As you can see in the videos with this blog, our signature red and white striped lighthouse is the scene of the dredging happening now on Hilton Head. The Braddock Cove Creek at South Beach Marina area and the Braddock Cove Creek will be dredged too.

In July the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering out of Charleston approved the permits and Orion Marine Construction out of Texas was contracted to do the work which began right after Thanksgiving at Harbour Town.

 

Over the past decade, sediment has accumulated in these waters making it difficult for boats to go in and out of Calibogue Sound. This 300,000 cubic yards of sediment will be pumped from the site to the mouth of the sound where it will be naturally pushed into the ocean by the strong currents of the sea.

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This dredging will make the marina 8 ½ feet deep at low tide. Governor Haley lauded the dredging saying that the marina’s new capabilities would increase tourism and jobs.

 

If you haven’t seen the dredging, consider taking a drive down to Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort and enjoy!

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 What to do on a sunny, yet chilly afternoon on Hilton Head Island? There’s always an oyster roast around a roaring fire, or having an extra Starbucks run…but nothing hits the spot quite like HOME-MADE SOUP! 

This past weekend was the Hilton Head Island Soup Challenge, benefiting the Volunteers in Medicine. And what tastes better on a cool Lowcountry day than 23 home-made soups provided by outstanding local restaurants?

This year the event was held indoors, at the beautiful Westin Hotel, which was good enough reason to go – the soup was the bonus! This stunning resort, beachside and bordering Port Royal Plantation, gives you the tasteful elegance that the South and Hilton Head Island are so well known for.

But back to the menu, something the South is famous for- FOOD! There were gumbos, chowders, bisques and broths…new flavors I’ve never experienced, with chicken, seafood and lamb. We got to taste them all, along with a delicious sampling of breads, crackers and garnishes galore. When we had satisfied our tummies with oodles of noodles, we got to vote for our favorites.

Talk about a tough decision…they were all amazing! I voted for a smooth, creamy Lobster Bisque, with just a tad of a kick, from one of our favorite Italian chefs. Still dreaming about it, and will definitely go back to this restaurant for more, along with the rest of their fabulous menu.

A truly fun and “full-filling” day…full tummy and the chill definitely gone…Mission accomplished!

See Homes for Sale in Port Royal

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Many of us first knew Bluffton as the town that you drove through to get to Hilton Head Island on the way to our rental or timeshare. The point where we said, “We are almost there, thank goodness!”  Little did we know we had actually arrived to one of the very best places to call home, Bluffton! 

Bluffton is a fabulous place to call home; we are just waiting for you!

What do you know about Bluffton? Yes, the outlet mall and shopping is here, we do have chain restaurants that you are used to eating at back home, our main road can slow you down on Friday and Saturday while everyone checks in and out of  their their vacation rental on HHI.  That stuff is not so special after a time or two, I understand. Trust me Bluffton is amazingly special beyond just first impressions. Please join me as I introduce a bit of the Bluffton lifestyle.

Moss Creek peaceful marsh view

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 The value to live in Bluffton is outstanding:  I am not making this up…

 Forbes just let everyone know that Bluffton is in the top 25 places to retire in 2014!

Read the Article on Forbes.com!

 For example: SC taxes- whether you are local or not are still low. Properties range from historic to new construction in every price point and home size, lot sizes vary greatly to fit your needs, and our demographics include everyone. Our schools are newer, still growing and winning many awards. We have our own SC college branch and technical college. Our businesses continue to thrive and grow.

CareCore and The Don Ryan Center for Innovation

 We have communities featuring world class golf, abundant water sports and outdoor recreation of every sort, not to mention social groups to fit nearly every hobby. Many of our communities are like living in a completely private world class resort. From the moment you start driving through them, some are so unique in their union of meticulously groomed landscape and nature’s own artistic perfection that you feel captivated every time you come home. 

Avenue of the Oaks in Belfair welcoming you home

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Wilson Village vacation home in Palmetto Bluff

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Mother Nature in charge: Colleton River view from the back porch of a home in Belfair

 

Bluffton Skate Park

 
Resort style pool in Mill Creek

 
Art gallery on Calhoun Street 

See Homes for Sale in Old Town Bluffton

 
Croquet in Sun City

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Putting class at the Jim Ferree Learning Center

Finally, if you know me or read my blogs, you know that I love good food and having good restaurants nearby is important to me since I don’t cook so well! Bluffton definitely has some of the best local restaurants in comparison to any place I know. We have fresh seafood straight out of the May River and our other local waterways, fresh farm grown vegetables and homemade desserts, comfort food that put a famous Savannah cook to the test, bistros, bbq, brick oven pizza and the perfect night life to sit outside with friends to relax and have a good time. You will have to call me for the names for these delicious places, but let’s just say I have tested them enough times to have no doubt in recommending them!

