Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah Photo by Scott Mooneyhan, Live Oac Adventures
A view worth climbing for – And treasures on the ground floor.
Key photo by Rob Tipton, courtesy of Harbour Town Yacht Club
The Harbour Lighthouse Museum is a must-see during during your stay on Hilton Head Island. Travel through time as The HarbourTown Town Lighthouse Museum is a must-see your stay on Hilton Head Island. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at the “Shoppe At The Top” or browse the ground-floor Maritime Gift Galley you view real artifacts and learn about the different eras of the Island’s history. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at the for memories that endure. “Shoppe At The Top” or browse the ground-floor Maritime Gift Galley for historic books and authentic artifacts you
Join us for the spectacular sunsets. Don’t forget to wave to friends and family on our can treasure andLowcountry’s pass down, formost memories that endure. live webcam. Join us for the Lowcountry’s most spectacular sunsets. Don’t forget to wave to friends and family on our live webcam. And visit our sister store, the Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum, in the Shops at Sea Pines Center. And visit our sister store, the Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum, in the Shops at Sea Pines Center. The Lighthouse is
The Lighthouse is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to sundown. Modest admission, and children 5 open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to sundown. Modest admission, and children 5 and under are free. and under are free.
149 Lighthouse Road | Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | harbourtownlighthouse.com | 866-305-9814 Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 1
Table of Contents Snap this tag with your smartphone to visit our mobile website. DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS....................................... 6 ISLAND & AREA MAPS........................................... 91-97 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.
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 Discover the Dolphins................................................... 16 Comb a Beach............................................................... 19 Rent a Boat and Be Your Own Captain.......................... 20 Rent a Golf Cart and Explore Daufuskie........................ 20 Take a Boat to Savannah.............................................. 21 Do a Zipline................................................................... 22 Climb the Trees............................................................. 22 Learn About Our Wildlife.............................................. 23 Encounter an Alligator.................................................. 24 Photograph Nature With a Pro..................................... 25 Go Birdwatching........................................................... 25 Visit a Maritime Center................................................. 26 Watch the Sun Set........................................................ 26 Go Horseback Riding.................................................... 27 Explore Nature’s Refuges............................................. 27 Take a Tasty Walking Tour............................................. 29 Play a Game of Bridge.................................................. 29 Check Out Beautiful Shelter Cove Harbour..................29 Check Out the Happenings at Coligny Circle................ 30 Check Out the Fun at Palmetto Bay Marina..................31 Check Out Legendary Harbour Town............................31 Check Out Sunny South Beach..................................... 32 Check Out the Adventures at Broad Creek Marina........33 Get a Bird’s Eye View from a Helicopter....................... 34 Take a Sunset Dinner Cruise.......................................... 35 Take a Boat to a Restaurant.......................................... 36 Sail on an America’s Cup Boat...................................... 36 Fly on a Trimaran............................................................37 Cruise on a Catamaran.................................................. 38 Get Over It With Parasailing.......................................... 38 Go Waterskiing, Tubing & Zupping............................... 39 Take a Sailing Cruise..................................................... 40 Hit the Surf.................................................................... 41 Get Wild on a Waverunner............................................ 41 Stand Up and Paddle.................................................... 42 Fly High in a Jetpack..................................................... 42 Paddle the Lowcountry’s Waters.................................. 44 Take a Raft Ride............................................................ 45 Go Charter Fishin’.........................................................46 Fish on a Party Boat...................................................... 47 Fish the Fresh Waters................................................... 48
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46. Go Fly Fishing............................................................... 48 47. Hunt for “Jaws”.............................................................49 48. Go Crabbing.................................................................. 50 49. Cast a Net..................................................................... 51 50. Learn About the Gullah Culture.................................... 51 51. Explore the Stoney-Baynard Ruins............................... 52 52. Visit Historic Churches.................................................. 52 53. Explore Historic Bluffton............................................... 54 54. Visit the Heyward House.............................................. 54 55. Tour a Lowcountry Plantation...................................... 55 56. Encounter the Haunted Side........................................ 56 57. Visit Our Libraries......................................................... 56 58. Visit Hilton Head’s Historic Forts...................................57 59. Visit the First Freedman’s Village...................................57 60. Play at a Children’s Museum......................................... 58 61. Create Your Own Memories.......................................... 59 62. Meet the Small Animals................................................ 59 63. Check Out Our Parks and Playgrounds.........................60 64. Play a Round of Miniature Golf..................................... 61 65. Watch the Fireworks..................................................... 61 66. Be a Pirate of the Calibogue......................................... 62 67. Play Tennis.................................................................... 63 68. Discover Daufuskie Island.............................................64 69. Do Daufuskie On Your Own..........................................64 70. Go to the Theatre..........................................................66 71. Do the Music Scene...................................................... 68 72. Spend the Day at a Spa.................................................68 73. Go Out to Wine and Dine..............................................69 74. Shop ‘Til You Drop..........................................................71 75. Shop a Farmers Market................................................ 72 76. Buy a Piece of the Foot..................................................73 77. Take a Trolley Tour of Savannah.................................... 74 78. Take a Specialty Tour of Savannah................................ 76 79. Tour the Sites of “The Book”......................................... 76 80. See the Movie Sets of Savannah....................................77 81. Take a Riverboat Cruise................................................. 78 82. Shop the Cobbled Streets............................................. 78 83. Be a Ghost Hunter........................................................ 80 84. Tour Savannah’s Historic Homes.................................. 80 85. Visit the Bamboo Farm................................................. 81 86. Honor the Mighty 8th................................................... 82 87. Visit a Train Museum..................................................... 82 88. Visit Savannah’s Colonial Churches............................... 83 89. Party Savannah............................................................. 84 90. Visit Savannah’s Forts................................................... 84 91. Get Carriaged Away...................................................... 85 92. Visit an Art Museum..................................................... 85 93. Visit Colonial Wormsloe Plantation...............................86 94. Don’t Miss Tybee Island................................................86 95. Explore Beautiful Beaufort........................................... 87 96. Visit the Parris Island Museum...................................... 87 97. Visit Hunting Island....................................................... 88 98. Visit the Penn Center.................................................... 88 99. Explore the Old Sheldon Church Ruins.........................89 100. Turn Back Time in Historic Charleston..........................89 101. Experience a Southern Plantation................................90 Summer/Fall • 2015
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: $68 Adults; 4 Hours: $63 Adults, $10 off for Kids 12 & under.
ids 12 & Und er
Shark Fishing
(June thru Aug.) 3 Hr. Shark Fishing: $58 Adults $10 off for Kids 12 & under
DOLPHIN WATCHING ABOARD “GYPSY”
Dolphin Watch: DOLPHINS GUARANTEED!
Close encounters with Bottlenose Dolphins. $15 Adults, $8 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, $10 Kids. June thru August
Fireworks Cruise:
Cruise with us Tuesday evenings to see the summer fireworks at Shelter Cove. $25 Adults, $15 Kids. Mid-June thru Mid-August CRUISES LEAVE FROM SOUTH BEACH MARINA (the closet marina to the Ocean) 232 South Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC Summer/Fall • 2015
(843) 363-2900 www.hiltonheadboattours.com
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 3
Calibogue Cruises Tours DAILY FERRY SERVICE TO DAUFUSKIE BY PADDLE WHEELER Calibogue Cruises offers daily ferry service aboard an authentic 1850s paddle wheeler to this intriguing sea island. Once there, you are free to explore at your own pace in a 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.
$26 per person
DAILY NARRATED 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 guided history tour of Daufuskie conducted by a guide from the Daufuskie Island Lowcountry Museum. 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 the historic landmarks and art galleries, walk the beaches, and dine at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company. Narrative CD available that includes many wonderful stories about the Island’s history and culture.
$58 adult $34 child Don’t fight the traffic. Join us aboard an authentic 1850s paddle wheeler, Hitlon Head’s newest charter boat, for a narrated 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. 4 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
Tour Enchanted Daufuskie Melrose Landing (Private)
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BEAUFORT COUNTY DOCK & Marshside Mamas
FREEPORT MARINA & Daufuskie Crab Co.
County Public Beach
South Beach
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Daufuskie Island
Want to spend the night on Daufuskie? Cabins are available for rent year around. For prices and availability, call (843) 785-8242.
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Ferry Service & Tours Depart Daily Year Around Broad Creek Marina, 18 Simmons Road, off Marshland Road.
Calibogue Cruises
• (843) 342-8687(tour)
All schedules & rates vary seasonally so call ahead. Advanced reservations required.
www.daufuskiefreeport.com
•
www.enjoydaufuskie.com
A portion of all sales is donated to the Daufuskie Island Lowcountry Museum.
SUPER SAVER!!
ALL INCLUSIVE DAUFUSKIE TOUR $64 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 1/31/16.
Summer/Fall • 2015
SUMMER SAVINGS!!
Tues Only
TUESDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS $15 per person (2 & under FREE)
Cruise up Broad Creek for Summer Fireworks. Beverages available on-board Advance reservations required. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Valid Tuesdays between June 16 to August, 11, 2015. Must present this coupon to receive discount.
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 5
Directory of Advertisers Accommodations/Timeshare Hilton Head Vacation Rentals................................ 50 Vacation Time of Hilton Head.................................73 Aerial Adventures Aerial Adventures Hilton Head................................ 8 ZipLine Hilton Head................................................ 8 Art Galleries / Arts & Crafts Art Cafe................................................................. 59 Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.............................. 66 The Sandbox Children’s Museum.......................... 59 Bike Rentals BAAD Bike Rentals................................................ 43 Coconuts Bike Rentals............................................15 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Pedals.................................................................... 14 Uzip Electric Bike Rentals...................................... 16 Boating/Watersports - Tours & Rentals Calibogue Cruises...................................... 4-5, 21, 65 Commander Zodiac............................................... 45 Crabber J ............................................................... 50 Dolphin and Nature Cruises................ Back Cover, 18 Dolphin Discoveries............................................... 44 Dolphin Seafari...................................................... 16 Flying Circus............................ Inside Front Cover, 19 Gypsy.................................................................3, 63 Holiday.................................................................. 19 Island Explorer........................................................17 HHI Jet Pack.......................................................... 43 Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 44 Live Oac............................................................ 13, 47 Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Safaris............. 24, 35, 49 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Palmetto Bay Watersports................... 16, 42, 44, 45
on Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah www.101thingshiltonheadisland.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
Published by 101, Inc. P. O. Box 23465, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 Phone: (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 2015 101 Inc. All rights reserved.
