photo courtesy of Jeff Keller

Note that some of the lagoons around the Island are saltwater. For those you should be aware the state of South Carolina requires that all shore-based saltwater fishing require a license. This applies to fishing for finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp and crab. If you want to fish within a gated plantation, check with the plantation’s Property Owner’s Association/Security Office to see about a fishing permit.

You don’t, however, need a license to fresh water fish from shore. Jarvis Creek Park, located on the William Hilton Parkway (Hwy. 278) just east of the Cross Island Expressway, is an 11-acre fresh water lake stocked with bass and bluegill.

You can fish from the floating pier or find a spot on the bank.

Your outing should be rewarding, but be aware that the fishing there is strictly catch and release. The park is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week.

Freshwater fishing charters are available in spring and fall. The charter will include equipment, bait, and license.

Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7 48 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of Marshgrass Productions

44

Hunt for “Jaws”

Arrive home with the ultimate fish story – “I caught JAWS!” Perhaps this is why shark fishing is one of the most popular excursions for both family fun and serious sports fishermen alike.

The Lowcountry does not lack in its share of these large mouthed, sharp-toothed fish. Mako, tiger, bull, and hammerheads – they are here. So are the lemons, black tips, bonnetheads, and sharpnose. Some are so large you don’t want them in the boat with you. Others are small enough to Summer/Fall • 2013

OFFSHORE WRECK FISHING & SHARK FISHING ABOARD HILTON HEAD’S LARGEST PARTY FISHING BOAT

5-1/2 H Trip our $

68 A $58 C dult hild

Affordable Fishing Fun for the Entire Family!

• Full Galley On Board • Shaded & Seated Fishing Areas • 2 Clean Restrooms • Enclosed Comfortable Cabin • Sun Bathing on Upper Deck

aOffshore Wreck Fishing • 5-1/2 Hour Trip aSummer Night Shark Fishing • 3 & 4 Hour Trips

Photo © Live Oac, LLC

hold in your hand. (But they are all huge when you tell your story!)

Inshore and offshore shark fishing off Hilton Head is good year around, but it is generally best between April and October. Charters are available at any time of the day and include bait, tackle and licensing. You can choose either a large “party boat” that accommodates a large number of people, or a private charter for a small group or family.

Shark fishing from Hilton Head beaches is prohibited.

For those adventurous types wanting an offshore “monster” shark fishing trip, this is the specialty of the serious sport fishing captains. These half- and full-day hunts venture offshore to sunken wrecks and reefs, or the deep blue water of the Gulf Stream.

Inshore shark fishing is best suited for those seeking a shorter trip (three to four hours), especially families with children. Evening trips during the summer are the most popular. Some companies will combine an inshore trip with Hilton Head’s summer fireworks display. Cruises designed specifically for kids offer a more educational and entertaining approach.

Fees Call for Reservations Free Par e t a king (843) 785-170 0 No G Located at Shelter Cove Harbour Marina, Dock C

1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC Mid-Island across from Palmetto Dunes Resort, off Hwy 278-Business

All prices subject to change without notice. Please call ahead to verify.

FREE FOOD

with each CASH ticket purchase

Must present coupon at time of ticket purchase.

Not valid with any other discounts, coupons or special offers.

2013-2014 101 Expires 1/31/14

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www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 49

Photo courtesy of Vagabond Cruises’ Spirit of Harbour Town

101 Photograph

45

Go trawling for shrimp

Shrimping has always played a large role in the life of the people on Hilton Head Island and throughout the Lowcountry. During the shrimping season, which runs from June 1 to late December or early January, you can see the boats off shore trawling for shrimp.

Each day a shrimper will load 600 pounds of ice into a stainless steel hatch and go out in search of shrimp. The nets are dropped in the water and dragged behind the boat for a period of time. As soon as the nets are full, they are hoisted out of the water. Then the crew pops the heads off the shrimp immediately and send the shrimp down the chute into the hatch.

Back in port, a conveyor belt quickly brings the shrimp up to be weighed, counted, boxed, and put on ice again. All are sold in less than 24 hours.

If you would like to catch your own shrimp, you can sign up for lessons that offer a combination of shrimping, cast netting, and crabbing. Or take advantage of the numerous farmers markets and roadside stands that sell fresh shrimp.

For a different take, join a photo tour of shrimp boats in action. You’ll be able to see the fenzy of birds and dolphins feeding around the boats.

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46

Take a boat to a restaurant

What better way to enjoy two of the greatest treasures in the Lowcountry than to combine a boat cruise with dinner? There are a number of options that will allow you to ditch the car and enjoy a relaxing cruise to a restaurant.

Traditional dinner cruises include a meal onboard.

With a “cruise to dinner” (or lunch) you can take that scenic boat journey you’ve wanted to experience, and then have a meal with your feet firmly planted on dry land.

A number of companies offer standardized as well as customized tours from Hilton Head to both Daufuskie Island and Savannah. The types of boats range in size from small six-passenger deck boat to canopied pontoons to large double-decker passenger yachts.

There are options if you want to head to Savannah for a culinary experience without the hassle of an hour drive and parking. For example, the “Spirit of Harbour Town” departs Hilton Head directly to the center of River Street in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District. They offer the option of combining their regular cruise to Savannah with Old Savannah Tours’ Paula Deen Experience, a trolley tour that includes lunch at one of her famed restaurants.

You can also hire a boat to take you to one of the two restaurants on Daufuskie Island. Small boats to take you to Marshside Mamas. Calibogue Cruises’ passenger ferry will take you to the Old Daufuskie Crab Company. There you can experience authentic Lowcountry cuisine, including devilled crab made from old Gullah recipes as well as fresh shrimp and Summer/Fall • 2013

Dine on Daufuskie Island!

Enjoy a leisurely cruise to Daufuskie Island for dinner at Marshside Mama’s, a local favorite for Lowcountry cuisine!

A rustic gem!

Call for times and details!

(843) 785-2345

www.marshsidemamas.com www.palmettobaywatersports.com www.palmettobaywatersports.com

oyster options. If you go for lunch, you can then rent a golf cart to explore the Island. If you go for dinner, you’ll get to experience one of the Lowcountry’s exquisite sunsets.

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47

Picnic on a sandbar

There are few experiences as typical to the Lowcountry lifestyle as a picnic on one of our many sandbars.

Locals love to head out to the sandbars to picnic and party at low tide, particularly to the May River Sandbar, located between Alljoy Landing and the Beaufort County dock in Bluffton. When the tides go out the fun cranks up, and if you pay attention to the tidal charts you will notice that activity at the public boat ramp always picks up at that time.

Kids will love splashing in the warm shallow water and building sand castles on the bar. Adults can kick back with snacks and their favorite beverage. Your dog will even love it and you won’t have to worry about him running away. But if Summer/Fall • 2013

you take your dog, please observe the customary beach rules of having him on a leash or under voice control, and don’t forget to pick up his trash.

There are plenty of companies that rent boats and kayaks that you can use to get to the sandbars. Some companies even offer guides that will take you there so you don’t have to worry about navigating the shallows.

There have been complaints about rowdy behavior at the May River Sand Bar in the past so please understand that this is always a possibility.

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48

Learn about the Gullah culture

The Gullah culture has woven its way into the fabric of the Lowcountry. Hilton Head Island offers visitors the chance to learn more about this unique and complex culture through guided historical tours. www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 51

The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head, located in a restored 1930s “haint blue” cabin, strives to preserve, protect and promote the Gullah culture. The museum received the esteemed 2012 National Preservation Honor Award by National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Even though the museum is still in its early stages of development, it is open for tours on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Tours are conducted by Gullah storyteller Louise Cohen. Visitors will learn what life was like on Hilton Head before a bridge was built to the mainland in 1956.

The museum is located behind the historical marker at 187 Gumtree Road, between William Hilton Parkway (US 278) and Squire Pope Road. For more information about their tour hours, call (843) 681-3254.

Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 16 Gullah Museum of Hilton Head (843-681-3254) Ad p. 53 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

Photo Courtesy of the Coastal Discovery Museum

All along the Atlantic coastline from North Carolina to northern Florida are Sea Island communities of people who are direct descendants of slaves from West Africa. In South Carolina, this language and culture is referred to as “Gullah.”

In Georgia, it’s called “Geechee.”

When the Civil War ended and slaves were freed, most plantation owners sold their lands to their freed slaves and left the area. With no bridges and little contact with the outside world, these Native Islanders were able to maintain their culture and language.

Their descendant’s continue to maintain their unique folklore and traditions. In 2006, the National Heritage Areas Act was signed into law establishing the federal Gullah/ Geechee Heritage Corridor Commission to protect and promote this endangered culture.

Daufuskie Island is a wellspring of Gullah culture and history. After a short boat ride from Hilton Head, you can join a guided history tour, either aboard a colorfully painted school bus, on a four-passenger golf cart, or a walking tour.

You can also rent a golf cart for a self-guided exploration of the magic of the Island. Customized private excursions to the Island are also available.

52 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of Coastal Discovery Museum

Summer/Fall • 2013

49

Explore the Stoney-Baynard Ruins

Cotton planter Captain John “Saucy Jack” Stoney built Braddock’s Point Plantation between 1793 and 1810. The home and outbuildings were made of timber and “tabby,” a masonry made of burned crushed oyster shells sand, whole shells and water.

The estate remained in the Stoney family until around 1837 when planter William E. Baynard acquired the plantation. A popular island legend says the Stoney owner lost the property in a poker game to Baynard in 1840.

During the Civil War the plantation was raided by the Union forces and made into their Island headquarters.

Shortly later, the home burned down.

The ruins are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. You can explore them on your own. The ruins are located in the six-acre Baynard Ruins Park off Plantation Drive in The Sea Pines Resort.

50

Visit historic churches

For a quick history lesson, be sure to drive or bike by any one of the area’s historic churches. Most of these churches began as places of worship for abandoned or freed slaves during and after the Civil War. Remarkably, most of these century-old houses of worship still open every Sunday.

One of the oldest buildings in Hilton Head is the small, white Queen Chapel, an African Methodist-Episcopal church, located on Beach City Road and founded in 1865 by missionaries. It served as a praise house for slaves on the Pope Plantation. The original building has been updated, both in 1892 and again in 1952.

Also founded in 1865 and located on Beach City Road is the First African Baptist Church. St. James Baptist Church, founded in 1886, is located near the old Mitchelville neighborhood where abandoned slaves lived and farmed the land during the Civil War. The Zion Chapel of Ease was small Episcopal Church built in 1788 for plantation owners. All that remains today is the cemetery, located at the corner of Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway (Hwy. 278). The Zion Cemetery is also home to the Baynard family mausoleum, built in 1848 and now the oldest intact structure on the Island. The site is owned and maintained by the Heritage Library Foundation.

Bluffton’s Church of the Cross is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This Episcopal Church, built in 1857, sits on a bluff overlooking the May River. Guided and self-guided tours of the church and historic Bluffton are available.

Heritage Library Foundation (843-686-6560) Ad p. 57 Heyward House Historic Center (843-757-6293) Ad p. 54 Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

Experience the Gullah Culture

Photo by Megan Tyson

Tours Conducted by Gullah Storyteller Louise Cohen Open Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm Available by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays

of Hilton Head Island Photo courtesy of Ed Funk

Summer/Fall • 2013

187 Gumtree Road • (843) 681-3254 www.gullahmuseumhhi.org

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 53

51

Explore Historic Bluffton

For the perfect day trip, you don’t have to look any farther than Old Town Bluffton, a quaint village with historical tours of antebellum homes and churches, a thriving art district, great antique shops, cozy cafes and bakeries, and a fabulous Farmer’s Market.

