HHI Trip Report, July 27- Aug 2, 2008

[TigerKat]

Ellen - Your pictures looked divine! I'm telling you - put me at a bar on the water and I'm good to go! And I love me some crab legs - any kind!

Bar
Water
Crab

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was interested in your positive review of Vassilis. I think it's owned by the same owners of "It's Greek to Me", which we enjoy. What type of food does Vassili's serve?

 

[Connears]

I was interested in your positive review of Vassilis. I think it's owned by the same owners of "It's Greek to Me", which we enjoy. What type of food does Vassili's serve?

Atmosphere is nice, I think its their upscale restaurant. There were pasta dises, greak dishes and appetizers, steak and good seafood. good wine list, I had rack of lamb, ds had steak, others had seafood pasta(greek style with feta), all were very good. Desserts and appetizers were very good.

Connears

 

[podsnel]

Is Hudson's the "dive" right on the water? I think there's a touristy restaurant right next door? If so, we ate there too and it's wonderful!!!! So glad we ditched our friends who wouldn't have walked through the front door if they'd gone with us - but those are the BEST restaurants - hidden gems!

I don't know if it was a dive, but it was on the water- you have to pass Charley's Crab on the way into the parking lot. Maybe you're thinking of something else, though, because I don't think Hudsons qualifies as a hidden gem- I think it's one of the more well known places on the island?

Ellen - Your pictures looked divine! I'm telling you - put me at a bar on the water and I'm good to go! And I love me some crab legs - any kind!

Bar
Water
Crab

Yea, it's ALL GOOD!!!!

 

[podsnel]

Thursday morning DH, DS11 & I were off to play 9 holes at the Fazio course (DH said he didn't mind playing there again, so we said ok!). Now, just a little backround- my DH LOVES the game of golf in a BIG way-he's been playing since he was a boy, was a caddy all through high school & college, and if he could quit work tomorrow to do nothing but play golf, he absolutely would. (Although clearly, with my need for more DVC points, this is currently NOT an option! ) DS11 loves golf, too- only he just started playing a couple of years ago, so he's learning (but DH says he has an awesome swing!). I started playing just last year, I took some lessons with my GF, Pam, and last summer I was really gettin' the hang of it! Unfortunately, this was the first time on the course since last summer for both DS11 and myself (DS11 plays travel baseball until the end of July, so no golf while that's going on, lest he mess up his swing!) ( I have no excuse!). The smart thing would have been to hit the driving range BEFORE the course at some point, but, we didn't think about that... , so, we were, ummm.... a little SLOW getting started. Poor Pods! He was so patient with us, and all our balls that went in the woods and on other fairways... good thing there was noone behind us!! Oh boy! Well, eventually we remembered (oh, THAT'S what you mean by hit the ball!! ) what to do, and that felt really good! Anyway, here are some pics from Golf Debacle of 08 at the Fazio Course:

DS11 LOVED driving the cart!

 

[podsnel]

Mariana & Steven were over at the beach with the boys, so the three of us hopped on our bikes and headed over, too. We grabbed some lunch, and were just enjoying another great day at the beach house-

I said I'd watch some boys if the rest wanted to ride bikes on the beach, so Mariana, Steven, Pods, DS11 & DS9 went off for a ride, while I stayed at the pool with my nephews. My Captain-Kid-Goodtime DH came up with a new game down at the ocean, "See who can ride straight INTO the ocean and get the farthest before falling over"- they HIGHLY recommend everyone try it!

They came back up just in time for me to go check out the 3:00 activity, "Meet the Naturalist" in the beach house. It was a talk all about sea turtles, the CM did a great job informing and entertaining our small group. By the way, and I heard this on two occasions, they are having a banner year for turtle nests on HHI- there's even one a bit south of the beach house about to hatch any time!

I made DH take another walk with me on the beach...

And then we rode back from the beach one last time...

Does anyone ever make it up this hill?!!!

Next up- we learn alot about what to do the NEXT time we go crabbing and DH & I have a GREAT last night in HH!

 

[TigerKat]

Ellen - You are very good at this TR thing I must say!!! You guys really had an awesome time.

 

[karajeboo]

They came back up just in time for me to go check out the 3:00 activity, "Meet the Naturalist" in the beach house. It was a talk all about sea turtles, the CM did a great job informing and entertaining our small group. By the way, and I heard this on two occasions, they are having a banner year for turtle nests on HHI- there's even one a bit south of the beach house about to hatch any time!

OK, when I first read "naturalist" I thought it was as in au naturel and in nekkid!!!! I'm like, wow, didn't know they had a nudist colony on HHI!

