Need more advice on HH......Do you think we will be bored???

[eeyoresmom]

I'm planning a trip for third week of April 2009. I've already reserved a 2 bedroom for our group. It will be DH and myself and 4 teens. My family loves the atmosphere of WDW, but we don't have to go to the parks to have a great time. We love hanging out by the pool, going to DTD, visiting other resorts, etc. DS could spend the day at community hall. What's causing me some stress is that DH and I visited Vero for the first time this October and were really bored ( please no flames! ) It was off season at Vero and the resort was too quiet for us. There were a few families there but we felt kind of isolated. Part of the problem were the riptides that kept us off the beach, an the resort had a boil water order that was very frustrating. Anyway, my opinion is that Vero is a great resort and we will return, but definately "in season". I'm afraid HHI will be a similar experience. One positive is that my families favorite resort is the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans and I've read that HHi is very similar. The kids are old enough to go off by themselves so if there in night time entertainment within walking distance ( movies, mini golf, etc. ) that would be great. I really appreciate everyone's opinions and would love to hear your experience so I can make a more informed decisiona.... TIA

 

[allshookup]

We went to HHI for April vacation a couple of years ago & it was definitely a much more laid back vacation than WDW. There is some night time activities like toasting marshmallows & a sing-a-long, but it was really geared towards the little ones. The pool is nice, the beach house is excellent (there is a shuttle & they had a crab boil one evening with entertainment), we did a private dolphin sight seeing tour that was a lot of fun, and there is a little shopping area right next door that has little gift shops & restaurants & they also had some night time outdoor entertainment going on as well. However I don't think there is anything else really in walking distance & DH & I spent most evenings just hanging out on the porch while the kids played board games at the picnic table.

 

[RobDoc]

HH is a very family-oriented destination. The resort has a number of age-appropriate recreational activities - including a number of teen programs. There is miniature golf nearby the resort, as well as a wide assortment of water related activities - kayaking, canoeing, fishing, crabbing, Dolphin watch tours, nature tours - as well as biking (HH has miles of paved bike trails all over the island) and horseback riding. There is also a small mall within walking distance of the resort and a number of nearby boutique shops and also outlet malls within a short drive (you'll pass those on your way to the resort).

Of course, there is also a huge number of golf courses to choose from and well as a great number of both clay and hard-court tennis centers.

In April, the ocean will likely be a little too cool to enjoy a swim, but the pools are heated and the beach is wonderful. HH is blessed with a very gentle beach slope, so rip-tides are not a problem and the beach is very wide - even at high tide. March and April will also find a lot of families with kids of all ages. The teens seem to gravitate to each other and you will likely find your children making a lot of new friends during your stay. The recreation staff is very youth oriented with a number of college program and college age castmembers.

Have a great trip!

 

[Ksp]

We'll be there in January - can't wait! We haven't made any specific plans while we are there, but I do want to drive into Savannah for a day.
Does anyone know what type of nature activities are available in January?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I remember there was a miniature golf course right next to Hilton Head Diner. Is that considered within walking distance?
As far as January, I don't know about that month, but we did go in February once. They had the Dolphin tour (we saw Dolphins), the tour of HHI, and everything they seem to have other months.

 

[Ksp]

We love miniature golf! It's been a family vacation tradition since the kids were little - thanks for the tip! I will try to call the resort and see what types of activities they may run in January. We don't have small kids with us anymore, so our choices would be different about what to do....

 

[RobDoc]

Most of the recreation programs are available year-round based on guest response. Some are weather dependant but, as long as you have planned ahead with appropriate cool weather clothing, any of the activities may be enjoyed.

 

[gingermouse17]

 

[KirstenB]

We prefer a very active vacation, so WDW is perfect for us. My opinion on beach vacations in general is I'm good for 3-4 nights, max, then I get bored. The WDW resort at HH does really go out of their way to provide lots of activities, which helps. I don't think our family could do a week there, though.

 

[acder12]

My family and I have traveled to Hilton Head 4 or 5 times in the last 6 years but always in the summer. I don't know if some of these activities will be as much fun in April but I would recommend you check them out:
* rent bikes. DVC has bikes for rent on a length of stay basis that seems to be the most reasonable. The island is very flat and depending on your level of fitness, you could ride from one end of the island to the other.
* we always enjoy a "sea" kayak tour on the intercoastal waterway. I don't know if what you see in April would be the same as the summer but this is always a top priority for us during our stay.
* golf - mini or regular golf - both are great and you have a lot of different options to choose from. One insider tip (and again, I can't speak to this being available all year round) many of the full-length golf courses allow children under 10 to golf for free (in the afternoons) with a paying adult and for teenagers, they are 50% off with a paying adult. We have taken advantage of this at all three of the Palmetto Dunes Courses and one of the courses in Sea Pines. The only course I know that did not offer a program like this the last time we checked with them was Shipyard.
* Dolphin Cruise or the America's Cup Yacht sail - both trips were outstanding. Depending on your preferences, I would recommend the America's Cup Yacht cruise. It leaves from the lighthouse marina in Sea Pines and was a blast. We arranged the Dolphin Cruise right at DVC and they picked us up from the Marina next to the resort.
* Other than that, we eat, play on the beach, eat, sleep and eat some more!

Enjoy!

 

[bianca]

Perhaps I'm the lone voice of dissention, but we were honestly bored at HH. In fairness, it could be that it was because we were there in March (2008) and there just isn't much to do. However, the thing that bothered us the most were the limited hours everywhere around the resort itself. Forget that HHI basically rolls up the sidewalks at 7 pm, but the resort cleared out the pool, hot-tub and billiard room at 10 pm ...... way too early for older kids. In addition, there was construction going on all around the resort and my girls would not go in the pool during the day, because the construction workers were creeping them out (they were working right by the pool area). In light of this construction, they should have left the pool area open much longer so that guests could actually use it. The workers did not leave until very late in the day. The pool across the street at the ocean side closed at something like 6 pm and the little food shacks there were never open. We bought re-fillable mugs that were filled just once, as finding anything open was near impossible. On the positive side, the rooms are spacious, they were newly remodeled and the staff was always polite.