Hilton Head at Christmas. A day by day trip report.

[LJC1861]

We just got back from a LOONNGG walk on the beach. It is brilliantly sunny with very soft breezes, temperature around 59 today.

Up next, a hammock with my book to read.


Linda

 

[podsnel]

Your holiday vacation in HHI sounds absolutely magical! I LOVE reading about it! Thanks so much for posting- I hope you'll put up some pics, too!

 

[LJC1861]

I will get some pictures up in a day or so. Lisa, the geek in the family is busy creating a website for Dye, to help her promote her restaurant and some of her products.

This evening we had yet another WONDERFUL meal at Dye's. We wanted to go back to order off the menu, and try it out for dinner. We were SO glad we did.

We started with garlicy/spicy steamed shrimp. I am embarrassed to say that I licked my fingers up to the middle knuckle. We also had some cornbread with sugar cane syrup ( which tastes like molasses) It was accompanied by about a gallon of some of the best sweet tea on the planet.

Our entrees were fried chicken for Lisa and crab cakes for me. Lisa ordered white meat and she received 2 huge breasts and one wing. My crab cakes were the size of the palm of my hand, which is about 3.5 inches across. Each entree was joined by 2 sides, sweet potato casserole and mac and cheese for me and lima beans and mac and cheese for Lisa. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy and perfectly cooked. The limas were flavored with country ham, and perfectly seasoned. There is no need to reach for the salt and pepper at all in this restaurant, the food is so perfectly seasoned.

We did not have dessert, but if we had it was a choice of pecan pie, sweet potato pie and blackberry "dump" which is a cobbler like dessert. Most of the food is cooked to order, like the fried chicken. It is so hot and fresh it is steaming as it comes out of the kitchen. Dye herself described serving it this way as "coming from a beatin' " She explained that her Daddy liked it piping hot, and he expected it to come out of the pan as he was sitting down for his meal. To this day this is the way she likes her chicken served, as it tastes best that way. The breading is so light and there is not a hint of grease anywhere at all in it. I may never eat fried chicken anywhere else again!

Dye is a force to be reckoned with. She describes herself as "dirt poor" and her parents worked in the fields to support her and her 9 siblings. This restaurant and preserving the Gullah culture is her passion. Her sisters work with her. She is developing some other products such as spices and seasonings and is also writing a cookbook. This restaurant is a tribute to her parents and grandparents and all they taught her and gave her.

If you want one of the BEST meals you will ever have run to Dye's. You will find a comfortable place, nothing fancy with food that will leave you wanting more. Even more than that you will find a woman of faith and passion who wants to leave you with a little bit of Gullah. Try it, you WILL like it.

Linda

 

[LindaBabe]

Your report is great! Thank you! We stayed at HH once, and hated it, but after reading your report - especially about the food - I might be enticed into trying it one more time.

 

[LJC1861]

LindaBabe,

Hilton Head is a VERY different experience from any other Disney resort, with the possible exception of Vero Beach. With the WDW resorts the lure of the parks is there...complete with instant stimulation and fun. Hilton Head is the exact opposite with very little in your face stimulation. There are activities to do, especially if you have children and there is fun you can make yourself if you choose to. What I love about this resort is the opportunity to completely RELAX....something I do not generally get the chance to do at home. Even though I am still cooking, doing laundry, and playing on the computer I am also walking miles, sitting on my balcony reading, biking, and looking out my window at a beautiful salt marsh.

Obviously, from my report I also love dining out here. We have found some fantastic restaurants and enjoy trying new ones. We don't eat out much at home so this is a splurge for us.

We can't wait to come back, but for us it probably won't be until September ish.

Linda

 

[Simba's Mom]

I can't wait to try Dye's. Have you tried Kenny B's? That's another one we liked. DH loves cajun food, and I don't like it. We went there and he could get his cajun food while I had seafood. It's as casual as the Sea SHack, an atmosphere I love.

 

[famsen]

I will get some pictures up in a day or so. Lisa, the geek in the family is busy creating a website for Dye, to help her promote her restaurant and some of her products.

This evening we had yet another WONDERFUL meal at Dye's. We wanted to go back to order off the menu, and try it out for dinner. We were SO glad we did.

We started with garlicy/spicy steamed shrimp. I am embarrassed to say that I licked my fingers up to the middle knuckle. We also had some cornbread with sugar cane syrup ( which tastes like molasses) It was accompanied by about a gallon of some of the best sweet tea on the planet.

