Hilton Head Island
 

We're considering a family vacation to Hilton Head Island, staying at the Palmetto Dunes Resort. Is this a good choice? How are beaches, golfing, restaurants, etc. We've already been to Kiawah Island and loved that. How does Hilton Head compare?

Hilton Head is a wonderful family destination in the summer, very family oriented, kids everywhere. <BR>We have gone for years staying in Sea Pines- they have tremendous bike paths through the forest.. <BR>Palmetto Dunes is a nice area as is Sea Pines. <BR>The beaches are great, wide hard packed beaches, people rent bikes to ride on the beach. <BR>There are many restaurants to choose from on the island. <BR>I have not been to Kiawah, HH is much more developed. The main drag on HH is quite congested but once you get into Sea Pines or Palmetto dunes it is quiet.

We stayed there last summer....Great trip. Palmetto Dunes is lovely. There was a golf course...really nice....across from the Condo where we stayed. My husband played there and loved it. Actually there were two in Palmetto Dunes if I remember correctly. He played both and said both were really nice. If you have the luxury of going in late September, as we did, the crowds were very minimal and yet the weather was superb. We couldn't believe we lucked out. We will return soon. As far as comparisons go, I have not been to Kiawah so I could not address that. One restaurant we tried twice and loved....The Old Oyster Factory. It seems to be a local favorite. We took a day trip to Charleston....also, a boat trip to Savannah. Both were very enjoyable. Wish we had more time. Have fun....

We've gone to HHI the past 4 summers. Our family loves it. We rented a condo in Sea Pines through Sea Coast villas (they have a website too). They were reasonbly priced, nice condos. Not directly on the beach though. There are several good restaurants. Crazy Crab, Wild Wings, Fitzgeralds are our favorites. I've never been to Kiawah so I can't compare.

Okay...this is a really stupid question but I have to ask it...(I'm from the Northeast) <BR> <BR>We, too, are staying at Palmetto Dunes the first week in June...however I've seen a pic of an alligator on the golf course around there and I'm a little worried about the possibility of seeing an alligator outside of a swamp tour....such as on a walkway I'm walking on or something like that... <BR> <BR>I'm serious about this and I'm wondering how prevelent this is? Is there some type of control for this kind of thing?

Maggie, And I was serious with my last response to this too. You are not going to encounter them on a path. The most you *might* see of one is on the bank of one of the lagoons, sleeping in the sun. They are *not* going to go after you...you are not their food. <BR> <BR>The picture taken on the golf course must have been close to (yards from) a water hazard. If you golf, you have a good chance of spying one's eyes and nostrils just barely sticking up above the water and that's normally the way you'll see them in a lagoon, too. <BR> <BR>Now, they are naturally afraid of people, but that balance will be ruined if people feed them, as sometimes happens. They'll lose that shyness and associate people with food and then there will be trouble. Marshmallows seem to be the favorite, I guess because they float and they get to see the activity when it's eaten, but it's a huge mistake. <BR> <BR>You won't find swamps, but beaches and saltwater marshes, which are absolutely beautiful at all times of the year. Like New England's leaves, the marsh changes color...new green of spring, dark green of summer, then golden in the winter. <BR> <BR>Anyway, walk the paths to your heart's content and *don't* worry about the gators! Hilton Head is pretty crowded and rarely will you find yourself all alone strolling a path anyway!

Maggie....hmmm, are you the same [email protected] that wrote on the "disneyworld" topic just about the same time you posted this? It appears I've tripped over a troll...shoulda known better and truly, it gripes me that I wasted a fair amount of my time responding to you!

We loved Palmetto Dunes. It seemed to be more newly developed than Sea Pines. (Though do go into Sea Pines to see the Light House and harbor!) Don't go through the Palmetto Dunes Resort Realty though as I found them to be more expensive than area realtors. We used islandgetaway.com and were very pleased. The Hampton and Windsor Court Villas (ocean front) were the newest and nicest in my opinion. It has been several years since I was there though. We went the last week in Aug and it was not crowded because NC and SC schools were in session already. Have a great trip.

Dear Olive: I'm sorry you are 'griped' that you answered my question but I hope you will be less upset if you realize that I'm thankful. You have put me a little more at ease. I was serious about the question. <BR> <BR>I visit many places throughout the year and Hilton Head is new to me. As I posted, that pic did upset me. I think it was because it looked so close to people, and it was near a water hole. I remember reading a news story once in Florida that a grandmother and her grand daughter were walking along a path and an alligator got the grandmother. I also had a professor last year (I'm back at school) who had done some golfing at Hilton Head and he had mentioned alligators in jest. <BR> <BR>We are staying in a condo that is near some water but I'm sure everything will be okay if it's as you say it is... <BR> <BR>Again, thanks for the info...actually I was more worried about my daughter and her friend walking along the paths. They are both 21 and are usually chatting away, not really watching out for alligators ;) <BR> <BR>Again, thanks for your response. I hadn't seen your response to my other post and I'm sorry...truly.