 
Shrimp Boat along the docks at the Bluffton May River

 
Cahill’s Market and fresh home cookin’ restaurant on Highway 46

When you decide to consider Bluffton as your primary or secondary home, please contact me to help show you around. Many of our communities are gated and some other great ones you may not find without assistance. Forget the traffic too; we don’t have to drive on 278 in Bluffton at all except to cross the street! On our website, please take a minute to look up communities such as Belfair, Moss Creek, Colleton River, Berkeley Hall, Hampton Lake, Palmetto Bluff, Sun City and see what they feature at http://www.dunesrealestategroup.com/hilton-head-and-bluffton-communitites.php

You will never believe what you have been driving right past all these years! It is time to join us for the good life in Bluffton!

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Just had a delightful weekend!  In the late afternoon on Saturday a group of friends came over to my house for wine and cheese and a few other goodies.  After about an hour we headed over to my favorite restaurant, Charlie’s Etoile, for a 3 course early bird dinner.  The salad was great, there was a choice of 3 fish entrees or one steak, and the dessert was crème caramel – that was scrumptious!  Next on the agenda was a play at the Arts Center.  It was a comedy called “Don’t Dress for Dinner” and it was hilarious.

Sunday, my husband and I were joined by other friends from Sea Pines and we went to a 4 PM performance of the symphony.  Did you know we have a full orchestra here?  The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra brings world class music to the low country.  There are 70 musicians under contract and world renowned soloists appear at many concerts.  The orchestra satisfies everyone with Classical Music as well as Pops and Jazz.  We are now in the 32^nd season and the principal conductor is John Morris Russell.  He was previously with the Cincinnati Pops and the Windsor Symphony.  His energy is contagious and it’s fascinating to watch as he conducts.

See Villas for Sale in Shelter Cove (walking distance to the Arts Center!)

 This month’s selections were all about the low country.  There was music from some movies about the South – Gone with the Wind, Forest Gump, Moon River, Glory, The Prince of Tides, and Beach Music.  Some young girls from the Hilton Head Dance Theatre did the famous “Shag” to  Beach Music and it was so much fun.  After intermission we heard selections from Porgy and Bess, some younger girls from the Dance Studio did the Charleston and then some traditional spiritual solos with a finale of America the Beautiful with the audience singing and many of the young artists joining in marching across the stage.  The program was outstanding!  To top off the weekend we went to the Sea Pines Country Club and had a light dinner in the Pub.

See Homes in Palmetto Dunes (very close to the Arts Center!)

 Add our beaches, golf, tennis, and bike paths and you realize there’s so much to do here.  Spring has unofficially arrived.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the temperature today is in the high seventies.  If you are reading this from somewhere up North, why not leave the snow behind and pop on down for a weekend getaway?  There’s even some really low non-stop fares from Boston and New York.  Hope to see you soon!

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Palmetto Bay Marina is a full service water marina  located off of Palmetto Bay Road near the Cross Island Parkway.   It’s has lots to offer in a smaller, more intimate atmosphere than the larger, more familiar marinas such as Harbour Town, Shelter Cove and Skull Creek.

I was checking one of my listings at Dockside Marina and the Harbour Master was unloading a boat as you can experience in the video below.

 You can increase your vacation pleasure by chartering a boat for  sailing, fishing, parasailing, The PauHana Catamaran,  and  Banana Boat Rides.   Recently added was Jet Skiing.    Some folks have rented a  Caramaran for their whole wedding party and gotten married  on  Broad Creek or Caligabogue Sound.

 You will find intimate dining at Black Marlin Restaurant, Party City at the Hurricane Bar, which is known for it’s Full Moon Parties.   Or have breakfast all day long at the Sunrise Café.

See Villas for Sale right now in Palmetto Bay Marina

It’s just around the corner – waiting for you!

 www.Palmetto BayWaterSports.com

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One aspect of Hilton Head Island that I really love is the Island’s vast and interesting history.  As a Hilton Head Island Realtor, I enjoy describing various historical stories to interested property clientele.

During Hilton Head Island’s “beginnings” of the 1950s and 1960s, Charles Fraser, leader of Sea Pines Company and Fred Hack, leader of Hilton Head Company, were competitors for potential prospects interested in building their dream home in paradise.

