HHI questions- bikes, activities, restaurants?

[Lesley]

We're heading for our first multiple night visit to HHI in a few weeks (Sept. 30- Oct. 5). As an obsessive planner I just had a few questions to ask of HH veterans.

First of all, would you recommend requesting a specific location in the resort? We will be in a 2br. Our previous stay at HHI was only one night and our villa was in the main lodge. It was nice, but I can't say I see any huge advantages over any other location. We had an easy walk to everything in the resort. The kids might like being a little closer to the pool or playground, I guess, but it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Is there any view that is nicer than others that I could request?

I am also wondering about the bikes available for rental at the resort. My kids aren't able to ride 2 wheelers independently. Do they have plenty of bikes with training wheels? How about bigger bikes with training wheels or tandems? Bikes with seats for the littlest one? Would I be better off going with an offsite service to rent bikes if I decide we really want them? Can we rent bikes by the hour (maybe they can learn to ride while we're there)? Or just by the full day?

As far as other activities- I think I recall seeing crabbing available at the resort. Do they rent the traps and sell the bait? Do any of you have any information or experience with the nature programs they offer? I'm figuring that with most of the resort activities I'll just have to wait until we get there and go over the options with the kids to see what they'd like to do. All I know so far is that my 7yo would like to go to the campfire and maybe do some crafts, depending on what is available.

And offsite activities- Does the Coastal Discovery Museum have any interesting exhibits for kids? Any hands sorts of things, especially with live creatures? Any particular recommendations for miniature golf?

And last, what about restaurants? Also, is there a good seafood market? We'd like to do our own low country boil, and we'll probably go to the Salty Dog in Sea Pines one day or evening for a meal. Otherwise we could use restaurant suggestions. Pizza delivery? Anyplace especially good for breakfast? How about for a date night? We're not really looking for fine dining, but a decent local place for a good meal. Relaxed and casual, not too noisy... How about ice cream? Any recommendations nearby? Can you get Sticky Mickey's at the resort? (ie. Mickey Ice Cream bars, my 7yo will be endlessly pleased if we can!)

I'm sure we're going to have a great time and the kids will be fairly fully occupied with the pool, slide, beach, playground and everything else, but I still like to know what options are available to us. I think if I can get answers to all of this I could probably put up a webpage about HHI DVC with families! Maybe I will when I get back!

Thanks so much for bearing with my long rambling list of questions and for any answers you can provide!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We're heading for our first multiple night visit to HHI in a few weeks (Sept. 30- Oct. 5). As an obsessive planner I just had a few questions to ask of HH veterans.

First of all, would you recommend requesting a specific location in the resort? We will be in a 2br. Our previous stay at HHI was only one night and our villa was in the main lodge. It was nice, but I can't say I see any huge advantages over any other location. We had an easy walk to everything in the resort. The kids might like being a little closer to the pool or playground, I guess, but it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Is there any view that is nicer than others that I could request?

I am also wondering about the bikes available for rental at the resort. My kids aren't able to ride 2 wheelers independently. Do they have plenty of bikes with training wheels? How about bigger bikes with training wheels or tandems? Bikes with seats for the littlest one? Would I be better off going with an offsite service to rent bikes if I decide we really want them? Can we rent bikes by the hour (maybe they can learn to ride while we're there)? Or just by the full day?

As far as other activities- I think I recall seeing crabbing available at the resort. Do they rent the traps and sell the bait? Do any of you have any information or experience with the nature programs they offer? I'm figuring that with most of the resort activities I'll just have to wait until we get there and go over the options with the kids to see what they'd like to do. All I know so far is that my 7yo would like to go to the campfire and maybe do some crafts, depending on what is available.

And offsite activities- Does the Coastal Discovery Museum have any interesting exhibits for kids? Any hands sorts of things, especially with live creatures? Any particular recommendations for miniature golf?

And last, what about restaurants? Also, is there a good seafood market? We'd like to do our own low country boil, and we'll probably go to the Salty Dog in Sea Pines one day or evening for a meal. Otherwise we could use restaurant suggestions. Pizza delivery? Anyplace especially good for breakfast? How about for a date night? We're not really looking for fine dining, but a decent local place for a good meal. Relaxed and casual, not too noisy... How about ice cream? Any recommendations nearby? Can you get Sticky Mickey's at the resort? (ie. Mickey Ice Cream bars, my 7yo will be endlessly pleased if we can!)

I'm sure we're going to have a great time and the kids will be fairly fully occupied with the pool, slide, beach, playground and everything else, but I still like to know what options are available to us. I think if I can get answers to all of this I could probably put up a webpage about HHI DVC with families! Maybe I will when I get back!

Thanks so much for bearing with my long rambling list of questions and for any answers you can provide!

We have only stayed in a 1 bdrm twice, but any marsh view in my opinion is wonderful.

I am not sure about bikes with training wheels. I did see at least one on our trip this June, but I don't know if it was rented.

There are plenty of good restaurants in short walking distance including Scott's Seafood Market (highly recommended often).

PM me your email address and I will email you the activity sheets for this summer (in pdf format).

