HHI week of Thanksgiving: what to do/what to know?

Hi Y%26#39;all!

I%26#39;ve been traveling to HHI for the past 26 -- we started when I was 3 years old, and well, now you know my age. :) I have been there during the summers, spring, and early fall but never have I been there in late November. What can you tell me about going at this time? We already have our condo booked and a very much looking forward to the much needed time away.

Thanks!

HHI week of Thanksgiving: what to do/what to know?

visit harold%26#39;s country club for supper...

HHI week of Thanksgiving: what to do/what to know?

I%26#39;ve never even heard of Harold%26#39;s Country Club. What can you tell me about it?

Harolds CC is an eclectic place located in northern Beaufort county.

In spite of it%26#39;s name it is a combination restaurant and gas station that is open to the public.

the best nights to go are Thursday, when they serve a Pot Luck, or Saturday, when the menu is deep fried rib eye steak. The hours are from 6:30 to 8:00 and reservations are required.

most nights they also have Karaoke. It is popular with many northern county locals, but quite a few celebrities have eaten there, including Martha Stewart.

Here is the address and phone number.

Harold%26#39;s Country Club Bar %26amp; Grill in Yemassee, South Carolina (sc)

Name: Harold%26#39;s Country Club Bar %26amp; Grill

Street: Highway 17-A %26amp; Highway 2

Yemassee, sc 29945-

Phone: (843) 589-4360

Stan (hhiguy)

Thanks, Stan! That sounds like it could be fun! You%26#39;d think after 26 years, I would have heard about it :)

You need to think about what you want to do on Thanksgiving day.

Basically you have four choices:

1 - Go to one of the buffets served at our hotels. The Crown Plaza, Hilton Resort, Marriott, and Westin each have top notch buffets.

2 - All the best restaurants serve dinner. Most will have a special menu with traditional favorites.

3 - If you are staying at a residence or condo that includes a kitchen, you can order a dinner from one of our supermarkets. For about $50 - $60 you can order a turkey or ham with all the fixin%26#39;s and traditional side dishes.

4 - Finally traditionally one of the island restaurants does offer a free meal. This is sponsored from one of our charities ';Deep Well';. If you go, you can of course pay what you think the meal is worth.

You will need to make reservations or arrangements with just about any of the choices.

Stan (hhiguy)

hhiguy: We%26#39;ll be there for 1st time Thanksgiving week and have appreciated all the restaurant help from you and others since we eat out most nights. Holiday buffets are overpriced (IMO) in my area and always have been. Do you know the average price for your hotels? Being national chains I would think at least $25pp plus tax and gratuity. I would be interested in finding out where the charity meal would be and how to make reservations. Will this be published soon? I would certainly rather make a charity donation than have to pay so much for a hotel buffet.We will have a condo so might think of the take home meal.

hhiguy,

you don%26#39;t happen to have a website for that Bluffton Oyster you recommended a while back??? Any other caterer%26#39;s that you would recommend??

Thanks, nosun

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Wadamalaw Island

We are going to be renting on Wadamalaw Island between Dec. 19 and Dec. 23. We normally stay on Kiawah and trael often into Charleston. Can anyone share anything regarding the nearest grocery stores, restaurants on Wadamalaw and also how is the weather in December. We are coming from the Atlanta area, so I figure it%26#39;s probably similar to ours. Hopefully, a few degrees warmer!

I have heard that Charleston is beautiful during Christmas.

One more question, how close is Edisto Island (Sorry if misspelled) I heard there is a place on their beach where shelling is very good.

Thank you very much for any input.

Wadamalaw Island

There are a couple of very small, very local places selling provisions on the Maybank Highway out toward Rockville. Your closest actual grocery story will be the Piggly Wiggly in the shopping center at the corner of Maybank Highway and Main Road, on Johns Island.

I do not know of any restaurants on Wadmalaw. The Fat Hen, on Maybank Highway on Johns Island, is popular. If you haven%26#39;t tried it, do so! http://www.thefathen.com/

Wadamalaw Island

Your second question about driving distance to Edisto ...

As always, the problem with car travel between barrier islands is that they are ';so near and yet so far';! You have to travel from Wadmalaw, back to the mainland, then south, the out again to Edisto. I just glanced at mapquest, which indicates the driving distance from Rockville (at the very end of the highway on Wadmalaw, and within sight of Edisto over the water) to Edisto is 47.87 miles.

You might rather pick up a boat excursion from Cherry Point, near Rockville -

http://www.bohicketboat.com/

Also, you can buy shrimp (or whatever they%26#39;re catching in December?) off the boat at Cherry Point Seafood (a working boat dock, not a market or restuarant).

You say you normally stay on Kiawah, nothing would be any different than staying on Kiawah, you%26#39;re just driving in a different direction once you hit the Big Pig.

Local restaurants are the same, weather is the same, gorceries are pretty much the same (there is a new Publix just off 17 @ Main Rd., turn right, instead of left toward the islands). You also have the option of driving out to Kiawah/Seabrook for Freshfields.

As Villa stated, it%26#39;s the old can%26#39;t get there from here as far as Edisto goes.

If you are kayakers, you can launch at Cherry Point Landing and paddle straight to the shelling beach (Botany Island). It is several miles away, but just across the Edisto River.

The shrimping season will be coming to it%26#39;s end while you are there, so if you do want shrimp straight off the dock, you better check as soon as you get there.

Have fun!

The closest thing to a store and/or a restaurant on Wadmalaw is down in Rockville - P.M. King%26#39;s Grocery. It was started a long time ago by my aunt%26#39;s father; upon his death, my uncle took it over and ran it up until this year. Now my cousin Rachel is the proprieter, and she has great barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, and other stuff. It%26#39;s a typical little store, but run with a lot of love.

Rockville is a beautiful little village, with gorgeous oaks and lots of moss hanging from the trees.

If you go to King%26#39;s, tell Rachel that Dave said to take care of you!

Thanks for the information. I do know where that Piggly Wiggly is at and I will check out the restaurant on Maybank Hwy.

Thank you to everyone that posted here for me. Awesome information - I plan on checking out all of these places and I will tell them at the store about Dave. Thanks again - your help has been wonderful!

LovintheBeach - Please leave a trip report when you return! I love Wadmalaw Island. I%26#39;ve always wondered what it would be like to stay there, or live there, especially in the winter.

Floski - Next time I am out Rockville way, I will definitely stop by P.M. King%26#39;s Grocery! :)

LOL

Thanks, KV! Too bad you can%26#39;t just stop at the marina and swim over to Rockville. Or better yet, when the regatta comes around, you could probably walk from boat to boat and make it to Rockville in no time!

Walking from boat to boat is the best plan yet! (Maybe along the way I%26#39;ll be invited to a party.)

- kv

Which hotel for our first trip?

My husband and I will be visiting Charleston for the first time. We will be staying three nights. We are considering the Holiday Inn (historic dist), Best Western King Charles, or Hampton Inn (historic dist). Would anyone recommend any of these over another? We are hoping to experience a walking tour, carriage ride and maybe the harbor tour as well as driving south to Hilton Head and Savannah. Any advice would be appreciated.

Which hotel for our first trip?

JTMAY usually knows more about what is going on in the hotels around Charleston than anyone. He recently wrote that the King Charles Inn just completed a $7M renovation so it sounds good! It also has free parking and is closer than the other two. The Holiday Inn Historic has a good reputation for Kevin the Concierge.

Which hotel for our first trip?

Also, consider The Mills House Hotel, which is also a Holiday Inn although you would never know it. Some people have gotten great deals recently.

Hi. I sent my parents on their first trip to Charleston on their 25th wedding anniversary. They fell in love with it. We booked their first stay at the Hampton Inn. It doesn%26#39;t look like your typical Hampton Inn, it blends in with Charleston. Once they were there they found the Charleston Place Hotel. If you need to budget, check out the Hampton Inn, if you can spend some $$$ go straight to the Charleston Place Hotel and even check out staying on the concierge level for special treatment. They have tea time, an amazing restaurant and an upscale mall downstairs. Even if you don%26#39;t stay there, walk through and check it out. Have fun, Charleston is an amazing place!!!

The Best Western King Charles Inn did spend 7 million renovating recently and their new rooms are some of the best in town, while still being pretty affordable. The new rooms have handcrafted furniture, mini-fridges, IHome clock radios with IPOD docking stations, and LG Flat Screen TV%26#39;s. For the location and the price it simply can%26#39;t be beat. If you are going to Savannah you should consider the Planters Inn on Reynolds Square, that is where I stay when I go down to Savannah on business.

It always links the wrong hotel for Planters...here is the one in Savannah.

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60814-d86784-R鈥?/a>

getting to town without taking own car???