Nestled on a high bluff overlooking the beautiful May River, the one-square mile village of Bluffton was settled in the early 1800s as the summer place for wealthy rice and cotton planters. It grew to become an important coastal commericald istribution center. Prosperity eventually led to year-round residences, churches, and a thriving commercial main street. The village was officially incorporated in 1852.

During the Civil War, Union forces occupied Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Savannah. The town of Bluffton, however, was a thorn in the side of the Federal troops, serving as a reconnoitering ground for a nearby Confederate cavalry unit to harass the enemy. Eventually the Yankees got fed up. They sailed up the May River in gunboats and opened fire, leveling every building they could see from their boats.

Thanks to a heavy layer of smoke, 10 homes and two churches escaped destruction. These structures still stand to this day in addition to 19 post-Civil War homes.

FRE VisitoEr Inform ation

Photo by Ed Funk

Visit Bluffton’s Welcome Center & Tour the Heyward House

Built ca. 1840, this simple timber-framed Carolina Farmhouse, with its original slave cabin and summer kitchen, is one of eight antebellum homes remaining in Old Town Bluffton. Come see what 19th Century life was like in the Lowcountry.

Guided Tours of the House and Grounds • Only $5 Donation Monday-Friday, 10 am to 5 pm • Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Historic District Walking Tours by Appointment 70 Boundary Street • Old Town Bluffton, SC 843.757.6293 • www.heywardhouse.org

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To best see Old Town Bluffton, start at the Heyward House, located at 70 Boundary Street in Bluffton’s Nationally Registered Historic District. Built circa 1840, this historic home serves as a museum as well as Bluffton’s official Welcome Center. The house is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. There you can pick up free information and take a docent-guided tour of the house and grounds (nominal charge for adults, children 10 and under are free). Guided walking tours of the Historic District are available weekdays by appointment (please call ahead for reservations). Or you can choose to take a self-guided tour of the town. They will provide you with a national register Historic District Walking Tour map developed by the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society. The map includes 26 historic locations within the one-square mile Historic District.

Old Town is experiencing a re-emergence as a Mecca for artists and artisans. It is worth spending a few pleasant hours strolling the streets and taking in the town’s folksy charm. Check out the eclectic collection of boutiques and art galleries. Don’t miss the Bluffton Farmer’s Market on Thursdays (hours are seasonal).

Heyward House Historic Center (843-757-6293) Ad p. 54 Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

52

Visit the Heyward House

Built circa 1840 as a summer residence for plantation owner John James Cole, the Heyward House is a wellpreserved example of Carolina Farmhouse architecture with its front porch, shotgun center hall, and two bookend 54 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

chimneys flanking the house. The brick walk and fireplaces were handmade from Savannah gray brick. The heartwood pine floors and rough-hewn plank walls, likely built by Cole’s slaves, still remain. Behind the house stand two outbuildings.

A slave cabin and the original summer kitchen have been restored.

During the Civil War, Union forces destroyed most of the Bluffton village, however 10 homes and two churches escaped destruction, including the Cole’s home.

After the Civil War when Mr. Cole died and his wife could no longer maintain the home, the house passed to the Heyward family. Five generations of Heywards occupied the house until the late 1990s, when the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society purchased it.

The house, located in Bluffton’s Nationally Registered Historic District, also serves as Bluffton’s official Welcome Center. It is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission to the house and visitor information is free. Docent-led tours are available for a nominal charge for adults. Children 10 and under are free.

During the week, the Heyward House also offers guided walking tours of the Historic District that include a 30-minute tour of the house and grounds, and a one-hour walk through the Historic District. Advance reservations are required. Or you can choose to take a self-guided tour of the town. They will provide you with a national register Historic District Walking Tour map developed by the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society.

The Heyward House is located at 70 Boundary Street in Old Town Bluffton. For more information, call (843) 7576293.

Heyward House Historic Center (843-757-6293) Ad p. 54 Live Oac (888-254-8362) Ad p. 13, 49 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7

53

Tour a Lowcountry plantation

Rose Hill Mansion (c. 1858) is thought to be the only antebellum plantation house still standing in Beaufort County. In its heyday this was a thriving 1,880-acre rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantation.

Today, across an expansive lawn of live oaks dripping Spanish moss and a long white gravel drive, this beautiful house sits, rich in Southern history, European style, and fairytale charm.

In 1799 James Kirk, a prominent local planter and eventual co-founder of Bluffton, inherited the plantation from his father-in-law. In 1838, he gave the plantation to his daughter, Caroline, and Dr. John Kirk (his nephew) as a wedding present.

Summer/Fall • 2013

HISTORICAL TOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY @ 2PM $25 Per Adult $5.00 Children LUNCHEON TOURS (For groups of 10+) $35 Per Person Reservations Required

Weddings . Tours . Special Events Call Cynthia for Reservations:

843.757.6046 www.RoseHillMansion.com www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 55

54

Encounter the haunted side

A visit to the Lowcountry is not complete until you’ve experienced the “haints” of the South: Boo Hags and root doctors; Voodoo and grave robbers; pirates and Civil War soldiers. This is the stuff of Lowcountry legends, creepy tales, and goose bumps, both on land and at sea.

Hilton Head’s “Ghost Ship” thrills young ghost hunters during the summer with tales of pirates and grave robbers.

Daufuskie Island has its own magical tales of spirits and “the root” as told in its forests by storytellers aboard a painted school bus.

Savannah, with its reputation as one of the country’s most haunted cities, offers a multitude of haunted walking and trolley tours.

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Dr. John and Caroline began building this 10,000 square-foot Gothic Revival home in the late 1850s. However, construction was halted by the Civil War during which it was occupied by but spared destruction by Union troops because, reportedly, it resembled a church and was too beautiful to burn.

After passing through multiple ownerships, the house was not completed until 1946. A fire in 1987 nearly destroyed the home. In 1995 Robin and Robert White bought the gutted mansion and spent the next 10 years lovingly restoring it to its glory.

Today, each room is packed with artifacts found on the property—pottery shards, a Civil War rifle, medicine bottles, uniform buttons—and family treasures donated by Kirk descendants. In addition, Rose Hill houses one of the most comprehensive arms collections in the state, including rare European weapons dating back to the 16th century and scores of Civil War period guns, swords and accouterments The house is open daily for public tours. With one tour a day and no time limit, visitors are welcomed like houseguests. Enjoy a glass of Rose Hill’s plantation-label wine, if you like, as you follow your guide from room to room.

Wander through back rooms where framed memorabilia line the walls, relax in front porch rockers or stroll about the grounds. After the tour, settle in the dining room for peach tea, lemonade and assorted cakes, pies and cheeses, as well as samples of Rose Hill Plantation’s Southern jams & salsas.

Shop in the butler’s panty gift shop for local made crafts.

The mansion is also available for private group luncheon tours, weddings, corporate events, parties, portrait sessions and charity events. The Guest Cottage adjacent to the main house is available for daily or weekly rental.

Rose Hill Mansion (843-757-6046) Ad p. 55 56 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 16 Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9023) Ad p. 9

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55

Look for our island’s roots

are available. For more information, call the library at 843686-6560.

Heritage Library Foundation (843-686-6560) Ad p. 57

56

Visit Hilton Head’s historic forts

Hilton Head Island has the remnants of four Civil War forts. Although there is not much remaining of the old encampments that ultimately housed over 50,000 Union troops, traces of the original earthworks and interpretive historical markers tell the story of the Island’s role in the war.

The story begins with Fort Walker on Port Royal Sound, built by Confederate soldiers in 1861 to help protect the critical southern ports of Charleston, Beaufort and Savannah. Later that same year, Union forces successfully attacked and captured the fort during the Battle of Port Royal Sound, thus gaining a strategic foothold to aid the Union blockade of the ports. That same day occupying Union soldiers freed over 1,000 island slaves. They were the first slaves freed by the Civil War. The Union continued to occupy the Island for the remainder of the war. Today, all that

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Explore Hilton Head Island’s history and your own genealogy at the Heritage Library, one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind.

Here you can read Captain William Hilton’s report of his 1663 sighting of Hilton Head. Research the Patriots who fought and died here during the American Revolution. Learn about the antebellum plantations and the Gullah culture kept alive by the isolated descendants of Sea Island slaves.

You don’t have to have a tie to the Island to explore your own roots. The library has skilled volunteers to help you, plus access to extensive on-line sources. There are frequent classes and workshops. They have an extensive catalog of books, maps, microfilms, and CDs, covering much more than the island.

The library also owns and maintains two historic sites open to the public: Fort Mitchel, a Civil War earthworks relic in Hilton Head Plantation; and the antebellum Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery with Patriot graves, at the intersection of Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway (US 278).

The library, at 852 William Hilton Parkway (US 278, Mile Marker 9), is open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Visits during other days or times are available by appointment. There is a nominal charge for research for non-members; a limited number of free one-hour genealogy checkup appointments Summer/Fall • 2013

Who Am I? What Happened Here?

Family researchers and historians find answers here.

Consult our online genealogy sites with trained voluteers.

Explore Hilton Head’s rich history.

Visit our historical sites (Ft. Mitchel & Zion Chapel).

Ask about our FREE 1-hour Genealogy Checkup.

Open Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri

Open10:00 Mon.,a.m.

Tues.,toThurs., Fri. 10-3 3:00 p.m.

(Other times by appointment)

852 Wm. Hilton Parkway Hilton Head Island SC 29928 www.heritagelib.org • 843-686-6560

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 57

remains are earthworks and numerous interpretive markers in Port Royal Plantation.

Two additional forts were built in 1862 by the Union Army to continue the defense of the Union blockade and to prevent Confederate assaults: Fort Sherman, the remains of which are still visible in Port Royal Plantation; and the earthworks of Fort Mitchel in Hilton Head Plantation, administered by the Heritage Library Foundation.

For access to Fort Mitchel, acquire a gate pass at no charge, however the pass is only good for Fort Mitchel. To see both Fort Walker and Fort Sherman, you must have a gate pass to Port Royal Plantation, or sign up for a guided tour conducted by the Coastal Discovery Museum (843-6896767).

The fourth fort, Fort Howell, was built to defend Mitchelville, the nearby village built for the country’s first emancipated slaves. It is located on Beach City Road at Dillon Road. The earthwork remnants are partially eroded and covered by trees. It is open to the general public for selfguided tours everyday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are interpretive markers erected by the Hilton Head Island Trust.

Heritage Library Foundation (843-686-6560) Ad p. 57

57

Visit the first freedman’s village

Mitchelville was the first freed slave village in the United States.

When the Union troops invaded and occupied the Island in 1861 after the Battle of Port Royal, AfricanAmericans officially began their road towards freedom.

By the late afternoon of the Battle of Port Royal, the Confederate troops retreated, leaving the area to Union forces. With the help of Union General Ormsby Mitchel, the slaves left behind were granted freedom. Many chose to remain on the Island, living in military-like camps.

In 1862, General Mitchel allowed the emancipated slaves to build their own houses and establish their own community. The town was named “Mitchelville” in his honor.

Eventually having a population of about 1,500, Mitchelville developed its own laws, established a government, and declared that every child between the ages of six and 15 must attend school, becoming the South’s first compulsory school system.

After the war, Mitchelville was abandoned. All that remains today is a forested glen and a historical marker proclaiming the astonishing fact that the town even existed. You will find this historical marker on Beach City Road, beyond the Hilton Head Airport, along the fence that encloses Palmetto Hall Plantation.

Mitchelville was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

58 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Plans are now well underway to preserve a portion of this historic site as the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, a memorial commemorating the freedmen’s “experiment in freedom.”