6 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Pau Hana...................................... Inside Front Cover Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises............................25 Sea Monkeys......................................................... 41 Sky Pirate Watersports.......................................... 39 Spirit of Harbour Town............................................ 9 Stars & Stripes.................................................... 9, 37 Sumo Charters........................................................37 Vagabond Cruises.................................................... 9 Charter Fishing Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat...............................47 Drifter.......................................................................3 Live Oac............................................................ 13, 47 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Dining - Restaurants, Tours & Dinner Cruises Calibogue Cruises...................................... 4-5, 21, 65 Express Restaurant Delivery...................................70 Frosty Frog Cafe & Daiquiri Bar............................. 69 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Palmetto Bay Watersports................... 16, 42, 44, 45 Old Savannah Tours.....................................75, 78, 81 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Savannah Riverboat Cruises...................................79 Savor the Lowcountry Tours ................................. 29 Spirit of Harbour Town............................................ 9 Up the Creek Pub and Grill....................................... 8 Urban Vegan Cafe..............................................10-11 Helicopter Tours Hilton Head Helicopter Tours..................................35 Old City Helicopter Tours....................................... 34 Horseback Riding Lawton Stables.......................................................27 Jetskiing Palmetto Bay Watersports................... 16, 42, 44, 45 Sea Monkeys......................................................... 41 Kayak Tours & Rentals Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 44 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports................... 16, 42, 44, 45 Sea Monkeys......................................................... 41 Kids’ Activities Adventure Cove..................................................... 61 Aerial Adventures Hilton Head................................ 8 Art Cafe................................................................. 59 Black Dagger/Pirates of Hilton Head..................... 63 Black Orchid Pirate Cruises................................10-11 Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat...............................47 Crabber J............................................................... 50 Dolphin and Nature Cruises................ Back Cover, 18 Dolphin Seafari...................................................... 16 Gypsy.................................................................3, 63 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum.........................1 Holiday.................................................................. 19 Island Recreation Center....................................... 66 Kayak Hilton Head................................................. 44 Lawton Stables.......................................................27 Live Oac............................................................ 13, 47 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 The Sandbox Children’s Museum.......................... 59 Vagabond Cruises.................................................... 9 Uzip Electric Bike Rentals...................................... 16 ZipLine Hilton Head................................................ 8
Libraries Heritage Library Foundation..................................57 Marinas Broad Creek Marina Adventures.............................. 8 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Miniature Golf / Arcades Adventure Cove..................................................... 61 Museums / History Centers Gullah Museum of Hilton Head..............................53 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum.........................1 Heyward House Historic Center............................ 54 The Legacy Golf Shop and Museum .................. 1, 71 The Sandbox Children’s Museum.......................... 59 Parasailing Sky Pirate Watersports.......................................... 39 Sailing - Charters, Rentals & Instruction Commander Zodiac............................................... 45 Flying Circus............................ Inside Front Cover, 19 Pau Hana...................................... Inside Front Cover Stars & Stripes.................................................... 9, 37 Sumo Charters........................................................37 Shopping Art Cafe................................................................. 59 Bargain Box............................................................70 Ed Funk Photos......................................................53 Frosty’s Closet....................................................... 69 Inzanouts of the Lowcountry..................................72 The Legacy Golf Shop and Museum .................. 1, 71 Maritime Gift Galley.................................................1 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Marina.........................................10-11 Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe.................................1 Sightseeing Tours Calibogue Cruises...................................... 4-5, 21, 65 Oglethorpe Trolley Tours.................................. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours.....................................75, 78, 81 Outside Hilton Head........................................... 7, 65 Savannah Riverboat Cruises...................................79 Savor the Lowcountry Tours ................................. 29 Spirit of Harbour Town............................................ 9 Uzip Electric Bike Rentals...................................... 16 Spas Heavenly Spa by Westin........................................ 68 Symphony Orchestras Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra..........................67 Theatres Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.............................. 66 Ziplines Zipline Hilton Head.................................................. 8
On the Cov er
Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry & Savannah Photo by Scott Mooneyhan, Live Oac Adventures
Dolphin watching is a very popular activity on Hilton Head. This sweet looking family was photographed in Calibogue Sound by Scott Mooneyhan of Live Oac Adventures (www. liveoacadventures.com 843-384-1414). For more information about dolphins, see editorial #5 on page 16.
Summer/Fall • 2015
Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 7
Lowcountry Highs.
2 Adventures
2 Hours Each
ADVEN Hilton URE Head 8 interconnected ziplines on a guided tour thru the trees with dual cable racing finale. Heights to 75 ft, Ages 10+
50 in-the-tree challenging activities on 6 courses, easy to hard, for a 5-yr-old to a Marine. Self-guided, harnessed & helmeted.
Book either 2 hour adventure, then try our rock climbing wall and bungee trampoline.
Zip next door to the casual waterfront Up the Creek Pub & Grill, chosen by Southern Living as 1 of 4 HHI restaurants to visit. ziplinehiltonhead.com 8 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
843.682.6000 aerialadventurehiltonhead.com Summer/Fall • 2015
Reservations preferred. See our adventure videos on our websites. Check websites for age, weight and other info. 33 Broad Creek Marina Way, HHI (1 mile from Cross Island, off Marshland Rd)
Harbour Town Cruises
1 famous Harbour and 3 fabulous boats. It’s the reason we have been under the Lighthouse since 1968. Marine Reseach
Conducted in Partnership with the
Univeristy of South Carolina (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
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.
Spirit of Harbour Town Cruise in comfort on the Island’s fastest and only air-conditioned vessel. · Fireworks Dinner Cruise · Historic Savannah Cruise · Sunset & Lowcountry Buffet Dinner Cruise
Stars & Stripes Climb aboard this real, twelve meter America’s Cup that was skippered by Dennis Connor. · Afternoon Dolphin Sail · Sunset Sail · Semi-Private Sail
$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.
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.
(843) 363-9026 Summer/Fall • 2015
www.vagabondcruise.com www.101thingshiltonhead.com •
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, four 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.
You'll Eat Here If You Know What's GOOD For You!!
Come and join the family fun, dining inside or out on our pet-friendly waterfront patio courtyard. Discover all the tasty and healthy vegan selections. No eggs, dairy, meat, gluten, peanuts, or fish used. Fresh Organic Salads & Wraps Vegan Burgers & Sandwiches Crab Cakes, Pizza & Tacos Fresh Juices & Smoothies Teas & Tasty Desserts Kids Menu Happy Hour Daily 2-4 pm
Sunrise Cafe 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
Open Daily Year Around
(843) 671-3474
www.palmettobaymarinahhi.com
ARROW RD.
POPE AVE
TARGET RD.
GREENWOOD DRIVE
Not Fancy, Just Fabulous!
Black Marlin Hurricane Bar
US 278
• • • • • • •
Free Parking • No Gate Fees (843) 785-7131 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC
www.palmettobaymarinahhi.com
10 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
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l m etto Bay Marina Dining
•
Shopping
Loc C h o a l ’s “Be ice a s st Sinc Marina ” e 20 06
• Banana Boat Rides • Boat Rentals • Daufuskie Water Taxi • Dining • Dinner Cruises • Dolphin Watching • Eco Tours
• Pirate Ship Adventures • Sailing • Shopping • Stand-Up Paddle Boarding • Sunset Tours • Tubing
• Fireworks Cruises • Fishing Charters • Jet Skiing • Kayaking • Paddle Boat Rentals • Parasailing
Pirate Adventure Cruise Aboard the Black Orchid Take a step back in time and join a true Pirate Adventure! It’s great fun for kids of all ages (and parents, too!). � Pirate Games � Songs � Face painting
� Costumes � Soft sword fighting classes � Water cannons
� And, of course, lost treasure and booty for all! Several sailings daily
(843) 785-7131 Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.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 sits on historic Honey Horn plantation, a 68-acre property on the banks of Jarvis Creek and 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. The 6,000-square-foot Discovery House contains permanent and temporary exhibits, and 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. 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 and events, call (843) 689-6767.
2
Photo © Eric Horan
12 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Climb a lighthouse and see the view
When the Sea Pines Resort founder Charles Fraser built the Harbour Town Lighthouse in 1970, the skeptical 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 red-and-white-striped lighthouse soon became a landmark. Today, 45 years after its completion, the Lighthouse is the international symbol of Hilton Head Island. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse is one of the most popular visitor activities. You climb through a museum that displays a valuable collection of 19th Century and Civil War-era photographs and artifacts. Pause on large landings to read about the Island’s legends and history starting with Summer/Fall • 2015
Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.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 &
www.pedalsbicycles.com
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 • Hybrid Bikes • Adult Tricycles the Yemassee Indians, through the Island’s Civil War era, the construction of the lighthouse itself, and the Island’s development. 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. On the ground floor is the Maritime Gift Galley, a unique nautical shop and bookstore where you can browse antique treasures. And don’t miss the Lighthouse’s old-time photo booth for a fun souvenir of your visit to Hilton Head. The lighthouse is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to sundown. There is a small entry fee, but children age five and under are free. They also operate the new Legacy of Golf Shop and Museum in the Shops at Sea Pines that features collectables from generations of American golf.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. Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13 Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13, 71 Maritime Gift Gallery (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13 Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe (843-671-2810) Ad p. 13 14 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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 • 2015
Stop in at the Legacy of Golf Shop and Museum, located in the Shops at Sea Pines on Lighthouse Road. Here you will find collectables from generations of American golf, including vintage clubs, equipment, apparel, and paintings by golf artist Linda Hartough. They even have a never-beforeseen home movie of Charles Fraser, Sea Pines founder, awarding Arnold Palmer the Heritage’s first trophy. Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13, 71
4
Rent a bike and Explore the Island
COCONUT BIKE RENTALS
VOTED RBA BIKE SHOP OF THE YEAR
WE’
101 Photograph
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. In fact, it’s so perfect that the League of American Bicyclists has given the Island its “Gold Award,” placing it on their top 25 list of bike-friendly communities. 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, Summer/Fall • 2015
VE GON EB A N A N AS !
t Abou As k l ia Sp e c ate s R p G ro u
RENT FROM A NATIVE
CHILD SEATS FREE LOCKS FREE BASKETS FREE DELIVERY & PICK-UP
FA M IL OW N Y E D SI NC E 19 82
843-686-5055
$18 per bike July & Aug $23 per bike Sept thru Jan (excluding holidays)
Special Group Rates www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 15
See more - Sweat LeSS! Electric Bike Rentals
• Up to 30 miles per charge • Speeds up to 20 mph without pedaling • Ride on the beach
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(843) 671-4047
Free p ick & deli -up very
www.uziphhi.com Coligny Plaza Kiosk
and a localized map of the area on the other. Guidelines and 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. For a unique adventure, ride the trails of the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge. Better yet, take your bike over to Daufuskie Island and ride around its dirt roads where the timeless mystique of this Sea Island has been captured and preserved. Vagabond Cruises allows bicycles on their cruise to Daufuskie at no extra charge. 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 to tandems and mountain bikes, and even electric 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. Coconut Bike Rentals (843-686-5055) Ad p. 15 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Pedals Bicycles (843-842-5522) Ad p. 14 Uzip Electric Bike Rentals & Tours (843-671-4047) Ad p.16 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
DISCOVER DOLPHINS!!! 5 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
Operated by Palmetto Bay Watersports
(843) 785-2345
•Brand new 30’ pontoon boat (up to 20 passengers) •Bathroom on board •Daily Nature & Sunset Cruises •Crab trap and castnet demonstration •Onboard aquarium (seasonal) •Hands-On! Great for Kids! •Private Tours Available
PA L M E TTO BAY MARI NA • NO GATE FEES • FREE PARKIN G
www.palmettobaywatersports.com
16 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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. 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
Dolphins
Island Explorer has been cruising the local waters for more than 20 years, and takes you off the "beaten path" to the pristine waters of Broad Creek, Calibogue Sound, and beyond, where the dolphin, shore birds and marsh life are abundant. Small groups to ensure a personal trip.
Beach Combing
Summer/Fall • 2015
6-Passenger Expedition
Island Explorer
Nature
Sunsets
12-Passenger Explorer
Located at the docks of The Old Oyster Factory 101 Marshland Road
843-785-2100
www.DolphinToursHiltonHead.com Island Explorer - 101 Things To Do - Discount
$20 OFF $20 Off For Parties of 4 On 2- and 3-Hour Tours Paid In Cash Only
Scan For Weekly Specials And Our Mobile Web Site
This discount may not be combined with any other discounts. Either present this coupon or mention this 101 Things To Do ad. Expires 2/1/16
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 17
Dolphin and Nature Cruises ISLAND QUEEN
Wil G u a rd D o l p h i a E v e r n t e e d on s y To n ur
Licensed for 40 passengers
S.S. PELICAN
Licensed 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.
$1800 Adults (reg. $2200) $900 Children (reg. $1200) Children under 2 FREE
Snacks & Beverages Available on All Tours
NEW THIS YEAR!!
