Help: First Trip to Hilton Head Resort

[LoveRafiki]

We will be taking our first trip to Hilton Head arriving March 24th and staying for 4 days.

Does anyone have any suggestions for things to do that are fun -- I've read the documents in the book - but would like some first hand knowledge from all you experts. The excursions/classes sound fun -- but would like to hear from people who have done them - how much do they cost? Are they well run/organized?

We have a 13month old, so that will obviously factor into things, but if necessary we can split up to have an "adult" class alone.

We like nature info.; animals, etc.

Has anyone fished there? Did you bring your own gear? Any advice on that ?

Tips on restaurants in the area -- I know that they do not have a sit down restaurant at the resort.

Is Savannah worth visiting?

What is the weather typically like at the end of March?

Thanks for your help--

 

[andybug]

We loved this resort! Can't help you out with the weather or the restaurants, but there was plenty to do. The resort itself had all kinds of activities. My kids went to the unbirthday party, and the fish painting t-shirt without me. We all enjoyed the good night stories,the campfire, the games at the beach pool, bike riding, and then we went horseback riding on the beach (awesome) and on the dolphin cruise. I don't recall the specific prices, but I think the cruise and the horseback riding were about 50-70 for the three of us. I do remember that a dolphin came right up next to the boat and our driver touched him. We couldn't go horseback riding at the assigned times because of our short stay there, and when I asked about it, they made a special trip for us and even drove us there. We did both fish and crab off the pier for a small fee. My son even caught a baby shark.

The rooms are the best, we only had a studio and loved it. Love the hammocks and rocking chairs all over the resort. Hope that helps,

 

[vernon]

If you like animals then you're going at one of the best times of year for bird watching. The Bird and gator spotting trip at Pinckney (sp?) Island is free, at spring and fall you get a lot of migratory birds stopping off to rest and refuel in the marshlands. The guide will take you round and explain a lot about the ecosystem and a lot of what your seeing ( and would otherwise miss LOL), it's advisable to book this up if you need a lift there, but as long as you have your own car you can tag along if the bus is full. This trip takes a couple of hours

The dolphin cruise is great , I don't see why you couldn't take the little one along as well, but do make sure you wrap them up well because it can get a little chilly at dusk with the sea breeze. End of March is Easter so I'd expect the resort to be busy, I'd book this up as early as possible. I think this was $30 per person for 2 hours but do check with the resort as I'm not 100% sure on that.

If you have a fax available they will fax you a list of the activities going on AT THE MOMENT, they are likely to be the same when you visit, but that isn't guaranteed. It will , however give you an idea of what they offer.


As for restaurants, I enjoyed the Old Oyster Factory for seafood. Freddy Fudruckers for burgers and stuff, there is a decent Mexican within walking distance of the resort BUT the best eating experience BY A MILE is a Private Affair with Chef Gordon, you'll find a load of info in these pages of what's on offer, suffice it to say this was one of the highlights of our trip.

Hope that gives you some ideas

 

[Michelemouse]

Savannah is definitely worth visiting! I would suggest taking the trolley tour. It is very informative, you can get on and off the trolley as you like and explore parts of the city on foot. It was a lot of fun! Oh, and you can buy the tickets right at the resort's Front Desk, which was convenient.

As for restaurants...we really enjoyed the Old Oyster Factory, Fuddruckers (although it is a chain and might be nothing new to you), and the Hilton Head Diner. Our favorite, however, if 4+ trips to Hilton Head has been the Hofbrauhaus. It is wonderful! The cuisine is German, but there are lots of options for picky eaters and standard items for kids like chicken fingers. The food was superb and they offer great early bird specials. It is the one HH restaurant we go to every time we're there.

We enjoy doing the activities at the resort as well, but our favorite thing to do is rent bikes for our length of stay and explore the island. They offer tandem bikes (one adult and one child) for parents with younger children, as well as bikes with baby seats for your young one. We tend to bike to dinner as often as we can. Fuddruckers, the Hilton Head diner and the restaurants in Shelter Cove are all accesible by bike, as is the beach house.

Have a great time!

Michele

 

[Simba's Mom]

Now I can't wait til we get to go. You said my second favorite thing (after Disney)-bird watching. Is it best to make ressies for this tour before we get to the resort? We were planning for March, 2003. Now, I don't know how I'll wait that long! And because of where we live in relation to HH (very far away), no doubt we'll see some types of birds we can't see here. If it's a free tour, I'm so excited I'm thinking of taking the tour more than once while we're there. Is that a totally dumb idea? I figure that every day there are some different birds.