We are staying at Residence Inn @ Ripley Point and would like to go downtown in the evenings but dont want to drive our car.Are there shuttles or taxis ?? If so how much??

getting to town without taking own car???

If you will have your own car with you at the hotel, consider driving in and out of Charleston. Doing so is extremely easy, and there are many centrally located municipal garages. Although you will pay for parking, you save time and money over taking a cab. Also, you might phone the local number for the hotel to find out if they offer any ';complimentary'; shuttles.

getting to town without taking own car???

The hotel%26#39;s website says they do not provide a shuttle but bus fare is $5 one-way.

marriott.com/hotels/鈥?/a>

Help - what is the hotel tax rate in MB?

I have googled this info - and I can%26#39;t find it. Does anyone know off the top of their heads?

I THINK it is 12% - but haven%26#39;t found anything to back it up.

Thanks for any input!

Help - what is the hotel tax rate in MB?

6% lodging tax plus 5% sales tax for a total of 11%. Some places also charge a daily resort fee of a few dollars.

Help - what is the hotel tax rate in MB?

Yep, it%26#39;s 11%

Also, be advised, that tax applies to restaurants too! I am used to hotels having a higher rate, but my first time in a restaurant down there I thought there was a mistake on my bill. I was told there is some difference depending on whether the place is in the city or the county, but I am not sure of the specifics on that.

Here%26#39;s a breakdown of all the taxes within the city of Myrtle Beach-

www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/didyouknow2.html

I'm confused...help!

Hi, our family will be traveling to the Maryland area next July and staying with family for a week. We would like to extend our vacation for an extra week and stay at a beach/resort town somewhere along the east coast. We have looked into Cape Cod and the Outer Banks. Someone just also recommended Myrtle Beach. Our kids are 8 and 11 and we love nice beaches, good food and being outdoors.

Is anyone familiar with these destinations that could give me a bit of input? We are willing to drive a distance to get to the best place to stay a week... just can%26#39;t decide where!

Thanks!

I'm confused...help!

If it was just adults. The Cape and Outer Banks would be fine. Great for fishing or reading books.

With kids. Myrtle Beach. No contest.

I'm confused...help!

I live in MD...So I can tell you that it is a about a 9 hour drive to MB from here, but it is worth it if you have the time. If you want to stay a little closer to MD...Try Ocean City,Md. If you do decide to make the trip to MB..take a look at the Dunes Village Resort. Your kids will thank you for it! Good Luck...

Hi orrclan, I can%26#39;t really speak to Cape Cod since I%26#39;ve only been there once years ago, but I can help with the other two:

It all depends on what you mean by ';nice beaches, good food and being outdoors';. I would characterize Myrtle Beach as a faster-paced, ';tourist-trap'; destination. Nothing wrong with that if that%26#39;s what you%26#39;re looking for, and it is especially exciting for kids. There are tons of things to do, such as mini golf, water parks, resorts, theme attractions, shopping, bars, restaurants, etc. It%26#39;s very commercialized indeed. The beach itself is great, but it can get crowded at times. That said, you%26#39;d have a wonderful time at Myrtle. It%26#39;s a family-oriented place, and it%26#39;s very good at providing something for everyone (and lots of it).

The Outer Banks is quite a different place. Much more laid back, and not nearly as commercialized. The beaches are largely unspoiled, as you can easily find deserted stretches so it%26#39;s only you, the ocean, the sand, and the birds...a much more nature-intensive experience. Still, there are lots of things to do, like hang gliding (or if you like to play it safe like me, hiking) on Jockey%26#39;s Ridge, kayaking, visiting the light houses, wildlife centers, ferry rides, museums, Wright Brothers Memorial, etc. No doubt the kids would have a great time there too, but it%26#39;s a much different thing compared to Myrtle Beach.

So you%26#39;ll have to decide what kind of vacation your family wants. Hopefully you can eventually do both, but with kids the ages of yours I think they would definitely prefer Myrtle. Then again, if they%26#39;re more into exploring nature, history, and outdoor activities, the OB would be better (and it is much closer to MD). I assume you%26#39;ve googled most places, but if you haven%26#39;t found these yet, check them out:

http://www.outerbanks.org/index.asp

http://www.myrtlebeach.com/

If you have more questions, please ask!

The kids would love Myrtle Beach.Dunes Village is relatively new( 2 to 3 years old) and has an indoor waterpark.

Other things to do for kids are about 2 dozen mini golf courses,Broadway At The Beach,Barefoot Landing,Alligator Adventure,mini race car tracks,2 large water parks,Ripleys Aquarium and fireworks displays.

Food places kids would enjoy are back porch of Hamurger Joes in North Myrtle Beach,Hard Rock Cafe, Ryans Buffet, Carolina Roadhouse and window seats at Chesapeake House where you can see 3 alligators swimming near shore looking for food handouts.

Just about all hotels have pools and lazy rivers and most stay open till around 10pm.

We%26#39;ve been going to Myrtle Beach for decades now. In the past couple of years we%26#39;ve also been to Ocean City, MD and the Jersey Shore from Atlantic City south to Wildwoods. While the Jersey Shore and Ocean City were different and worth doing once, we%26#39;ll stick with Myrtle Beach where the beach is nicer, the water is a little warmer and there%26#39;s more options for places to stay and things to do. There are more nice places to stay in MB than the others too.

Thanks so much for all the input!

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25th Anniversary

Hello everyone! My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in December, and I was wondering if there were any special events in Charleston for the Christmas season - we%26#39;re looking at coming up around the first week in December. I%26#39;m sure all of the homes will be decorated and tourable - are there other special events? We%26#39;ve always visited Charleston in the spring, and it%26#39;s one of the most beautiful places I%26#39;ve ever seen. Thanks for any info you can give!

25th Anniversary

This site will get you started...

www.charlestoncvb.com/visitors/events.html鈥?/a>

The big event that weekend (Dec. 6) is the boat parade!!!

There are plenty of other things going on, as well.

25th Anniversary

Since you were here in the spring, you may have gone on the Hisotric Charleston Foundation%26#39;s house and garden tour of private homes. Just to clarify - In December, the museum homes will be tourable; bute the private homes will not be open.

Last year the Historic Charleston Foundation did special ';lowcountry Christmas'; tours, with costumed guides, of the Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House; but I have not heard anything this year. (Anyone know?)

For historical holiday decor, consider:

Middleton Place Plantation - From the Big House to the Quarters, enjoy festive holiday decorations and learn about 19th century holiday traditions. Carriage rides and tours of the House Museum make December the perfect time to visit Middleton Place .

Edmonston-Alston House - Don%26#39;t miss Christmas 1860...A Candlelight Tour of the Edmondston-Alston House on December 5 and 12. Call 722-7171 for tickets and information.

Don%26#39;t forget about the Holiday Lights Display on James Island. (I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;re driving from Charleston and will have a car with you) It has been rated as one of the best Holiday light displays in the country.

Another wonderful thing about the holidays is the Progressive Dinner. We did this last year - the whole fam damily - and had a wonderful time. For one price, you have appetizers and cocktails at one historic inn, then you%26#39;re taken by carriage to Circa 1886 - a lovely, historic restaurant, enjoy a nice dinner there, and are taken by carriage to a third historic home where you enjoy tea, coffee and desserts of all types. Each venue is decoraged beautifully for the Holidays and tips are already included in the price. http://www.circa1886.com/circa-calendar.asp

If you should venture out to Mt.Plesant and would like to get in some holiday shopping, Towne Center I believe is planning their annual carriage rides for shoppers (I think it%26#39;s every weekend).

If you are here on 12/6, 12/7 or 12/8 there is a great free Christmas treat that is a carefully guarded Charleston secret (shhhh, so don%26#39;t tell anyone!)...The Citadel does an annual Christmas Candlelight Chorale at the chapel on campus that is breathtaking! It starts at 7:00 P.M., but go EARLY!!! It is packed all three nights. They do pass-the-plate during the service for donations.

For a sample go to: http://citadel.edu/chapel/events/index.shtml

suggestions for three nights dining in columbia

i%26#39;m returning to columbia for the third on business, be there three nights and would appreciate restaurant recommendations not too far from downtown. i%26#39;ve eaten at Blue Marlin (liked it quite a bit), a greek place in the vista (not too good), maruice%26#39;s (well, that was an experience anyway), lizard%26#39;s thicket (very nice downhome cooking). i%26#39;d like to try new places this trip, so any suggestions are appreciated. thanks in advance.

suggestions for three nights dining in columbia

we like california dreaming and mr. friendly%26#39;s and feel that you will too.

suggestions for three nights dining in columbia

MacDougall%26#39;s in the Vista is good.

Yesterday';s in Five Points is good too.

