2012 Hilton Head Thread-Tips, Tricks, Roll Call..

[Tinks "SS"]

 

[Tinks "SS"]

This was my son's idea. He was NOT forced to do this.

Just caught a cool pic of it spitting water!

AHH.. the ejector couch is screaming for me to come visit!!

This was my christmas card this year.

Future pool sharks!!

Marina!

Hope yall enjoy a few of my favorite pics that i got over thanksgiving weekend last year. Hope to get tons more in June!!

 

[jimmiemcinpa]

Booked 30 September for 6 nights in GV. Havent been to HH in over 5 years i think. Taking 4 siblings and their spouses and they have never been there. We always enjoyed HH but it has been a while. Looking forward to it as a restful vacation.

Jim

 

[DisneyMomOfThree]

Our family will be there June 28th to July 5 in a 2BR.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I am in the process of changing how I share my pictures on the web and just uploaded some pictures from our trip to HHI last August. Here is a link to get to the pictures - Hilton Head Island Photo Journal.

 

[steffaknits]

Anyone know if the pool is heated? Or if it is only open seasonally?

 

[Tinks "SS"]

Anyone know if the pool is heated? Or if it is only open seasonally?

My youngest son braved the pool for a short while last november over thanksgiving weekend. It was not bad outside but in the low 70's air temp. The pool wasn't hot but was tolerable and my son thought it was a great temp. He was in the cold ocean the same trip up to his calfs. They feel no pain at their age.

 

[VMS]

We will be there from 4/1 to 4/7. Our 11th year, but first time not as a whole family. Two in college now.

 

[udflyer00]

My clan will be there 6/3-6/8... it will be our first trip to HHI. My wife is very excited... I'm currently indifferent as I'm not usually a big sit on the beach type of guy... So really interested to hear what types of excurisons others have tried... I'm trying to convince her to let us drive to Disney for a day to attend a Star Wars weekend, but so far I'm not winning that battle!! haha...

Our group will be:
Wife(35) and I(33), 2 sons (10 & 5), and 2 daughters (7 & 3). Trying to convince my MIL to come along with us since we have the room, but not sure if she can get the time off...

 

[JVL1018]

My clan will be there 6/3-6/8... it will be our first trip to HHI. My wife is very excited... I'm currently indifferent as I'm not usually a big sit on the beach type of guy... So really interested to hear what types of excurisons others have tried... I'm trying to convince her to let us drive to Disney for a day to attend a Star Wars weekend, but so far I'm not winning that battle!! haha...

Our group will be:
Wife(35) and I(33), 2 sons (10 & 5), and 2 daughters (7 & 3). Trying to convince my MIL to come along with us since we have the room, but not sure if she can get the time off...

We aren't really sit on the beach people either, didn't think we'd love HH. We were converts. I admit that I have embraced sitting by the pool all day with a book, but there is tons of stuff to do all day every day. Especially for the kids. Or you can do none of it and just relax.
We convinced my brother and SIL to come down, they have no kids, he especially is not a sit around and relax person. They fell in love with the place and are coming for their 3rd year in a row with us. It's a really special place.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I had looked for an HHI thread on the Resort forum, but here it is. We'll be there 09/02 to 09/07. Can't wait

 

[udflyer00]

Vicki,

Thats cool to hear. Could you share some of the neat and interesting things you've seen or done around there? As I mentioned this will be our first time to the area so as much info and ideas I can take in before we get there would be great...

 

[CruznLexi]

We had good intentions of going to Savanah but everyone just had such a good time by the beach and pool. I prefer the pool as we live near the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of activities too. This year we might do Kayaking.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

My clan will be there 6/3-6/8... it will be our first trip to HHI. My wife is very excited... I'm currently indifferent as I'm not usually a big sit on the beach type of guy... So really interested to hear what types of excurisons others have tried... I'm trying to convince her to let us drive to Disney for a day to attend a Star Wars weekend, but so far I'm not winning that battle!! haha...

Our group will be:
Wife(35) and I(33), 2 sons (10 & 5), and 2 daughters (7 & 3). Trying to convince my MIL to come along with us since we have the room, but not sure if she can get the time off...

Day trip to WDW from HHI would be a stretch. Good thing too as we would be down to WDW almost every weekend if it were any easier. Plan for several days.

There are plenty of Golf Courses, lots of historical sights (mostly in Savannah). and we have a Bass Pro Shop. Fishing is great, mostly Salt water, but, you can find some fresh water spots around. We have a class 'A' baseball team here in Savannah that play in a historical stadium. Savannah Sand Gnats. Look them up for more info.

Drop me a PM if I can help you with more info.