58

Play at a children’s museum

Is it raining or just too hot outside? Are your kids bored and dying for something fun to do? Can’t figure out what to do with your littlest one? Then head over to The Sandbox, a fun interactive children’s museum and Hilton Head Island’s only hands-on activity center for children.

There is a lot of fun to be had for children of any age in this 2,500-square foot facility with play centers designed especially for those eight years old and under, including infants and toddlers.

After you walk through the front wooden gate, you will see the Loggerhead Sandcastle, filled with magical sand.

This sand can be formed into any shape you desire, but because of its unique composition, it brushes right off.

The Builders of Tomorrow Exhibit construction zone allows little ones to test their building skills. On the ship “The Adventure,” they can dress up as pirates and hop aboard William Hilton’s ship, full of nooks and crannies. The Dinosaur Rock Course will have them literally climbing the walls. If your child loves airplanes and adventures in flight, they can climb inside a real cockpit and pretend to fly to anywhere in the world or galaxy.

For those who like to “play” chef, there is a makebelieve café where they can buy and prepare meals. At the SCBT Bank, they can play with money and learn to write checks and then head over to the mail center to send

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Summer/Fall • 2013

packages around the world. Charlie’s Perfect Playplace, with its play gym, fun wall panels, and interactive puzzles and toys, is perfect for infants and toddlers. If your child is a natural born artist, there is an eight-foot wall made just for doodling. Down the hall kids can paint, play musical instruments, or celebrate a birthday.

The upstairs loft, where children can see themselves on TV wearing fun of costumes, also has an area to “play” doctor or veterinarian with real x-rays and life size animals.

Then have fun with the puppet theater, Lego table and train table. There are even board games and puzzles for the older ones, or curl up in our comfy corner library where you and your child can read to each other.

The Sandbox, a non-profit organization, is located at 18A Pope Avenue, two blocks off the Sea Pines Circle behind St. Andrew by the Sea United Methodist Church. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (open Mondays from Memorial Day through August). There is a small admission fee. Call for seasonal and holiday hours and information on special programs and events.

DISCOVER A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN & GROWN-UPS CAN EXPLORE, LEARN AND PLAY TOGETHER

$PE1R OPERSFFON

)

WITH THIS AD (101

The Sandbox (843-842-7645) Ad p. 59 LOCATION: 18A Pope Avenue Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

59

Create your own memories

It is not difficult to find a souvenir of your visit to the Lowcountry. Find a shell on the beach, a shirt in a store, a cap from a water sports company. However, to make your memory all the more cherished, create something of your own so that every time you see it, you’ll think, “I made that in Hilton Head.”

TEL : [843]842.7645

HOURS: Mon–Sat: 10-5 (April, June, July & August) Tues–Sat: 10-5 (Sept – March & May) AN INTERACTIVE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

www.thesandbox.org

r t fo a e Gr ages! all

The ART CAFE

Fu for n wh ole the fam ily!

A Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studio Fun out of the sun or on a rainy day!

Make your own Hilton Head souvenirs & personalized gifts! No experience needed

Come See Our NEW FUN Location The Gallery of Shops

14 Greenwood Drive, Outside the Sea Pines Gate Photo Courtesy of The Art Cafe

Summer/Fall • 2013

(843) 785-5525

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 59

Check out The Art Cafe. It offers a variety of unfinished ceramics, from coffee mugs to wall hangings, for you to paint and add your creative talent. Your masterpiece is left there for two days so they can be glazed and fired. When you pick it up (or they will ship it for you), you have a wonderful souvenir or gift.

They also host Kids Night Out. Drop the kids off every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. and let them have dinner, decorate desserts, play some games, and paint some pottery.

The Art Cafe is located in the Gallery of Shops at 14 Greenwood Drive, just outside the main Sea Pines Resort Gate.

High Tide Beads, located in the Village Exchange on Hilton Head and in Sheridan Park in Bluffton, is a haven for creative souls. Here you can create your own jewelry using the studio and their tools. They sell a wide variety of beads and findings, accessories, and handmade jewelry. Classes are also offered. Here your kids can make their own jewelry or even a collar for your dog.

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The Art Cafe (843-785-5525) Ad p. 59 High Tide Beads (843-686-4367) Ad p. 73

60

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60 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Meet the small animals

Nothing is as adorable and entertaining as watching a young child play with animals. Whether it is with the family’s puppy or a pony in a roadside pasture, even adults can recapture that sense of wonderment shining from their child’s eyes.

Lawton Stables has Hilton Head’s only small animal farm where your youngsters can meet and pet a beautiful and friendly collection of animals - goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, chickens, rabbits, a miniature pony, rooster, llama, and Callie the deer who wanders the paths. This is in addition to the ponies, horses, and their Clydesdale named Harley, who waits by the road for an apple, carrot or even just a quick pet from a friendly passerby. It’s free and no reservations are required.

Treat your little ones to a gently led pony ride around the animal farm. There is a small charge for the ride and is available only to children age seven and under. You can sign up for the pony rides at their welcome center, and while you are there, wander through their little farm store full of toys and books. For the older children and adults, Lawton offers escorted trail rides through the tranquil 603-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

Lawton Stables is located in the Sea Pines Resort at the corner of Plantation Drive. You can’t miss the pastures with grazing horses where you’ll probably see families looking over the fence at these beautiful creatures.

Lawton Stables (843-671-2586) Ad p. 29 Summer/Fall • 2013

61

Check out our parks and playgrounds

Did you come to the Island with some kids and a dog that really need to run free? People and pets can find plenty of freedom at family-friendly parks all around the Island.

Years ago, the Town of Hilton Head instituted an aggressive land-buying program for purposes of preserving as much of the Island’s green space as possible. Over the years, the Town has developed over 20 permanent community parks (with more planned for the future), all of which serve a variety of recreational purposes, from playgrounds and beaches to sports fields and historical nature trails.

Of particular interest to the young is the newly renovated Bristol Sports Arena at Crossings Park, near the south end of the Cross Island Parkway. It has a skateboard park, a roller hockey rink, and basketball court. The rest of Crossings Park offers baseball and soccer fields, a large meadow for throwing a Frisbee or picnicking, and a playground with a jungle-gym complex of slides, tunnels, and climbing apparatus. The entry to Bristol Arena is off Arrow Road, and the Crossings entry is off Helmsman Way. Chaplin Community Park has beach access, rest rooms, athletic fields, tennis courts, picnic facilities, and Summer/Fall • 2013

ample parking. There are also paved paths for walking and biking. It also gives your dog a place to frolic off the leash in Best Friends Dog Park. The park is located mid-Island between Burke’s Beach and Singleton Roads.

In the Sea Pines Resort at Harbour Town, your children will delight at the Gregg Russell Playground, a large sandy area underneath shady trees. There’s a tree house surrounding a huge oak, a wooden bridge, swings, slides, and benches where watchful parents can rest.

Shelter Cove Harbour has another good playground near the gazebo. It has swings, slides, and climbing structures. Nearby at Shelter Cove Community Park, behind the Mall at Shelter Cove, there are picnic tables and benches overlooking Broad Creek.

If you need additional information about amenities at Hilton Head’s various parks, call the Town of Hilton Head at (843) 341-4600.

62

Play a round of miniature golf

While adults are typically the ones who enjoy the world-class golf on Hilton Head Island, the entire family can enjoy our fun and unique miniature golf courses. www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 61

There are a number of ways to view the fireworks.

Don’t miss the Tuesday night Summer Jams in Shelter Cove Community Park, sponsored by the Island Recreation Center. Then stroll along Shelter Cove Harbour’s waterfront.

Many local retail businesses set up kiosks to sell their wares throughout the evening. The whole area takes on a festival atmosphere.

The view from the water is always excellent – a front row seat! If you don’t have access to your own boat, many boat and sailing cruise companies as well as nature and kayak tour companies schedule special fireworks cruises that combine the display with a sightseeing tour, dolphin watching, fishing trips, or a dinner cruise. If you would like to try one of these, make sure you ask the company if they offer a Tuesday night fireworks trip.

If you’re thinking of renting a boat or kayak for the occasion, make sure they permit after-dark rentals.

If your venturing into the Harbour on a Tuesday evening, exercise extra caution because the area may be congested.

64 Photo courtesy of Shelter Cove Merchants Assn.

The Island boasts three courses from which you can choose, all centrally located on William Hilton Parkway (Hwy. 278). Each features lush gardens, lagoons and waterfalls.

One course highlights a pirate theme. Another course is a journey to the Caribbean. The third replicates a realistic golf course, complete with sand traps and water hazards.

All courses are well shaded so even hot afternoons are comfortable. Just in case it rains, you can ask for a “rain check” so your time and money is not wasted.

Although all courses are open year around, hours are seasonal.

Be a pirate of the Calibogue

Whether it’s Blackbeard, Mary and Stede Bonnet, or Jack Sparrow, pirates always seem to excite and fascinate us.

Adventure Cove (843-842-9990) Ad p. 61

63

Watch the fireworks

When the tourist season swings into high gear, the night skies of Hilton Head sizzle with fireworks. Running from mid-June through to mid-August, beginning around 9:00 p.m. (weather permitting, of course), Shelter Cove Marina hosts a pyrotechnic display visible all along Broad Creek. Admission and parking are free, and the shopping area offers ample opportunity for refreshment and entertainment. Of all the Island’s summer events, this is probably one of the most popular.

62 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of Pirates of Hilton Head

Summer/Fall • 2013

Blood-curdling legends of sea rovers, tall ships flying the Jolly Roger, hidden coves, chests of treasure – that’s the stuff of intrigue and imagination.

Now your youngsters have a chance to experience being a pirate along the South Carolina coast. Pirates of Hilton Head offers pirate sails daily during the summer for youngsters (best suited to the ages of three to ten).

Bring your little pirate aboard the “Black Dagger” for a pirate cruise of their dreams. From beginning to end the action is non-stop. The adventure starts at the dock where each child gets to put on some pirate gear - not to mention face painting and tattoos - and learns to talk just like a pirate.

Once they’ve sworn their allegiance to the ship, the race is on to find the sunken treasure chest before evil Stinky Pete.

It’s about 90 minutes of all out fun - costumes, make-up, plying the calm waters of the Calibogue Sound, outwitting Stinky Pete, manning the high pressure water cannons - not to mention music and dancing.

The “Black Dagger” departs Harbour Town Yacht Basin Monday through Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Pirates of Hilton Head (843-363-7000) Ad p. 63

Specia

l Kids’ Cr u ises`

ABOARD THE 65-FOOT GYPSY

Kid’s Cruise:

Educational 2-hour hands-on experience for children interested in the creatures that live above and below the our coastal waters.

Shark fishing, cast netting, crabbing, and more.

$20 Adults, $25 Kids. June thru Aug.

Dolphin Watch: DOLPHINS GUARANTEED!

Close encounters with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. $15 Adults, $7 Kids (2 & under FREE). Mar. thru Nov.

Dolphins & More: See dolphins, pull a crab pot, throw a cast net & learn about marine life.

$19 Adults, $9 Kids. June thru Aug.

CRUISES LEAVE FROM SOUTH BEACH MARINA IN SEA PINES

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232 South Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC

Go to the theatre

(843) 363-2900 www.hiltonheadboattours.com

Photo courtesy of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

Hilton Head and Savannah are nationally renowned for their vibrant arts community, encompassing everything from first-class art galleries, to Broadway-style theatre, to dance and musical performances, to dinner theatre.

Named one of the “100 Best Small Art Towns in America,” Hilton Head offers a theatre experience for every age and taste.

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At the heart of this arts community is the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Located at Shelter Cove Harbour, this 45,000 square-foot facility is the third largest arts organization in South Carolina and offers theatre, musical and visual arts series as well as day camp programs.

