Who's been to Sea Pines in HH?

[Simba's Mom]

Next trip, I really want to go to Sea Pines Forest Preserve. But I've never been to Sea Pines. How strict are they? Do you just go to the booth and pay the $5 (is that the price) entry? Or do they really question you on where you're going? And has anyone specifically been to that Forest Preserve or to the Lawton Stables area just walking around for the nature?

 

[canda]

You just have to pay the 5 dollar toll to enter. there are some shops and eateries. they do not ask where you are going. Consider the 5 dollar toll as a parking fee. they do not charge for parking once inside and it is at a premium. by the light house, (which is another charge to go up) is a fantastic playground that my little boy loves. We don't have to go to sea pines to have fun, but once in a while it is ok. The stables are close to the front gate. There is always a big group to ride. You might want to make ressie ahead of time. As far as the houses, there are large mansions, but not like the Hamptons. They all still keep to the 1970 style of a contempory ranch while maintaining the wooded and nature feel of the surroundings.

 

[jnrrt]

We have stayed in sea pines for the last several years each summer. We always trek all around, and visit the preserve too. I'll trade you info in exchange for DVC HH info since we've never been there and now are thinking of exchanging that for our regular vacation!

We have always had a visitor pass because we're renting in Sea Pines, but I do not think they're strict - you can tell them if they ask that you are looking around, that's reason enough. Or the forest preserve or whatever - they really just want the $5 . I don't think you buy the passes at the guardhouse, though. There's a visitor's center right to the right in an office-looking complex just before the gatehouse - there are signs.

The forest preserve is just on your left as you come in. If you drive further you'll see Lawton Stables. The preserve is beautiful, especially if you're not from that area since the plantlife is really different (we're in Ohio) and we've found lots of neat birds and even the occassional alligator. Actually, every year we go "alligator hunting" all over sea pines on our bikes and keep track of how many alligators and turtles we find on each trip. You can ride bikes through the front section, but the rest is walking trails only, and a stroller really doesn't work great back there if that's a consideration. The only thing I will say is go before dark and bring your bug spray or you will be eaten alive - it's the one really unpleasant thing about the preserve.

I would definitely call ahead on the stables, and they have pony rides as well if you have little kids. We've also gotten sugar cubes from the grocery and you can feed them to the horses right along the bike trails.

If you have kids you should try to catch Greg Russell at Harbor Town - he's free and there's a great playground there, but parking is very tricky. You can also park just after the gatehouse in Sea Pines and take the trolley to Harbor Town.

So that's a really long post, but if you have any more questions, I'm happy to help.

 

[dis-happy]

We live there during the summer months, so I am biased, but a trip to Sea Pines and the Forest Preserve should be very enjoyable! You can actually drive into the Forest Preserve a little bit--there is a lake with fishing and an access road to get to it. Otherwise, the best way to see it is on horseback, if you like that sort of thing. If you like old ruins, there a couple of other places to see and explore as well, including a cemetary and old Indian shell ring.

The previous poster was incorrect: you have to turn into guest services on the right in order to pick up a guest pass, but if you are paying at the gate, just drive on up to the guardhouse and pay right there--they will issue you a day pass. And if you want to know a secret place for parking at Harbour Town, pm me. When are you going?

 

[dtheboys]

Hi, can you help w/ any photo's of Sea Pines, or sites to visit to get more information??
We will be at Disney's HH in June.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks everyone! We're headed to HH a week from tomorrow and hoping to go to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve on Sunday, March 13. Present weather forecast is for it to be sunny, and we're going specifically so that we can see all those neat birds (we're birders). Thinking of going to Cafe Europa for lunch. Isn't that at the base of the lighthouse? Do they have their own parking lot there?

 

[dis-happy]

That's neat about the birding. I recently found out what a Painted Bunting looks like---very colorful and pretty!---there is a street with that name in Sea Pines, so maybe you will find those birds around as well. We also see a lot of nesting egrets in the trees across the marsh. But my favorite of all are the pelicans flying in formation....

If you want, pm me with your name and I can call in a free guest pass for the week. We'll be down there too, but not until the 25th.

 

[tiffany123]

Anyone going to HH who wants to see birds and other water wildlife, needs to go to Pickney Nature Preserve, on the left just as you drive onto the island. There are several good walking trails, all species of water and tropical birds and also alligators. No charge to visit the preserve and it's open from dawn to dusk. HH DVC does sometime off guided nature tours of the preserve which are also free on a first come-first serve basis. The DVC van can accomodate only a few passengers but Chris has always permitted others to accompany his van in their private cars.

 

[CarolA]

I love Sea Pines and stay there instead of DVC. (I found the HH DVC to be a big disappointment. I want to WALK quickly to the ocean!)

 

[cgcw]

Present weather forecast is for it to be sunny, and we're going specifically so that we can see all those neat birds (we're birders).

I don't know what type of room you are staying in but one trip, we stayed in a 1 bedroom building 19 which had a little area off the balcony that was kind of secluded and full of trees. DS10 at the time was really into bird watching and thought it was so neat to be able to sit on the balcony and see them up close. The birds were not afraid of us by any means and would land not only on the balcony railing but on the table too. It was a cool experience.

I'm sure your bird watching skills are much more advanced than my DS10's but we did enjoy it.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I haven't.