Live Island Music with Captain Scott Hammet aboard the Island Queen’s Sunset Dolphin Cruise. Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. during the Summer and Fall. 1-1/2 hours - $24 adults, $12 children (reservations required)
Call for Reservations (843) 681-2522 Advance Reservations Recommended Book online at www.hiltonheadtours.com Departs Mid-Island from Broad Creek Marina NO GATE FEES
18 Simmons Road, off Marshland Road Hilton Head Island, SC ASK ABOUT OUR “101” SPECIAL
Since 1985
18 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Photo © Eric Horan
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. 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, climate control systems, 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
6
Comb a beach
Every year over two million visitors flock to Hilton Head to enjoy the warm sunshine and more than 12 miles of beaches that encircle the Island. Beachcombing is a natural thing to do - both figuratively and literally. 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.
THE ULTIMATE SAILING EXPERIENCE
FLYING CIRCUS The “Environmentally Friendly” Way To See Nature Under Sail!
Daily Dolphin Watch Sunset Sails Summer Fireworks Cruises Sailing Lessons Limited to Six People for Comfort & Intimacy Since 1989
Reservations & Information
843-686-2582
Palmetto Bay Marina
Visit Us On
www.hiltonheadislandsailing.com www.facebook.com/pauhanaflyingcircus
Call for 101 Special
CAPT. MARK’S
Dolphin Watch Nature Cruises Aboard the “Holiday”
Photo courtesy of the Coastal Discovery Museum
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. Please make every attempt to not litter and to keep the beach as beautiful as when you first arrived. Just leave your footprints. Commander Zodiac (843-671-3344) Ad p. 45 Island Explorer (843-785-2100) Ad p. 19 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Summer/Fall • 2015
O 35 Ye ver Exper ars of ience
The e ruis best c or your f values n dollar! vacatio
The 80-ft double deck ship “Holiday” cruises all calm water. 1 hour, 45 minutes, featuring over 45 points of interest. Snack bar & restrooms on board.
Narrated Dolphin & Nature Cruises
Adults $16, Children (3-12) $8, Under 2 years FREE • Cash Only
Sunset Dolphin Watch Cruises
Adults $18, Children (3-12) $9, Under 2 years FREE • Cash Only
Summer Fireworks Cruise
(Reservations Required) Adults $25, Children (3-12) $15, Under 2 years FREE • Credit Cards Accepted
Departure Schedule Is Seasonal • Call For Current Departure Times No Reservations Required • No One Turned Away (Tickets may be purchased at the boat just prior to boarding)
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
Adventure Cruises • (843) 785-4558 www.cruisehiltonhead.com
FREE SOFT DRINK!!
Present this ad to the cashier when boarding and receive a voucher for a free soft drink at our snack bar. Limit one free soft drink per person in your party.
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 19
7
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. No experience is necessary. All companies provide instructions and maps for you to follow. However, a word of caution: Be aware of the tides, which can vary as much as eight feet. If you are not paying attention, you could easily find yourself stuck. 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.\ Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39
101 Photograph
20 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
8
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 a boat. There is no bridge. Your options include taking a ferry, operated by Calibogue Cruises or Vagabond Cruises; you can hire a water taxi service operated by Palmetto Bay Watersports; sign-up 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 three docks (Freeport Marina, Bloody Point Marina, or the County Dock), golf carts are available for rent. Make sure you ask about making arrangements for a cart when you make your transportation reservations because the supply of carts is limited. If you rent through Freeport Marina, the carts come equipped with a cd player. To enhance your exploration, a self-guided tour cd is available for purchase at Freeport’s General Store. Provided by the Daufuskie Lowcountry Museum, the narrative includes many wonderful stories about the Island’s history and culture. You can rent carts by the half-day or full day (about six hours). You’ll probably want to rent for at least half a day to give you plenty of time to explore all that the Island has to offer, from the beautiful beaches to historic Gullah sites. 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
101 Photograph
Summer/Fall • 2015
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, 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 just like with cars, do not let your young ones drive, and do not drink and drive. There are police on the Island.
Authenic 1850s Paddle Wheeler
Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
9
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 offers weekly round-trip passenger service to Savannah’s historic River Street aboard an authentic climate-controlled 1850s paddle wheeler (reservations are required). Snacks, wine and beer are available on-board. Once you arrive in Savannah, you are free to spend the day shopping or exploring on your own. 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. Once there, you can connect with a variety of tours, including Old Savannah Tours’ trolley around the Historic District. Small boat operators (around six passengers), such as 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
Travel Back in Time
New Passenger Ferry Service from HIlton Head to Daufuskie & Savannah
Climate Controlled Snacks, Beer & Wine Available
Calibogue Cruises (843) 342-8687
Call for tickets & schedule Charters for Your Private Event
www. daufuskiefreeport.com www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 21
You should allow for a full day for a round-trip to Savannah. Snacks and beverages are not necessarily included. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
10 Photo courtesy of Spirit of Harbour Town/Vagabond Cruises
Photo courtesy of ZipLine Hilton Head
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 tour 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 interconnected ziplines rising to heights of 75 feet. The course includes two suspended bridges, and an aerial staircase. It ends with an exhilarating 900-foot dual cable racing finale, perfect for thrill seekers young and old alike. They also offer “twilight 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. The zipline is part of the expanded Broad Creek Marina Adventures that also includes six aerial adventure challenge courses for all ages and all levels of ability. 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. Aerial Adventure Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8 ZipLine Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8
11 Photo courtesy of Broad Creek Marina Adventures
22 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Climb the Trees
On an island noted for its extensive tree canopy, inthe-trees aerial challenge courses are not only a likely fit, but also a thrilling way to experience Hilton Head’s natural beauty. Summer/Fall • 2015
New to Hilton Head is Aerial Adventure Hilton Head, a treetop adventure that consists of six courses with 50 different challenges, ranging from easy to very difficult. Through the use of ropes, logs, swinging bridges, hoops and other fun obstacles, participants can climb through the trees just like Tarzan. No experience is necessary, and the six courses are designed for different physical abilities. A young child can do green courses; a jock can be challenged by the higher, more difficult blue and black courses. Participants are harnessed, helmeted, and hooked onto the cables. Then, for the entire two hours, they are free to guide themselves through the various aerial trails for both physical and mental challenges. In addition to these six challenge courses, Broad Creek Marina Adventures also operates ZipLine Hilton Head, eight interconnected ziplines with sky bridges, tree platforms up to heights of 75 feet, and a 900-foot dual cable racing finale. Broad Creek Marina Adventures is located midisland at 33 Broad Creek Marina Way off Marshland Road. Reservations are required. Large groups can be accommodated with enough notice. Aerial Adventure Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8 ZipLine Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8 Photo Howard Costa
12
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. Alligators: 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. Birds: Hilton Head is the place to be for bird watchers. You can observe both shore birds and inland birds. Shorebirds, with their long skinny legs for walking through the tides and long beaks for capturing fresh fish, are entertaining and remarkable to watch. You’ll find brown pelican, ibis, wood stork, egret, osprey and more walking on the shores, marshes and greenways. Deer: While driving through the resort plantations or teeing off on a golf course, you may very well run into the Summer/Fall • 2015
most over-populated island inhabitant—the white-tailed deer. Due to increased inbreeding of these island animals, these deer only grow to be 130 to 200 pounds and three to four feet tall. They can however, bounce away from prey or in front of your car at a speed of 28 miles per hour. Keep a lookout when driving at night along the moonlit streets. Dolphins: 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. Loggerhead Turtles: The Lowcountry’s beaches are prime nesting areas for the rare loggerhead turtle between early May and late August. Strict laws protect these beautiful giants and their nests found along the ocean’s shore; Hilton Head has an ordinance banning lights on the beach after 10:00 p.m. between May 1 to October 31 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; do not leave beach accessories (such as umbrellas and chairs) on the beach overnight; and fill in all holes from digging and building sand castles. If you come across a nest or have any questions, contact the Coastal Discovery Museum (weekdays, 843-689-6767), the Town of Hilton Head (weekdays, 843-341-4690) or the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Hotline www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 23
(800-922-5431). Fines and jail time can be enforced upon those who disrupt the nests of these endangered species. 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) 363-9026.
13
Encounter an alligator
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 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. 24 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Photo © Eric Horan
Summer/Fall • 2015
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.
14
Photograph nature with a pro
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 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.
Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises a P icture s ays
a
t housand W ords
3-Hour Gilbert Creek Cruise for all skill levels
• Circumnavigate Pinckney Island and cruise up Gilbert Creek. • Great for professionals, amatuers, and even non-photographers. • Relaxing and scenic, just as a Lowcountry nature tour should be.
Capt. Larry “Doc” Watts
843.681.3728 or 843.290.2720 www.LarryWatts.com
Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Safaris (843-524-3037) Ad p. 25, 37, 48 Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises (843-681-3728) Ad p. 25
15
Go birdwatching
In December 2014, the Hilton Head chapter of the Audubon Society conducted their Annual Christmas Bird Count. It revealed 141 bird species and a total of 28,405 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 and the Lowcountry as a prime place for birding. The National Audubon Society has designated 17 important birding areas in the Lowcountry, including the 350,000 acre ACE Basin north of Beaufort. Two places on Hilton Head have qualified: Ibis Pond in the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge and Lake Mary in the Sea Pines Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 25
Forest Preserve. Both sites are home to densely populated rookeries in springtime. Another ideal birding locations include the 50-acre Audubon Newhall Preserve on Palmetto Bay Road, Fish Haul Creek Park on Mitchelville Road, Hunting Island east of Beaufort, and the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge on US 17 northeast of Savannah in Hardeeville. Birding is an essential part of the Lowcountry experience. Most guided ecotours include bird watching as part of their excursions. The guides and naturalists will be able to identify the most common species for you. 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 year around.
16
Visit a Maritime Center
Port Royal Sound Foundation’s new Maritime Center is now open at the historic Lemon Island Marina, located between Bluffton and Beaufort on US 170 at the south end of the bridge over the Chechessee River. The Maritime Center is dedicated to raising awareness of Port Royal Sound’s environmental significance, history, and marine research. It has several exhibits that will appeal to all ages. When you enter the main exhibit hall, the Predator Ceiling Diorama features a life-sized tiger shark, a ray, and a loggerhead sea turtle, all of which are local maritime creatures. There is also a 3,000-gallon aquarium and touch tanks that will eventually be home to several species of local marine creatures.
101 Photograph
26 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Here you will also see a display and hear the story of the albino dolphin “Carolina Snowball” and her son “Sonny Boy,” both of whom once swam the waters of Port Royal Sound. There are also rotating photography exhibits to remind visitors of the ever-present history and beauty of this area as well as series of lectures, workshops and outdoor programs. The Center is open Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is located at 310 Okatie Highway (US 170) under the Chechessee River Bridge. For more information, call (843) 645-7774.
17
Watch the sun set
Hilton Head Island’s distinctive scenery, combined with its beaches and mysterious light, makes sunset viewing an enduring Lowcountry pastime. Any place on the western side of the Island will give you a good sunset, particularly our beaches. 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.
Photo by Flying Circus Sailing Charters
Summer/Fall • 2015
Discover the Sea Pines Forest Preserve Trail Rides • Pony Rides • Small Animal Farm Private Boarding • Gift Store Therapeutic Riding Center
open 7 days a week
190 Greenwood Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.671.2586
www.lawtonstables.com www.iridingacademy.com www.wishuponahorsehhi.org 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 and tours.