Legends in Concert - worthwhile?

Hi,

Does anyone have any feedback on the Legends in Concert show? I%26#39;m considering attending but would like to know what you all think before I commit.

Are there preferable seats to request for the best view/experience?

Thanks.

Legends in Concert - worthwhile?

I think it is worth it. It has been a couple of years since we were there but the performers were awsome, they looked like, dressed like and sang like the real thing. There were the Blues Bros., Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, Elvis ( i%26#39;m sure i forgot someone) and they all performed maybe 15-20 mintues. Our seat was kind of to the side so we were not right in front of the stage but they do move all around just like at any other concert. The place wasn%26#39;t very big so probably anywhere would be o.k.

I think who the performers are vary so you may want to ask before you buy your tickets to make sure it%26#39;s all familiar people.

Legends in Concert - worthwhile?

This is a much smaller venue than the Carolina Opry or the Alabama Theater, so all seats are close to the stage ( this was the original Carolina Opry building ). We have been several times over the years and have enjoyed each show. The further ahead you book your tickets, the better the seats you will get. As best I remember, the tickets are nonrefundable after purchase, but I think they will exchange them for a future show if you must cancel.

I think it is worth it. At the same time if you are only going to one show I would suggest Carolina Opry.

We went to Legends on Oct 2nd, and I have to say it was great. The performance opened with Ray Charles, then Dolly Parton, followed by the Blues Brothers and yes, Jake does cartwheels! There was a short intermission, then Johnny Cash and a finale of Elvis. If you like older music, its great. I suggest you go to their site and view the seating chart. We picked 2 seats that were next to center aisle, only 4 or 5 rows from front, and nobody in front of us! So close you could talk in a normal voice and have the singer hear you. Afterwards you can get autographs, pictures, etc.

I thought the Legends show was great. When we went there was Madonna, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, The Blue Brothers (hilarious!) and Elvis. The Elvis peformer was Ryan Pelton who was incredible and totally MADE the show. He has since left Legends and is on his own tour, so that has kind of ruined Legends for me. Their new Elvis may be good too but...

A few questions.....

Does anyone know where to find tide charts for HHI, I think it would be fun to go out exploring at low tide.

I am trying to look into the Commander Zodiac dolphin tours, how big is the boat or boats that they use? We have a group of 21!! Are the dolphin still this far north in Nov.??

Lastly, any good catering companies that any one can recommend??

Thanks for any info you might have.

nosun

and p.s.,

we had a few snowflakes in the air here in Syracuse the other day, yuck!!!

A few questions.....

1-For tide charts try this website

http://tinyurl.com/6sa85k

2 -Dolphins hang out in these waters year round.

3 - I believe Commander Zodiac tours are smaller boats. Others can fill you in.

4 Catering

It depends on what you want.

A - Low Country Oyster Roasts or Broil. Bluffton Oyster or Captain Woodys

B- BarBeQue - Jim and Nicks or Sticky Fingers.

C - Italian - Bella Italia (not just pizza)

D- General (Weddings etc) Celebration Events, Mainly Sandstone, or Christines.

Stan (hhiguy)

A few questions.....

Thank you hhiguy!!

in the centre of things

hi there, i am thinking of staying in the area at the end of may but dont reall now where to stay, i would really like to be in the centre of things if poss, i.e. walk to the beach, bars and shops, is this poss...thx

in the centre of things

Most of the shopping is away from the beach as well as most of the bars. Myrtle Beach is really spread out. There is a trolley service that you might could use but I%26#39;m not familiar with it or the hours it operates. You could pick an oceanfront hotel and depending on the location there may or may not be bars withing a reasonable walking distance. You might consider either Oceans One Resort or The Sandy Beach Resort which are two very nice oceanfront properties on S. Ocean Blvd at 3rd Ave S. There is a small beachfront bar adjacent to the Sandy Beach Resort but I can%26#39;t recall the name of it. I%26#39;m sure you will get plenty of suggestions.

in the centre of things

As mentioned above, MB is not the greatest for wasking to things but the two places already mentioned are probably some of the better for walking. I would suggest staying anywhere between those 200 block of S Ocean Blvd up to 2500 N Ocean Blvd if you want to walk. Bayview Resort, Atlantica II or III, Breakers, Camelot, Holiday Inn at the pavillion, Holiday Sands N, anything in that area. Just be sure to check reviews!

Restaurant for Senior Adult group of 56

I will be bringing a group of Senior Adults from my church in December for the Christmas Shows. What restaurants, in the Myrtle Beach area, welcome large parties of 56. My people like to order from the menu and they like American foods.

Restaurant for Senior Adult group of 56

First place I thought of was K %26amp; W Cafeteria. Not a ';order from menu'; place...but good food, big selections and great prices.

(Of course you would want to call ahead with that many people in your group no matter where you go.)

Restaurant for Senior Adult group of 56

Try the Fish House...very comfortable with accomodations for seniors, great food at extremely reasonable prices.

I would just start calling around to plces and see if they can accomendate all of yall.

I didn%26#39;t think the Fish House was very good at all. The prices were outrageous for the portion size in my opinion and the taste was average at best. When I was there I ordered shrimp alfredo, it was $20 and I was still quite hungry when I finished it as it was served in a small salad bowl and had about 6 medium size shrimp on it. It did come with a salad that was bigger than the entree and they give you a tiny cup of soft serve ice cream which you need because you will still be hungry. They also don%26#39;t seem to know what they%26#39;re doing because they charged everyone in my group for their salads which were supposed to come with the entrees.

My suggestion would be Original Benjamins, Golden Corral or K %26amp; W Cafeteria. None of them are typical order off the menu places with the first two being buffets but they have great food, selections and could easily accommodate a group of your size.

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Dove Street Christmas

We are coming to Hilton Head November 29th and will stay a week. Will Dove Street be decorated for Christmas? We came last year the week before Christmas and just loved Dove Street. We are hoping to have the Dove Street Experience again.

Thanks.

Dove Street Christmas

http://www.dovestreetlights.com/

Paradise Resort or Shore Crest ???

Travel agent came up with these two choices for June, 2009. Anyone stay there or know anything about either of these places. Thanks for any helpl.

Don%26#39;t have to pick these will try to look at others also.

Paradise Resort or Shore Crest ???

We saw but did not stay at Paradise when we down a few weeks ago. It looks really nice...very big but nice. It is a kind of south area of MB and not a walking area at all. Maybe call the resort and ask about parking, I know the parking is sometimes a short walk fro mthe resorts in this area.

Shore Crest is NMB and I know nothing about it.

Paradise Resort or Shore Crest ???

A friend of mine stayed at Paradise Resort a month ago and said that it was nice and clean.

Edgewater Inn or Best Western in Feb.?

Looks like I will make it to area late Feb. for 4 or 5 nights and both of these are in same price range ie under $50/night at that time. Best Western seems to have oceanfront view whereas not sure about Edgewater from their site although they seem to get better reviews. Appreciate any thoughts about this.

Edgewater Inn or Best Western in Feb.?

I%26#39;d go with Best Western.

Best Western is probably twice the size of Edgewater. Plus Edgewater is second row property so oceanfront is out of the question there. Also yuo get continental breakfast at Best Western.

Edgewater Inn or Best Western in Feb.?

Thanks - have booked there and will have time when there to check out longer term rentals for future possibilities as suggested by you and others on earlier posts when I was looking at weekly/monthly rentals.

We%26#39;ll look forward to your report when you return. Our family stays at the Best Western Ocean Sands every July, and we love it. However, we%26#39;ve never been there in February. Most of the things we love about this hotel involve summer-time activities (pool area, tiki bar, outdoor breakfast area) which may not be open during February.

I can say this about the BW Ocean Sands: it is in a great location, the rooms are large, and the folks that work there have always been wonderful to us.

Thank you - still firming up travel plans but when I do make it BW it will be. Many Canadians head to MB in Feb. often for month - usually much better weather than Ottawa area and rates at places like BW a bargain, particularly monthly rates. With Canadian dollar down to 80% of US this is also a consideration for Canadian snowbirds these days.

December in Pawleys Island

We%26#39;ve never been to Pawleys Island, but have heard from friends that it is a paradise. My question may seem stupid, but is Pawleys Island a good place to go during the holidays? Is the weather warm enough to play golf? What other activities are available? We have been to Hilton Head for the holidays and found it to be a little crowded. Can anyone make a comparison for me? Thanks.

December in Pawleys Island

Our weather is always subject to unusual cold spells or a stretch of nasty weather, but a typical December is definitely golf weather. A sweater or wind tamer will probably be in order, but bring shorts just in case. Never been to HHI at Christmas so I can%26#39;t offer a direct comparison. We%26#39;ll see a bump in visitors, but it%26#39;s still a very nice time to visit.

