Our most recent trip to Hilton Head was a blast! Dan stayed behind this year because he had law school classes and was clerking for a local judge. So it was just me, the two kiddos, and my mom. It was Veronica's third trip to the island, but Warren's first trip to the beach. He absolutely loved the ocean, but was not too fond of the sand sticking to his feet and hands. There's lots of pictures of the kiddos on Flickr, follow the path on the right to see them.
As promised to our friends that are also traveling to HHI this summer, here's a short list of some of things we enjoyed during our most recent trip (but also check out HHI's informational website):
Fun
Gregg Russell under the Liberty Tree in Harbour Town. He plays every night (except Saturdays) starting at 8 PM. Plan to get here around 7 PM for a good parking spot and seat. He's great for kids of all ages, and even adults will find his stand-up-comedian style hilarious. He's not the typical warm-and-fuzz-guitar-playing-singing kind of guy, but the kids and parents love him.
Harbour Town Lighthouse: you can actually go up into the lighthouse.
Bike rentals are available all over the island. The island has wonderful bike trails all over as well, and it's really easy (and ok) to bike on the beach (just some advice from me to you...stay on the hard sand ;-). The island is 12 miles along the coastal side, so it's an enjoyable bike ride. Most bikes rent for around $28 for the week, and come with a helmet. You can request baby seats if you need them. Dan and I rented bikes on one of our trips, but we didn't ask what kind of bikes they were and we got bikes similar to Lexington's yellow downtown bikes; however, I saw other rental places that had better bikes.
Island Playground is a great place for kids that need a break from the sun. It's similar to our local Bounce U but with a tropical feel. Remember to bring socks for the kids and yourself!
The Sandbox was a fun outing for our two little ones. It's an interactive museum that is similar to our local Children Science Museum in Louisville. Be prepared to wait a bit outside if they weather is not perfect outside, as it is a popular spot for families with small children looking for something to do indoors to escape the heat or rain!
There are three put put golfing venues: Adventure Cove, Pirate's Island and Legendary Golf. Adventure Cove and Legendary Golf are around $9 for adults and $6 for children under 13; however Pirate's Island has the same prices, but is free for children under 4.
Food
Here is a list of our favorite local places to eat and their websites (if they have one):
The Crazy Crab
Fat Baby Pizza
Marleys Island Grill
The Old Oyster Factory
Pino Gelato
The Sea Shack: no website and not fancy, but be prepared to wait an hour outside just to get in as it's a popular place and worth the wait!
Signe's Heaven Bound Bakery & Cafe
Smokehouse BBQ
TJ's Take and Bake Pizza
Shopping
Coligny Plaza is right on the beach and is a great mix of beach shops, souvenir shops, local boutiques, toy shops, and food. My personal favorite was Island Girl and Fresh Produce; both are really cute girly boutiques.
Harbour Town is right on Hilton Head's Island, and is a great place to shop for typical and unique souvenirs for home. Harbour Town has lots of great places to eat!
Shelter Cove is a collection of fun shopping stores, and has a small mall with some big name department stores.
Off the island
Savannah, which is only about 40 minutes away, is a neat place to visit. If you do go, make sure to either eat at Mrs. Wilkes (only open for lunch) or Lady and Sons, and walk the shops along the river. Charleston is about two hours if you're looking for another day trip.