We decided to switch it up a bit this year as we abandoned our four year run at Jekyll Island for extended stays at Hilton Head Island and Kiawah Island, S.C.
As it turned out, this was the coldest and snowiest winter we’ve had in the past four years making travel very tricky. Watching the weather closely, we literally had no margin for error on both the way there and back. Snow, ice, extreme polar vortexes, and even floods frequented the route between Michigan and South Carolina. As a result, our warm weather days were also lessened as the cold and snow penetrated all the way down to southern Georgia for a couple of days. Hilton Head even experienced “once in a generation” snow accumulations for a few days.
The Marriott Surf Watch Vacation Club was our home for a month. Our ~2000 sq. ft. condo was very spacious and easy to settle into, as many conveniences (even our own washer and dryer) were included in the 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo. There were 4 pools (one indoors), a nice workout facility, an ocean front beach, and activities (e.g. daily water aerobics, food, music, and other social events) almost every day. It was a very vice home away from home.
Karen loved to run 3 or 4 miles daily, on the expansive beach, until she developed severe sciatica around week 3. I kept running the trails until the pounding caught up with me as well. By the time we got back to Michigan, neither one of us was running. Biking the trails daily (except for the couple snow days) and frequently participating in the daily water aerobic classes kept us very active.
After two weeks at Surf Watch an ocean view condo at Surf Watch became available. The view from our new balcony was fantastic and we enjoyed the proximity to the beach and ocean. However, we did sacrifice proximity to the workout facility and indoor pool.
We were always very active during the day (biking and running) But once we settled in for the evening we usually played some board games/cards before eating a health meal home cooked meal. After movie or series typically followed before turning in for the night.
The sourthern end of Hilton Head largely consisted of the sprawling gated community of See Pines. We were able to bike a few days there and discovered many treasures such as the Stoney-Baynard Ruins, Surf Side Market, Sea Pines Nature Preserve, and Harbor Town. Our biking adventures typically ended at one of the many breweries on the island.
We took our first day trip, this time, to Savanah. We did not enjoy the city like we have in the past. There was not much going on in the city, our favorite beer joint appeared to have really gone down hill, and the biking has never been fantastic.It seems that Savanah has lost the excitement that it used to have for us.
On the other hand one of our aqua classmates at Surfwatch recommended a seafood restaurant named Hudson Seafood on the northwest side of Hilton Head Island. It was so good we wound up going there three times (biking and driving). They caught much of what they served with their own fishing boat. The outdoor seating, overlooking the intercostal waterway, was really enjoyable and their beer selection featured some excellent brews that are hard to find in South Carolina.
A different day trip to Beaufort, S.C. (about an hours drive north of Hilton Head) included a ride on the beautiful Spanish Moss Trail and some time in downtown Beaufort on the waterfront and touring the historic district by bicycle.
Bluffton, S.C. is just over the bridge to Hilton Head Island. The waterside downtown has a quaint, old fashioned vibe. However, it can be very busy at times. During a weekday, we really enjoyed our experience riding and walking around the town. There seems to be some event to enjoy often. A farmer’s market was happening the day we were there.
The Sea Pines Forest Preserve, located in the Sea Pines community, was an unexpected treat. The beauty and tranquility of this 600 acre nature preserve was so much fun to explore by bike. We ate our packed lunch there while overlooking one of the pristine lakes in the Preserve.
On the way back from one of our biking adventures from Sea Pines, we stopped at Surf Side Market for a break while listening to a live band. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day to just sit back and soak it all in.
While we had to cut our trip short, due to sports injuries, we still managed to spend a few days on Kiawah Island, S.C. The island was gorgeous and had many miles of well paved bike paths, beautiful homes, golf courses, and ocean views. Our hotel, The Andell Inn (a Marriott Residence Inn) was adjacent to Freshfields Village (a wonderful group of about 30 upscale stores and resturaunts). The hotel was the nicest Residence Inn that we have experienced.
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