Other activities? ';Nights of a Thousand Candles'; at Brookgreen Gardens - www.brookgreen.org/calendar-of-events.cfm鈥?/a> -

is always a special treat and well worth a visit. Huntington Beach State Park, with Atalaya castle and wide beaches is also a nice way to spend a day or two. It will probably be a little cool for sunbathing, but the beach on the north end is great for walks. Georgetown is only about 20 minutes away, and a visit to Front Street%26#39;s shops and restaurants is also fun.

1st time visitor. Where to stay? help!

Hello all! We are planning a 1st time trip to Myrtle Beach in mid-March 2009. We have an 11 and 17 yr old. We%26#39;d like a condo on the beach( must have ocean front view on balcony) and relative quiet.

We only plan at least 2-3 outings that week. I plan to relax on the beach most of the week.

Where would be the best place for us? We are driving so travel within reason is ok.

Would appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks.

1st time visitor. Where to stay? help!

I believe that Dunes Village would be good for you. The indoor pool is geared more toward younger children and your 11 year old would love it.

It is a really nice place and a quiet location.

1st time visitor. Where to stay? help!

I agree with the above post. You can%26#39;t go wrong with the Dunes Village Resort. You may also like Island Vista or Marriott Grand Dunes.

thanks for your input. There are so many choices.

Does anyone have an opinion on the Avista Resort. It looks nice too. Is North Myrtle Beach prefered if you want a quieter vacation?

thanks

Try Oceans One Resort.

www.oceansoneresort.com

Avista is nice but quite a bit North. If you really want to central try something Oceanfront along Ocean Blvd. Anderson Ocean Club is located at 2600 North Ocean Blvd. and is less than two miles to Broadway. It%26#39;s a good location because if you want to go North (Barefoot Landing, Outlets) it will take about 15 minutes depending on traffic and 15 - 20 to go South (Surfside, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawleys Island). It is also about a 10 minute ride to the Hard Rock Park (if they do in fact re open next Spring as has been reported).

Avista is up in NMB but it is very nice. I believe they have indoor pool and a indoor lazy river. There is still lots to do in NMB....Plenty of restaurants and Barefoot Landing www.barefootlanding.com (which includes Alligator Adventure) My kids love that place!!!

Holiday Sands at South Beach may fit your needs. We stayed there over ester weekend of this year and it was nice, clean, and new. they have two bedroom oceanfront condos.

I 2nd Dunes Village.A great central location in a nice quiet area.Excellent indoor water park.

Island vista is really nice but will cost more. Monterey bay is a good value(includes breakfast). I have not stayed at Dunes Village but have toured it and it is nice. They seem to have good specials. I would stay there over Oceans One(which we just stayed at). Do not like the location of Oceans one. If you end up going more south to stay check out Coral Beach, I have not stayed there for years but they have a bowling alley, karoake, pools. lazy river, game room. My kids loved staying there. I would check reviews on it because it has been awhile since we have been there.

wow!

thanks for the input . I have quite a lot of research to start with. Thanks again!

eye makeup remover

July 4th 2009

We will be staying at Sheraton Broadway Plantation June 26 thru July 3rd, 2009. We would like a unit on the beach for July 4th and 5th. What are our chances for staying at the Royal Palms or Marriott OceanWatch. I tried booking through Hilton and Marriott with no availability. Do owners ever rent by the day during the holiday season?

July 4th 2009

Most places are going to have a 3 to 4 night minimum over the 4th of July holiday.

July 4th 2009

Owners rarely rent just a night during that holiday because there are so many requests for week stays. You may be able to get a room at the Hilton but highly doubtful at Royale Palms. However check VRBO.com and email owners directly. Some have lock outs. That being said it%26#39;s also unlikely they%26#39;ll commit this early since they%26#39;re pretty sure they%26#39;ll rent that entire week out.

Would you consider heading further north for the 4th?

Maybe a smaller beach area....Ocean Isle, Carolina or Kure Beach NC, might have something available.

Still...hard to book just a day or two that time of year...anywhere.

Help! Need A Beachfront Property Rental!

Hello All

My Dad was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and given a limited prognosis...with that said he has always wanted to go to Myrtle Beach S.C. We are looking at Thanksgiving Weekend...Anyone have any input for me? I appreciate you suggestions in advance.

Lisa

Help! Need A Beachfront Property Rental!

I am SOOOOO sorry to hear this news! How great of you to give him this wish. I am certain you will get many wonderful ideas. Blessings to your family and you,Jen

Help! Need A Beachfront Property Rental!

Check vrbo.com for rent-by-owner places. The listings show availability calendars, so (in most cases) you will know in advance what is available. Thanksgiving is a popular time fo owners to use their own homes, but I am sure you will find something.

All best to you and your family.

I am bumping you up in hope that someone else will respond.

Meanwhile, it would be helpful if you would post the number of people in your group, the exact dates, and your approximate budget.

Good luck!

First of all I am sorry to hear about your dad. I don%26#39;t know if you have been to MB or know any area you want to stay but Oceans One looks really good and it is new. We just went a couple of weeks ago and that is not where we stayed but we always look for future stays. They have floor to ceiling glass and great views, he may enjoy that. Sandy Beach also has a new building right next to Oceans One and it looks great as well. Everyone is going to have some good deals this time of year. Also Roxanne Towers is nice. Check out their websites. Hope that helps!

So sorry.

How big is your group? Is he interested in just enjoying the beach %26amp; a view? Or lots of sightseeing?

We rented a great 2-bedroom condo in Surfside Beach through vrbo.com. Immaculately clean %26amp; on the first floor. It has 2 o/f balconies %26amp; is fully equipped for everything.

Most owners will rent for less-than-a-week during the off-season.

If interested I could give you the unit # or there are lots of others on vrbo.com.

Another good value is Dayton House. It%26#39;s in the center of MB %26amp; is a basic, but very well-kept hotel. They have a nice oceanfront lawn with picnic table, umbrellas. Different types of rooms, suites, etc.

Memory Lane ..........................

I posted a similar question in the Georgia forum, and it was a popular post. Since I spent several years of my youth in the Berea/Greenville area, I thought I would post here as well:

I was recently reminiscing on ';Memory Lane:, and recalled my younger days while living in the Greenville area --- I remember Weiner King and the White Horse Drive-In Theater, which no longer exist. I also remember Kindergarten at The Chrisitan Tabernacle School (which may still be in existence), where my hand was frequently spanked by the Nuns with rulers. I remember picking beans by the bushel (and then shelling them), and a big rail-road track hill, that when you crossed it in a car, you could only see sky out of the windshield (somewhere in greenville, and probably not that big of a hill).

So I was wondering -- what is the best ';old school'; attraction or institution that still exists ? Which attraction or institution do you wish you could bring back ?

Memory Lane ..........................

OK, I%26#39;ll play. Both are no-brainers for me.

In the still-around category, the Beacon drive-in in Spartanburg. This old boy would have starved to death many years ago had it not been for the Beacon. Still can%26#39;t go back to Spartanburg without at least one trip to the Beacon. It%26#39;s a classic.

In the gone but not forgotten category, it can only be the old Pawleys Pavilion, on Pawleys Island, which burned down about 1970. It was not just a place, it was a symbol of a simpler, more innocent time, when kids could have fun without cell phones, video games or guns.

Best Desserts?

Okay, so I%26#39;ve read a lot of the restaurant reviews. Hence, I see that there are so many delightful places to choose from to dine. This is one of the reasons my hubby and I have decided on Charleston for our anniversary trip this year. That being said, I%26#39;m looking for advice on who has the BEST desserts?

Let me tell you that I am (literally) the girl who%26#39;s known to order her meal based on the dessert choices. So, yes, it%26#39;s that serious to me! I%26#39;m sure we will dine some places without catering to my sweet tooth, but I need to know where is THE place to go? Note, I%26#39;m open to suggestions that would be an after-dinner (or mid-day) spot to have desserts only. Oh, and FYI, as big as my sweet tooth is, I do not like chocolate or coffee-flavored desserts. (I know, doesn%26#39;t sound right, but that%26#39;s me!) Cheesecakes, red velvet, and carrot, OH MY!

Thanks!

Best Desserts?

My personal favorite dessert in Charleston is the coconut cake at the Peninsula Grill. It is fabulous! I love their food, too, but if you prefer not to dine there, you can still order the cake in their bar. Mmmm.....I would love to have a slice right now!

Best Desserts?

Try Saffron at 333 East Bay St. for that afternoon snack. It%26#39;s a few blocks away from the historic district, but will be worth your time.