18
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 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 Summer/Fall • 2015
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. 27
19
Explore Nature’s Refuges
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 owned by the family of Charles Coatsworth Pinckney, a signer of the U.S. Constitution. Pinckney is a popular place for hiking, biking, bird watching, and www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 27
Photo © Eric Horan
photography. You can also circumnavigate the island by kayak or boat, either on your own or with a guided tour (see listings below). Numerous clearly marked grassy trails lead you to secluded ponds and promontories teaming with birds, alligators, dolphins, wildflowers, and swampy woods. The refuge is located on U.S. Hwy. 278 between the two bridges that run from Bluffton to Hilton Head. It is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Dogs and other pets are not permitted, and there are no restrooms. At certain times of the year parts of the refuge 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. There is a four-mile wildlife drive through old rice field dikes as well as hiking and biking trails. You’ll see alligators, and thousands of migratory birds can be seen in the area during the winter. The Visitor Center, located on U.S. Hwy. 17 in Hardeeville, SC, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dogs and other pets are not permitted. For more information, call (843) 784-2468. The Ernest F. Hollings ACE (Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers) Basin National Wildlife Refuge, located about two hours north of Hilton Head on U.S. Hwy. 17, is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast. This 350,000-acre preserve 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 on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located on Willtown Road off U.S. Hwy. 17 in Edisto Beach, north of Beaufort. Admission to the refuge is free. It is open daily, except holidays, from dawn until dusk. For more information, call (843) 889-3084. On Hilton Head, there are two nature preserves. The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a 605-acre tract of forest with eight miles of trails in the heart of Sea Pines. Guided walking tours, family wagon rides, alligator boat tours, and trail rides on horseback all explore the nature and history of this tranquil enclave. 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. Hilton Head’s 50-acre Audubon Newhall Nature Preserve, located off Palmetto Bay Road just off the south end of the Cross Island Parkway, is another peaceful oasis for nature lovers. It has a series of short, easy, and well-marked interpretive trails (complete with benches along the way) that lead you through a diverse forest to a pond where you will probably see alligators, blue heron, and turtles. Because it is so small, it is well suited for small children. Dogs are permitted. There are no restrooms. Admission and parking are free, and it is open during the daylight hours year
Photo courtesy of Savor the Lowcountry
28 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
around. The Hilton Head Island Audubon Society conducts seasonal walks on a variety of ecological subjects. For more information, call them at (843) 842-9246. Kayak Hilton Head (843-684-1910) Ad p. 41 Lawton Stables (843-671-2586) Ad p. 27 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 13, 49 Lowcountry Wildlife Photo Safaris (843-524-3037) Ad p. 25, 37, 48 Salt Marsh Photographic Cruises (843-681-3728) Ad p. 25 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65
20
Take a Tasty Walking Tour
If you like to walk . . . if you like food . . . if you like history . . . if you’re looking for a fun activity for the whole family . . . have we got a walking tour for you! Savor the Lowcountry offers a unique way to experience the Island’s culture and cuisine. Their walking culinary tours focus on tastings from the Island’s best restaurants and gourmet specialty shops as well as a generous serving of Hilton Head history. Their enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides will take you on an afternoon stroll that visits several different eateries (make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes!). At each stop you will sample delicious foods, drinks, and even some sweet treats while your guide shares the Island’s interesting history with you. This is a terrific activity for couples and families, reunion groups, even gal or guy getaways – anyone who is looking for a fun and flavorful way to spend an afternoon. Two tours are currently offered: their signature Savor Coligny Tour, and their newest tour, Savor the Village at Wexford. Groups are limited to 12 guests and meet rain or shine. Advanced reservations are required. Savor the Lowcountry (843-301-1005) Ad p. 29
21
Play a Game of Bridge
If golf and tennis are the official sports of the Lowcountry, bridge is the official card game. Hundreds of visitors flock to Hilton Head to set up a table or two for a weekend – or week – of bridge. In fact, Hilton Head is one of the country’s most popular bridge destinations. In addition to the numerous private parties taking place in homes and condos around the Island, the Bride Club of Hilton Head has 124 tables going strong from Monday morning through Saturday afternoon. The club also hosts the second largest regional bridge tournament in the United States. The Lowcountry Classic Mid-Atlantic Summer/Fall • 2015
Foodies Unite!!
Join a walking tour of Hilton Head’s hottest eateries. • Visit great restaurants & gourmet specialty shops. • Sample their best culinary creations. • Experience the award-winning locals' favorites. • Learn fun facts about Hilton Head’s flavorful history.
Advanced reservations required.
843-301-1005
www.savorthelowcountry.com Bridge Conference, held at the beginning of February (the next one will be held in 2016), attracts over 2,000 players from all over the U.S. and Canada. Visitors can attend bridge clinics held three times a week at the Bridge Club, located in Port Royal Plaza (near Sam’s Club). The club also holds regularly scheduled games open to anyone. There is even a Junior Bridge Program held on Saturdays for youngsters interested in learning how to play. There is a small charge to play, and since the club is a non-profit organization, some of the proceeds are donated to local charities. For more information, call (843) 689-6239 for the clinics and (843) 342-7529 for game schedules.
22
Check out Beautiful Shelter Cove Harbour
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 www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 29
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. There are numerous opportunities to see live entertainment year around. Perhaps the highlight is the summer “must do” Tuesday night fireworks displays. 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 first-class villas and condos, and also features a number of waterfront shops and restaurants that are open year around.
Photo courtesy of Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat (843-785-1700) Ad p. 47 The Crabber J (843-422-5110) Ad p. 49 The Holiday (843-785-4558) Ad p. 18 HHI Jet Pack (844-453-8722) Ad p. 41 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 67
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101 Photograph
30 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Check out the Happenings at 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. A culinary walking tour is available that will take you to some of the Coligny area’s more popular restaurants where you will sample delicious foods, drinks, and sweet treats Summer/Fall • 2015
while your guide shares the Island’s interesting history with you. 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 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. 69 Frosty’s Closet (843-686-2533) Ad p. 69 Savor the Lowcountry (843-301-1005) Ad p. 29
24
Check out the Fun Palmetto Bay Marina
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 exhilarating 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 water taxi service and a dinner cruise to Daufuskie Island operate from here, as does a rollicking kid’s pirate adventure cruise aboard a museum-quality Spanish Galleon. 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, including the Island’s only vegan and gluten-free kitchen. 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 Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo courtesy of Palmetto Bay Marina
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.
Black Orchid Pirate Cruises (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 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. 20,21, 42, 43 Pau Hana (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover Urban Vegan Cafe (843-671-3474) Ad p. 10-11
25
Check out Legendary 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 www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 31
Photo by Susan McCann, Island Photography, provided courtesy of Haroubr Town Yacht Basin
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 45-year-old signature landmark. When you reach the top, you must go outside and take in the 360 degree view. Shop in the charming Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe, and don’t miss their new the ground floor Maritime Gift Galley, a unique nautical shop and bookstore. 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.” At the Nature Center, located between the bakery and CQ’s, 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 naturerelated merchandise. If you are not staying within the Sea Pines Resort, there is a daily gate pass fee.
Black Dagger Pirates of Hilton Head (843-363-7000) Ad p. 63 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13 Maritime Gift Galley (842-671-2810) Ad p. 13 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 Stars & Stripes (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9, 35 Sumo Charters (843-671-4386) Ad p. 37 Top of the Lighthouse Shop (843-671-2810) Ad p. 13 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 32 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Photo courtesy of The Sea Pines Resort
26
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 “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, sailing 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. Singalongs keep everyone in the spirit of a perfect Hilton Head vacation. Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo courtesy of Broad Creek Marina Adventures
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. 43 Drifter (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3 Gypsy (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3, 63
27
Check out the Adventures at 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 an adreline tour through the trees on eight interconnected ziplines. You can mix it up with a treetop aerial adventure that features six challenge courses for all abilities, all geared for the whole family as young as five. If you need more in-the-air adventure, don’t miss a soaring parasail ride over Calibogue Sound. Talk about Lowcountry highs! Now it’s time for lunch at the marina’s family-friendly casual pub-and-grill style restaurant (complete with an outdoor deck overlooking Broad Creek), named by Southern Living magazine as one of Hilton Head’s “must go to” restaurants. It is open daily from 11:00 a.m. Now you can relax on a 90-minute guided dolphin watching boat tour aboard two delightful boats, the “Island Summer/Fall • 2015
Queen” and the “SS Pelican.” Live music is available on the “Island Queen” Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. during the summer and fall. For the afternoon, charter a fishing boat or rent a boat to explore the waterways around Hilton Head. It is also here that you will find the public passenger ferry service to Daufuskie Island aboard Calibogue Cruises’ “Delta Lady”, a replica of an authentic 1850s paddle wheeler. Daufuskie is the magical place where you can experience the mystique of a remote Sea Island Gullah culture, including guided history tours and golf cart rentals. The “Delta Lady” also provides passenger ferry service 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, its various boat cruises, or the treetop towers on its zipline course. End your day with dinner and live music (summer only) at the marina’s restaurant. Unwind and feel the breeze! The marina itself features 46 in-water slips as well as covered dry storage. It offers the full range of marina 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. Aerial Adventure Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8 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 Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39 ZipLine Hilton Head (843-682-6000) Ad p. 8 www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 33
28
Get a bird’s eye view of the lowcountry
There is a new family adventure available in both Hilton Head and Savannah - helicopter tours! From the air you get a unique perspective and whole new feel for the Lowcountry. You’ll see miles of beaches and meandering creeks teeming with wildlife. Fly over beautiful bridges, marinas and lighthouses. Take in a multitude of Sea Islands, historic downtown Savannah, a Marine base, or even Civil War forts. This is a great fun for all ages, from infants to seniors. Celebrate an anniversary, engagement, or even a birthday. These tours will ensure memories for a lifetime and allow you to check one off your bucket list. Helicopter flights are very smooth, and pilots encourage you to bring a camera to capture such a memorable experience. Tours vary in duration, from a quick introductory tour to more extensive adventures. There are some restrictions, and tours may be cancelled due to weather.
Photo courtesy of Hilton Head Helicopter Tours
34 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Hilton Head Helicopter Tours (843-505-7182) Ad p. 35 Old City Helicopters (912-247-0047) Ad p. 34 Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo courtesy of Spirit of Horbour Town/Vagabond Cruises
29
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 of the Carolina coast from massive bay windows. This is Hilton Head’s only on-board dinner cruise. The Lowcountry buffet, exquisitely prepared by Vagabond’s private chef, consists of three courses, from seafood to traditional southern country cooking, multiple meat options for the entree, and a fully stocked bar. The cruise has an atmosphere for everyone, whether you’re looking for a candlelight evening for two or a family party with a view of dolphins, stars and a mansion-clustered shore. The “Delta Lady,” operated by Calibogue Cruises, is Hilton Head’s newest cruise boat. She is unique in that she is an authentic handcrafted Harker’s Island paddlewheeler. They will be offering weekly Low Country buffets. The boat is USCG approved for 146 passengers. Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 35
Photo courtesy of Calibogue Cruises
Photo courtesy of Stars & Stripes/Vagabond Cruises
If you’re planning on visiting Savannah, don’t miss Savannah Riverboat Cruises’ various dinner and evening entertainment cruises aboard replica old-fashioned 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. All sailing schedules vary seasonally, so check on days, times, and menus.
perfect lunch or dinner after you have explored on your own or taken a guided tour. The types of boats range in size from small six-passenger deck boats to canopied pontoons and large double-decker passenger yachts, and even an authentic 146-passenger paddlewheeler. Cruises are available year around, but advance reservations are required.
Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (912-232-6404) Ad p. 79 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
30
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 cruise from Hilton Head to both Daufuskie Island and Savannah where you can find a 36 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
31
Sail on an America’s Cup Boat
Hilton Head Island offers the sailing experience of a lifetime aboard the “Stars & Stripes,” the Island’s only authentic 12-meter America’s Cup vessel. This is the original yacht that was skippered by Dennis Connor and won the 1987 Cup for the United States against Australia. Berthed at the Harbour Town Yacht Basin in The Sea Pines Resort, this yacht cruises across the water under full sail, only using its motor to move in and out of the yacht basin Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo by Suzanne LeMehaute Photography
where the cruise embarks. The friendly and experienced crew of three invites all those aboard to get involved, a thrill and a perfect photo-op. The boat is U.S. Coast Guard approved for up to 28 passengers. “Stars & Strips” offers an array of sailing trips, including a 90-minute afternoon dolphin and nature cruise. The two-hour sunset sail around Hilton Head’s waters is a perfect way to end you day. Beer and wine service is available on all trips. The sailing schedule is seasonal. You can also purchase official “Stars & Stripes” apparel so you can take away a piece of American sailing history. Stars & Stripes (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9, 35
32
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 Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 37
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. 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. 37
33
Cruise on a catamaran
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.
