maddiemom
<font color=blue>DIS Veteran/DVC member<br><font c
- Joined
- May 21, 2000
- Messages
- 499
First, want everyone to know this is not maddiemom but her DH. She hates when I post using her user but I am too lazy to get my own.
Just got back from HHI a couple of hours ago. Wanted to let everyone know it was wonderful. Since I found it hard to find alot of information before we went, I thought I would post a day by day summary of our adventure to help those who might be going in the near future.
Day 1- Left around noon from Springfield, Illinois. Drove to Pudacah, Kentucky (4 hrs). Stayed at a Courtyard Mariott through priceline ($28). Nice hotel. Kids swam then we went to eat dinner at O'Charley's (where we were glad to see that kids 6 and under eat FREE!)
Day 2- Drove to Atlanta, Ga. (6 hrs) Stopped to eat lunch at Uncle Bud's in Nashville, Tn. Good Food. Arrived in Atlanta around 2:30. Stayed at the Sheraton Suites near Marietta through Priceline for $30. Very Nice Hotel. Kids went swimming. Later we went to Cumberland Mall (right next door) for ice cream.
DW and family decided to go to Bennihannah's (didn't work out) ended up at restaraunt in the Galleria Mall across the street I stayed back in the room to read and relaxed.
Day 3 - When the real fun began! Drove from Atlanta to HHI. (4.5 hrs) Checked in with Barry around noon and our 2 bedroom was waiting for us. Unpacked and went to the beach house to play beach games at 2p.m. DD (4.5 years) was 3 for 3 in team tug a war. Then we headed back to the resort so the kids could go to the Unbirthday party (No Fee) at 3 p.m. Around 4 p.m. Kids went swimming with BIL. While SIL, DW, MIL and I went to the Piggly Wiggly (1.5 miles away) for our weekly groceries. Tidbit-The Piggly Wiggly has specials where you can buy one get one free. You need a piggly wiggly card but all you have to do is go up to the customer service and they will give you a "vacation" card to use while you are on the island. We purchased $150 of groceries for $117. Got back to the resort and grilled out chicken for 9. Figured we payed for all our groceries by grilling out 1 meal. Then the kids went back to the pool for the rest of the evening.
Day 4- Got up around 6 a.m. ate breakfast and headed to the fitness center at 7 a.m. Came back relaxed then headed to the Resort Nature Walk (no fee). Bryan was our guide who is featured in this month's Vacation Magic Magazine. He is very knowledgeable about the local wildlife, plant's and trees, etc. After the Nature Walk we took the kids to the pool where my DD went down the slide for the next 2 hours straight. After swimming went back to the room for a lunch.
At 2 p.m. took the kids to Longview Arts and Crabs to make their crab catchers. Todd was just "awesome" You'll know what I mean if you ever meet Todd. The group didn't catch any crabs but we did go through about 20 shrimps trying. After crabbing we went back to the room so the kids could take a nap before going to the Kids Night Out-Disney Detectives ($20)at 6 p.m. This worked out great because the adults were going to a Private Affair that evening to celebrate all of the anniversaries in our family. The meal was very good and we all enjoyed talking with Chef Gordon and J.R. We even got to catch a glimpse of the kids when all of the "detectives" came to the beach house to investigate.
Day 5- Got up at 6:30 or so and headed to the fitness center around 7:30 a.m. The kids went crabbing early and wound up catching one crab....had to throw her back though as females can not be kept. Went to Harbour Town to see the lighthouse ($5 entry fee to Sea Pines per car for each day). Ate a very light snack at Cafe Europa (not too impressive to us) then went up the lighthouse ($1 per person). Went back to the resort and ate lunch in the room. Went golfing with BIL at Indigo Run at 12:00 ($55), forgot my ten dollars off coupon. DW, SIL, MIL and all the kids stayed back at the resort. Kids did Gyotaku (fish printing on t-shirts $10) went swimming and took naps. Later went to South Beach to eat dinner at Salty Dog (good seafood). Bought a couple of Salty Dog t-shirts at their shop (VERY BUSY). Then back to the resort (after getting slightly lost and almost running out of gas!!). Walked over to the other side of Shelter Cove to check out Shannen Tanner (a singer who performs outside nightly and is very kid oriented). Kids had a lot of fun dancing and singing along.
Day 6- Up early again, ate breakfast in the room and headed to the fitness center. Left for the beach. Left kids and BIL at the beach house and went back at 10am for the "Behind the Ears Tour". Chef Gordon was our guide and was very knowledgeable about the resort and Disney. We went back to the beach after the tour and spent some time at the pool/beach. Had to call it quits about 1:30 because no matter how much sunscreen we put on DD she gets burned. Went back to the resort for Pirates of the Calibogue (with B'lou Crabbe) which is a free scavenger hunt for the whole family. Took naps after the hunt. Met up with everyone to go on a Dolphin Cruise at 5:00(On the Holiday which is located in Shelter Cove Harbour, $17 adults, $7 kids). This was a two hour cruise and we saw lots of Dolphins (well worth the money). After the cruise we went back to the room and ordered Giuseppi's Pizza. We got the Stuffed Special. We had it delivered and while we waited we went down to the Campfire. The campfire was a great time (with Steven and Bob) and at the end everyone gets to make s'mores. The pizza was still not delivered by the time we got back but came shortly after. It was well worth the wait!!