The Passion Fruit Cake is our favorite, many times we order a whole cake before our arrival in Charleston to take to the beach w/us.

They do have the whole gamut of Carrot Cakes, Cheesecakes, Death By Chocolate, etc., good stuff.

Many people like Kaminsky%26#39;s, right there on Market St., it%26#39;s good, but we prefer Saffron.

Enjoy!

Oh, oh! I just remembered Cupcake on King St. Truly divine cupcakes (including red velvet!)

Kaminsky%26#39;s, as KB said, is good - http://www.kaminskys.com/ and the perfect place for an afternoon ';pick-me-up'; cheesecake due to its location and the fact that they%26#39;re ';all desserts, all the time';.

Plus, now that you have the website, you can just leave it running on your screen when you%26#39;re not doing anything else - yum!

Thank you so much! You just don%26#39;t know how excited I got perusing the Kaminsky%26#39;s website! (CH, I like the idea of using it as a screensaver!) I will have to check out Saffron too. Desserts from a Mediterranean cuisine restaurant sound quite interesting.

If you have suggestions for a great breakfast place, please check out my other post for ideas. Thank you!!

One of my favorite places to go for dessert downtown is Noisy Oyster on Market Street and East Bay Street. Their Key Lime Pie is beyond belief! They make it on-site and it is big enough to share. It looks like cheesecake but definately is Key Lime Pie!!! YUUUUMMMMM!!!!!! The rest of their food is ok but I sometimes pop in just for pie and even get it as take away.

...almost forgot about Coca-Cola Cake at Jestines!

I too LOVE the Coca Cola cake at Jestine%26#39;s but just a warning to p2 - chocolate (cocoa powder) is a main ingredient.

Kaminsky%26#39;s yes. very good. yum.

The Chocolate Praline Souffle at High Cotton is incredible...best desert I have ever had.

grande shores resort

I hoping for some feed back on the Grande Shores Resort, looks like a nice place to stay.

grande shores resort

The best thing is the location! At the north end of Myrtle Beach...beside residential area, so the beach is not crowded at all.

Close to grocery stores and resturants...just one or two blocks away.

I have not stayed at this hotel....but I have stayed at Carolina Winds which is right beside it..to the south. Great area!!

grande shores resort

Thanks, I knew it was a good location, it is also in the middle because our courses are north and south.

Our Brave Firefighters

As many of you know, our community lost 9 firemen last night in a blaze which occurred not all that far from my house.

I know this isn%26#39;t about travel, but I would ask those of you who read this to please say a prayer for their families, comrades, and our community as a whole.

We can never understand the incredible bravery these men and women show every day; something that they themselves would never say to the public that they serve.

Thank you to the people who make and keep us safe - firefighters, law enforcers, EMTs, and our men and women serving in the military.

Sorry, but that was something that I felt compelled to say.

Our Brave Firefighters

Our deepest sympathy to all the firefighter families and the community of Charleston. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We are so sorry for your losses.

Our Brave Firefighters

I was just sick when I read the news this morning. I can%26#39;t begin to imagine the pain of the department and the families. It%26#39;s a horrible tragedy.

We are so sorry.

My thoughts and prayers are with those.. at this difficult time..

Please accept our condolences and prayers as well.

Saw the AP story and was horrified at this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the fallen, their colleagues, and the city.

Thanks, Floski, for starting this thread and allowing all of us a place to express our sorrow for this tremendous loss.

My heart goes out to all the families . I had recently enjoyed a brief visit to Charleston. This morning when I heard the news it was so heart breaking. I live not to far from Worcester Ma where in 1999 we lost 6 firefighter in a fire. This is such a tragedy that will effect the community for years to come . May all the families and firefighter find the strength to carry on.

It is a very emotional day here in Charleston. All the flags are at half mast. The whole town is very somber today - we are all in shock and grieving. I passed a firestation today and at the base of the flagpole was an empty pair of boots and a fireman%26#39;s hat...SO sad!!!

All our thoughts and prayer are with the families of those fire fighters. All our fire fighters and police officers should be thanked for all they do for all of us.

Floski,

Thanks for posting. We%26#39;re on our way to the Lowcountry and were shocked to hear about the loss ';our'; firefighters on the radio. Here is a snip from an email the POA on Seabrook Island sent:

%26lt;Mayor Joe Riley has organized an avenue for people in the community who want to show their support and appreciation, by donating to a fund that will go directly to the families of our fallen heroes. All funds received will be given to the families of the nine fallen firefighters.

Make checks out to:

City of Charleston Fireman%26#39;s Fund

And mail them to:

City of Charleston

PO Box 304

Charleston, SC 29402%26gt;

I know I%26#39;ll be mailing a check as soon as I hit the island. It is only a small thing I can do.

Eliza

Floski,and Our greatescape..just saw these posts..I had posted separately..I too feel great sadness,and agree with all sentiments..

The ';City of Charleston Fireman%26#39;s Fund'; is extremely important in helping everyone to heal.

All of us feel helpless. We cannot mend the broken hearts; but, by contributing to the fund, we can help to prevent some broken dreams.

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Umbrella and Chair Rentals

We are thinking of staying at the Dunes Village Resort. Do you know if they have chair/umbrella rentals in front of the resort and if so how much they are?

Umbrella and Chair Rentals

Don%26#39;t know about Dunes Village specifically, but from reading this forum over the years, the general consensus seems to be that it is cheaper to buy chairs at Wal Mart even if you end up leaving them for the next renter.

Umbrella and Chair Rentals

Chairs and umbrellas in front of hotels are done by the city of Myrtle Beach and are typically $25 a day for 2 chairs and one umbrella

When are you traveling? This is done only in the summer, the lifeguards take care of them. They are great. I do not want to carry chairs and umbrellas down to the beach everyday and these are already set up for you. We think it is worth it. We just had it into our vacation budget.

We stayed at the Dunes last June and they were renting chairs and umbrella right in front of the hotel. Not sure about how much they were...

If you want to rent chairs/umbrella for the entire week, it was $150 and the lifeguards would have a set ready for you when you hit the beach. All you have to do is look for card with your name on it.

Like others have said though . . . they were available in April (during spring break) but stopped after Labor Day.

trip report long....love charleston

I always get such good info from this site...time to give some information back. First we loved Chareston. We landed amid the biggests rainstorm for the day on record...10/24...over 8 inches of rain. We checked into the HarborView Inn...and it is really perfect in terms of location and atmosphere,even in the rain. We had lunch at Fleet Landing and it was great. I had the fried green tomatoes and a salad,hubby had mahi mahi tacos. We followed that with unpacking and relaxing. The inn offers nice wine and cheese and views of the harbor. We then took cab to Coast for dinner...it too was great. The rain was bad...took a long time but got a cab back to hotel and went next door to the Griffon, irish pub, for a night cap....

Sat...up early great breakfast at the inn..they will bring it to your room,the atrium or upstairs area. We spent the morning walking all over the downtown...had lunch at the noisy oyster...back for downtime...went to henrys for a drink and some football...it was ok...the to aw shucks for stuffed shrimp, it was fine but really felt like a chain....back to change and then to the rooftop of market paviian? inn to see sunset...onto high cottton...sat in bar area,which is good tip no need for reservation...and had appetizers..finished the night in the cypress cocktail bar watching the chef cook. It was awesome.

Sunday..up ,great breakfast...walking for a long time and church..had lunch at king street grill and watched football...anyone interested they have about 30 tvs and you can request a remote control for your own viewing...really fun. had restuffed potato eggrolls, different but great. spent sunset ontop of the vendue hotel..and top of our hotel...went to sticky fingers for dinner,,,not our favorite. could not resist watching the chefs at cypress again to end the evening.

Monday...another great day...breakfast...long walk on off to savannah for 3 days...will post there..hope this helps someone!!!

trip report long....love charleston

Thanks for your report. Parts of town are STILL trying to recover from that rain storm - WOW!!! It broke records and they closed parts of town. I enjoy going to the Griffon for lunch, too.

Come back soon!

trip report long....love charleston

Wow! I know that rain. I had small breakers over the bern in my yard, and I am not even on the ocean! I feel terrible for the people inland whose homes were flooded ... and NOT in a flood zone.

Sounds like you had a lot of fun. The sunset on Saturday was spectacular, wasn%26#39;t it?

Be sure to post reviews for your hotel and for the restauants that you enjoyed.

Carol - are you saying you landed ACTUALLY during the rainstorm? If so, the rest of your trip must have been a charmed one as you most certainly cheated death. I have never seen such water in my life - honestly I couldn%26#39;t sleep until it was over (probably around 1 am) and luckily our neighborhood was ok but unfortunately the beach area suffered greatly. Like Kiawah said, the tides came up as the rain came down and water made it over the dunes. I think they%26#39;re still pumping out low areas on IOP, and though most homes are elevated so possessions are likely safe, it was tough for some residents to get out of or into their driveways due to the rain. I heard that the rain was actually worse than what happened during Hurricane Hugo (except of course we didn%26#39;t have the winds!) You seem to have made the best of it and no doubt enjoyed the excellent weather we had immediately following the deluge.