Photo by Pau Hana Sailing Charters
38 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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 from Palmetto Bay Marina. 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. Flying Circus (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover, p. 19 Pau Hana (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover
34
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.
Photo courtesy of Sky Pirate Parasailing
Summer/Fall • 2015
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 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.
on
the D ocks at B roaD c reek m arina
Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39
35
Go waterskiing, tubing & Zupping
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.
PARASAILING BOAT RENTALS TUBING WATERSKIING PRIVATE DOLPHIN ECOLOGY CRUISES SUNSET COCKTAIL CRUISES (FREE BEER & WINE)
(843) 842-2566 Broad Creek Marina 18 Simmons Road Off Marshland Road Photo © Live Oac, LLC
Summer/Fall • 2015
www . skypirateparasail . co m www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 39
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. Check out the latest family water sport - zupping. You are towed on a molded board on which you can lay, kneel, stand, surf, rest, ride backwars, or whatever you can imagine. USCG-licensed captains drive all boats. Bear in mind, however, that these activities operate only during the warmer months. Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39
36
Photo courtesy of Ed Funk
Photo courtesy of Palmetto Bay Watersports
40 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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. You can even sail aboard a 12-meter America’s Cup boat once skippered by Dennis Conner. 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 multihulled (catamaran or trimaran). Most charters offer morning, afternoon, and sunset sails. Some will take you out to watch the summer fireworks displays or on moonlight cruises. 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. Commander Zodiac (843-671-3344) Ad p. 43 Flying Circus (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover, p. 19 Pau Hana (843-686-2582) Ad Inside Front Cover Stars and Stripes (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9, 35 Sumo Charters (843-671-4386) Ad p. 37 Summer/Fall • 2015
Paddle Boards!!
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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 paddleboarding, zupping 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. 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
Offer Expires 9/30/14
Companies providing wakeboarding, wakesurfing, kneeboarding, zupping and wakeskating excursions operate during the warmer months, usually April through October. Lessons and equipment rentals for surfing and standup paddle boarding are available year around, weather permitting. You can purchase boogie boards at any grocery store or large retain chain.
Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Sea Monkeys (843-842-4754) Ad p. 41 Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39
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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.” www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 41
• Boat Rentals • Dolphin Tours • Kayak Tours & Rentals • Waverunners • Paddleboard • Dinner Cruise • Daufuskie Excursions • Fireworks Cruises
Call For Times and Details THE BEST!
(843) 785-2345
palmettobaywatersports.com 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. You will be accompanied to the riding area by a guide who will show you the boundaries of the riding area andstay within sight to make sure you’re safe. Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Sea Monkeys (843-842-4754) Ad p. 41
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Located in Palmetto bay Marina Bait and Tackle Drinks, Snacks, Ice
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. Stand, sit, surf or splash. Swim or sunbathe. Your choice while you wind your way through our calm marshes and take in upclose views of our marinas, waterfront homes, shore birds and other wildlife. Because glide and stability count most in this sport, it is a phenomenal core workout for those who favor a Pilatesstyle 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. Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43 Sea Monkeys (843-842-4754) Ad p. 41
Stand up and paddle
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. 42 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
40
Fly High in a Jetpack
The future has arrived in the Lowcountry with two new ultimate water sports – jetpacking and hoverboarding. Yes, now you can soar over the waters of Broad Creek just like James Bond or Marty McFly. Summer/Fall • 2015
Your adventure begins at Shelter Cove Marina Harbour where you will board a six-passenger boat for a scenic ride out to your launch site. A certified master trainer will give you detailed lessons on how to maneuver the jetpack or hoverboard. During the flight, you will receive verbal commands through a communication helmet so you can comfortably and confidently operate the equipment. While safely under the trainer’s control, you will have the power to walk on water, hover, and then fly over the water. No strength is needed. With the jetpack, you are supported by a padded seat and strapped in by a five-point harness system. All you have to do is lean in the direction you want to go – and fly! The hoverboard, on the other hand, is strapped to your feet, but the same physical principles apply. While you’re in the air, another trainer will be tracking you from below on a waverunner, watching your every move and videoing your flight (which you can take home to show yours friends and family). Your total time in the air is about 30 minutes, and the whole trip takes about one hour. No experience is necessary, but some age, height and weight restrictions apply. You will need to present a photo ID when you check-in. Make sure you wear a bathing suit and bring a towel and sunscreen. Life jackets, helmets and wetsuits are provided. HHI Jet Pack (843-540-6973) Ad p. 41
Book Y Hoverb our o & Jetp ard ack Lesso n Online
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41
Paddle the Lowcountry’s waters
DOLPHIN TOURS DAILY from SUNUP ‘TIL SUNDOWN KAYAK RENTALS $10/hr singles • $15/hr doubles (2 hr min)
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 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. 44 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
Most kayak companies operate year around with seasonal schedules. Then paddle away and enjoy. Race, drift or splash – it’s up to you. Kayak Hilton Head (843-684-1910) Ad p. 41 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,21, 42, 43
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Take a raft ride
THE ISLAND’S ORIGINAL ZODIAC RAFT RIDE
• Dolphin Watching & Nature Tours • Daufuskie Island Beachcombing • Exciting Personalized Adventures • Sailboat Rentals & Lessons • Kid’s Day Camps
Selected as Local Nature Guides by National Geographic •The Discovery Channel • BBC
(843) 671-3334
Located at South Beach Marina www.commanderzodiac.com
2014 Winner Certificate of Excellence
Walk On Wdinagt..e.r!
Paddleboar Photo courtesy of Island Explorer
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. Companies operate on seasonal schedules so make sure you call ahead. Commander Zodiac (843-671-3344) Ad p. 43 Island Explorer (843-785-2100) Ad p. 19 Summer/Fall • 2015
It’s fun! It’s easy!
843.785.2345
Palmetto Bay Marina
Hourly and Daily Rates Year Around Rentals or Guided Tours with Instruction www.palmettobaywatersports.com www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 45
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Fishing License Regulations If you are going freshwater fishing and you are 16 years old or over, you need a license in the state of South Carolina Photo © Eric Horan unless you are fishing in a privately-owned pond, such as those within the gated communities. Note that some ponds are saltwater or brackish in which case you will need a saltwater fishing license. If you are going saltwater fishing and you are 16 years old or over, you need a license in the state of South Carolina. If you are going fishing on a licensed charter boat, you are covered under their permit.
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. “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. 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.
If you are going to saltwater fish from shore, know that the state requires all shore-based saltwater fishermen (age 16 and over) to buy a state saltwater fishing license. This applies to fishing for finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp and crab. Shore-based saltwater fishing areas include the beaches, all saltwater lagoons (including those found within the Island’s gated plantations), public boat landings, and public and private docks and piers. You don’t need a license if you are fishing on a licensed pier. You are covered under their permit. You don’t need a license for crabbing with three or fewer drop nets, fold-up traps or hand lines. You do need a license if you intend to crab with a crab trap or pot. Obtaining a license if easy and inexpensive. Visitors can purchase a 14-day non-resident saltwater fishing license for $11, or $35 for the year. An annual resident license is just $10, or $5 for a 14-day license. Licenses can be purchased anytime by phone (888-714-3611) or online at www.sc.dnr.gov. They are also available at WalMart and outfitter stores. For more information or a copy of South Carolina’s fishing rules and regulations, check with fishing tackle stores in our area, or on the SCDNR website (www.sc.dnr.gov).
Photo by Debbie Clegg
46 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
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 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. If you are going saltwater fishing from the shore, you will need a license. Shore-based saltwater fishing areas include all beaches, saltwater lagoons (including those found within the Island’s gated plantations), public boat lands, and public or private docks or piers. Licenses can be purchased locally at Wal-Mart or any outdoor outfitter. 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. Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat (843-785-1700) Ad p. 47 Drifter (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Marina (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11
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5
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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. 2014-2015 101 Expires 1/31/16
Fish on a Party Boat
No, it’s not fishing to libations and live music. “Party boats,” also known as “head boats,” are large fishing boats that are licensed to carry ten to 100 passengers. They charge a fixed fee per customer (“head” or “party”) for regularly scheduled fishing trips. These boats, unlike the small six-passenger “charter” boats, usually feature plenty of walking around space and come with state-of-the-art equipment and an enclosed cabin with a galley serving food and beverages as well as multiple restrooms. Experienced anglers enjoy the party boats not only because of the on-board amenities, but because they have a good chance of catching quality fish. These trips are also a particularly economical way to introduce beginners, especially children, to the fun of deep-sea fishing. The crewmembers are all trained in instruction and know these waters well. Hilton Head party boats offer four- and five-hour deepsea fishing trips as well as three-hour shark fishing during the summer. The Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat launches from Shelter Cove Harbour Marina. The Drifter operates out the South Beach Marina in The Sea Pines Resort. Your fishing equipment, bait, tackle, license, ice for your catch, and even fish cleaning are all included in your fee. Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 47
Be sure to bring a camera, hat, towel (to wipe your hands), sunglasses and sunscreen as well as non-slip rubber soled shoes. And don’t forget small denominations of cash to tip the mates! Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat (843-785-1700) Ad p. 47 Drifter (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3
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Photo courtesy of Jeff Keller
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. 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 (U.S. 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 (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65
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Photo courtesy of Drifter Excursions
48 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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 Summer/Fall • 2015
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.
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 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
Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65
47
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 Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo © Live Oac, LLC
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 49
Adventure Cruises presents . . .
Let’s Go Crabbing!! Aboard the “Crabber J II”
The e ruis best c or your f s e lu ar! va n doll vacatio
O 35 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
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. Capt. Hook Party Fishing Boat (843-785-1700) Ad p. 49 Gypsy (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3, 63 Drifter (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3 Kayak Hilton Head (843-684-1910) Ad p. 43 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Marina (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11
Call (843) 422-5110 for schedule & reservations www.cruisehiltonhead.com
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48
Go crabbing
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.
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Photo © Eric Horan
Summer/Fall • 2015
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Cast a Net
One of the most iconic images of the Lowcountry is a fisherman in his bateau throwing a huge mesh net to catch shrimp and baitfish. So if you want to get a good feel for what the Lowcountry is all about, learn to throw a cast net. This is a wonderful activity for the whole family. Kids love watching a pro drag in a full net. The art of throwing a net has to be taught in person from a professional guide. It’s not something you can learn by sitting in your living room watching “YouTube.” Your best bet is to sign up for lessons with Live Oac Adventures, Outside Hilton Head, or the Coastal Discovery Museum. Nets can be cast from shore, piers or boats. In South Carolina, you need a salt water fishing license to cast net unless you are with a licensed captain or at a licensed pier. For further information, contact the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at (888) 714-3611.
101 Photograph
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. 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. When a crab is nibbling at your bait, give him time to get a good grip, and then pull him up and 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. 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. The Crabber J (843-422-5110) Ad p. 49 Gypsy (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3, 63 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Summer/Fall • 2015
Gypsy (843-363-2900) Ad p. 3, 63 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65
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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. 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. Calibogue Cruises offers ferry service to Daufuskie so www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 51
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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.