The South Carolina Repertory Company is the Lowcountry’s ticket to provocative theatre, providing the Island with high impact, quality theatre at a reasonable price in an intimate space.

For a unique theatre-going experience, try the Murder Mystery Cruise aboard the “Vagabond”. It is a rollicking good time, available only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It departs the Harbour Town Yacht Basin at 9:00 p.m. and returns at 11:00 p.m. Advance reservations are required.

If you enjoy a “whodunit” and happen to be in Savannah, check out the Murder Mystery Cruise, a professionally acted murder mystery production. Operated

by Savannah Riverboat Cruises, this cruise along the Savannah River is offered on Thursday evenings from April to August. The boat departs at 9:30 p.m., and advanced reservations are recommended.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina (843-842-2787) Ad p. 64 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (800-786-6404) Ad p. 79 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9023) Ad p. 9

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Do the music scene

Hilton Head Island is not just about the beach and golf courses. Visitors who enjoy world-class music in other areas won’t be disappointed with the caliber of the Lowcountry’s talent.

The Island has an abundance of high caliber local musical fare at reasonable prices, and some totally free.

Venues range from large auditoriums and tennis stadiums, to churches and intimate clubs.

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s sse a l C or i n Se u r Spe l th o o E h vencial c s Open to ts Pre visitors of all ages Rec Center: (843) 681-7273 SHARE Center for Active Adults: (843) 785-6444

For directions and on-line registration, go to www.Islandreccenter.org 64 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Photo courtesy of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

Summer/Fall • 2013

The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, located at Shelter Cove Harbour, hosts musical performances throughout the year in its 350-seat theatre. They offer a diverse selection of pop, jazz, ethnic and classical performances.

Celebrating their 32nd season, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents a highly regarded concert series that runs from October through May. Lead by Principal Conductor John Morris Russell, performances are held in the spacious sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, located at 540 William Hilton Parkway (US 278, between Mile Markers 5 & 6). The Orchestra also sponsors the renowned Hilton Head International Piano Competition as well as the picnic and festival pops concert series “Symphony Under the Stars” held every April.

During the summer months, the Island Recreation Association sponsors the Tuesday night Summer Jams, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Shelter Cove Community Park. Fun family games and demonstrations are organized with the highlight of the evening being the fireworks display over Shelter Cove Harbour. Concessions are sold, so bring the gang out for dinner and a show.

If you’re planning on visiting Savannah, check out the Savannah Riverboat Cruises’s Dinner Entertainment Cruise, the Admiral’s Saturday Dinner Entertainment Cruise, the Monday night Gospel Dinner Cruise, and their Moonlight Entertainment dancing cruises. These old-fashioned riverboats cruise the Savannah River while you enjoy live musical entertainment. Schedules vary by season so make sure you call to see what’s available.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina (843-842-2787) Ad p. 64 Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra (843-842-2055) Ad p. 65 Island Recreation Association (843-681-7273) Ad p. 64 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (800-786-6404) Ad p. 79

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Visit a Lowcountry art gallery

Hilton Head’s barrier island setting has become a Mecca for visual artists. Painters, sculptors and

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THE EXCITEMENT GROWS EXCITEMENT “SCOTTISH NIGHT” Monday, October 14, 2013 • 8pm MOZART & HAYDN VISIT PARIS & LONDON Monday, November 11, 2013 • 8pm JOY TO THE WORLD! Monday, December 2, 2013 • 4pm Monday, December 2, 2013 • 8pm THE JAZZ AGE Sunday, January 19, 2014 • 4pm Monday, January 20, 2014 • 8pm GERMAN ROMANTICS Sunday, February 9, 2014 • 4pm Monday, February 10, 2014 • 8pm Pat Conroy POPS! Sunday, February 23, 2014 • 4pm Monday, February 24, 2014 • 8pm GLORIA!!

Monday, March 31, 2014 • 8pm “THIS ENGLAND” Monday, April 28, 2014 • 8pm SLAVIC FESTIVAL Monday, May 12, 2014 • 8pm YOU MAY CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FROM THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: 9 Concert Package (Full Subscription) 6 Concert Package • 3 Concert Package

Season subscriptions may be purchased online or by calling the office at 843-842-2055. Tickets for individual performances are available after September 1.

Photo courtesy of The Iron Fish Gallery and Studio

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www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 65

photographers flock here to take advantage our magical backdrops and our year-around explosion of colors and textures. Nowhere is this more obvious than in a stroll through our local art galleries and studios.

The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, located at Shelter Cove Harbour, serves as the center of the visual arts scene on the Hilton Head. The state-of-the-art Walter Greer Gallery presents exhibitions throughout the year featuring both local and world-renowned artists specializing in every imaginable discipline from painting to photography to fiber works.

Historic Old Town Bluffton is emerging as an artistic hub. It is worth spending a few pleasant hours strolling the streets and taking in the town’s folksy charm and eclectic collection of galleries.

Daufuskie Island has a thriving artist community. If you are looking for quaint and funky, a guided or self-guided tour of this enchanted sea island is a must.

Local photographers, such as Ed Funk, Eric Horan, and Larry Watts are all recognized for their wildlife and landscape photography.

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Photo courtesy of Calibogue Cruises

66 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

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Discover Daufuskie Island

Just a short distance across the water from Hilton Head is Daufuskie Island, a century removed from the upscale resorts, vacation villas, and power yachts of the Lowcountry’s busiest tourist destination.

There is no bridge to Daufuskie. The only way to get there is by boat. If you don’t own your own boat but want to be guided through Daufuskie’s storied past, join a narrated tour to many of the Island’s landmarks.

Most of the Island is still natural and timeless, a very small community of island residents. It is a wonderful example of the unique Sea Island culture. The Island’s sandy lanes and quirky tin-roofed oyster homes are shaded by dense live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. The beaches are wide and open. You will see only a few cars that belong to Island residents. This is not a museum like Williamsburg - this is real, undeveloped and unspoiled.

Inhabited ages ago by Native Americans, Florida’s Yemassee used Daufuskie as a bivouac for raids on English settlements around Charleston. The English put an end to the raids in two battles at what is now known as Bloody Point.

Planters later raised a profitable indigo crop on Daufuskie and sold it to England, prompting them to remain Loyalists during the Revolutionary War, while nearby Hilton Head residents were Patriots. A prosperous era of cultivating Sea Island cotton followed the war in the 1800s.

After the Civil War, Daufuskie Island was given over to freed slaves who made their living as oystermen, lumbermen, and farmers. Descendants of those slaves, known as Gullah, still inhabit the Island and make up part of the small number (about 300) of year-round residents of Daufuskie.

Pat Conroy brought fame to the Island when he described his first year of teaching in the two-room schoolhouse in his novel The Water is Wide. The movie Conrack is based on the novel.

Several companies offer half-day or full-day guided tours from Hilton Head to Daufuskie, and reservations are necessary. All of these companies’ schedules vary by season, so make sure you call ahead for departure times and fares.

Guided tours range from dolphin and nature cruises around the Island (by large or small boat, or kayak), island and Gullah history tours (by golf cart, painted school bus, or on foot), fishing expeditions, beachcombing tours, or even golf excursions.

You can even take a “cruise to dinner” at one of Daufuskie’s two popular restaurants – the Daufuskie Crab Company or Marshside Mamas.

Whichever tour you choose, the boat ride over gives spectacular views of Hilton Head behind you, densely Summer/Fall • 2013

Photo courtesy of Sansing McPherson

wooded Daufuskie ahead, and the tranquil marshlands that line the waterway.

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3) Rent your own boat (from H2O Sports, Outside Hilton Head, Palmetto Bay Water Sports, or Sky Pirate Watersports); 4) Hire a private boat charter (through Live Oac or Outside Hilton Head).

All boat carriers will assist is making arrangements for golf cart rentals, the best way to explore the Island. Times and fares may vary depending on the season so make sure you call ahead.

There are four boat landings on Daufuskie. Coming from Hilton Head, the first you will see is Haig Point Landing.

This is a private dock and you cannot land there. The second is the Freeport Marina (location of the Old Daufuskie Crab Company). The third dock is Melrose Landing, a private dock.

The fourth is the Beaufort County Public Dock (location of Marshside Mama’s).

If you are renting your own boat, be aware that there is no marine gas service on Daufuskie. Also, the public dock has a three-hour time limit for docking.

Exploring the Island Once you arrive on the Island, you are free to explore on your own, on foot or by renting a multi-passenger golf cart. Just like renting a car, you must have a valid drivers license when you rent your cart. You will be provided with map showing all the significant landmarks, such as the Billie Burn Museum (located in the old Mt. Carmel Baptist Church)

Do Daufuskie on your own

If you are curious about Daufuskie Island and it’s Gullah and Sea Island culture, but want more flexibility than a guided tour, design your own day trip.

Visiting Daufuskie can be a completely impromptu adventure, requiring nothing more than a few dollars, lots of curiosity, and time to spend.

As with all things Daufuskie, dress is casual. Make sure you dress for the outdoors in weather-appropriate clothing.

You might want to pack a cooler and some ice, and don’t forget the bug spray and a camera.

Getting There Because there is no bridge to Daufuskie, you can only get there by boat. If you don’t own your own boat, you have four choices: 1) Take the public ferry (operated by Calibogue Cruises); 2) Climb aboard a shuttle excursion (operated by Palmetto Bay Water Sports); Summer/Fall • 2013

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www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 67

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where you can pick up a guide to the Rob Kennedy Historic Trail. The trail will lead you to 20 historic sites on the Island.

Beachcombers will appreciate Daufuskie’s unspoiled and uncrowded public beach.

There are art galleries spotted around the Island, but they are not your traditional galleries. They are more like studios where the artists live, create, and might sell you a piece of their artwork. You may find the studio closed, but don’t be upset - you’re on Daufuskie time. Please respect their privacy.

There are a two of places to eat. The Daufuskie Crab Company Restaurant, located at Freeport Marina, is home to the Daufuskie Island Deviled Crab, prepared by native islanders. Marshside Mama’s, located at the Beaufort County Dock, is where you will find some of the best Gumbo in the South. This is a regional favorite and, in the evenings, a popular hotspot for dancing and rollicking live music.

Enchanting, reclusive Daufuskie Island can give you a day to escape and explore a forgotten culture. But a word of caution: It is easy to lose track of time, so check your watch every once in awhile.

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Play tennis

Over 300 courts and 19 tennis clubs dot the Island.

Internationally recognized tennis programs for every age and ability level are offered year around, and there are always tournaments and round robins.

Once you play at one of these clubs you will leave with no doubt in your mind why Tennis magazine ranked Hilton Head among its “50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts.”

Whether you are looking for clay, natural-grass, or hard courts, the following locations will have what you are looking for. With the exception of the public courts, clubs have a per hour charge.

There are two public court locations. One is off Cordillo Road at the entrance to Cordillo Courts Apartments. The courts are open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (lighted) and are reserved via a sign-up sheet allowing one hour per sign-up.

Call 843-681-7273 for additional information.

The other public court is the brand new Chaplin Community Park located between Singleton Beach Road and Burkes Beach Road.

Other courts with public access include (some are in gated plantations and will require a pass): The Sea Pines Racquet Club (843-363-4495) and the South Beach Racquet Club (843-671-2215), both located in Sea Pines; Port Royal Racquet Club (843-686-8803) in Port Royal Plantation; the Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort (843-842-4402) on Folly Field Road; Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (843785-1152) in Palmetto Dunes Resort; Shipyard Racquet Club (843-686-8804) in Shipyard Plantation; and the Van der Meer Tennis Center (843-785-8388), located on Cordillo Parkway and Deallyon Road.