We went to Kingfisher's restaurant, which is the closest in walking distance. It is casual, has a mixed menu and very attentive service. The food was a 7 on the scale of 10. Price was reasonable. Family atmosphere.

I am a Vero Beach fannatic and have thought about putting up a web site for that resort, but I know that would ruin what this board is about... questions and answers. Having all the answers in one site is boring.

We really liked taking the Dolphin tour... we actually got some close encounters.

Have a great trip

 

[Lesley]

Any other answers? Please?

 

[GDUL]

Here's a map showing different views that each building has:

We were at HHI for a few days this summer and ate at Scott's Fishmarket and Red Fish - both very good restaurants!

We also did the Dolphin Cruise and had a lot of fun! I would highly recommend this - here's a couple of shots from our cruise:

 

[njmeisje]

In terms of bikes...we rented what they called a "tug a long". This is a bike attachment that links a kids bike to the adult bike, creating a tandem bike. It worked well with our little one, she was old enough to help pedal. My husband (who was the Tug-er) said it was tough when she didn't pedal.

Worked in the end.
Best of luck
Diane

 

[isyt]

Hi, I am there for 1 night in November. Do they run the Dolphin tour then? Can I book it in adavnce???

Thanks

 

[veroozy]

Hey Lesley, my family has gone the last 2 years to HH during Thanksgiving week. We've rented a tug along for my younger son in the past and he loved it. Whats nice about it is you make a little better progress on your rides and he loved the option of not pedaling when tired. I'm not sure if they rent training wheel bikes. My boys love riding bikes at HH on the beach and around the island. you can rent by the hour or day but we bike everywhere and just rent for the week.
I would recommend the Dolphin tours highly and they do run in November. The Coastal discovery is a fun museum but I don't recall any live animals there. I think Pinckney Island is the place to go for more nature stuff. We love to Kayak at HH also and they offer trips at the resort and in Broad creek which is a short hop away.
We liked Pirates Island Adventure for Mini golf. It's just down the road from the resort.
When we stayed we had building 24 which was great because it had the marsh views, was by the pool and we had grills right out our door in a little setting that overlooked the marshes.
I'm sure you rfamily will have an awesome time there!
Hope this helps.

 

[DISNEYMOMx5]

A wonderful local place for breakfast is Signes. The service isn't warm/fuzzy (not mean either...they just get real busy, so I would call it efficient), but the pastries are phenomenal. It's not real hard to get to...you'll get a map.

Have a great time!

 

[Harley-Mouse]

This is a must do for the stuffed french toast. down the road make a right before you hit the sea pines circle on your right. Look it up for adress. Also we just got back from HHI had a good meal at gyseppies sea food buffet just across the street from Signes same right before sea pines. Also for big choise we go food from the Dinner just south of the resort By the days inn. Got the food to go was great food. had lunch at Sea shack good food. Alsso had dinner at Salty dog & wreck of salty dog. I liked the choise and food at the Wreck of the salty dog better. Hope this helps As for the resort we didn't stay there this year we rented a hose in sea pines 5 bed room 5 1/2 bath great family trip. Pm me if you haver any guestions.

 

[gracelrm]

We'll be arriving on the 6th of October - just after you check out. Here's hoping you get a great room and we get it after you! At check in, you should get a restaurant guide. The guide lists many of the restaurants on the island and a menu. We found those guides so helpful. Also, several restaurants in the area offer a DVC discount. They should give you info about that at check-in as well. We've always enjoyed the Old Oyster Factory. You can see it from the resort, across the creek, but it's probably a 15 drive. That might be a nice place for a dinner without kids.
About the crabbing, I believe the nets are just available at the recreation counter. I don't think we had to rent those, but my memory is not always accurate.

My oldest DS11 has participated in many of the nature activities that are offered at the resort. Some have been better than others - but I think they've been through several naturalists over the years and one time we had a brand new one that hadn't quite perfected her kid skills yet!

Thanks for those of you with the information on the "tug a long". We figured we'd have to skip renting bikes this trip because DS7 is still not too comfortable on his bike, perhaps this device will work for us to be able to bike this trip too!

 

[mouse4ever]

We were just there in June and loved it. We were in bldg. 13 with the marsh view (obviously) and although we weren't thrilled about the location when we got there, it ended up being perfect! We could see the fireworks from our balcony and we were right next to the parking garage which made unloading/loading the car a breeze. We only went to the resort pool a couple of times as we preferred to spend most of our days at the beach so the distance from the pool was not a problem for us.

Our favorite restaurant to eat at was San Miguels! I know, Mexican food in HHI? Well, I don't eat anything that ever swam and neither did one of my friends who came with us. We enjoyed the restaurant so much we at their twice and my friend and her family went 3 times! We sat outside and listened to the music and it was perfect. They have great margaritas too!

We didn't rent bikes while there but we went by the bike rental enough and it seemed like they had enough bikes to accomodate just about everybody!

I hope you have a great trip. We can't wait to go back... although our next trip will be to WDW. I can't go for 2 years without seeing the castle!