Day 7- DW, BIL his son, and I went on the Nature Kayaking Trip at 9am ($35 and 2 hours long). The guides name was Carlos. We really enjoyed this activity. Saw many dolpins close up and learned a lot about the marsh environment. Got back just in time to go see Shadows Tales (Shadow is the resorts resident dog). Took pictures with the kids. MIL, SIL, DW and I then went to the outlet mall. Ate lunch at Cornerstone Grill which was very good (just had salads). Shopped a little but didn't buy much. We kept thinking that there were so many other things to do besides shop. MIL and FIL watched the kids and we went to dinner at 5:00 at the Old Oyster Factory. This was by far the best meal we had on the Island!! It is THE place to eat at Hilton Head. After dinner picked up everyone and ran over to the Beach House to swim and see the ocean for the last time. When the beach house closed at 8:00 we all went to the resort pool. Even MIL was in the pool!!
Day 8- Checked out early in order to head off to Charleston. Went to Patriot Point and took the Ft. Sumter boat tour. There was a thunderstorm when we were traveling through the water and it was still rumbling when we got to the Fort. Everyone's hair was standing on end because of the static electrcity in the air. After Ft. Sumter we went to the Visitor's Center and chose to go on a two hour tour of the city which included a historical house tour. We had the tour bus to our selves which made it nice. We ate lunch at a place called Jack's Cosmic Dogs which is a very good hotdog place. While leaving Charleston we got lost in a not-so-quaint neighborhood but found our way back to the highway eventually then headed up to Columbia. Stayed at Amerisuites (Priceline $30.00). Ate dinner at Monterey's (not impressed by the food or the service).
Day 9- Left Columbia at 7:00am to drive to Nashville. In Nashville we stayed at the Sheraton Music City ($30.00 through Priceline). Kids went swimming at the large indoor pool. Later went to the Nashville Sounds baseball game with BIL while DW, DD, SIL, MIL went to Opry Mills. They ate at RainForest Cafe. DD loved it!! They walked around Opry Mills some but then decided to call it quits. The place has over 200 stores!!
Day 10- Left at about 9:00 and ate at the Waffle House (these places are like McDonalds where we are from....one on every corner!). Got home at about 3:00 central time and sat down to type this trip report....
WHEW.......that was LOOOOOONG!
It may not sound like it but it may have been the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken. We are already talking about going back next year.
Just got back from HHI a couple of hours ago. Wanted to let everyone know it was wonderful. Since I found it hard to find alot of information before we went, I thought I would post a day by day summary of our adventure to help those who might be going in the near future.
Day 1- Left around noon from Springfield, Illinois. Drove to Pudacah, Kentucky (4 hrs). Stayed at a Courtyard Mariott through priceline ($28). Nice hotel. Kids swam then we went to eat dinner at O'Charley's (where we were glad to see that kids 6 and under eat FREE!)
Day 2- Drove to Atlanta, Ga. (6 hrs) Stopped to eat lunch at Uncle Bud's in Nashville, Tn. Good Food. Arrived in Atlanta around 2:30. Stayed at the Sheraton Suites near Marietta through Priceline for $30. Very Nice Hotel. Kids went swimming. Later we went to Cumberland Mall (right next door) for ice cream.
DW and family decided to go to Bennihannah's (didn't work out) ended up at restaraunt in the Galleria Mall across the street I stayed back in the room to read and relaxed.
Day 3 - When the real fun began! Drove from Atlanta to HHI. (4.5 hrs) Checked in with Barry around noon and our 2 bedroom was waiting for us. Unpacked and went to the beach house to play beach games at 2p.m. DD (4.5 years) was 3 for 3 in team tug a war. Then we headed back to the resort so the kids could go to the Unbirthday party (No Fee) at 3 p.m. Around 4 p.m. Kids went swimming with BIL. While SIL, DW, MIL and I went to the Piggly Wiggly (1.5 miles away) for our weekly groceries. Tidbit-The Piggly Wiggly has specials where you can buy one get one free. You need a piggly wiggly card but all you have to do is go up to the customer service and they will give you a "vacation" card to use while you are on the island. We purchased $150 of groceries for $117. Got back to the resort and grilled out chicken for 9. Figured we payed for all our groceries by grilling out 1 meal. Then the kids went back to the pool for the rest of the evening.
Day 4- Got up around 6 a.m. ate breakfast and headed to the fitness center at 7 a.m. Came back relaxed then headed to the Resort Nature Walk (no fee). Bryan was our guide who is featured in this month's Vacation Magic Magazine. He is very knowledgeable about the local wildlife, plant's and trees, etc. After the Nature Walk we took the kids to the pool where my DD went down the slide for the next 2 hours straight. After swimming went back to the room for a lunch.