Sea Pines Company owned the land at what are now Sea Pines Resort, the South Forest Beach community, Hilton Head Plantation, the south side of Pope Avenue, as well as other large tracts on Hilton Head Island.

Hilton Head Company owned the land at what are now Port Royal Plantation, Shipyard Plantation, the North Forest Beach community, the north side of Pope Avenue, as well as other large tracts scattered throughout Hilton Head Island.

Sea Pines Company earmarked the bordering South Forest Beach area as a “gate to Sea Pines” where they built a very popular hotel on the beach, the William Hilton Inn, next to the Ocean gate of Sea Pines.  South Forest Beach was also the home of a popular Par-3 golf course on the mainland side of South Forest Beach Drive, and an oceanfront amusement center.

Sea Pines Company was not in a rush to develop or sell off usable land in South Forest Beach as their main goal was to market & sell Sea Pines oceanfront lots and later, golf course lots.

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Hilton Head Company’s North Forest Beach land was not adjacent to Port Royal Plantation (their showcase property a few miles north), so they sold off oceanfront lots in North Forest Beach immediately in order to create funds for more development.  In the 1970s, the Hilton Head Company decided to develop the land which is now Shipyard Plantation, but since they sold off all oceanfront lots in North Forest Beach, Shipyard was NOT an oceanfront tract of land.

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Hilton Head Company therefore re-purchased a few of the oceanfront lots from the new oceanfront owners on the northern part of North Forest Beach in order to create beach access for Shipyard Plantation owners and a future major hotel.

View the South Forest Beach and North Forest Beach maps below and you’ll see their lot sizes, setbacks, & street configuration are vastly different from each other.  The size of oceanfront lots in North Forest Beach are smaller and have less beach setback compared to South Forest Beach’s oceanfront lots.

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Villas for Sale on South Foret Beach

The design and personalities of South Forest Beach & North Forest Beach are vastly different with far more condo communities in the south, and far more homesites in the north. 

With the inclusion of Shipyard Plantation north of North Forest Beach, the two sections of Forest Beach offer different styles – more bike paths & commercial/retail services in the south and more residential in the north with the very popular Coligny Plaza & Pope Avenue restaurant fare in between.

Needless to say, the Forest Beach community offers a treasure of beach activities, family fun, and a variety of restaurants and juke joints for all beach vacationers and residents.  Take a look at the video below for an up-close bike ride of Forest Beach!

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How does one develop a taste for fine dining?  For me, it came from my Great Uncle Charlie.  He would visit from Macon on trips up to argue cases before the US Supreme Court.  As a six year old, I knew two things, Uncle Charlie could wiggle his ears and his visits meant getting to dress up and dine at The Rive Gauche, a very fine restaurant in Georgetown. 

I’ve always appreciated the fine dining Washington, DC offers.  Imagine my surprise when I moved to small Hilton Head, population 7000 and discovered a group of European chefs.  In the early days of Sea Pines, they hired the best chefs and wait staff available.  Those chefs eventually opened their own restaurants and invited their friends to discover the Island.  Consequently, from the beginning Hilton Head has been blessed with talented restaurateurs who are highly skilled and exceedingly well trained. 

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When I arrived on Hilton Head as a graduate intern for Sea Pines I was shocked by how rural it seemed to my DC eyes. My research had showed me that Sea Pines was the  latest and newest thinking in resort development.  I remember the secretary gauging my reaction and offering to go for a drink after work so I could get a feel for what Sea Pines offered.  She took me to the old Crow’s Nest four stories up atop the William Hilton Inn overlooking the swimming pool, putting green and ocean.  It was enchanting, I decided there had to be a lot more to Hilton Head and set about discovering it. 

You see, a quality experience has always been the norm on Hilton Head.  Today, we offer a myriad of cuisines and dining venues.   While European chefs may have anchored the early days of Hilton Head, the drive for quality has engendered a delightful and varied group of owners and servers including several home grown owners and chefs.  Whether you prefer white table cloths or family dining you will find a wide range of venues.  Food lovers can experience everything from shrimp and grits to exquisitely prepared wild game.  Southern cooking is always a hit and we have several restaurants who focus on serving the time honored favorites.

There is an air of friendly competition. Each year we have several food festivals complete with judges and people’s choice awards.  This Spring we will kick off with the annual Wine and Food Festival from March 10 – 15.  Shortly thereafter is the ever popular Wingfest March 21 and 22.  Next is the Seafood Festival March 30 – April 5.

Did you know that Hilton Head is home to the oldest brewery in South Carolina? We even have our own winery. So when you visit, pick up a menu book or ask a local.  When I’m asked, my first question is “What type of food are considering?”  Come enjoy the sun, fun and golf, but don’t forget our culinary expertise along the way.