52 Photo Courtesy of the Coastal Discovery Museum
you can join a guided history tour aboard a colorfully painted school bus, or on a golf cart. You can also rent a golf cart (two-, four-, or six-passengers) for a self-guided exploration of the magic of the Island. Vagabond Cruises allows you to even bring your own bicycle at no extra charge. See the old homes, churches, cemeteries and museums that preserve the Island’s unique way of life. Customized private excursions to the Island are also available. 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 by appointment on Mondays 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 at the historical marker on Gumtree Road (12 Georgianna Drive), between William Hilton Parkway (US 278) and Squire Pope Road. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Gullah Museum of Hilton Head (843-681-3254) Ad p. 51 Heritage Library Foundation (843-686-6560) Ad p. 57 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 52 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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
Photo courtesy of Coastal Discovery Museum
Summer/Fall • 2015
Experience the Gullah Culture
Photo by Megan Tyson
Tours Conducted by Gullah Storyteller Louise Cohen Available by appointment on Mondays & Wednesdays (Closed Holidays)
Photo courtesy of Ed Funk
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 (U.S. 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 (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Summer/Fall • 2015
of Hilton Head Island 12 Georgianna Drive • (843) 681-3254 www.gullahmuseumhhi.org
Photography by Ed Funk 11 Hunters Green Bluffton, SC 29910 Tel: 843-815-9455 Cell: 843-368-1414 Email: edfunk56@gmail.com www.edfunkphotos.com
Framed & Matted Photos Available At: The Hilton Head Art League Gallery Pluff Mudd Art in Bluffton The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 53
53
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 commercial distribution 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 was known as a “hot bed of secessionism” and on June 4, 1863, Union gunboats came up the May River and dropped soldiers at Alljoy. The ships continued up the May River and began bombarding the town, while the soldiers marched in and burned 75% of the town. 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
Visit Bluffton’s Welcome Center Photo by Ed Funk & 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. Monday-Friday, 10 am to 5 pm • Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Guided Tours of the House and Grounds on the Hour for a Small Fee Guided Historic District Walking Tours by Appointment Virtual Docent Walking Tours 10 am to 2 Hours Before Closing Living Portrait Tours Throughout the Day 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 for a small fee on weekdays by appointment (please call ahead for reservations). Or you can choose to take a selfguided 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, eclectic collection of boutiques and art galleries, and the newly completed DuBois Park. And don’t miss the popular Bluffton Farmer’s Market, located on Calhoun Street, on Thursdays (hours are seasonal). Heyward House Historic Center (843-757-6293) Ad p. 54 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65
54
Visit the Heyward House
Built circa 1840 as a summer residence for plantation owner John James Cole, this house is a typical Lowcountry farmhouse style of architecture which was built to be cool in the summer. It was influenced by houses in the Indies, 54 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
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raised on piers, with large windows and a wide front porch. It has a shotgun center hall and book-end 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 original outbuildings. A slave cabin and summer kitchen have been restored and interpreted. 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 and opened a house museum. 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 of the house and grounds 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 the 30-minute tour of the house and grounds, and a one-hour walk through the Historic District. There is a fee for these tours and advance reservations are required. Or you can choose to take a self-guided tour of the town for free. Staff 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 Summer/Fall • 2015
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55
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. Dr. John and Caroline Kirk 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 finally completed in 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 where framed memorabilia line the walls. Relax in front porch rockers or stroll about the grounds. After the tour, settle in www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 55
the dining room for peach tea, lemonade and assorted cakes, pies and cheeses. Shop in the butler’s panty gift shop for local crafts. For more information, call (843) 757-6046.
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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. On Hilton Head, ghost ships and pirate adventures thrill young adventurers during the summer with tales of ghosts, 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 ghost tours. Visit haunted historic homes, rum cellars, and cemeteries. Black Dagger Pirates of Hilton Head (843-363-7000) Ad p. 63 Black Orchid Pirate Cruises (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11 Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
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56 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Visit Our Libraries
You may want a new good “beach read.” You might need a good way to entertain your youngsters. It’s raining. Or you may want to know more about Hilton Head’s history. Whatever your need, take time to visit one of the Island’s two popular libraries. At the Heritage Library, which has one of the most comprehensive historical and genealogical collections of its kind, 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. If you are interested in researching your genealogy, the library has skilled volunteers to help you, plus access to extensive on-line sources. There are frequent classes and workshops. The Heritage Library 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 Summer/Fall • 2015
Chapel of Ease Cemetery, at the intersection of Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway (US 278). The Heritage Library, located at 852 William Hilton Parkway, 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 are available. The Hilton Head Public Library has a number of offerings for visitors. You can purchase a library card for nonresidents so books and movies can be checked out. They have computers available for public use, and the Wi-Fi is free. Don’t miss the Friends of the Library Bookstore where you can buy gently-used books as low as $1. The library also hosts a number of free programs for children and adults. The Hilton Head branch is located at 11 Beach City Road, just off William Hilton Parkway (U.S. Hwy. 278) on the North End. For information about their hours, programs, and other branch locations, call (843) 255-6500. Heritage Library Foundation (843-686-6560) Ad p. 57
58
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 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 Summer/Fall • 2015
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
59
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.
Whether you are interested in your personal genealogy orWho the historyAm of Hilton I? Head, Who Amhere. I? What What Here? you’ll find theHappened answers Trained Happened Here? volunteers will answer all your questions Family researchers and historians with on-line access. Historians and family
find answers here.
researchers Visit our two historicalfind sites: answers Consult our online genealogy sites • Fort Mitchel, Hilton Head here. Consult our Plantation on-line with trained voluteers. • genealogy Zion Cemetery,sites US 278 at Mathews Dr. with trained Explore Hilton Head’s rich
Askhistory. about our Hilton volunteers. Explore FREE Head’s rich history; Visit our historicalvisit sites our Genealogy Check-Up historical sites: (Ft.1-hour Mitchel & Zion Chapel). Ft. Zion Cemetery. OpenMitchel, Monday,our Tuesday, Thursday and Ask about FREE 1-hour Ask about our free 1-hour FridayCheckup. Genealogy 10:00 a.m. to Check-up. 3:00 p.m. Genealogy Open Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri (other times by appointment) Open Mon., Tues, Thurs, Fri.10-3 10-3 Open Mon.,a.m. Tues., Fri. 10:00 toThurs., 3:00 p.m. 852 William Hilton Parkway (Other times by appointmen (Other times by appointment)t) www.heritagelib.org • (843) 686-6560
852 Wm. Hilton Parkway Hilton Head Island SC 29928 www.heritagelib.org • 843-686-6560
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 57
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. 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.” Uzip Electric Bike Rentals & Tours (843-671-4047) Ad p.16
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58 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
60
Play at a children’s museum
Looking for a fun indoor activity? Are your kids bored and dying for something different to do? Can’t figure out what to do with your littlest one? Head over to The Sandbox, a fun interactive children’s museum and the area’s only hands-on activity center for children. There is a lot of fun to be had 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,” visitors 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 make-believe café where they can buy and prepare meals. At the banking center, they can play with money and learn to write checks and then head over to the mail center to send 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 eightfoot 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, train table and lifesize Lite Brite. The Sandbox offers board games and puzzles for older kids, or they can curl up in our comfy corner library where you and your child can read to each other. The Sandbox Children’s Museum, 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). Admission is $6 per person for each visitor over 12 months old. Annual passes are available for $100 per family. Call for seasonal and holiday hours and information on special programs and events. The Sandbox (843-842-7645) Ad p. 59 Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo Courtesy of The Art Cafe
61
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.” Check out The Art Cafe. It offers a variety of unfinished ceramics for you to paint, from seashells, sharks, dolphins, and mermaids, to lighthouses, coffee mugs, wall hangings and large platters, and so much more! The friendly staff is totally “hands on” and eager to help you with family vacation souvenirs. You leave your masterpiece there so it can be glazed and fired. It will be ready for pick-up in just two days . If you need, shipping is always available. They are also known as a rollicking party scene for all ages. In addition to birthday parties, bridal showers, and Ladies’ Night, they offer a “Kids Nite Out” every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Be prepared to have a blast while painting pottery! The Art Cafe is located in the Gallery of Shops at 14 Greenwood Drive, just outside the main Sea Pines Resort Gate.
*Coupon Expires 1-31-16
A Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studio or tf ! a e Gr ages all
The ART CAFE
Fu fo r n t wh he fa m ole ily !
Fun ou t of the sun or on a rainy day! Make your own Hil ton He ad sou ve nirs Birthday part ie s - Ladie s’ NIghts Dad’s Day Ou t wi th the Kids - Mommy & Me Groups
The Art Cafe (843-785-5525) Ad p. 59
62
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 Summer/Fall • 2015
The Galler y of Shops 14 Greenwood Drive
(Outside the Sea Pines Gate)
(843) 785-5525
Now of f e r in GL A S S p ro g jects & cla sse s
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 59
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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, roosters, alpacas, miniature panda cattle, miniature donkeys, 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 it 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. Reservations are required for the trail rides. Lawton Stables is open every day year around. It 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. 27
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60 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Check out our parks and playgrounds
People and pets can find plenty of family-friendly parks all around the Island. Years ago, the Town of Hilton Head started buying vacant land to preserve as much of the Island’s green space as possible. 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 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, playground, and a large meadow for throwing a Frisbee or picnicking. 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 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
Island’s ONLY arcade! Cool off at Hilton Head’s only arcade. Play games, earn tickets and win prizes! Two 18-hole miniature golf courses ringed by lagoons, waterfalls and caves.
$
1
8 1000
OFF GOLF for everyone in your group, all day, everyday *
FREE
Arcade Tokens!!!
with purchase of a round of golf at regular price*
FREE arcade tickets
Valid only for a group with a minimum of 4 people who buy 4 rounds of golf at regular price. 1000 tickets for the group, not per person.*
Two 18-hole Miniature Golf Courses! 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 Shelter Cove Towne Center overlooking Broad Creek, there is a boardwalk, an observation deck, trails, picnic tables, and restrooms. The new Rowing and Sailing Center on Squire Pope Road on the North End features a pier with a floating dock for launching kayaks and other non-motorized vessels. It also has a playground, tire swing, fire pit, and a picnic pavilion. For additional information about the Island’s various parks, call the Town of Hilton Head at (843) 341-4600.
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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 Summer/Fall • 2015
Open Daily • (843) 842-9990 18 Folly Field Rd. on HHI (Next to Carrabba’s on Hwy 278) www.AdventureCove.com
* Must present ad. Coupons not valid with one another nor any other offer or discount. Cannot be applied to events or with group pricing. Expires 1/31/16.
enjoy our fun and unique miniature golf courses. The Island boasts three courses from which you can choose, all centrally located on William Hilton Parkway (U.S. 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. Adventure Cove (843-842-9990) Ad p. 61
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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 www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 61
entertainment. Of all the Island’s summer events, this is probably one of the most popular. 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.
66 Photo courtesy of Shelter Cove Merchants Assn.
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. 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 what it was like to be pirate along the South Carolina coast in days of yore. Bring your little pirate aboard for about 90 minutes of all out fun – costumes, make-up, games, music and dancing, all while plying the waters of Calibogue Sound for sunken treasure. Two pirate adventure cruises sail from Hilton Head. The “Black Dagger,” operated by Pirates of Hilton Head, departs from the Harbour Town Yacht Basin (149 Lighthouse Road in Sea Pines). They offer pirate sails daily during the summer for youngsters (best suited to the ages of three to ten). They sail daily except Sundays between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The “Black Orchid,” a museum-quality Spanish Galleon with a captivating pirate history, has multiple sails daily during the summer from Palmetto Bay Marina (86 Helmsman Way). This adventure is intended for the entire family, not just the kids.
Photo courtesy of Pirates of Hilton Head
62 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Black Dagger Pirates of Hilton Head (843-363-7000) Ad p. 63 Black Orchid Pirate Cruises (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11 Summer/Fall • 2015
67
Play tennis
Specia
l Kids’ Cr u ises`
ABOARD THE 65-FOOT GYPSY 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.