Our entrees were fried chicken for Lisa and crab cakes for me. Lisa ordered white meat and she received 2 huge breasts and one wing. My crab cakes were the size of the palm of my hand, which is about 3.5 inches across. Each entree was joined by 2 sides, sweet potato casserole and mac and cheese for me and lima beans and mac and cheese for Lisa. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy and perfectly cooked. The limas were flavored with country ham, and perfectly seasoned. There is no need to reach for the salt and pepper at all in this restaurant, the food is so perfectly seasoned.

We did not have dessert, but if we had it was a choice of pecan pie, sweet potato pie and blackberry "dump" which is a cobbler like dessert. Most of the food is cooked to order, like the fried chicken. It is so hot and fresh it is steaming as it comes out of the kitchen. Dye herself described serving it this way as "coming from a beatin' " She explained that her Daddy liked it piping hot, and he expected it to come out of the pan as he was sitting down for his meal. To this day this is the way she likes her chicken served, as it tastes best that way. The breading is so light and there is not a hint of grease anywhere at all in it. I may never eat fried chicken anywhere else again!

Dye is a force to be reckoned with. She describes herself as "dirt poor" and her parents worked in the fields to support her and her 9 siblings. This restaurant and preserving the Gullah culture is her passion. Her sisters work with her. She is developing some other products such as spices and seasonings and is also writing a cookbook. This restaurant is a tribute to her parents and grandparents and all they taught her and gave her.

If you want one of the BEST meals you will ever have run to Dye's. You will find a comfortable place, nothing fancy with food that will leave you wanting more. Even more than that you will find a woman of faith and passion who wants to leave you with a little bit of Gullah. Try it, you WILL like it.

Linda

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your trip report of HHI.
I really would like to stay there sometime in 2010. I must ask you a question about Dye's. There are some negative comments on some review sites saying that at times Dye is not the most hospitable person. Is this just the way she is or do you think these reports were flukes?
I would love to try the restaurant but I am a rather sensitive person and if I got the impression that the owner was being put out or annoyed by me being there, I would be very annoyed and leave. The rave reviews I have read about the food are really, really great but the negative ones are really, really bad pertaining to the service.
Thanks, again.

 

[lsutigger2]

Well, your reports are certainly giving me something to think about. My DH and I are thinking about going away for Christmas next year and HH just might be the place. We've been there three times and really do enjoy our stays.

Thanks for getting my vacation planning wheels turning - and I know DH will appreciate it also

 

[LJC1861]

Today was another wonderfully relaxing day at this beautiful resort. I puttered around out room this morning as we had our tea, breakfast and CBS Sunday morning. I then went for a long walk around the resort and shelter cove before lunch.

Lisa was busy working on a website for Dye, of Dye's Gullah Fixin's. As we were at dinner last night Lisa said that she really wanted to help and see her venture succeed. As she doesn't have a site, she figured it was something she could do. She spent most of the evening last night and most of the day today working on it. She mentioned it to Dye at dinner last night and she was SO excited. Dye invited us to lunch today, on the house, as a thank you.

We had a lovely lunch and then sat down with Dye to show her the new website. She got all teary eyed as she looked at it. We should go live with it next week. On the site she will be able to advertise the restaurant, promote the Gullah culture, advertise upcoming events and sell her products.

This afternoon I visited with Gordon at the General Store for awhile, showing him pictures of my gingerbread house. Then I took another LONG walk on the beach.

Now we are cleaning up, packing up and getting ready to leave this wonderful piece of heaven.

I already miss it and can't wait to come back next Christmas.

Linda

 

[bobbiwoz]

What a great report. I loved the short trip we took to Disney's HHI resort this past year, and look forward to getting there again, and trying some of the places you suggest. DH and I enjoyed Sea Shack so much, we ate there twice in one weekend.

Bobbi

 

[marynvince]

we are definitely going to try Dye's in June on our next trip.

 

[edk35]

Thanks for the trip report. Sounds like you have had a wonderful time. Have you seen many families with teens there during your stay? I wonder how our children would like the off peak time there. Our dd is 19, son 16 and youngest son 11. Thanks for any advice.

 

[LJC1861]

In all honesty, there were more families with smaller children seen around the resort. There WERE teens present, but the smaller children seemed to be more present.

I would have to say, that many of the activities seem to be geared more towards kids 13 and younger. I did see teens at some of the more family oriented events however.