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In the beginning, Sea Pines Resort developers took extreme measures in protecting the environment and eco-system.  This is why Sea Pines is known as one of the first ecologically sensitive, “eco-planned” communities in the country. Preservation of the beaches, surrounding waters and the natural feel is essential for the continued success of this community.

 Sea Pines Resort is a real  & thriving community combining a nice mixture of primary residents, seasonal home owners and vacationers. However, the resorts beauty, preservation and quality of its eco-system are just a few of the reasons that lure these residents and guest from around the world to Hilton Head Island.  Just a short visit into Sea Pines Resort and it becomes apparent that some of its greatest asset are the extensive list of amenities found throughout the community.

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To maintain its place amongst some of the highest rated resort destinations in the world Sea Pines Resort embarked on an aggressive journey for redevelopment and upgrades to several of its aging structures to bring Sea Pines to the forefront of these world class resort destinations. In 2007, Sea Pines resort completed a multimillion-dollar reconstruction project and introduced its newest golf course, Heron Point.  This must play resort golf course was designed by legendary Pete Dye. Other projects include the Harbour Town Links Golf Clubhouse, Plantation Golf Club, Harbour Town Conference Center, Sea Pines Beach Club, Harbour Town Inn Pool, and the Fitness Center.

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Even though construction is still ongoing, during a recent tour of the Plantation Golf Club, it’s obvious that there is a well thought out plan to bring this facility up to the standards you’d expect to find in a  world class resort that Sea Pines is representative of. The new golf club is about 16,000 square feet and will be comprised of a pro shop, bar and grill, 2,000 square feet of event space, and expansive locker rooms. The overall design has a very low country feel and boasts views of both the Heron Point  golf course and the Ocean Course. No details have been overlooked from the mix of carpet and hard wood flooring, bricks preserved from the previous structure; unique light fixtures and every area down to the loading docks and the cart barn have the most up to date features possible.

Projections are for construction to be complete sometime in March, which is just in time for the 2014 RBC Heritage. The Plantation Golf Club will be one of the first stops for over 300 Pro Am Participants where they will begin an experience like no other Pro Am on the PGATour. The new club is certain to live up to the expectations of both Sea Pines property owners and the thousands of guests that visit every year.

Not to be outdone, the new two-story Sea Pines Beach Club also promises to be quite extraordinary. Currently under construction, the club will include a casual beachside restaurant, oceanfront beach bar, express concessions, retail shop, roof top bar terrace, special event space, and spectacular views from the outdoor decks, terraces, and covered verandahs.

Next on the horizon is the new 19,000 square foot Harbour Town Links Golf Clubhouse. The current clubhouse will be demolished immediately after this year’s PGA tournament and is scheduled for completion prior to the start of the 2015 RBC Heritage golf tournament.

See Oceanfront Homes for Sale in Sea Pines

With all the redevelopment currently in process and the projects scheduled in the coming months It’s obvious Sea Pines Resort is taking every means necessary to maintain the level of luxury its residents and guest have come accustom.

 

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Do you have cabin fever? This winter is being recorded as one of the coldest and snowiest in recent history. Never fear, spring is right around the corner. Here on Hilton Head Island not only does that mean warm sunny days on the beach, but fun festivals and entertaining events that will help warm your soul.

 Many of you may have heard that the Hilton Head Island Airport is slated to go through some changes.  With proposals and talk of expansions going on for years, I thought I would look in to see where the project currently stands.

Part of the proposed scope of work is to relocate and lengthen two of the runways from their current 4,300 feet to 5,000 feet.  This will allow the new regional jets enough room to safely land.  Back in 2009 Delta Airlines pulled out of the area citing lack of sales, leaving US Airways as the only carrier.  The FAA will cover about 90% of the expected .9 million expansion of which .7 million is set aside for land purchases.  Buying up and relocating area businesses that surround the airport is likely what is holding up the project. 

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There is also a proposed million, 4,250 square-foot expansion of the terminal that will add more seating, room for security checks and bathrooms.  Currently the only restrooms are located before the security area, which means that anyone needing to use the bathroom would either need to go prior or risk having to go through security again.  Bids for the work have been received but only one met federal requirements and it was about 25% more than the proposed budget.

In a world of increasing security I appreciate the accessibility and easy-going nature of the Hilton Head Island Airport.  Whether you are for or against the airport expansions, I hope we can all come together in welcoming the many tourists that flock to the area and the convenience that having an airport on the Island offers.

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