Great pics and report!!! Makes me want to go back!

 

[podsnel]

Ellen - You are very good at this TR thing I must say!!! You guys really had an awesome time.

We did, it was really and truly wonderful and I am SO glad we are going back next year!!!

OK, when I first read "naturalist" I thought it was as in au naturel and in nekkid!!!! I'm like, wow, didn't know they had a nudist colony on HHI!
Great pics and report!!! Makes me want to go back!

Well, that would give Adventures by Disney a whole NEW meaning!!!!

 

[Camster0307]

I'll say it again - you guys are mighty active on your vacations! God bless ya! The beach looks beautiful!

I also noticed you added another ticker - "Girlie Trip #2"!

 

[podsnel]

I'll say it again - you guys are mighty active on your vacations! God bless ya! The beach looks beautiful!

I also noticed you added another ticker - "Girlie Trip #2"! :woohoo:

Yep! Going away with Lonnie for round 2! Not 5 minutes ago I just extended our trip with an extra night- for cash- so we'll be arriving on Saturday instead of Sunday, AND we'll be in AKV in a value studio, so...we can stumble downstairs at 6 am on Sunday morning, check IN to our concierge room, then go on the sunrise safari and have breakfast, then be in the concierge when we get back (or so...). I was VERY suprised I could get the VALUE studio at a cash discount- came out to $239 for the Saturday night! Can you say, "I'm not spending points on Saturday night again?"

And yes, we LOVE to get away- this weekend we're heading to our friend's beach house in Connecticut- lucky us!!! Sean does not want to go to the beach, or stay anywhere but home, so God Bless them, Sheree & Henry are coming over again!! Again, Lucky us!!!

 

[TigerKat]

Yep! Going away with Lonnie for round 2! Not 5 minutes ago I just extended our trip with an extra night- for cash- so we'll be arriving on Saturday instead of Sunday, AND we'll be in AKV in a value studio, so...we can stumble downstairs at 6 am on Sunday morning, check IN to our concierge room, then go on the sunrise safari and have breakfast, then be in the concierge when we get back (or so...). I was VERY suprised I could get the VALUE studio at a cash discount- came out to $239 for the Saturday night! Can you say, "I'm not spending points on Saturday night again?"

And yes, we LOVE to get away- this weekend we're heading to our friend's beach house in Connecticut- lucky us!!! Sean does not want to go to the beach, or stay anywhere but home, so God Bless them, Sheree & Henry are coming over again!! Again, Lucky us!!!

You're a very lucky woman to be making so many trips!!!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thursday morning DH, DS11 & I were off to play 9 holes at the Fazio course (DH said he didn't mind playing there again, so we said ok!). Now, just a little backround- my DH LOVES the game of golf in a BIG way-he's been playing since he was a boy, was a caddy all through high school & college, and if he could quit work tomorrow to do nothing but play golf, he absolutely would. (Although clearly, with my need for more DVC points, this is currently NOT an option! ) DS11 loves golf, too- only he just started playing a couple of years ago, so he's learning (but DH says he has an awesome swing!). I started playing just last year, I took some lessons with my GF, Pam, and last summer I was really gettin' the hang of it! Unfortunately, this was the first time on the course since last summer for both DS11 and myself (DS11 plays travel baseball until the end of July, so no golf while that's going on, lest he mess up his swing!) ( I have no excuse!). The smart thing would have been to hit the driving range BEFORE the course at some point, but, we didn't think about that... , so, we were, ummm.... a little SLOW getting started. Poor Pods! He was so patient with us, and all our balls that went in the woods and on other fairways... good thing there was noone behind us!! Oh boy! Well, eventually we remembered (oh, THAT'S what you mean by hit the ball!! ) what to do, and that felt really good! Anyway, here are some pics from Golf Debacle of 08 at the Fazio Course:

DS11 LOVED driving the cart!

LOL, sounds like you're describing my DH's life-long love for golf. He hasn't done the Fazio course yet,but he loved the others (especially RTJ). Seeing these pictures,he says he definitely has to try the Fazio course next trip.

 

[Judique]

Just wanted to say thank you for the trip report and great pictures. My counter says 100 days til my Thanksgiving visit to Hilton Head. I can't wait!

 

[podsnel]

LOL, sounds like you're describing my DH's life-long love for golf. He hasn't done the Fazio course yet,but he loved the others (especially RTJ). Seeing these pictures,he says he definitely has to try the Fazio course next trip.

That's great! We want to do RTJ next year!

Just wanted to say thank you for the trip report and great pictures. My counter says 100 days til my Thanksgiving visit to Hilton Head. I can't wait!

