If you’ve been with me for a while, you might remember that I’ve already written about Hilton Head Island (check that article out here). However, I think it’s worth mentioning again – especially since I’ve now vacationed there four times. You could say that we like it… In fact, the only other beach that we’ve frequented more often is the Outer Banks (for which I lost count years ago).
It came about that my parents decided that they wanted to visit Hilton Head since we talked about it so much, and booked us all a family trip. I found this a bit hilarious since they aren’t exactly enamored with the sand, sun, or even the ocean, but I don’t turn down trips to the beach, so I was happy to oblige.
This time we all stayed in the Palmetto Dunes Resort in a lovely Villamare Condo. The digs were quite nice, and the resort offered all sorts of amenities. However, Olivia was disappointed that we weren’t within biking distance to any of the fun shops that she likes so much (particularly the one with ice cream). Personally, I was glad for the excuse because our trip took place in August, and it was so hot that you probably couldn’t bribe me with all the ice cream in the world to even think about getting on a bike to go anywhere. (Not that I relish bike riding anyway; see funny story in article link above.)
While bike rentals weren’t on the agenda for this trip, we did go out and explore a bit (in an airconditioned car). My parents enjoyed lunching at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks and perusing the local antique shops. (We politely declined this outing.) I naturally took Olivia to the Coligny Plaza to shop her favorite toy store and to get her coveted ice cream cone. And my favorite new discovery this trip was the Nash Gallery, which had so much fun stuff; I wanted to buy the whole store. (I refrained, mostly.) On the whole, though, most of our time was spent at the beach or in the pool, as is my usual M.O. when it comes to such vacations.
If you’ve never been to Hilton Head Island, I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is rather different than typical beach destinations (as I mention in my first article). The whole island is very laid back, quiet, and has a natural vibe that you don’t really find anywhere else. It’s also a great family destination, particularly since there aren’t wild college parties or noisy “strips” with cruising cars blaring music. And yes; the bike trails are really awesome too – just not when it’s hotter than hell…
PS: Thinking about planning a trip? Check out the map marker icon above for fun points of interest.
🙂