Thanks for your trip report!

Carol I am so glad you had a great time. Did you go in the ladies%26#39; room at Cypress? Somebody voted it best ladies%26#39; room! I had my author photo taken in that bathroom, it is that stunning! Sounds like you know how to have fun and appreciate your surroundings. You will have fun in Savannah too.

CultureHound so funny! Cheated death.

I%26#39;m in Enid OK right now but my neighbors called to tell me about the rain. I love Charleston in the rain.

Shanklemsw - rain is lovely, but when small farm animals fall out of the sky, that%26#39;s different! (I would have said ';cats and dogs'; but that doesn%26#39;t quite give you the effect of what went on that night!) But...as we must always add...WE SURE NEEDED IT!

CultureHound is not exaggerating the rain and the tides. Tides two feet above normal, convergin with 5 - 8 inches of rain.

All creatures were unprepared. The herons and egrets put on quite an air show as they soared around looking for their normal wading areas. The next morning I found a couple of water rats (the cute fluffy outdoor kind of rat) drowned in my yard.

Kiawah Island is engineered to avoid flooding. Gates are opened to reduce the water level on the interior ponds and lakes in advance of a PREDICTED storm or tidal surge. This time, no one expected all the water. Night Heron Lake overflowed its banks, and there was a virtual river on Governor%26#39;s Drive, the main road into the back part of the island.

We also had wind off the ocean pushing the water inland. The water at my place continued to rise beyond high tide. I went out in the rain to take some pictures. I was out only 10 minutes, about an hour after high tide; but the water rose visibly just in the time that I stood on the deck.

Thanksgiving Dinner

We%26#39;ll be spending Thanksgiving at North Myrtle Beach with extended family including some elderly folks who don%26#39;t get around too well. I thought it might be nice to have the dinner catered at the condo we are staying at rather than trying to take them out to eat. Does anyone know of someone or some place who might do this for a reasonable price?

Thanksgiving Dinner

Hi Grandma,

Many large grocery stores sell Thanksgiving dinners that you pick up and reheat yourself. While I%26#39;ve never dont this, it sounds pretty good--usually a cooked turkey, gravy, several side dishes, even dessert. You might try calling some of them to see what they have to offer.

Thanksgiving Dinner

I think K %26amp; W Cafeteria can fill that bill. You can get almost anything you want in almost any quantity.

Cracker Barrel has a take home or dine-in Thanksgiving meal as well.

When we would go to the beach for Thanksgiving...we would always make the dinner in our condo ourselves. Maybe not on such a grand scale as when we are home..but turkey, potatoes and gravey...things like that. Nice, relaxing...and a walk on the beach afterwards.

Check out these links, I%26#39;m sure any on of these restaurant will be happy to set you up a great Thanksgiving feast.

www.myrtlebeach-living.com/thanksgiving.html

myrtlebeachrestaurantnews.com/thanksgivingme鈥?/a>

The second link , you need to scroll down 1/2 way to see.

We will be spending Thanksgiving there too.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Try the Carolina Roadhouse in the north end of Myrtle Beach. Or, if you don%26#39;t mind a bit of a drive (and trust me,it%26#39;s sooo worth it for the food and the view!!), head down to Garden City and go to Gulfstream Cafe. It%26#39;s near the point in Garden City and sits right on the Marlin Quay marina. The food is absolutely spectacular ( more than enough to eat, comes with salad, bread, the FULL traditional holiday spread and even dessert!) and you can see the sunset over the water (only resaurant in the area that offers that!). I would call for reservation now! 843-651-8808 or check em out at centraarchy.com !

which Resort is best

We would like to stay for 1 month or so in February or March in Hilton Head. We have looked on line for accomodations. Would you recommend Fiddlers Cove, Hilton Head Tennis %26amp; Beach Club or somewhere else. These two seem to be the most reasonable in price.

Any suggestions will be most appreciated

which Resort is best

I would not recommend either. Simply for their location and age. Many are old units and have not been updated. Buyer beware- you get what you pay for....

I can recommend the N/S Forest beach area- there are many condo units that would rent for a month in Feb or March. I believe Ocean Dunes does. Look up a reputable rental agent like

vacationcompany.com, and work with them. Or go on VRBO and look. Talk directly to the owner.

Have fun- I%26#39;m jealous!

which Resort is best

We stayed at Fiddler%26#39;s Cove last February and had a great time. The resort is gated, clean and nicely landscaped.

Taking the advise of many of the posters here we did VRBO. Emailed and spoke to a number of owners. Yes, there were more updated freshly painted or renovated units than not. Since we did this in January for February many were already booked with snow birds, (we took that as a good sign) but we still had our choice.

What we liked about the villas: full kitchen, full sized stove/oven/fridge and dishwasher. WASHER and DRYER in unit! There were only two of us, it was great for us both to have our own full bathroom.

Even in Feb. had our coffee most mornings on our patio, checking our email via free wifi.

What we liked about the resort. Clay tennis courts, a treat hadn%26#39;t played on clay since high school. Racquet ball courts, and access to Players Gym and indoor pool.

Pools, hot tub on site were clean and had nice sun decks, did some reading by the pool.

We also liked the location, loved the beach at Folly Field, a short walk to the beach, nice bike trails. Short trip off the island to the outlets.

Have no trouble recommending Fiddler%26#39;s Cove.

Yes, we are all jealous have a wonderful time.

Thanks for the information about Fiddlers Cove. We are looking forward to enjoying time away from the snow and cold.

Aiken-Hitchcock Woods, Bicycling

Hi

We are considering Aiken for Anniversary trip this Thanksgiving weekend. Coming in Fri, back out Sun.

Wanted any info on bicycle riding in Hitchcock woods or in general in area. Basically recreational. Also any nice hiking or pretty areas to see nearby.

Also, any comments on Hotel Aiken would be appreciated. Location looks good as we would like to park car and be able to walk to places downtown.

Thanks

Aiken-Hitchcock Woods, Bicycling

One more question. We are considering the courtyard rooms at the Hotel Aiken and was wondering do these have problems with noise like ones above bar?

We can deal with less that luxurious surroundings as long as relatively clean and not too loud.

We actually like older places with character. And the location really tempts.

Really looking for small area we can walk to eat, stroll around town in evenings, some light shopping, maybe short bicycle rides or even short day trip nearby.

Thanks

Aiken-Hitchcock Woods, Bicycling

The trails in Hitchcock Woods are fairly rough but probably doable if you have mountain bikes. The trail opening nearest the Hotel Aiken is closed right now; there is another trail opening to the Woods around 3 miles away. A nice place for a stroll is Hopeland Gardens, which is an easy bike ride from the Hotel Aiken. It was the gardens of one of the old Winter Colony homes (rich northerners who wintered in Aiken); the owner left it to the city when she died (with the stipulation that the house be torn down; the foundations were turned into a large reflection pool). You also might want to ride your bikes around the horse-training area (several stables there that train racing thoroughbreds; they go out EARLY in the AM to train).

Since it is your anniversary, you might want to splurge and stay at the Willcox Inn, which is only 1 block from downtown. It is pricey, but it is gorgeous. Check out the website: www.thewillcox.com.

There is a bar in the Hotel Aiken that is fairly popular with the college crowd, but since you will be here on Thanksgiving weekend, it should pretty quiet. Hotel Aiken is right in the middle of downtown. Lots of shops, restaurants, coffee shops, etc, within easy walking distance. On the southside of town is the ';developed'; part of town with the chain restaurants, big box stores, etc.

Aiken is a good town for bike riding. Fairly flat in general; most of the streets downtown are wide and easily navigated. There are lots of bikers in Aiken; even a portion of the police patrol on bikes.

Thanks for your reply.

ScottE -

Bike riding is NOT allowed in Hitchcock Woods, sorry to say. But Aiken is good for biking, especially in the area near downtown, like around the library where there are lots of old houses and one-way streets.

Hitchcock Woods is a great place to walk, though, as is Hopelands Gardens.

Have fun.

Thanks for the info about Hitchcock Woods. We will probably check weather to see if we will even bring bikes. May just end up walking around instead.

bbw

Does anyone know the dates of Black Bike weekend, I know it%26#39;s memorial day weekend, but what dates?

bbw

The Memorial Day bike rally will be May 21-25 next year

bbw

can I assume they will be leaving on the 25th, if so,that%26#39;s when we%26#39;ll check in. We made the mistake a few years ago being there during that weekend, never again.