 

[Ladygator]

My husband and I will be there with another couple for an adults only trip...
May 12th - 17th.

Our family (including kids ages 16, 15 and 12) will be there June 30th -
July 6th.

 

[JVL1018]

Vicki,

Thats cool to hear. Could you share some of the neat and interesting things you've seen or done around there? As I mentioned this will be our first time to the area so as much info and ideas I can take in before we get there would be great...

I'll list the things we've enjoyed..

day trip to Savannah.

Beach Nature Walk with the resort naturalist(I don't know if they have this anymore, but if they do, go, it was a lot of fun-they take you to the beach and the naturalist tells you all sorts of information-not dry or boring at all)

I learned to juggle because they had juggling lessons.

shuffleboard and ping pong and bike riding

Miniature golf

shopping

Drive into Sea Pines(on the island) and climb the lighthouse in HarborTown,, right nearby there is a huuuge playground. My kids loved it! Eat lunch outside at the Salty Dog. Get the hush puppies.

Dolphin tour-we went on a big boat, not kayaks--only because I am scared of sharks and can't quite bring myself to be in a tiny little kayak out on the water -actually we went on the Shannon Tanner dolphin cruise.

Which brings me to Shannon Tanner-across the marina from the resort, singer, he's fabulous. we love him! http://www.shannontanner.com/perf.html

We've done a bird watching tour of the resort(and I don't even like birds, but it was fun!), and the regular tour of the resort.

Pirates of the Calibogue-sort of like a family scavenger hunt.

Magic Tricks with B'Lou

There are LOTS of kids activities:
My kids have gone to Unbirthday Parties, gone on Marsh Adventures, made pillows, mugs, birdhouses, fossils, slime and Mickey Tie Dye Shirts among others.

They have all sorts of arts and crafts, they have pool games every so often.

Twice a week they have Kids Night Out. My kids love love love this! They started going when they were 5. One night is pizza at the resort and then they go to the movies.
The other night is pizza and then they do things like a scavenger hunt. 3 hours long.

The campfires are lots of fun, songs, s'mores, laughs.

Things on my to do list are the Hilton Head Island Tour the resort does and I also want to go to the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge to hike around http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinckney_Island_National_Wildlife_Refuge..and maybe finally the kayaking if I can screw up my courage.

You get a weekly list of activities you can sign up for(or just show up depending) and I'd say there's a good 7 or 8 things at least scheduled throughout the day.

ETA: The cast members at HH are the best Disney has, I swear. You think they're friendly and nice and welcoming in WDW? Wait til you meet everyone here. The recreation staff is amazing with kids. They remember your kids names, they go out of the way to chat, they are fabulous. I feel totally confident leaving my kids in their care at the Kids Nights Out. The people are the best part of the Hilton Head Island resort.

 

[JVL1018]

My husband and I will be there with another couple for an adults only trip...
May 12th - 17th.

Our family (including kids ages 16, 15 and 12) will be there June 30th -
July 6th.

Oh so jealous that you're going twice! Enjoy!

 

[awilliams4]

August 12th through August 15th. 2 Bedroom

DH 42
DW 44
DD 19
DS 13

Heading to Port Canaveral on 8/15 to get on the Dream for 4 nights.

 

[LJC1861]

Lisa and I will be down for our annual visit from September 30-Oct 5. We usually go at Thankgsgiving, but due to a work commitment had to move it up.

We are in a one bedroom and soooo looking forward to our annual sit around and do not much of anything time at this amazingly beautiful resort.

Linda

 

[JVL1018]

Driving questions..

We're driving from Northern NJ(just outside of NYC) and we normally drive to around Florence stay there over night and then drive 3 hours or so the next day(total trip is 14 hours).

A couple of years ago, we left at 6am and stopped at Mt Vernon(my son loves the Presidents) for a few hours and then finished the drive to Florence.

We want to do something like that again. It was fun and since we're not getting to HH until the next day anyway, we're not in a rush. I can't seem to find any touristy things relatively close off 95 south of DC(want to get past the NYC, Baltimore, DC corridor), but not too far south, so like VA or just into NC.

Any ideas of fun stuff that isn't too far off the beaten path and will only take 1-4 hours out of our day?

I wanted to leave on Friday, go to a Nationals game that night, stay over in VA and then leave from there Saturday morning, going all the way to HH, staying at a hotel and then checking into the Disney resort first thing Sunday, but my SIL has to work Friday, so no go.
Maybe next year..

Also, we're leaving the Saturday after 4th of July. Often, we don't make any hotel reservations and just stop when we feel like stopping..but I'm thinking with a holiday weekend we should have a reservation-any thoughts?