Photo courtesy of Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center

Summer/Fall • 2013

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Try disc golf

Disc golf is played on a course similar to a regulation golf course, complete with three sets of tees, fairways, water hazards, and holes, which are actually mounted steel baskets.

Instead of clubs and balls, you use specialized discs similar to frisbees. The idea is to throw your disc from the “tee pad” area towards the metal basket surrounded by chains (or “disc catchers”) that help shots fall into the basket.

There is only one course in the immediate Hilton Head area. At Sergeant Jasper Park, in Hardeeville (by I-95, exit 8), you can play the game on “The Sarge.” Used discs are available for rental. It is free to play and the course is open daily year around, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 843-784-5130.

In the Savannah area, visit the championship 18-hole disc golf course at Tom Triplett Community Park (100 Tom Triplett Road in Pooler), located about 2.5 miles off I-95 at Georgia Exit #102 (Hwy. 80 East). Established in 2004, this course is mostly flat, wooded, and technical with some water in play. Course maps are available in the mailbox at the beginning of the course. You must bring your own equipment, but there is no charge to play. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (or until 9:00 p.m. during the winter). For more information, call the Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department at 912-652-6780 during normal business hours.

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Go out to wine and dine

Photo by Ed Funk

You’ve been on the go all day, and now you’re ravenous. Lucky for you, the Hilton Head area is as loaded with dining opportunities and great restaurants as it is with activities that work up an appetite.

There are well over 300 restaurants in the immediate Hilton Head area, serving everything from local favorites like Frogmore stew to French cuisine as well as national chains.

If you’re looking to dine by sunset, we have it. You prefer deli-style places or a “kid-friendly” atmosphere? Lots of those. Want to celebrate a special occasion with a sixcourse meal? No problem. Choose a sunset dinner cruise or even boat cruises to a restaurant on Daufuskie Island. Dine at world-class resort or arrange a picnic on a sandbar (provided it’s low tide). We have restaurants with live music and those that specialize in frog legs and daiquiris.

If you’re too tired to get in the car and go out to dinner, call a delivery service that will bring you dishes straight from your favorite restaurant.

One experience that typifies the Lowcountry is having a meal of local seafood. The most authentic is to catch it yourself. You can shore fish from the beach, or you can hire a charter fishing boat and hit the waters. Charters are available for whatever type of fish or fishing experience you are looking for - inshore, nearshore, or deep sea. Your captain will handle everything, from the license to the bait and even the cleaning afterwards.

Local fishermen will also catch it for you. The two most well-known and respected local seafood markets are www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 69

Hudson’s Seafood on Hilton Head Island and the Bluffton Oyster Company in historic downtown Bluffton. Their seafood is clearly marked as to its where and when it was caught, and they are more than willing to give tips on how to prepare it in an authentic Lowcountry manner.

The culture of the Lowcountry is typified by two great traditions: a Lowcountry Boil and an oyster roast. A Lowcountry Boil is shrimp, corn, sausage, and potatoes boiled in a large pot with lots of spicy seasoning. An oyster roast is an experience in and of itself. Fresh caught oysters are steamed over an open fire pit, and then thrown onto a table where you chuck them with a knife and gulp them down. A word of caution: watch your hands - oyster shells are known to slice the skin.

There are also farmer’s markets in the area that offer the local produce as well as fresh local shrimp when they are in season. There are a number of farmers markets in the area, but be aware that they have seasonal hours.

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shop a farmers market

The farm-to-fork movement has gained momentum and popularity in recent years. As a result, farmers markets are “cropping” up everywhere.

Shopping for local produce and products in the laidback ambiance of a Lowcountry farmers market is not only economical, but it is very entertaining. There are a number of Hilton Head area farmers markets: Tuesdays: • Bluffton - Buckwalter Farmers Market, Buckwalter Place, 3:00-6:00 p.m., Tuesdays from May through to the end of October.

• Beaufort - Pick Pocket Plantation Farmers Market, 93 Trask Farm Road, 2:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesdays. 203417-7512.

Wednesdays: • Beaufort - Downtown Beaufort Farmers Market, Freedom Mall on Bay Street (in front of the Downtown Marina), 2:00-6:00 p.m., Wednesdays from May through to the end of October.

• Hilton Head Island - Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Wednesdays through October 30 (seasonal). 843-681-7273.

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Thursdays: • Bluffton - Bluffton Farmers Market, Calhoun Street, 2:00-7:00 p.m., Thursdays (seasonal hours). 843-415-2447.

tour companies combine samplings (both food and alcoholic) with sightseeing by van, trolley or on foot.

Fridays: • Beaufort - Habersham Farmers Market, Habersham Marketplace, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Fridays. 843-846-3444.

Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76

Saturdays: • Port Royal - Port Royal Farmers Market, Heritage Park on Ribaut Road, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Saturdays (seasonal hours).

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Travel like a foody

“Foody” is an informal term for a fan of food and drink.

Not to be confused with gourmets, foodies tend to be nonprofessionals who just love food and want to learn everything about it, both the best and the ordinary.

Foodies like “culinary tourism,” which focuses on the pursuit of authentic and memorable culinary experiences.

If you are really into food, drink and culinary travel, hookup with a company that specializes in teaching you about our culinary culture. Some local restaurants offer cooking classes. Some offer wine or beer tasting and pairings. Some Summer/Fall • 2013

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Shop ‘til you drop

If golfing is the number one pursuit on Hilton Head, then the number two activity is the “golf widow’s revenge” – SHOPPING. We have classy upscale boutiques and upscale retailers, outlet malls and thrift shops that donate their proceeds to charity. We have large chain stores and outlet malls as well as locally owned specialty shops.

Visit a crafty store to make your own ceramics or jewelry as souvenirs of your vacation. Take in the atmosphere of one of our harbor’s eclectic resort-style stores.

Climb the Harbour Town Lighthouse for an elevated shopping experience. Buy a souvenir of your Hilton Head visit, including jewelry, photographs, and numerous trinkets.

Savannah has a world-renowned historic shopping district that includes Bay Street, Broughton Street, City Market, the Design District, and River Street. Take advantage www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 71

Hilton Head’s Premier Thrift Store

The Bargain Box $12 Over .

Give5 Millio n Ba n c t o Hilto the k n Com Hea mun d ity

We carry a full line of merchandise • Clothing & accessories • Shoes • Jewelry • Household goods • Sporting Goods

• Antiques • Collectibles • Glassware • Appliances • Electronics

• CDs & DVDs • Toys • Books • Furniture • Exercise Equipment

Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 1:00-4:00pm Saturday 9:15am-12:15pm Closed Sunday and Tuesday 546 William Hilton Parkway (at the First Presbyterian Church, between Mile Marker 5 & 6) (843) 342-2469 • www.bargainboxhhi.org

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of one of the city’s “on-off” trolley tours to hit all the shopping spots.

Beaufort’s Bay Street is a haven for art galleries, antique shops and boutiques. You can take a shopping breather at the the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a lovely waterfront location with a riverfront walk overlooking the Downtown Marina.

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Buy a piece of the foot

Hilton Head has so much to do; the climate is great; Savannah and Beaufort are close by; the area is very safe; and the people are happy, probably because almost everyone is here because they want to be, not because they have to be.

The prospect of buying a home in the Hilton Head area may seem overwhelming, but there is a basic order to the decision-making.

72 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

Summer/Fall • 2013

First, make sure you have a comfortable and affordable place to stay while you investigate. There are many options, including large resort hotels, smaller motels, and short-term rentals of condos and homes.

Second, you need to decide whether you want to live here full-time or part-time. Many people live here part-time and have found owning a shared property, such as timeshare or vacation ownership, is an affordable option. Both new and previously owned properties are available. A benefit to purchasing a timeshare property is the option to exchange for equivalent accommodations at vacation destinations around the world, some of which you may have never

Photo courtesy of Ed Funk

thought of visiting. Make sure you fully understand your rights, not only as an owner but as a buyer, such as your rights of rescission.

Third, you need to decide whether you want to live “on-island” or “off-island,” and whether or not you want to live in a “plantation” (a gated community with recreational amenities). A great way learn about the pros and cons of which location is to pick the brains of local residents. Almost everyone here came from somewhere else and was, at one time, in your position.

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77

Take a trolley tour of Savannah

A narrated open-air trolley tour of Savannah’s Historic District is a popular way to get a comprehensive introduction to the city’s significant history.

Savannah was founded in 1732. It was the first city of Georgia, the 13th and final colony of the United States.

Savannah’s founding father was James E. Oglethorpe who laid out the streets and squares of the city that would become one of the world’s favorite destinations.

Trolleys with knowledgeable guides take you past stately mansions, historic churches, beautiful squares, and the bustling riverfront. You’ll bear witness to the city’s founding, its wars, and development. Hear captivating descriptions of legends and lore. There are fascinating stories on every street corner. You might even encounter a costumed historic character aboard your trolley.

In addition to non-stop tours, you can buy a trolley ticket with “on-off” privileges, meaning you can get on and off the trolley at pre-designated stops when you please, as often and for as long as you please.

Trolleys operate on a 15 to 20 minute pick-up schedule.

Complimentary pick-up service can be arranged at inns and hotels in the Historic District, as well as surrounding areas. Or 74 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

they will meet you at the Savannah Visitors Center, located at 301 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.

Most tour companies offer handicap-accessible vehicles, however you should inquire to make arrangements in advance.

Specialty trolley tours are also available including evening ghosts tours and “combo” excursions that includes a trolley tour and a riverboat cruise. Oglethorpe Trolley Tours features a haunted tour that takes you into the morgue tunnels under the old Candler Hospital. Old Savannah Tours offers the original Paula Deen Tour that includes a stop for lunch at Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House as well as a ghost tour that includes dinner at the Pirates’ House and access to the rum cellar. Ask your trolley company about combination “Land and Sea” tours that include a trolley tour as well as a river cruise.

If you are staying in the Hilton Head Island area, skip the drive and climb aboard Calibogue Cruises’ passenger ferry or the yacht “Spirit of Harbour Town” for a combination boat cruise from Hilton Head and trolley tour of the Historic District. You’ll dock right in the middle of River Street, the heart of Savannah.

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www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 75

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the way. If you are driving, Savannah has plenty of public parking garages as well as on-street park-and-pay spots.

But be careful to not park in private spaces, or overstay your metered time. Parking in the Historic District is strictly enforced.

Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76

You’ve already taken a trolley tour, which gave you an overview of Savannah’s Historic District. Now it’s time to focus on the details. Take a specialty guided walking or driving tour.

There are companies that offer these specialized excursions. Which company you selected depends primarily on your area of interest. Whether you’re concerned about history, churches, ghosts, movie sets, architecture, shopping, dining, or pub-crawling, you’re bound to find just the right specialty tour for you. Knowledgeable guides will give you insider information, and the group size is usually small allowing for personalized attention. You will gain a great understanding of why Savannah is one of the country’s foremost tourist destinations. Tours are conducted either on foot or in climate-controlled vans.

The other option is to do a self-guided tour. Start with your hotel’s concierge or at the Savannah Visitors Center at 301 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. They have a wealth of information including maps that mark the city’s significant landmarks. If you’re walking, make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water to sip along 76 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

79

Tour the sites of “The Book”

“Not since William Tecumseh Sherman spared Savannah from the torch has this city been so indebted to a Yankee.” So wrote The New York Times of John Berendt’s book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Since its publication in 1994, “The Book”, as locals refer to it, has made a significant impact on Savannah.