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, $8 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, $10 Kids. June thru Aug.
Fireworks Cruise: Cruise with us Tuesday evenings to see the summer fireworks at Shelter Cove. $25 Adults, $15 Kids. Mid-June thru Mid-Aug.
CRUISES LEAVE FROM SOUTH BEACH MARINA IN SEA PINES 232 South Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC
(843) 363-2900 www.hiltonheadboattours.com
Photo courtesy of the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center
Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 63
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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. Its Gullah and Civil War histories are so significant that it has been named a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. 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. 64 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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 history and nature 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), history tours (by golf cart, painted school bus, or on foot), guided trail rides on horseback, fishing expeditions, beachcombing tours, or even golf excursions. You can even take a “cruise to dinner” to one of Daufuskie’s two popular restaurants – the Old Daufuskie Crab Company or Marshside Mamas, both of which offer a live entertainment schedule. Whichever tour you choose, the boat ride over gives spectacular views of Hilton Head behind you, densely wooded Daufuskie ahead, and the tranquil marshlands that line the waterway. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Commander Zodiac (843-671-3344) Ad p. 43 Island Explorer (843-785-2100) Ad p. 19 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20,2 1, 42, 43 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
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Do Daufuskie on your own
If you are curious about Daufuskie Island, 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: Summer/Fall • 2015
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.
Advanced Reservations Required.
Calibogue Cruises
History • Nature • Beauty • Southern Hospitality
(843) 342-8687 (TOUR)
www.daufuskiefreeport.com • www.enjoydaufuskie.com Photo by Ed Funk
1) Take a passenger ferry (operated by Calibogue Cruises or Vagabond Cruises); 2) Climb aboard a water taxi (operated by Palmetto Bay Watersports); 3) Rent your own boat (from Outside Hilton Head, Palmetto Bay Watersports, or Sky Pirate Watersports); 4) Hire a private boat charter (through Outside Hilton Head). Schedules and fares may vary depending on the season so make sure you call ahead. All boat carriers will help make arrangements for golf cart rentals, the best way to explore the Island. Cart supplies are limited so make sure you make your rental arrangements before you arrive on-island. 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, the location of the Old Daufuskie Crab Company and the only marina with gas service and open to public docking. The third dock is Melrose Landing, a private dock. The fourth is the Beaufort County Public Dock, the location of Marshside Mama’s, but docking is restricted to Island residents only. If you are renting your own boat, be aware that marine gas is only available at Freeport Marina.
ALL INCLUSIVE DAUFUSKIE TOUR $64 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 1/31/16
Exploring the Island Once you arrive on the Island, you are free to explore on your own. Be aware that there is no “town” on the Island. Freeport Marina functions as the Island’s hub with a general store, souvenir shop, a restaurant (the Old Daufuskie Crab Company), cabins for rent, and the marina (the only one available for public docking). Summer/Fall • 2015
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 65
The most popular way to explore is by renting a multipassenger 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) 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. If you rent through Freeport Marina, the carts come equipped with a cd player as well as a cd provded by the Daufuskie Lowcountry Museum. The narrative cd includes many wonderful stories about the Island’s history and culture. You can also explore on foot, or by bicycle if you bring your own. You can also sign up for a guided history or nature tour.Two-hour guided horseback rides are also available that will take you along the Island’s forested trails and to the beach. Note that advance reservations are required for all tours. 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. Beachcombers will appreciate Daufuskie’s unspoiled and uncrowded public beach. This is a great spot for hunting for shells and for taking panoramic photographs of Hilton Head. There are a two of places to eat. The Old Daufuskie Crab Company Restaurant, located at Freeport Marina, is home to the Daufuskie Island Deviled Crab, prepared by native islanders. Marshside Mama’s is located at the Beaufort County Dock and specializes in Lowcountry dishes. Both restaurants have rollicking live entertainment sessions that feature some of the area’s favorites bands. 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. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 Live Oac (843-384-1414) Ad p. 1, 47 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Watersports (843-785-2345) Ad p. 2 0, 21, 42, 43 Sky Pirate Watersports (843-842-2566) Ad p. 39 Vagabond Cruises (843-363-9026) 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 66 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
34TH SEASON 2015–2016
HHSO.ORG
PASSIONATE PERFORMANCES OF THE GREATEST ORCHESTRAL MASTERPIECES BRING OUR REGION’S MUSIC LOVERS TOGETHER!
Photo courtesy of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
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. 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 34rd 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’ Dinner Entertainment Cruise, the Monday night Gospel Dinner Cruise, and their Moonlight Entertainment Cruise. 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. 67 Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra (843-842-2055) Ad p. 65 Island Recreation Association (843-681-7273) Ad p. 67 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (912-232-6404) Ad p. 79 Summer/Fall • 2015
PASSION AND MUSIC IN THE LOWCOUNTRY GALA OPENING NIGHT Mon., Oct. 19, 2015 • 8PM
DVOŘÁK IN AMERICA AND THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY
Sun., Nov. 15, 2015 • 4PM & Mon., Nov. 16, 2015 • 8PM
THE POLAR EXPRESS – A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
Sun., Dec. 6, 2015 • 4PM & Mon., Dec. 7, 2015 • 8PM
BERLIOZ SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE Sun., Jan. 17, 2016 • 4PM & Mon., Jan. 18, 2016 • 8PM
RICHARD STRAUSS TOD UND VERKLÄRUNG & BEETHOVEN’S 8TH Sun., Jan. 31, 2016 • 4PM & Mon., Feb. 1, 2016 • 8PM
VALENTINE ROMANCE
Sun., Feb. 14, 2016 • 4PM & Mon., Feb. 15, 2016 • 8PM
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN NIGHT Sun., Mar. 20, 2016 • 4PM & Mon., Mar. 21, 2016 • 8PM
JOANN FALLETTA CONDUCTS RODRIGO, PIAZZOLLA & MOZART Sun., Apr. 24, 2016 • 4PM & Mon., Apr. 25, 2016 • 8PM
BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO. 1
Sun., May 8, 2016 • 4PM & Mon., May 9, 2016 • 8PM
Hilton Head International Piano Competition MARCH 7 – 14, 2016
Symphony Under the Stars APRIL 5 – 6, 2016
Season subscriptions are being mailed to former subscribers. If you’re not a former subscriber and want a season brochure mailed to you, call the office at 843-842-2055. Tickets for individual performances are available after Sept. 1. Concerts held at First Presbyterian Church on William Hilton Pkwy. www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 67
TIME FOR YOU You’ve been looking forward to this beach getaway and it’s so important that your family enjoys some together time. Just be sure to save some refreshing time for you. Book a salon or spa treatment and enjoy as much time as you like at our full-service spa. Relax awhile in our women’s steam, sauna and whirlpool; linger in our candle-lit relaxation room; leisurely explore the latest beauty products in our spa boutique. Close your eyes and allow your mind to be free. Breathe deeply and let the tension slip away with each breath. Remember, this is time for you.
Island visitors and residents welcome. Call 843.681.1019 to book your services or westinhiltonheadspa.com 2 Grasslawn Avenue . Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 . (843) 681-4000 . westinHHI.com
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Go to the theatre
72
101THINGS/6/15
Spend a Day at a Spa
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. At the heart of this arts community is the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Located near Shelter Cove Harbour, this 45,000 square-foot facility is the third largest arts organization in South Carolina. It offers Broadway-caliber theatre, music and dance presentations, visual arts exhibits and community-wide festivals throughout the year. 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.
Take relaxation to a new level while vacationing in the rejuvenating ambiance of the Lowcountry - treat yourself to a relaxing day at a spa! The Hilton Head area features several world-class full service spas that offer you a wide variety of specialty treatments and packages to relax your mind, body and spirit so you look your best: facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, whirlpools, saunas, and steam rooms. Oh, so indulgent. Resort spas have a reputation for having unique and stunning sanctuaries and personalized ambience. The Heavenly Spa by Westin features private treatment rooms, including one deluxe suite with dual beds and an oversized soaking tub, men’s and women’s lounges complete with saunas and steam rooms, a women’s whirlpool and a co-ed relaxation lounge as well as a full service salon encompass this 8,000 square foot facility. They even feature the deep muscle golf ball massage created for athletes. The spa is open to the general public. Go ahead and make your Hilton Head vacation one to remember by visiting any of the fantastic spas and wellness centers available. You’ll be able to enjoy the beauty and attractions of Hilton Head feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina (843-842-2787) Ad p. 67 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (912-232-6404) Ad p. 79
Heavenly Spa by Westin (843-681-1019) Ad p. 69
68 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
Summer/Fall • 2015
HILTON HEAD’S MOST OUTRAGEOUS DAIQUIRI BAR GREAT FOOD, TOO!!
OVER 100 FROZEN DAIQUIRIS Gallons to Go!!
Subs, wraps and sandwiches (including prime rib & 10 oz. Black Angus beef burgers) crab cakes, calamari, steamed shrimp, fish tacos, & mahi mahi. Great appetizers & salads, and . . .
• 28 HD TVs for Sports Fans • Outside Patio - Retractable Roof & Beach Area • Live Acoustic Music (seasonal)
Fried Frog Legs!!
Open Daily 11 am to 1 am • Lunch & Dinner ‘til Midnight Coligny Plaza (next to The Frozen Moo) • (843) 686-FROG (3764) • www.frostyfrog.com
Check Out Frosty’s Closet for Wide Selection of Frosty Frog Apparel - Just a Hop Away!
73
Go out to wine and dine
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. Kill two birds with one stone and take a walking culinary tour and taste some samplings at some of the most popular restaurants and gourmet specialty shops while learning some area history. 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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
Photo by Ed Funk
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 69
Photo courtesy of Bomboras Gille and Chill Bar
Hilton Head’s Premier Thrift Store
The Bargain Box 50 years of Caring and Sharing $13 Over . Give4 Millio n Ba n c t o Hilto the k Com n 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 70 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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 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. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Dolphin Seafari (843-785-2345) Ad p. 20 Express Restaurant Delivery (843-785-7155) Ad p. 70 Frosty Frog Café and Daiquiri Bar (843-686-3764) Ad p. 69 Palmetto Bay Marina (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (800-786-6404) Ad p. 79 Savor the Lowcountry (843-301-1005) Ad p. 29 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 Up the Creek Pub & Grill (843-681-3625) Ad p. 8 Urban Vegan Cafe (843-671-3474) Ad p. 10-11 Summer/Fall • 2015
74
Shop ‘til you drop
If golfing is the number one pursuit on Hilton Head, then the area’s 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. We have charming small towns as well as vibrant historic cities. Visit the Art Cafe to make your own hand-painted ceramics as souvenirs of your vacation. Take in the atmosphere of one of our marina’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. Don’t miss their new ground floor Maritime Gift Galley, a unique nautical shop and bookstore where you can browse antique treasures. They also have an old-time photo booth for a fun souvenir of your visit to Hilton Head. Visit The Legacy of Golf Shop and Museum in the Shops at Sea Pines to browse collectables from generations of American golf. In addition to Bluffton’s US 278 shopping corridor, do not miss Old Town Bluffton, a Nationally Designated Historic District. It is worth spending a few hours to take in the town’s folksy charm and electic collection of boutiques and galleries.
Welcome to the Legacy of Golf. At last there’s a place that tells the story. Some unforgettable Hilton “Golf At last there’s a characters place that tellsmade the story. SomeHead unforgettable Island” through their Head vision, their effort and their characters made Hilton “Golf Island” through their daring. The tracks they left for us to follow are at vision, their effort and their daring. The tracks they leftthe for new Legacy of Golf Gift Shop & Museum.