I thought that Myrtle BEach was no longer allowing any Bike Week activities. Our local news mentioned theat MB had enacted a few new ordinances to make the area much more biker unfriendly.

I seriously doubt any of these new ordinances are going to stop all the bikers from coming to town.

I spoke with a reservations person from Springmaid beach yesterday and she said no one is sure yet, to watch the news and newspapers.

My hotel already has many reservations for both May bike rallies with more people calling almost everyday.

eye makeup remover

Any advice for November at Edisto?

My husband and I are joining my brother and his wife at Edisto Island during the week of Nov. 9. He has a time share deal at Egret%26#39;s Pointe. Anyone have any info about this place? Also wondering what kind of weather we could expect.

We%26#39;re looking forward to a laid-back vacation and a chance for some quality time together. Any other advice would be appreciated.

Any advice for November at Edisto?

I%26#39;m not sure about Egret%26#39;s Pointe, but Edisto is beautiful. The weather could be bright and sunny or gray and damp, so prepare for either. You%26#39;ll find great seashells and great food as well. I think you picked a great spot for quality downtime. Charleston is not far away, so come into town if you need a higher level of activity. Have fun-I know you will.

Any advice for November at Edisto?

Take layers to dress in...some days it could be 80, some days it could be 60, difficult area to plan for!!!

We always end up taking too much, but if you don%26#39;t have just the right t-shirt, jacket or sweatshirt when you need it, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll find a store on the island that will be happy to sell you one that says ';Edisto'; on it and you%26#39;ll be supporting the local economy!!!

Have fun!

Kiawahbeth is correct! I am on Kiawah (just north of Edisto) right now. We%26#39;ve had a high of 56 degrees today, and it was near freezing overnight. The air is dry and crisp, and there is significant wind chill on the beach. Some years we are still swimming in the ocean at this time of year. You can never tell!

Check out the Botany Bay Nature Preserve while you are there. It is a state-owned wildlife preserve that used to be 2 plantations on Edisto Island. It is very undeveloped; the roads through it are narrow dirt roads but are easily navigated (we did it in a Toyota Prius). If the weather is good, park %26amp; walk over the causeway to the beach, which is one of the last totally pristine beaches on the SC coast.

Egret%26#39;s Pointe is part of the Wyndham resort development. There is a golf course, tennis courts, and one covered swimming pool available (I know that there are green fees for the golf course). There is a good restaurant there on the resort grounds. I have never seen inside any of the Egret Pointe units personally though.

If you want laid back, Edisto Beach will be perfect for you. There are only around 700 full-time residents there, one grocery store, and a few restaurants %26amp; shops. Charleston is 45 miles away and makes a good day trip. I agree with the advice of wearing layers. Weather in South Carolina this time of year is very unpredicatable. It may be 40 degrees at 7 am but be 70 degrees by 2 pm. The water temp right now is in the high 60s I think, which is to chilly for me but may be perfect for others.

snow tires

Does anyone comng from canada for the month of november put their snow tires on. Returning home at the end of November?

snow tires

Front wheel drive car owners do not switch their tires in the winter. All seasons are all you need. If you hit a snow storm so bad you can%26#39;t drive then snow tires won%26#39;t help either. BTW studded tires are illegal in the U.S.

snow tires

When we lived in NJ, we did not change our tires when we came home for a visit during the winter months, but we were never lucky enough to stay a month at a time.

Best shelling beach on HH?

Read previously that HH isn%26#39;t the greatest for finding shells, but didn%26#39;t know if anyone had a location for the best bet to find anything? Or simply anywhere along the beach?

THANKS!

Best shelling beach on HH?

Sometimes you can find whole shells just up the beach towards the arch of the foot from south beach. Also Dafuski Island. One year we found pails and pails of sand dollars- but many of them were still alive so they went back. There are tons of small intact shells along the beaches just after high tide. Good luck.

Best shelling beach on HH?

Thanks for the help - can you help me more specifically where this is at? I just looked at a map.. it DOES look like a foot! :) But any more details would be great!

The best time is right after high tide. If you go to an area without much activity, such as the south beach area of SeaPines, or north of the Marriott in PD, you should find lots of shells.

Stan (hhiguy)

When you take the ferry to Dafauskie is the beach close to where you dock? Do we need a golf cart to get there?

Another tip, Atlantic coast shells aren%26#39;t anything like the pretty Gulf shells, if that is what you are looking for. They will generally be old shells that have been bounced around in storms for a while, some will have other critters that have attached themselves.

Have brought lots of shells home over the years, but nothing really, really pretty. And yes, if you%26#39;re lucky enough to be there after a winter storm, you may find them just being tossed onto the beach.

Good luck!!!

Just returned...

Just got back from a 5 day trip to Hilton Head/Savannah/Charleston. For those planning a trip I have some suggestions to share...

-Stay on Hilton Head Island ONLY if you want to stay and enjoy the resort you are staying at and the Island itself. Otherwise if you are looking to do other things like go to Savannah for the day it takes what seems like FOREVER to get to I-95... Santa Fe Cafe offers great food and ambience, service is ok. We also ate at Old Hudson%26#39;s Dock, it was just ok all around, too many other great places on the Island. We wanted to go to the Sea Shack but it was closed on Sundays... We stayed at the Crowne Plaza, it was nice, nothing too special, clean rooms and nice staff...

-Savannah is a great place to visit for the day. Get there early and take the Old Towne Trolley Ride (they are the best and you pay a little more but it is worth it as they operate out of many other towns). Make stops along the way, lunch at Lady and Sons (get there early to avoid the buses and lines), walk along the many squares in the city and River Street. Then have dinner at the Olde Pink House (make reservations, again many buses on the weekend).

If there is time go on a Ghost Tour of the town...

-Charleston... WOW, what a wonderful city. I have traveled all around the US and RARELY am I so excited to tell others they MUST visit this city. The people are so genuinely nice, the food is out of this world, and there are sites any interest group. We ate at the Charleston Crab House (Tuna is awesome!), Hyman%26#39;s, Hominy Grill (Trigger Fish was a special that night and it was the best I%26#39;ve ever had), and the S%26amp;S Cafeteria which we happened upon on the way to the airport. It has been around for a long time, out of the way but very good and fast! It is a must to walk around the city at night and enjoy the ambience, take a carriage tour, and ghost tour. Wish we would have had time to go to Poogan%26#39;s Porch as it was right across the street from us at the Mills House. The Mills House was wonderful, beautiful hotel, rooms, and staff was very helpful. Would recommend to anyone as it is a superb location!

Just returned...

Thanks for the wonderful review. We appreciate your support! Glad you enjoyed The Mills House.

Just returned...

Some of the staff at the Mills House was telling us that some Ghost Hunters had filmed a show there a few months ago but were not sure when it would be on TV? Anyone heard anything? We also had some interesting experiences there, nothing scary just interesting... It makes the hotel more interesting as it is steeped in such history.

Cool! Would hear to know your ';experiences';. Charleston is ghostly, for sure.

Thank you so much for your report! I know I speak for everyone who is regularly on the Charlston board that we are indeed very proud of our friendliness, food-iness, and history.

So glad you enjoyed it - good choice of hotels and I think you would enjoy Poogan%26#39;s (but next time try to get out to the beach if you can! If you were impressed with the city, wait til you enjoy our silky beaches and warm summertime ocean temps!

Glad you%26#39;re back home safely.

Golfer Gardener wants to know

My husband and I are tentatively looking at Beaufort

for sometime in the last half of April 2009 and I am wondering :

a)What the weather is generally like at this time of year and is spring in full force? ie. what%26#39;s in bloom

b)We are decent golfers who like a challenge AND beautiful scenery in a golf course and are looking for some specific golf course recommendations in the area

c) Finally, having never been to Beaufort (but have been to Savannah and Charleston, loving both!)if there is ONE absolute ';must do ';in the immediate area, what would it be?

Any help is most appreciated. Thanks!

Golfer Gardener wants to know

check out golf on nearby fripp island, hit em long and straight

Golfer Gardener wants to know

Thanks so much. Checked out Fripp Island and it looks great! Still in the early planning stages so all info is helpful.

Oh ya, just trying to keep it in the fairway!

In Beaufort, I%26#39;d take the carriage tour and just enjoy a day of leisurely shopping on Bay Street. Have the chicken salad at Sea Island Cafe.

This weekend

My best friend and I are coming from Texas to Charleston tomorrow for a girls getaway birthday weekend. We have a walking tour set up with Ed -- anything else that we shouldn%26#39;t miss ??? We%26#39;ll be in town until Monday night.