Tourism has increased almost 50% and with it a demand for all things “Midnight” – from guided tours to T-shirts, from replicas of the iconic statue the “Bird Girl” to photo “ops” in front of the Mercer-Williams House.

Today, 19 years, one movie, and millions of printed copies later, curiosity about this hugely entertaining account of life and death in Savannah is as rampant as ever. Perhaps Summer/Fall • 2013

it’s the hauntingly beautiful city itself that has become the star – the stately houses, picturesque city squares, beguiling tree-lined streets, historic cemeteries, and its marvelous personality.

An engaging way to learn about this magical nonfiction depiction of Savannah and its colorful hodgepodge of characters is to join a guided tour that focuses on the story’s places and players. Photo “ops” are plentiful, and perhaps you will encounter one of the many eccentric rascals depicted in the story. You’ll be put right in the middle of the story and learn about Savannah’s history as well as a smorgasbord of lively tales. Tours are conducted in climate controlled vans.

Trolley tours that conduct overview tours of Savannah also include some the book’s key sites in their excursions.

Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76

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See the movie sets of Savannah

The history, scenery and ambiance of Georgia’s First City attract filmmakers from around the world. Savannah has been the location for over 87 movies. There are over 110 movie locations in the Historic District alone.

Among the movies filmed in Savannah are, to name just a few, Cape Fear (1962), Roots (1976), Forrest Gump (1995), Something to Talk About (1997), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1998), Glory (1989), The General’s Daughter (1999), The Legend of Bagger Vance (1999), The Gift (2000), The Conspirator (2009), and The Last Song (2009).

If you’re a film buff and would like to touch Hollywood, tours of movie locations are available year around and are Summer/Fall • 2013

$2 OFF

with this ad (adults only) Expires 1/31/13

www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com • 77

great fun for all ages. You’ll be able to see the bus stop bench location where Forrest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Hear the behind-the-scenes stories of the Mercer House from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

You will also learn some behind-the-scenes trivia about how and where the stars spent their personal “downtime,” such as at the Six Pence Pub from Something to Talk About.

Trolley tours that conduct overview tours of Savannah also include the some movie set locations in their excursions.

Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76

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Take a riverboat cruise

The paddle-wheeled 600-passenger riverboats the “Savannah River Queen” and the “Georgia Queen,” replicas of the boats that cruised America’s rivers in days gone by, bob gently on Savannah’s riverfront with their red stripes, multi-tiered decks, and white grillwork looking like a candy confection. But they are not just decorations. They are there to take you on a cruise along the Savannah River and learn

Photo courtesy of Savannah Riverboat Cruises

about the history of city’s riverfront.

Savannah Riverboat Cruises offers a variety of cruises aboard these beauties. The one-hour narrated historic Savannah River sightseeing cruise is offered year around.

The sailing schedule is seasonal so make sure you call ahead.

Seasonal buffet cruises include Saturday luncheons and Sunday brunches (from March to October), and a Monday Night Gospel Dinner Cruise (between April and October). All meal cruises require prepaid reservations. Also offered seasonally are the Thursday night Murder Mystery Cruise and Friday/Saturday night Moonlight Entertainment Cruises. A cash bar and snack shop are available on both of these cruises.

Both riverboats operate under U.S. Coast Guard regulations and comply with all passenger safety requirements. They are climate controlled for year-round comfort. There are snack shops, cash bars, and restrooms on board. Reservations are required for most cruises. Reduced fares for children ages 4-12 are available.

Combination riverboat cruises and trolley tours are also available, a great way to see all of historic Savannah.

Savannah Riverboat Cruises (800-786-6404) Ad p. 79

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Shop the cobbled streets

Savannah is regarded as an international destination offering world-class art galleries, fine antique shops, and high-end boutiques. The Historic District has managed to preserve Savannah’s old world southern charm while blending in contemporary shopping.

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River Street, fronting the Savannah River, is the heart of the city where old brick warehouses and cobblestone streets and alleyways date back to the 1800s. The historic buildings now house an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants.

You can spend the day here and never be bored.

City Market, Savannah’s original shopping district, is a place where you can explore a variety of nooks and crannies. Located in Savannah’s Historic District on West St. Julian Street between Ellis and Franklin Squares, this is a place where there’s always something new to encounter, something different to find, something hidden to uncover.

You may have to look around a corner, behind an old door or up a remote staircase.

Broughton Street is Savannah’s main shopping thoroughfare. Stores range from high-end national chains to locally owned boutiques.

The Downtown Design District is located north of Forsyth Park. It is bounded by Abercorn, Barnard, Gaston and Harris Streets. This enclave of over 30 shops is known for distinctive antiques, art, and gifts.

CALL NOW FOR RESERVATIONS & TICKETS!

912.232.6404 or 800.786.6404 www.savannahriverboat.com

Departing from River Street directly behind City Hall

• Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruises Photo by Sansing McPherson

Visitors can visit these shopping districts without having to fight the traffic and find a parking space. Trolley tour companies offer “on-off” privileges so you can stop and shop anywhere in the Historic District. In addition, guided tours are available so you can combine shopping with sightseeing.

If you are staying in Hilton Head, skip the drive and climb aboard Calibogue Cruises’ passenger ferry or the yacht “Spirit of Harbour Town.” Both will bring you right to River Street so you can explore on your own or take a trolley tour.

Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 16 Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 Summer/Fall • 2013

• Dinner Entertainment Cruises • Gospel Dinner Entertainment Cruises • Saturday Luncheon Cruises • Sunday Brunch Cruises • Moonlight Entertainment Cruises • Murder Mystery Cruises

River Street Riverboat Company Nine East River Street PO Box 10086 Savannah GA 31412 www.savannahriverboat.com 912.232.6404 • 800.786.6404

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Be a ghost hunter

From the cemeteries to bordellos to haunted mansions, Savannah has a reputation for having more than its fair share of ghosts and goose bumps, many of which have a basis in historical fact. Thus the city has earned the title from the American Institute of Parapsychology of “America’s Most Haunted City,” and has been filmed by television shows such as TAPS/Ghost Hunters and Scariest Places on Earth Numerous Savannah tour operators offer guided ghost tours that lead you to the spirited side of the city with all its ghoulish legends, myths and hauntings. Go by trolley, van or on foot. Visit the fabled Sorrel-Weed House, the Pirate’s House Rum Cellar, the Hampton-Lilibridge House, or the spooky “Dead House,” an 1884 morgue tunnel under the old Candler Hospital that has been sealed for over 100 years.

Bonaventure Cemetary has been noted as one of the most haunted cemetaries in the country.

Complimentary pick-up can be arranged at inns and hotels in the Historic District.

Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76

Haunted Tour without Tunnel: $20 per adult, $10 per child** ** Tunnel Temporarily Closed until Fall, 2012 (due to construction) 80 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

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Tour Savannah’s historic homes

Always proud of its heritage and beauty, Savannah has a long track record of historic preservation, beginning in 1839 with the chartering of the Georgia Historical Society, founded by three Savannah residents and headquartered in the city.

The fight to preserve reached national attention in 1955 when the threat of destruction of Davenport House prompted seven southern-tough Savannah women to join forces and voice their irate opposition. This group of seven grew into the vital organization now known as the Historic Savannah Foundation, Inc., one of the country’s largest community urban-preservation programs.

Through their efforts to overcome the city’s reputation as the “pretty woman with a dirty face”, many historic homes and official buildings have been saved. In 1966, Savannah’s entire downtown historic district was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Today, visitors to Savannah may tour some of these magnificent historic homes. Professional guides will tell of a home’s history, family lore, and preservation efforts.

Experience any one of these grand southern mansions to fully grasp Savannah’s rich and intriguing history.

Davenport House (c. 1820), 324 E State St. at Habersham St. on Columbia Square, (912) 236-8097.

Andrew Low House and Carriage House (c. 1847), 329 Abercorn St. at E. Charlton St. on Lafayette Square, (912) 233-6854.

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Flannery O’Conner Childhood Home (c. 1856), 207 E. Charlton St. at Abercorn St. on Lafayette Square, (912) 2336014.

Green-Meldrin House (c. 1853), 14 West Macon St. at Bull St. on Madison Square, (912) 233-3845.

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (c. 1818), 10 E. Oglethorpe Ave. at Bull St. one block south of Wright Square, (912) 233-4501.

Mercer-Williams House Museum (c. 1860), 429 Bull St. at W. Gordon St. on Monterey Square, (912) 236-6352.

Owens-Thomas House Museum (c. 1819), 124 Abercorn St. at E. President St. on Oglethorpe Square, (912) 233-9743 (owned and operated by the Telfair Museum of Art).

Sorrel-Weed House (c. 1841), 6 W. Harris St. at Bull St. on Madison Square, (912) 236-8888.

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Visit the Bamboo Farm

When you think of Savannah, do you think of bamboo groves? If you do, you’re right. Bamboo has thrived here for over 100 years at what locals affectionately call “The Bamboo Farm.”

However, this “farm” is nothing like your grandfather’s farm. It is a beautiful historic botanical garden. This is a haven for both gardeners and history buffs alike. Located ten miles southwest of Savannah’s Historic District, the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens is a treasure to behold.

Photo by Liz Lubrani, Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

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Photo Courtesy of the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum

There are 12 separate garden collections including over 70 varieties of bamboo from all over the world, tropical trees, lotus, iris, roses, daylilies, orchids, camellias, a water garden, as well as pick-your-own berries (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries between mid-March through July), and sugar cane (boiled down into cane syrup every fall at the Fall Family Festival).

The gardens were originally a modest 46-acre farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Around 1890, Mrs. Miller got her hands on a few clumps of giant Japanese timber bamboo and planted them near her farmhouse. Bamboo, being bamboo, grew (to over 60 feet tall) and spread like wildfire (almost overtaking her neighbors’ land). Ultimately, her bamboo became a valuable crop for timber and a tasty food source (bamboo shoots) for local restaurants.

Through a succession of owners, benefactors, and the United States Department of Agriculture, the Bamboo Farm was finally, in 1983, deeded to the University of Georgia for use as an education and research center. Today, the garden’s custodians like to think of themselves as a “zookeepers for plants.”

The 51-acres of gardens are open free to the public daily year around, except major holidays. They are located near Richmond Hill at 2 Canebrake Road, at the corner of U.S. Hwy. 17 South and Canebrake Road, just past Keller’s Flea Market. For hours and more information, call (912) 921-5460.

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Honor the Mighty 8th

Experience the excitement of a World War II combat mission or enjoy the quiet solitude of an authentic English countryside chapel at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.

This Museum is a very powerful museum experience.

On January 28, 1942, just 53 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Eighth Air Force – known as the Mighty Eighth- was officially activated in the National Guard Armory on Bull Street in Savannah, Georgia. Ultimately it earned its 82 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

place in history in World War II and remains an active force today.

The signature exhibit is the museum’s “Mission Experience.” Visitors attend a pre-flight briefing in a Quonset hut, receive ground crew orientation, and then become an observer on an 8th Air Force flying mission over enemy territory in the Museum’s immersion theater.

Upon exiting the “Mission Experience” guests can view the museum’s B-17 Flying Fortress, the “City of Savannah.” inside the “Combat Gallery.” Additional exhibits of the Museum include: “Escape and Evasion,” “POW,” and the “Tuskegee Airmen.”

There is also the Research Center that contains a 7,000 volume library and archives with thousands of oral histories, period photographs and war-time journals.

The museum open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

It is closed on major holidays. It is located at 175 Bourne Avenue in Pooler, Georgia, off I-95 at the Georgia exit 102.

There is an admission charge. For more information, call (912) 748-8888.