Welcome to the Legacy of Golf.
us to follow are at the new Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum. Artifacts testify how far the founders to link View a never-before-seen homewent, movie ofour theisland first to the very beginning of golf in America. Collectables Heritage champion, Arnold Palmer, and Sea Pines mean youCharles can share in the story. Founder Fraser, as the trophy is awarded for the very first time. See vintage clubs,ofequipment View a never-before-seen home movie the first and apparel. Browse collectables from generations At last there’s a place that tells the story. unforgettable Heritage champion, Arnold Palmer, andSome Sea Pines Founder ofcharacters golf Fraser, inmade America, andis“Golf original Head Island” through Charles asHilton the trophy awarded forpaintings the very their firstby legendary golf artist, Linda Hartough. vision, their effort and their daring. The theyBrowse left for time. See vintage clubs, equipment andtracks apparel. us to follow are at the new Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum. collectables from generations of golf in America, and If you love golf – or love a golfer – there is something testify howby the Legacy founders went, toLinda link our island original paintings golfof artist, Hartough. toArtifacts cherish here, atfarlegendary the Golf. Come have to the very beginning of golf in America. Collectables If you love golf – or love a golfer – there is something a look. mean you can in Legacy the story. to cherish here,share at the of Golf. Come have a look. View a never-before-seen home movie of the first The Heritage Heritage champion, Arnold Palmer, and Sea Pines Founder Charles Fraser, as the trophy is awarded Cannon for the very first time. See vintage clubs, equipment and isapparel. nowBrowse on collectables from generations of golf in America, and Shop & Museumdisplay! original paintings by legendary golf artist, Linda Hartough. If you love golf – or love a golfer – there is something Shops at at Sea Center | 71 Lighthouse Rd toThe cherish here, thePines Legacy of Golf. Come have a look.
The Legacy of Golf
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | 843-671-2318
The Legacy of Golf
Shop & Museum Museum Shop & 101 Photograph
Summer/Fall • 2015
The Shops at Sea Pines Center | 71 Lighthouse Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | 843-671-2318 www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 71
If you happen to be on Daufuskie Island, stop in the general store at Freeport Marina. They have some excellent souvenirs and feature Spartina accessories. Savannah has a world-renowned historic shopping district that includes Bay Street, Broughton Street, City Market, the Design District, and River Street. Take advantage of one of the city’s “on-off” trolley tours to hit all the shopping spots. As an alternative to driving to Savannah, catch one of the ferry’s departing Hilton Head. They will deliver right down on River Street. Beaufort’s Bay Street is a haven for art galleries, antique shops and boutiques. You can take a shopping breather at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a lovely waterfront location with a riverfront walk overlooking the Downtown Marina.
101 Photograph
Welcome to the Lowcountry!
Art Café (843-785-5525) Ad p. 59 The Bargain Box (843-342-2469) Ad p. 70 Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Ed Funk Photography (843-815-9455) Ad p. 53 Frosty’s Closet (843-686-2533) Ad p. 69 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13 Inzanouts of the Lowcountry Ad p. 72 Legacy of Golf Shop & Museum (843-671-2318) Ad p. 13, 71 Maritime Gift Galley (842-671-2810) Ad p. 13 Outside Hilton Head (800-686-6996) Ad p. 7, 65 Palmetto Bay Marina (843-785-7131) Ad p. 10-11 Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe (842-671-2810) Ad p. 13
Learn the “INS and OUTS” to get the most out of your stay.
75
128 pages of things to see and do with dozens of maps and hundreds of photos. Features sections on the area’s rich history, culture, wildlife, stately homes and historic churches, and its expansive parks and beaches. Go to www.inzanouts.com/lc-sc to purchase your copy starting at $2.99! Available Formats: Printed Guide and Digital Downloads Formats also available for Savannah and Charleston.
50% OFF Download
Visit inzanouts.com/lc-sc & enter code 101things during checkout. Only valid on digital downloads, not printed guides.
72 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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: • Hilton Head Island - Farmer’s Market at The Shops at Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Sea Pines Resort (gate pass required for non-residents/guests), 10:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m. , Tuesdays mid-March through October. 843-322-1900. Wednesdays: • Beaufort - Downtown Beaufort Farmers Market, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, 2:00-6:00 p.m., Wednesdays from May through to the end of October. Summer/Fall • 2015
OnOCEANFRONT Hilton Head Island RENTALS
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OCEANFRONT VACATIONS
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It’s On the Hilton Best!Head Island It’s the Best!
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Thursdays: • Bluffton - Bluffton Farmers Market, Calhoun Street, 2:00-7:00 p.m., Thursdays (seasonal hours). 843-415-2447. Fridays: • Beaufort - Habersham Farmers Market, Habersham Marketplace, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Fridays. 843-846-3444. Saturdays: • Beaufort - Pick Pocket Plantation Farmers Market, 93 Trask Farm Road, 9:00-4:00 p.m., Saturdays. 203-417-7512. • Port Royal - Port Royal Farmers Market, Heritage Park on Ribaut Road, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Saturdays (seasonal hours). • Savannah - Forsyth Farmers Market, South End of Forsyth Park at the intersection of Bull Street and Park Avenue (13 East Park Avenue), 9:00-1:00 p.m., Saturdays.
76
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 Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo courtesy of Ed Funk
www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 73
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. 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 thought of visiting. 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. Hilton Head Vacation Rentals (886-680-3799) Ad p. 51 Vacation Time of Hilton Head (800-845-9500) Ad p. 73
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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. 74 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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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 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 Savannah Riverboat Cruise. Oglethorpe Trolley Tours features a haunted tour that has been featured on Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fy television channel. Old Savannah Tours offers a ghost tour that includes dinner at the Pirates’ House and access to the rum cellar. They also offer a three-hour “Savannah Experience” tour that has an optional lunch at the world famous Johnny Harris’ Restaurant. Make sure to ask your trolley company about combination “Land and Sea” tours that include a trolley tour as well as a Savannah Riverboat Cruise. If you are staying in the Hilton Head Island area, skip the drive and take a boat cruise. Both Calibogue Cruises and the “Spirit of Harbour Town” offer a boat cruise from Hilton Head with an optional trolley tour of the Historic District. You’ll dock right in the middle of River Street, the heart of Savannah. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380) Ad p. 77, 80 Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007) Ad p. 75, 78, 81 Savannah Riverboat Cruises (912-232-6404) Ad p. 79 Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9 Summer/Fall • 2015
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Take a specialty tour of Savannah
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 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. 76 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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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 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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
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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 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
OFFER EXPIRES 2/29/2016 Photo by Genevieve Bailey-Rogers
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Take a riverboat cruise
Experience Savannah’s beauty aboard one of two 600-passenger riverboats, the “Savannah River Queen” and the “Georgia Queen”. Enjoy refreshing river breezes and unforgettable sights while slowly cruising along the Savannah River. Join the captain and award-winning crew onboard for a unique cruise that is not to be missed. Savannah Riverboat Cruises offers a variety of cruises. The one-hour Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise is offered year round and includes a live narration of intriguing facts and tales from the captain himself. The sailing schedule is seasonal so make sure you call ahead. Holiday cruises are available and are a great way to relax with family and friends. 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 advanced 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.
Photo courtesy of Savannah Riverboat 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 5-12 are available. Combination riverboat cruises, trolley tours, and other attractions are also available, a great way to see all of historic Savannah for one great price. Savannah Riverboat Cruises (912-232-6404) 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. 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 78 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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Photo by Sansing McPherson
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. 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 the Hilton Head Island area, skip the drive and take a boat cruise. Both Calibogue Cruises and the “Spirit of Harbour Town” offer a boat cruise from Hilton Head with an optional trolley tour of the Historic District. You’ll dock right in the middle of River Street, the heart of Savannah. Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) Ad p. 4-5, 65 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 • 2015
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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. Because of these and many other like stories, Savannah 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 spooky Rum Cellar, or the haunted HamptonLilibridge House. The ghostly Bonaventure Cemetery has been noted as one of the most haunted cemeteries in the country. Complimentary pick-up can be arranged at inns and hotels in the Historic District.
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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.
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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. 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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. 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
Photo by Liz Lubrani, Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens
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Photo Courtesy of the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum
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 place in history in World War II and remains an active force. 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. 82 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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. 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
Photo Courtesy of the Savvy Savannah Tours
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 museum is open for self-guided tours daily year around (closed on major holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 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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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. 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
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. 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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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
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. Spirit of Harbour Town (843-363-9026) Ad p. 9
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Party Savannah
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Visit Savannah’s forts
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 staying in the Hilton Head area, the “Spirit of Harbour Town” offers a special “party boat” that cruises to River Street during the St. Patty’s Day Festival - and they will return you home safe and sound so you don’t have to worry about driving back! 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-thewall dive bars, Savannah has it all. There are hundreds of bars in Savannah’s Historic District alone.
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
Photo by Ken Kowaleski, courtesy of Savannah Getaways
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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 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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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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.
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Visit an art museum
The Telfair Museum of Art 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. 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. www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 85
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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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 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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Visit colonial Wormsloe Plantation
Don’t miss Tybee Island
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.” Summer/Fall • 2015
homes still here? Who were the people who built them, what did they do, and what was it like to live that lifestyle? 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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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, the Tybee Island Lighthouse (dated 1773) and its museum, as well as Fort Pulaski, just west of Tybee on US 80. With a small admission fee, you can climb the 178 steps of the Lighthouse 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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Visit the Parris Island Museum
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,
Explore beautiful Beaufort
When visiting Beaufort, you can’t help but be curious about its history. Why are all these beautiful antebellum Summer/Fall • 2015
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. It 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 4:00 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 U.S. Hwy. 21 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. 101 Photograph
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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 U.S. 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, 88 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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 the York W. Bailey Museum. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a small admission fee. 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 U.S. 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.
Photo courtesy of Ed Funk
Today, this picturesque spot is a local favorite for photographers, weddings, Sunday outings and picnics at 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 U.S 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
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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. Summer/Fall • 2015
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. Charleston’s harbor dominates the view. Historic Fort Sumter where the Civil War began stands in the distance while sailboats and Sea Islands dot the horizon. www.101thingshiltonhead.com • 89
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Photo courtesy of Middleton Place
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.
are offered only seasonally. The plantation is located off U.S. Hwy. 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 (U.S. Hwy. 61), about 30 to 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 U.S. Hwy. 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 (U.S. Hwy. 61), about 30 to 40 minutes northeast of downtown Charleston. (800) 367-3517. McLeod Plantation (circa 1851), a former sea island cotton plantation, was first owned in 1671 and became McLeod Plantation in 1851. It is now owned by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and includes numerous historic buildings, including the main house (built 1855). Guided tours are available daily except Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The plantation is located at 325 Country Club Drive on James Island, just south of Charleston of U.S. Hwy. 17. (843) 795-4386. 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 (U.S. Hwy. 61), about 30 to 40 minutes northwest of downtown Charleston. (800) 782-3608.
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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. 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 90 • www.101thingshiltonhead.com
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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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D olphin & n ature C ruises The SS Pelican, 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.
& Snacksges Beverale on Availabours All T
$1800 Adults (reg. $2200) $900 Children (reg. $1200) Children under 2 FREE
The Island Queen, certified for 40 passengers.
Live ! ic Mus
NEW THIS YEAR!! Live Island Music with Captain Scott
Hammet aboard the Island Queen’s Sunset Dolphin Cruise. Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. during the Summer and Fall. 1-1/2 hours - $24 adults, $12 children (reservations required)
out Ask aubr o ecial p S ” 1 “10 Since 1985
Call for Reservations (843) 681-2522 Advance Reservations Strongly Recommended
Book online at www.hiltonheadtours.com Departs Mid-Island from Broad Creek Marina • NO GATE FEES 18 Simmons Road, off Marshland Road • Hilton Head Island, SC
Sonny C. Charters Inc. • www.hiltonheadtours.com