At 2 p.m. took the kids to Longview Arts and Crabs to make their crab catchers. Todd was just "awesome" You'll know what I mean if you ever meet Todd. The group didn't catch any crabs but we did go through about 20 shrimps trying. After crabbing we went back to the room so the kids could take a nap before going to the Kids Night Out-Disney Detectives ($20)at 6 p.m. This worked out great because the adults were going to a Private Affair that evening to celebrate all of the anniversaries in our family. The meal was very good and we all enjoyed talking with Chef Gordon and J.R. We even got to catch a glimpse of the kids when all of the "detectives" came to the beach house to investigate.
Day 5- Got up at 6:30 or so and headed to the fitness center around 7:30 a.m. The kids went crabbing early and wound up catching one crab....had to throw her back though as females can not be kept. Went to Harbour Town to see the lighthouse ($5 entry fee to Sea Pines per car for each day). Ate a very light snack at Cafe Europa (not too impressive to us) then went up the lighthouse ($1 per person). Went back to the resort and ate lunch in the room. Went golfing with BIL at Indigo Run at 12:00 ($55), forgot my ten dollars off coupon. DW, SIL, MIL and all the kids stayed back at the resort. Kids did Gyotaku (fish printing on t-shirts $10) went swimming and took naps. Later went to South Beach to eat dinner at Salty Dog (good seafood). Bought a couple of Salty Dog t-shirts at their shop (VERY BUSY). Then back to the resort (after getting slightly lost and almost running out of gas!!). Walked over to the other side of Shelter Cove to check out Shannen Tanner (a singer who performs outside nightly and is very kid oriented). Kids had a lot of fun dancing and singing along.
Day 6- Up early again, ate breakfast in the room and headed to the fitness center. Left for the beach. Left kids and BIL at the beach house and went back at 10am for the "Behind the Ears Tour". Chef Gordon was our guide and was very knowledgeable about the resort and Disney. We went back to the beach after the tour and spent some time at the pool/beach. Had to call it quits about 1:30 because no matter how much sunscreen we put on DD she gets burned. Went back to the resort for Pirates of the Calibogue (with B'lou Crabbe) which is a free scavenger hunt for the whole family. Took naps after the hunt. Met up with everyone to go on a Dolphin Cruise at 5:00(On the Holiday which is located in Shelter Cove Harbour, $17 adults, $7 kids). This was a two hour cruise and we saw lots of Dolphins (well worth the money). After the cruise we went back to the room and ordered Giuseppi's Pizza. We got the Stuffed Special. We had it delivered and while we waited we went down to the Campfire. The campfire was a great time (with Steven and Bob) and at the end everyone gets to make s'mores. The pizza was still not delivered by the time we got back but came shortly after. It was well worth the wait!!
Day 7- DW, BIL his son, and I went on the Nature Kayaking Trip at 9am ($35 and 2 hours long). The guides name was Carlos. We really enjoyed this activity. Saw many dolpins close up and learned a lot about the marsh environment. Got back just in time to go see Shadows Tales (Shadow is the resorts resident dog). Took pictures with the kids. MIL, SIL, DW and I then went to the outlet mall. Ate lunch at Cornerstone Grill which was very good (just had salads). Shopped a little but didn't buy much. We kept thinking that there were so many other things to do besides shop. MIL and FIL watched the kids and we went to dinner at 5:00 at the Old Oyster Factory. This was by far the best meal we had on the Island!! It is THE place to eat at Hilton Head. After dinner picked up everyone and ran over to the Beach House to swim and see the ocean for the last time. When the beach house closed at 8:00 we all went to the resort pool. Even MIL was in the pool!!
Day 8- Checked out early in order to head off to Charleston. Went to Patriot Point and took the Ft. Sumter boat tour. There was a thunderstorm when we were traveling through the water and it was still rumbling when we got to the Fort. Everyone's hair was standing on end because of the static electrcity in the air. After Ft. Sumter we went to the Visitor's Center and chose to go on a two hour tour of the city which included a historical house tour. We had the tour bus to our selves which made it nice. We ate lunch at a place called Jack's Cosmic Dogs which is a very good hotdog place. While leaving Charleston we got lost in a not-so-quaint neighborhood but found our way back to the highway eventually then headed up to Columbia. Stayed at Amerisuites (Priceline $30.00). Ate dinner at Monterey's (not impressed by the food or the service).
Day 9- Left Columbia at 7:00am to drive to Nashville. In Nashville we stayed at the Sheraton Music City ($30.00 through Priceline). Kids went swimming at the large indoor pool. Later went to the Nashville Sounds baseball game with BIL while DW, DD, SIL, MIL went to Opry Mills. They ate at RainForest Cafe. DD loved it!! They walked around Opry Mills some but then decided to call it quits. The place has over 200 stores!!
Day 10- Left at about 9:00 and ate at the Waffle House (these places are like McDonalds where we are from....one on every corner!). Got home at about 3:00 central time and sat down to type this trip report....
WHEW.......that was LOOOOOONG!
It may not sound like it but it may have been the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken. We are already talking about going back next year.
)
. Thank you for taking the time to write a nice, long report!