Thanks

This weekend

That%26#39;s a really quick trip. The weather is forcast to be nice Sunday and Monday. The one ';must do'; is a carriage tour or two.

This weekend

The Preservation Society%26#39;s ';candlelight'; tours of Charleston%26#39;s beautiful private homes and gardens continues through Sunday. One of these tours would be EXCELLENT for a girl%26#39;s weekend ... but even my husband enjoys them.

www.preservationsociety.org

Depending on what time you get to Charleston, there might be some residual showers on Saturday. Bring a waterproof jacket and/or umbrella (and shoes that are both comfy for walking and OK for splashing)

Definitely consider the Preservation Society tour - the 26th is the last day I believe. www.preservationsociety.org

Enjoy your trip! You%26#39;re sure to have fun!

Ooh sorry for the double Preservation Society post - I guess that emphasizes how good it is! Kiawah is always on top of these things!

Thanks all. We had a great time - even on Friday when we walked all over town in the rain. Lovely city !

eye makeup remover

Hotel for Downtown Strolling

Hi

We would like a downtown hotel best situated for strolling along restaraunts on Main St area and the park.

Checked the Hampton. Is it too far from main points?

Hotel for Downtown Strolling

These hotels are all either on or close to Main Street. All are in walking distance to restaurants/shops downtown. Hampton Inn River Place and The Westin Poinsett are closer to the Falls Park.

Hampton Inn Riverplace

The Westin Poinsett

The Hyatt

Hotel for Downtown Strolling

The hotels that Amy mentioned are great, and located in the heart of downtown. Nice safe areas. Next to shopping and dining.

Hilton Head for Infants?

Hoping there is someone out there that can help.

My wife and I are going to Disney%26#39;s Hilton Head Resort over thanksgiving and have a 20-month old daughter. Any ideas of fun things to see and do with the little one?

We%26#39;ve heard that Savannah and Charleston are not too far away, but figure that would be more ';historic'; and maybe not too engaging for a 20-month old.

Any suggestions?

Hilton Head for Infants?

Charleston is about 2 1/2 hours away, but the Aquarium there might be interesting for a little one.

Savannah is less than an hour, but as you stated it is more historic, and probably won%26#39;t register for a toddler.

We do have a childrens museum called the sandbox with lots to do for youngsters. Gregg Russell will do a show in SeaPines during Thanksgiving week.

A dolphin cruise might be interesting also. When you get there check with the disney people for reservations.

Stan (hhiguy)

What's the attraction to Myrtle Beach??

Ok, I%26#39;ve been to Myrtle Beach many times over the years since it%26#39;s a stone%26#39;s throw away from my home, Charleston. Honestly, what is the BIG attraction that so many spend so much money and travel time to go there? It was fun years ago while on college spring break. There just seem to be more attractive beach areas with lots of golf and restaurants that aren%26#39;t as expensive or (don%26#39;t kill me) ';tacky.'; So tell me what brings so many down here? Thanks!

What's the attraction to Myrtle Beach??

I LOVE Charleston! Especially eating there! However, we LOVE Myrtle Beach because there is so much to do. We only stay in Kingston Plantation and it is gorgeous. We just had our eldest son%26#39;s wedding at the Hilton last Saturday (outside) and it was the most beautiful spot ever. For many of us it%26#39;s a drivable destination. 15 hours for us. There are so many wonderful restaurants and great entertainment. The beach is beautiful and clean. There%26#39;s nothing ';tacky'; about where we stay. We travel frequently and only stay in topnotch resorts. We have always been happy here.

What's the attraction to Myrtle Beach??

Well...first off, I%26#39;ve never been there, but know of many people who have and they all say that we will LOVE our first trip to MB this year. That it is a great place for a family vacation. I have been wanting to go to Myrtle Beach for so many years, but always got bumped for a different vacation (Cruises). This year, I put my foot down and we are leaving tomorrow!! I can%26#39;t wait to sit on my balcony right on the ocean, enjoy the pool, beach, shopping, etc. Then going to someplace different each night to enjoy the nightlife. (dinner, fireworks, etc.) We can%26#39;t wait to see it all! Since it is so crowded every summer, I would think that most people really Love Myrtle beach and have plenty of reason for it.

People go on vacation for lots of different reasons.

Some people want crowds and entertainment, while others want remoteness, peace and quiet. Some people want five-star accommodations, while others want to ';rough it';.

South Carolina has it all - from Myrtle Beach, to Kiawah Island, to Hunting Island, and with everything in between.

I know of no other state offering such variety in beach vacations.

Several reason for me...

Within a days drive of my home.

Prices are reasonable (many will disagree about that)

Variety of accommodation types

No major city driving to go out in the evenings

Laid-back, casual attitude

I also love, love Charleston %26amp; Hilton Head. Not wild about the Florida beach towns.

My other favorite vacations are completely at the other end of the spectrum. Large cities such as Manhattan or all-inclusive Caribbean resorts.

I agree with the drive issue. Anything within a days drive is reasonable. We love Florida but it just gets too hot there in the Summer. With my wife being a teacher this is the only time of year we normally take a vacation and MB is closer than Florida, not as hot, has many attractions, restaurants, a beautiful beach, warm ocean water, and lots to do for families of all ages. Where else can you see 60 miles of beach front property with so many hotels, places to eat, attractions, etc... The Grand Strand has it all and we love it!

For us one attraction is the reasonable cost and the other is the ease of getting around. We have vacationed in North Myrtle Beach for the past 10 years. This year we had a family wedding in Charleston so we spent a week in Wild Dunes. We had a great time but had sticker shock when we started our search for condos. We typically pay around $1400/wk for an ocean front unit in NMB. The lowest price comparable unit I could find in Wild Dunes cost me $3100 and it was only ocean view. We were also amazed at the heavy traffic and the time it took to get anywhere. Very similar to Ocean City, MD. Over the years we%26#39;ve beach vacationed from Long Beach Island, NJ to Hilton Head,SC and we%26#39;ve found the Myrtle Beach area gives us everything we look for in a beach vacation for the best value and overall enjoyable experience.

I will tell you .. that the accommodations and the price...

is worth it..I just for fun.. looked at another state. .closer to me..

and a suite in a hotel ..was 1, 499 for the week.. at the end of

August, and I am not talking about a 3 bedroom 2 bath condo..this

was a efficiency suite..

I just love the palm trees, the beach... the PEOPLE..

sigh.. one week to go..

This was our first trip to myrtle beach and I can say it won%26#39;t be our last. We went because we could drive it in 12 hrs (cheaper than flying) and we wanted to be near the ocean. It was our best vacation ever. Getting up swimming in the ocean and just relaxing. You can%26#39;t get the same effect going to a lake somewhere.

One other thing I forgot to add in my reply is that I have been to Virginai Beach and Wildwood, NJ and although those two are nice they just don%26#39;t compare to Myrtle Beach as far as variety and choices. The ocean and beach is much nicer too and yes the palm trees make you fell like your in the tropics!

There are different reasons why we go on vacation.

And when we go to MB we want the crowds, the beach, the activities. That%26#39;s because we have kids. When I go to VA Beach, it%26#39;s usually in the off-season because there isn%26#39;t much to do there without driving a ways out. We drive 8 hours and that%26#39;s not that long. We don%26#39;t like OC, MD, we don%26#39;t like the atmosphere of the Delaware beaches for our kids, the smaller beaches in MD , the water isn%26#39;t quite what I want it to be for swimming and other resort towns the hotels don%26#39;t offer what MB does. i.e. VA Beach and OC, MD. The hotels don%26#39;t offer nearly as much as MB hotels do. The lazy rivers, the waterparks at the hotel, the saunas and hot tubs at the hotels. And actually MB hotel prices are MUCH cheaper than OC, MD and VA Beach.

Me personally, I go where I feel welcomed. MB makes me feel welcomed. VA Beach did too but it%26#39;s just not much there that interests us. I can go for 4 days 1 year and see and do everything that I will ever need to do. I go to MB for the past 5 years and have always found something new to do every time. I don%26#39;t get that in OC MD, VA Beach or the Deleware beaches or other VA Beaches.

I like the NC beaches near Wilmington just for a quick weekend getaway or off-season refresher, otherwise that%26#39;s about it.

When you vacation, I don%26#39;t go for the golfing, we don%26#39;t do that but I love the hotel resorts, the entertainment, the food, the beach access from the hotel being able to be oceanfront. We don%26#39;t spend much money when we go. And we usually get a 2-3 bedroom and split the costs with the other adult and we usually keep our budget for a family of 5 under $600.00. So IMO that%26#39;s pretty darn good for doing what we do and getting what we%26#39;re getting.

That%26#39;s why I love MB so much. Now I can turn this paper in for grading. :-)