Ooooh- I would love to go for Thanksgiving someday, I think it sounds like a lot of fun....And you're so sweet to thank me for writing the TR! But I'm not done yet!!

 

[podsnel]

The day before I had seen some kids crabbing out on the fishing pier in the late afternoon, and they were haulin' those crabs in like crazy!! One boy had 14 in his bucket! So around that same time we decided we'd try our luck- I bought a few crab nets and some shrimp from Broad Creek rentals, and off we went. Unfortunately, we did not have any luck but we did learn what to do for our next try next summer from a very nice man who had a bunch of crabs in his bucket- according to him, you have to go crabbing when the tide is either moving in or out- we got there just a little too late! Oh well, it was still fun to try-

We decided it was time to go get ready back at the room, tonight DH & I were having a night out alone, while DS11, DS9 & DN6 went to Kids Night Out, and Marianna & Steven took the other 2 boys for something to eat and listen to Shannon Tanner over at Shelter Cove. I took some pics on the way. This is our building, bldg 17-

It is in the heart of the resort, a good location to get to everywhere. And here is the heart-

Our view was of distant water through the trees...

A quick self portrait on the deck-

And we were off to Tapas. We LOVED this restaurant, and we will definitely return on our next trip. The server recommended we order between 4 and 5 plates to share for our meal. Of course, we got 5!! And then added a 6th at the end!! We had: She Crab Soup, Almond Encrusted Ahi Tuna, Cajun Alligator, Sourmash Chicken and Blackened Scallops. OMG, it was all so delicious. That chicken was amazing, as was the Almond Tuna- WOW- but DH was in LOVE with those scallops- so we got one more of them for good measure!! YUM!!! We had a nice bottle of white wine, a reuda (from Spain) which the server was surprised I ordered, she said most people aren't familiar with it, but the restaurant owners love it and drink it all the time- Me too!!! I love me some reuda!!! Very grapefruity-
Anyway, here is DH diggin his scallops-

And here's me making future dinner reservation suggestions-

We were done by about 9:30, so went back to hang out for the next several hours with M & S on our deck, and decided we HAD to try to get all the family to return with us next year!! Many glasses of wine later, we went to bed, sad to see the last night end...

Next- it's our last day, so sad!!!!

 

[btrim]

I love your trip report. The pictures are great and I too love to take my friends and family with us when we go to HHI. We are doing a family thing at thanksgiving and I can't wait. My counter says 95 days. Does anyone know if Disnyholic is a permanent CM there now? She organized the pre-Thanksgiving DIS get-together the last time we were there and I couldn't make it. Sure would like to go this time. Anyway, thanks for a great TR.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I love your trip report. The pictures are great and I too love to take my friends and family with us when we go to HHI. We are doing a family thing at thanksgiving and I can't wait. My counter says 95 days. Does anyone know if Disnyholic is a permanent CM there now? She organized the pre-Thanksgiving DIS get-together the last time we were there and I couldn't make it. Sure would like to go this time. Anyway, thanks for a great TR.

You missed some great shrimp from Chef Gordon, and my key lime pound cake (actually it's Signe's). I think (not sure) that Disneyholic is working there only for the summer, but she and her DH bought a condo across the inlet from the Lodge. I'm sure they'll be around for Thanksgiving-they'd better! It's a tradition. Disneyholic, are you out there? HHI Thanksgiving plans?

 

[podsnel]

I love your trip report. The pictures are great and I too love to take my friends and family with us when we go to HHI. We are doing a family thing at thanksgiving and I can't wait. My counter says 95 days. Does anyone know if Disnyholic is a permanent CM there now? She organized the pre-Thanksgiving DIS get-together the last time we were there and I couldn't make it. Sure would like to go this time. Anyway, thanks for a great TR.

Thank-you for reading!

You missed some great shrimp from Chef Gordon, and my key lime pound cake (actually it's Signe's). I think (not sure) that Disneyholic is working there only for the summer, but she and her DH bought a condo across the inlet from the Lodge. I'm sure they'll be around for Thanksgiving-they'd better! It's a tradition. Disneyholic, are you out there? HHI Thanksgiving plans?

I do know Disneyholic is planning on being in HHIR for Thanksgiving, and that she is lurking on this report, so hopefully you'll hear from her!! By the way, who is Chef Gordon?

 

[tarheel]

Hi. My family just got back from HHI Saturday. We did a dolphin cruise also and got to meet Nick. WE actually were allowed to get out of our boat and just watch him all we wanted. Nick acts like he once lived at Sea World. He was so cool to watch. I've enjoyed reading your report, the pictures make me sad to be home. HHI has to be one of my favorite places.