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Visit a train museum

The Roundhouse Railroad Museum is a “must do” for railroad buffs. There are exhibits of antique machinery, locomotives, passenger cars other rolling stock and a truly splendid model railroad set.

The museum is located in the Central of Georgia Railway Roundhouse complex, adjacent to the Savannah Visitors Center at 601 West Harris Street off of Martin Luther King Blvd. It is the oldest and most complete antebellum railroad manufacturing and repair facility in the United States.

Begun in 1845, thirteen of the original structures still survive including the roundhouse, the turntable, the 125-foot smokestack, the railroad sheds, and work buildings. The brick buildings are known for their Classical and Romanesque style of architecture.

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Photo Courtesy of the Savvy Savannah Tours

Walk around the grounds, view the rolling stock displays, and learn about the function of each building. Take a train ride (sometimes even ride in a locomotive cab, but it costs extra), a rail car or handcar tour, or participate in special children’s activities in the baggage car. Schedules are seasonal so make sure you call ahead.

Railroads were prime targets for destruction during the Civil War and General Sherman’s troops destroyed many of the Central’s tracks. However, his troops spared the roundhouse and rail shops along with the rest of Savannah.

The Central Railroad experienced a long period of success and prosperity, but went into receivership during the Depression.

The shops were eventually closed in 1963 after years of neglect. Eventually in 1989 the site came under the management of the Coastal Heritage Society resulting in the museum you see today.

The museumt is open for self-guided tours daily year around (closed on major holidays) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can also take a ride on either a steam or diesel train (please call ahead for schedules ). There is an admission charge. For more information, call (912) 651-6823.

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Christ Church is the oldest Christian congregation in Georgia. Founded in 1733, the current building is located on its original site (28 Bull Street on Johnson Square). John Wesley, the third rector of the parish, served from 1736-1737.

He taught at the first Sunday School program in America.

In 1737 he published the first English hymnal in America. His famous conversion occurred after he returned to England where he continued to serve as an Anglican priest.

In 1733, just five months after James E. Oglethorpe established the colony of Georgia, forty-two Jews, the largest group of Hebrews to land in North America in colonial days, arrived in Savannah and established Temple Mickve Israel (20 East Gordon Street on Monterey Square). They brought with them a Torah that is the oldest in America and still used on commemorative occasions. The Temple houses a museum with more than 1,800 historical artifacts on display.

The colonial charter of Savannah prohibited Roman Catholics from settling in Savannah. The English trustees were afraid that Roman Catholics would be loyal to the Spanish in Florida. This prohibition ended after the Revolutionary War and a congregation was organized around 1796, the oldest Catholic congregation in Georgia.

Construction began on the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (233 East Harris Street on Lafayette Square) in 1873 and was completed in 1896. Two years later it was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt by 1899. Its twin spires and 2,081-pipe organ are one of Savannah’s most notable landmarks and considered one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the south.

Visit Savannah’s colonial churches

Savannah was founded as a Church of England settlement, but many other beliefs soon followed. There are many historic churches. Here are a few significant colonial congregations.

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The First African Baptist Church (23 Montgomery Street on Franklin Square) is the oldest African American congregation in America. It was founded in 1773 by George Leile, a slave freed prior to the American Revolutionary War and the first African American licensed by the Baptists to preach in Georgia. Andrew Bryan, a former slave who purchased his freedom, led the congregation to official recognition in 1788.

The current facility on Franklin Square was built in the 1850s by both free African Americans and slaves. The church museum (open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) contains archives and memorabilia that date back to the 18th century.

Learn more about these and other historic churches by taking a trolley tour or a guided walking tour.

Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76

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Party Savannah

Savannah hosts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. More than 400,000 visitors flood the city for the holiday to party and take part in the merriment. The city embraces the event so much that the waters of the famous Forsyth Fountain are dyed green.

If you are not fortunate enough to be in Savannah for Patty’s Day, don’t worry. The city always offers a tremendous variety of bars, clubs, and pubs to please everyone, regardless of your late night preference. From traditional Irish pubs and raging dance clubs to elegant rooftop bars overlooking the Savannah River to hole-in-the-wall dive bars, Savannah has it all. There are hundreds of bars in Savannah’s Historic District alone.

One interesting and uncommon aspect of Savannah is that in the downtown Historic District, open containers are not illegal for pedestrians. You may carry alcoholic beverages openly as long as they are in a clear plastic cup.

This uncommon rule makes the area ideal for barhopping, as the party doesn’t have to be put on pause while your party changes venues.

This unique law allows for a number of interesting nightlife tours. There are walking and van tours that specialize in brewpub crawls and martini barhopping. They allow you to travel between the establishments, enjoying your beverage as you go – and you don’t have to worry about driving, parking, or finding the next bar.

All in all, Savannah is a charming city during the day, but it really wakes up at night.

Savvy Savannah Tours (912-663-4400) Ad p. 76 84 • www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com

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Visit Savannah’s forts

As one of the key areas fought over during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Savannah offers you a glimpse of America’s earliest turmoil. It historic fort sites inspire awe and bring tears to those who visit.

Fort Jackson Historic Site is Georgia’s oldest standing brick fort. It was originally an earthen fort established during the Revolutionary War. You can explore the tunnellike passageways that used to house soldiers and store ammunition and supplies. Inside, you will want to view the video presentation on the history of the fort. Daily cannon firings are offered during the summer months. The fort is located off the Island Expressway (US 80) on the way to Tybee Island. The fort is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed on major holidays). There is an admission charge for adults. For more information, call (912) 232-3945.

Nearby, on Cockspur Island, sits well-preserved Fort Pulaski, the last of the great coastal forts built by the United States. A self-guided taped tour is available of both the fort and the surrounding park. Allow about two hours for a basic visit. The park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with extended summer hours, closed on major holidays). There is a park entrance fee. For more information, call (912) 7865787.

Fort Screven Historic District, located on Tybee Island, is also a history museum. The fort, which protected the entrance to the Savannah River, was in service from 1897 to 1947. The current museum houses exhibits that cover topics of local history. The periscope in the gift shop area comes from a World War II submarine and provides a unique view of

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the adjacent Tybee Island Lighthouse, a must see. Admission to the museum includes entrance to the lighthouse. It is open from April through Labor Day 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

From September to March it operates 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except Tuesday. For more information, call (912) 786-5801.

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Get carriaged away

As long as you’re visiting Georgia’s First City, why not tour her in a style in harmony with her history – a horse drawn carriage. The slow and steady pace set by old Doc takes you back to a time when ladies were elegant, men were gallant, and horses ruled.

The clip-clop sound of the horse’s shoes on cobblestones serves as the soundtrack as your driver spins tales, spreads stories, and relives the history we learned from schoolbooks.

Horse-drawn carriage companies operating in Savannah run tours that last about 50 minutes. Carriage styles range from elegant “Cinderella” buggies imported from Europe to bench-style wagons with canopies.

The narrated tours cover the Historic District’s major landmarks. These tours run all day, every day, year around and usually depart from various locations around the Historic District.

Some companies also offer haunted tours that will creep you into the chilling side of the city’s eerie history. You might even have a guide dressed in era costuming. For the romantic occasion, there are private tours for two, some even offer champagne.

So let old Doc - or Harley - carry you away and see the historic South the way she is meant to be seen.

Photo courtesy of Ed Funk

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Visit an art museum

The Telfair Museum of Art, also known as the Telfair Academy, is the oldest art museum in the South. Located in a Regency mansion, it was built in 1819 for Alexander Telfair and designed by English architect William Jay. In 1875 Mary Telfair bequeathed the mansion and its furnishings to the Georgia Historical Society to be used as a museum.

The restored interior provides a backdrop for the museum’s permanent collection of paintings, such as American, French, and German Impressionists.

The museum features one of the largest collections of paintings by Khalil Gibran, the author of “The Prophet.”

The Telfair is located at 121 Barnard St. in Savannah. It is open Mondays from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on major holidays. There is an admission charge. For more information, call (912) 790-8800.

Not everything in Savannah’s Historic District has come to us from the 18th or 19th century. Adjoining the Telfair and devoted to contemporary art is the Jepson Center opened to the public in 2006. The center has over 7,500 square feet of gallery space for major traveling exhibitions of contemporary art and installations of works from the permanent collection.

The Jepson is home to the Telfair’s Kirk Varnedoe Collection. Assembled in honor of the late Savannah native, scholar, and Modern Museum of Art curator Kirk Varnedoe, the collection features works by Jasper Johns, Chuck Close, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and Richard Avedon. The museum’s collection also features important works by William Christenberry, Helen Levitt, Sam Gilliam and James Brooks.

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Educational programming takes place in the Jepson’s 220-seat auditorium and in the community gallery and education studios. There is also an “ArtZeum,” a unique, 3,500-square foot interactive gallery for children and adults.

The Jepson is located at located at 207 West York Street. It is open Sundays and Mondays from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on major holidays. There is an admission charge. For more information, call (912) 790-8800.

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Tybee Island is Savannah’s beach.

Tybee meant “salt” to the Native American Euchee Indians, but today the name of this low-key seaside resort means “sun and fun.”

Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small barrier island boasts a wide, three-mile long beach that’s backed by sea oat-covered sand dunes. It is perfect for sunbathing, people watching and frolicking in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The Island’s south-end pier and pavilion is a splendid venue for strolling above the ocean and listening to the music of the live bands.

Although vacationers are lured to Tybee because of what it provides in the way of beaches and recreation, those with a love of history won’t be disappointed. Tybee offers Fort Screven, yhe Tybee Island Lighthouse (dated 1773) and its museum, as well as Fort Pulaski, just west of Tybee on US 80.

The original Tybee Island Lighthouse was ordered to be constructed by Savannah’s founder James Oglethorpe and was completed in 1736. Made of brick and cedar piles, it stands 90 feet high, making it the tallest structure of its kind in America. It is this country’s third oldest lighthouse, and one of only 19 complete light stations. It continues to function nightly.

With a small admission fee, you can climb the 178 steps and view all of Tybee Island. Be sure to see the keeper’s cottage and Tybee Museum and Gift Shop. The lighthouse is closed Tuesdays and on some holidays. Call ahead to check on the schedule at (912) 786-5801.

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Don’t miss Tybee Island

Visit colonial Wormsloe Plantation

Once you drive through the iron gates, a 1-1/2 mile avenue, sheltered by live oaks and Spanish moss, leads you to the fortified tabby ruins of Wormsloe, the 18th century colonial estate of Noble Jones. The tabby ruins are the Summer/Fall • 2013

oldest standing structures in Savannah. The site consists of 822 acres and includes the tabby ruins, a museum, and a demonstration area interpreting colonial daily life.

In 1736, Jones obtained a grant for 500 acres on the Isle of Hope. The main house was constructed between 1739 and 1745 overlooking the Skidaway River. The fortified house was part of a network of defensive structures established by James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, to protect Savannah from a potential Spanish invasion. Jones subsequently developed Wormsloe into a small plantation, and his descendants built a large mansion at the site that they used as a country residence.

Wormsloe was opened to the public as a state historic site in 1979. The descendants of Noble Jones still control Wormsloe House and its surrounding acreage.

Today, visitors can enjoy costumed interpreters, tour a museum and view a short film about the site and the founding of Georgia. An interpretive nature trail leads past the tabby ruins to a living-history area where demonstrators in period dress exhibit the tools and skills of colonial Georgia.

Wormsloe is located at 7601 Skidaway Road on the Isle of Hope. For more information, call (912) 353-3023.

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Explore beautiful Beaufort

Guided carriage and walking tours will take you past numerous historic sites. Guides will tell you about the old city in detail, including gossip about the plantation owners and Hollywood stars (movies filmed in Beaufort include The Big Chill, Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, and The Prince of Tides).