Linda

 

[LJC1861]

As our trip winds down I had some final thoughts about this fabulous resort. Some are positive, and some not so much.

1. We are now totally spoiled. A 1 BR unit is the way to go. Having the kitchen, washer/drier and jacuzzi tub are SO worth it. It saved us a ton of money being able to cook in our unit, especially for breakfast. We both like a hot breakfast and it just is not so easy in a studio.

2. The activities are great and really good for families. I wish there were more lower cost activities geared for teens/adults. I was made to feel welcome at those I did participate in, but it would have been more fun if I had kids to join in. The activities staff are great and obviously love their jobs.

3. It would be great if bike rental were available by the hour as well as by the day and week.

4. A sit down restaurant would be a really nice addition to this resort.

5. The kitchens are well stocked with necessary items. Everything is in really good condition and it is obvious that items are replaced as necessary. While we were there someone from the housekeeping department came in to ensure that items she wanted replaced had been and that all tags and things had been removed.

6. The couch in the living room was REALLY uncomfortable to sit on. I know it is the pull out, but the fabric is plasticy and the cushions made sitting comfortably for long periods of time almost impossible. We were much more comfortable removing the back cushions and using the extra pillows found in the closet as the back cushion on the couch.

7. The dishwasher and washer/drier are REALLY loud. When we had them both running and the TV on it was almost noise overload. I apologize if you were staying in unit 1226, right above us.........

8. The location of the resort couldn't be better. There are shops and restaurants within walking distance and there is much to do, see and eat within a short driving distance.

9. This resort is perfect for total relaxation. The balconies are well designed and roomy, and the views are wonderful, especially if you have a marsh view. It is quiet and restful.

I can't wait to come back.

Linda

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree with #6. As someone here called it, an "ejecto-couch".

If you see Gordon again,tell him Guy and Dorothy wonder how his tripwas. He recently took a 3 week trip to Antarctica.

Sounds like it's lucky we weren't in 1226 this year-we've had that one before. How was the noise from overhead? We've heard lots of complaints of elephant feet from above from the first floor units at HHI.

 

[LJC1861]

Simba's Mom,

We were actually in 1216..directly below 1226. We were making so much noise with the dishwasher, clothes washer and the TV with the sound cranked so we could hear it over the machines that I thought we were disturbing THEM! As for elephant feet....sadly that was a bit of a problem on this trip. There were lots of kid feet running across the floor of 1226 all week. We don't get too freaked by that kind of noise as we lived in an apartment in NYC for a long time. Talk about noise from upstairs.

Gordon DID mention his trip and said that it was life changing. He is a really interesting man and I loved getting to know him on this trip.

Linda

 

[Debs Hill]

Can't wait to see some photos!
Debsx

 

[ryrysmom14]

I've really enjoyed reading your report and I am so glad you had a wonderful trip!! We were there in November for 4 nights and my 2 kids and I were just discussing making this our new tradition and going for part of Jersey week every year. We absolutely loved the CM's there and they really made the trip special- greeting the kids by name and taking the time to make them feel special. My kids esp loved Jessie and Rich(he is a manager but played ball with the kids in the pool everyday- he stayed on dry land)- they were so great!

I had to laugh at the couch comment!! I kept saying to my dh that it was the most uncomfortable couch ever- it was like the part you sat on was too short to sit comfortably- glad it just wasn't my big ole butt! The other thing I really took notice of there was how diligent the lifeguards are. I have never seen ones walk back and forth the WHOLE time- I'm surprised there aren't permanent footprints in the concrete!

What a great story about Dye and how wonderful of you all to help her. We went there one night of our trip and she was so lovely. She was there alone and told us how her sister usually helps. My son (age 8) absolutely loved her fried chicken and I could see how proud and happy that made her. To the poster that mentioned about the reviews, I had read those also, but that was absolutely not our experience at all- she was completely gracious. Now, the Sea Shack rules are scaring me- reminds me of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi!

We can't wait to go back as well!!!

 

[Debs Hill]

Can anyone who has been in December tell me whether it is warm enough to go on fishing/dolphin trips? Are the pools heated?
Thanks
Debsx

 

[LJC1861]

Debs,

The pools are heated, I believe to 80+ degrees. As for the fishing/dolphin trips....there was one day where it was pushing 65 outside and perhaps that day would have been okay, but with the wind on any other day it might have been chilly. The resort WAS still running the trips and the kayak excursions, but it didn't seem as if there were too many takers for any of them.

Linda