 

[TwirlerGirl]

You'll love HH and the resort. We were there twice last year and once the year before. I'm hooked. We'll be there in September - it's very hard waiting. Please post when you return and tell us all the things you got to do and what you liked best.

Have a great time!

Sandy B.

 

[TXMommy]

We're headed to Hilton Head the last week of May (we arrive the day after Memorial Day). I have gotten such great info on these boards, and will continue to look every day until we leave! Please post when you get back and tell us all about it! I can't wait!!!

Andybug, which stables did you use for horseback riding? Will they let my kids ride (they are 8 and 5)? Could they ride in front of us?

 

[Tommy]

You can check out my DVC HHI Resort page for some of the activities available.

 

[vernon]

The bird watching tour doesn't really NEED to be booked as long as you have your own car you can follow the bus and tag along with the group. If you want to take a lift then I would suggest booking.

When we went the trip was actually at a time of day that isn't best for bird watching, but the guide did say he was trying to get it moved to earlier in the day. I would suggest taking the tour, so you get some local knowledge of where to be situated in order to get the best chances of seeing the various types of birds on the Island. Because it's a state park you are welcome to go there on your own at any time as well as part of an organised trip with DVC recreational department. There are a load of cycle paths and walking trails that you can explore on your own. For a serious watcher I think going alone ( or in a small group), armed with some decent binoculars and some local knowledge LOL, is going to be best as , on the tour, you do keep moving along, even if it is at a slow pace.

The trail riding along the beach ( I forgot to mention that) was also very good, but I think there is an age limit on it. I'm certain 5 is too young , I'm not sure about 8. Again contact the recreational department for information. I think the name of the stables is "Happy Meadows" but it was booked through DVC, I'm certain there will be some other stables that will accommodate your youngsters.

 

[LoveRafiki]

THANK YOU EVERYONE --

I have some great ideas ! I will also check out the website listed.

We do like to watch birds (as I side note we saw a pileated woodpecker in our back yard this past weekend for the first time they are awesome-- thats the Woody Woodpecker kind, normally we see mostly redbellied woodbeckers and downies). We keep our North American Bird book handy in our kitchen!

We love German food, so I'm sure we'll try out the Hofbrauhaus as well as some of the others.

Any other additional hints are welcome - as I'll check back through here over the next couple of weeks.

I will post an update on our visit when we return!

17 days to go...

 

[JonHM]

How far is it from the HH resort to Savannah? How long a drive?

 

[Tommy]

Between 45 minutes and an hour. You can go the back roads and go across the Talmidge Bridge and it is closer. That's the way that the cast members that live in Savannah commute. Or you can go back to the interstate, drive down, then go back to Savannah....longer but better roads.
Here's the map:
http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?zoom=6&mapdata=3Y5TK1Lw1y%2fOhvn6sJQdMIdI2awaVxDA8ZvQ8KKE9r5zQJtGaBvVcNcq3FBWqRla57gRuk%2fqJRbGmPKaLgpM2WZo0908X4rFWLT%2f6iMxlYnZjPenPXJiZa488mwXy%2bJJHFIGpHqK3%2bpvq7wqtCW9YTWnoT5v4sfyIrQnjI3K0meahJ5rl4GTAsAVVcUol%2bnK62oqnoq2iztWbLgJ9RdAZj81bELnKSh1v4VCu0060go%3d&1g=BWF38FGm5rU%253d&1y=US&2s=GA&2c=Savannah&1l=z2w67%252bCVHi8%253d&2g=0ucsGNoMBnw%253d&did=1015515682&un=m&2y=US&1s=SC&1c=Hilton%20Head%20Island&2l=fvmBdwVta8M%253d&go=1&ct=NA

 

[Fenceman]

We are arriving the same day and staying for 6 nights.

I also would recommend Scott's Rest. across the bridge. Harbor Towne is also a fun place to go but they will charge you to drive in the community(5.00 per car last time we were there).

I highly recommend the resort and nature walks which include; Behind the Ears Tour, Resort Nature Walk, Marsh Walk, ...ect. The are interesting, you can take the kids, and they are free.

There is so much to do you may not have time to see Savannah with only 4 days. This is our 4th trip and we still haven't been there. Make sure you check out Tommy's HH Web Page.

See you by the pool