Bay Street, Beaufort’s shopping district, has dozens of eclectic boutiques, gift shops, and antique stores in a compact area. Beaufort’s abundant art galleries have helped earn the town a spot on America’s “100 Best Small Towns for the Arts.”

To unwind sit a spell in one of the swings overlooking the Beaufort River in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the location of a lovely riverfront walk and the Downtown Marina. There are many charming restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream parlors fronting the river or along Bay Street.

One trick can optimize your sightseeing and shopping time. When entering Beaufort on US Hwy. 21 (Boundary Street), a right turn onto Newcastle Street will take you straight to a public parking area on Bay Street, thus avoiding possible traffic delays on Carteret that may occur when the draw bridge to Lady’s Island is open.

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Visit the Parris Island Museum

When visiting Beaufort, you can’t help but be curious about its history. Why are all these beautiful antebellum homes still here? Who were the people who built them, what did they do, and what was it like to live that lifestyle?

The training ground for some of America’s greatest heroes is about an hour’s drive from Hilton Head at the US Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island. Because Parris Island has the deepest natural harbor south of New York,

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Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps

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the government became interested in the area during Union occupation in the Civil War. The facility did not open for recruit training until 1889.

Today Parris Island graduates over 20,000 recruits a year and remains our nation’s most famous military training facility.

The Island is open to the general public. You can visit the Douglas Visitor’s Center as well as archeological sites or play on their golf course. The Parris Island Museum houses over 8,000 exhibits and photographs covering this US military training center since its beginning. The museum is open daily free of charge from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The gift shop, Alexander Ship’s Store, is open on Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and on Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.

Parris Island is located off of Hwy. 802 in Beaufort.

Note that access to the base is dependent upon current security needs. To get through security at the base gate you will need your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and auto registration, or the paper work for a rental car. Guards at the gate will direct you to the museum. For more information call (843) 228-2951.

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Visit Hunting Island

Hunting Island State Park is a truly spectacular place.

Located on a 5,000-acre barrier island just 16 miles east of Beaufort on Hwy. 21, the park teems with wildlife and lush vegetation, and offers a delightful day for anyone interested in nature or history.

The Island has three miles of walkable beaches, a historic lighthouse, and ample opportunities for bird watching, fishing, crabbing, or shrimping. Shady picnic tables, showers, dressing rooms make a day trip to the beach manageable.

The Island’s marshes there were used for the Vietnam War scenes in the movie Forrest Gump. Jungle and water camp scenes for the movie G.I. Jane were also shot on Hunting Island.

As you drive in, you go through a maritime forest with soaring pines and palms. Nestled into this woodland setting is the Visitors Center where you can get a park map and brochure, and see exhibits on the historic lighthouse as well as on the natural flora and fauna. A small auditorium hosts educational programs on the island’s nature and history.

The historic grounds of the 132.5-foot tall lighthouse are fascinating, and the 167-step climb to the top of the lighthouse is an absolute must. Although the light is no longer in service, the view is amazing and you’ll have great photo opportunities.

The Hunting Island Lighthouse has a unique structure because it was built to be portable. It was constructed of large cast-iron sections, and then lined with bricks. The lighthouse not only warned boats away from shallow water, but also served as the halfway point between Savannah and Charleston. In 1889 beach erosion caused the lighthouse to be moved 1.3 miles to its current location.

The park has 200 camping sites and 14 fully equipped climate-controlled cabins. You can stay up to two weeks. Call ahead (843-838-2011) to check the availability.

The park is open to the public daily year around from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. April through September, or until 6:00 p.m., October through March. There is a park admission fee.

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Visit the Penn Center

The Penn Center on St. Helena Island, southeast of Beaufort, was one of the country’s first schools for freed slaves and is considered one of this country’s most significant African-American historic institutions. It is a National Historic Landmark.

A tour of the Penn Center will educate you to the history of the freed slaves that lived in Beaufort County during the Civil War. Today, the Penn Center preserves and promotes their history through special programs and events.

The Center was established in 1862 prior to the Emancipation Proclamation in order to educate freed slaves in the Lowcountry. This undertaking was called the Port Royal Experiment, and was championed by abolitionists and several churches from Pennsylvania. The center’s first classes started in a single room on the Oaks Plantation and soon grew to fill the Brick Baptist Church.

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In 1864, a prefabricated building was sent from Pennsylvania and placed on a 50-acre tract of land adjacent to the Brick Church. Today the Penn Center still sits on this same land. The Center also served as the annual meeting place for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Christian Leadership Conference.

The grounds are designed for self-guided tours. Not only can you walk the grounds, but the Center also invites visitors to the Conference Center and York W. Bailey Museum.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with admission fees. The Conference Center offers guests lodging and meeting facilities. Visitors can make an appointment to access the Laura M. Towne Archives and Library that feature one of the oldest collections of photography of African-Americans in the country.

To get to the Center, follow Hwy. 21 South out of Beaufort onto St. Helena Island. Take a right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and continue until you see the Penn School Historic District. For further information, call (843) 838-2432.

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tables under the shading oaks. Grave stones of the William Bull Family mark the landscape showing dates from 1755 to as recent as 1941. An Annual Service is held the second Sunday after Easter.

To find the ruins from Beaufort, travel north on Hwy. 21 to Old Sheldon Church Road. The ruins are about one mile on the right, denoted by a historical marker.

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Turn back time in Historic Charleston

Explore the Old Sheldon Church Ruins

For a special albeit out-of-the-way experience, visit the stately Old Sheldon Church Ruins. Moss-draped trees surround towering brick and tabby columns that comprise the remains of what was once one of the South’s most beautiful churches.

Located between Yemassee and Gardens Corner on one of the country’s oldest roads (S.C. Secondary Road 21), 15 miles east of Beaufort, Old Sheldon Church stands as a reminder of the destruction in South Carolina during both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Originally completed in 1748, it was burned by the British in 1780, rebuilt, and subsequently destroyed by General Sherman’s Army in 1865.

Today, this picturesque spot is a local favorite for photographers, weddings, Sunday outings and picnics at

Photo courtesy of Ed Funk

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The city of Charleston, a two hour and 15 minute drive from Hilton Head Island, is one of this country’s most popular destinations. In fact, it received Condé Nast Traveler’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards as “Top U.S. City.”

Visitors experience a charming blend of English and American heritage, and modern amenities influenced by Charleston’s reputed Southern lifestyle.

Charleston lives her history. It was founded in 1670 on a charter of religious freedom as the colony of Charles Towne. It is known as the “Holy City” because it has over 300 churches of various denominations. Church spires are still the tallest structures, just as they were when sailing ships used them for landmarks, or when Union troops sighted their guns on them.

This beautiful city has been and continues to be preserved, restored, and protected. Its vast Historic District is filled with tiny alleys, walled gardens, and stately homes.

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Sumter where the Civil War began stands in the distance while sailboats and Sea Islands dot the horizon.

Stroll along cobbled streets. A peek through handwrought iron gates set in high garden walls will reveal beautiful private gardens reminiscent of days gone by. See the antebellum town mansions where gentlemen planters spent as much time indulging in their passions for politics and pleasure as they did managing their vast rice and cotton plantations.

Visitors can choose from a number of guided tours year around. Carriage rides and harbor tours are two of the most popular. Walking tours specialize in everything from the city’s history to pirates and ghosts. Many historic buildings and museums are open to the public daily.

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Experience a southern plantation

Visit one of the many historic plantations located around Charleston, about two hours by car from Hilton Head.

This is a charming trip back in time to a period when cotton was king and rice ruled, when vast tracts of land were held by a few families, and when slaves bore the weight of the economic success of the South.

Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall

We have romanticized the southern plantation era in such epics as Gone With the Wind, but today we can catch a glimpse of just how grueling and heartbreaking those times could be. Due to the efforts of many private families and organizations, plantation life is accessible to the general public. All are open year around and offer a variety of daily and seasonal tours of the grounds and buildings.

Boone Hall (circa 1681), privately owned and listed on the National Register, is one of America’s oldest working, living plantations where crops have been grown and produced continuously for over 320 years. It boasts one of the world’s longest oak-lined avenues. Some tours are offered only seasonally. The plantation is located off Highway 17 at 1235 Long Point Road in Mt. Pleasant, about 20 minutes from downtown Charleston. (843) 884-4371.

Drayton Hall (circa 1738), owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest preserved plantation house open to the public.

Tours are conducted daily. The house is located at 3380 Ashley River Road (Hwy 61), about 30-40 minutes northwest of downtown Charleston. (843) 769-2600.

The Hampton Plantation State Historic Site (circa 1750) is one of the area’s most beautiful colonial-era rice plantations. The grounds are open year around, but house tours are conducted on a seasonal schedule. It is located in McClellanville, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Charleston off Highway 17. (843) 546-9361.

Magnolia Plantation (circa 1679) has the oldest public gardens in the country, and is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, first opening its doors to visitors in 1879.

A variety of historic and nature tours are available year around on a seasonal schedule. It is located on between Drayton Hall and Middleton Place at 3550 Ashley River Road (Highway 61), about 30 to 40 minutes northeast of downtown Charleston. (800) 367-3517.

Middleton Place (circa 1741) is a National Historic Landmark and one of South Carolina’s most enduring southern icons. A variety of historic and nature tours are conducted daily, some with seasonal hours. It is located at 4300 Ashley River Road (Highway 61), about 30 to 40 minutes northwest of downtown Charleston. (800) 782-3608.

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BLUFFTON PARKWAY

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HILTON HEAD NATIONAL GOLF COURSE

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Driving Directions from Hilton Head Island, SC to Savannah, GA’s Visitor Center.

From Bluffton side of the two bridges, drive WEST on WILLIAM HILTON PKWY/US-278W/FORDING ISLAND RD for 9.6 miles to SC-170 ramp toward BEAUFORT. At end of ramp, turn LEFT onto SC/170S/OKATIE HWY and continue 4.5 miles to traffic circle. At traffic circle, bear RIGHT onto SC-170W/ SC-46W toward Savannah. Continue onto SC-315 (SC-46 and SC-170 each turn off to the right; road becomes SC-315S).

Continue 6.1 miles to intersection with US-17. Turn LEFT onto US-17S. Continue another 6.1 miles on US-17S and take the OGLETHORPE AVE ramp. Continue on OGLETHORPE AVE/ GA CONN-25S about 1/2 mile to Martin Luther King Blvd. Turn RIGHT onto MLK Blvd. The Visitor’s Center will be on your right. Est. time (allowing for traffic): 45 min. Distance: 30 miles

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Dolphin & nature Cruises Wild Dolphin Encounters Guaranteed on Every Dolphin Tour !!

The SS Pelican, a restored Navy motor whaler, certified for 16 passengers.

Narrated 1-1/2 hour trips down beautiful Broad Creek past stately waterfront homes. See dolphin, mink, otter, sea turtles, and countless varieties of birds. Fun for all ages! Don’t forget your camera!

Sunset cruises, Tuesday night summer fireworks tours, and group rates available.

& Snacks g es Beverable Availa Tours on All

$18 Adults (reg. $2200) $900 Children (reg. $1200) 00

Children under 2 FREE

The Island Queen, a 45-foot covered boat licensed for 40 passengers.

Ask about our “101” Special

Call for Reservations (843) 681-2522

Advance Reservations Strongly Recommended

Since 1985

Book online at www.hiltonheadtours.com or call Zerve at (800) 979-3370

Departs Mid-Island from Broad Creek Marina • NO GATE FEES 18 Simmons Road, off Marshland Road • Hilton Head Island, S

Sonny C. Charters Inc. • www.hiltonheadtours.com