“Get your plaid on” took on a whole new meaning at this year’s 50th anniversary celebration of the RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) presented by Boeing.  Beginning with the red and white stripe lighthouse – the famous signature of the island being transformed with red and black vinyl down to the thousands of fans dressing in plaid from head to toe and some with plaid collars on shirts, plaid ribbons, fancy plaids, family plaids, Harbour Town became “Plaid City”!   Where Charles Frazier began this tradition founded upon golf history and Scottish tradition 50 years ago.

Sea Pines Golf View Properties

New Listing

33 Saint Andrews Place, Hilton Head Island

,050,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,425 Sf

MLS # 406132

New Listing

9 Willow Oak Road, Hilton Head Island

,190,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 3,028 Sf

MLS # 405434

New Listing

51 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head Island

,075,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,300 Sf

MLS # 405997

New Listing

74 Plantation Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,585 Sf

MLS # 405941

New Listing

100 Baynard Cove Road, Hilton Head Island

,375,000 – 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 4,609 Sf

MLS # 406118

152 Club Course Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,584 Sf

MLS # 405975

New Listing

101 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island

,900 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,200 Sf

MLS # 405943

12 Mizzenmast Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 2,492 Sf

MLS # 405908

58 Stoney Creek Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,502 Sf

MLS # 404837

22 Twin Pines Road, Hilton Head Island

,195,000 – 4 Beds, 5 Baths, 3,508 Sf

MLS # 405071

68 Plantation Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,020 Sf

MLS # 405067

6 Loblolly Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,919 Sf

MLS # 404520

Satoshi Kodaira from Japan rolled in a 30’ birdie putt on No. 17 to beat Si Woo Kim of South Korea.  This great putt on the last hole of the sudden death playoff secured Kodaira a place on the PGA circuit, .2 million and a size 38 Short Tartan Plaid jacket!  However, there was not a plaid jacket in Kodaira’s size.  Luckily, Cary Corbitt’s (Sea Pines Vice President for Sports and Operations) official PGA  jacket was a size 38 Short and he graciously handed it over to Heritage officials  for the presentation of trophy.  Sea Pines will have one tailor made for Kodaira. The plaid jacket, along with the trophy, will be shipped mailed to Japan.

The 50^th Celebration ended inside of the Harbour Town Clubhouse because of stormy weather.  Officials had made the decision to begin the play at holes No 1 and No 10 at 7 am in order to finish on Sunday.

It was a surprise and unexpected ending for Kodaira.   He was considered the “underdog” and only 1 tv producer from Japan and his crew came to Harbour Town after the Masters.  Kodaira had his best PGA showing ever at the Masters tying for 28^th.   That is until he made the shocking win for the Tartan Plaid at Harbour Town on Sunday afternoon playing with a field of golfers that included the No. 1 golfer, Dustin Johnson. Cheers to Kodaira, the new Captain of Gentlemen’s Golf.    

If you’re like me then your dog is a part of your family.  I have a Labrador Retriever named Max, whose only love in life is fetching a tennis ball.  I have been fortunate enough to have lived in this beautiful area for many years and I wanted to pass along my favorite Dog Friendly Beaches on Hilton Head Island.  Keep in Mind these are only my favorites, where I consistently take Max.  There are plenty of other great dog friendly beaches all over the island for you to try.

Oceanfront Properties for Sale

New Listing

83 Fuskie Lane, Daufuskie Island

,000 – 2 Acres

MLS # 406320

New Listing

247 S Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island

,999 – 1 Beds, 1 Baths, 1,200 Sf

MLS # 406306

New Listing

12 Sand Dollar Road, Hilton Head Island

,495,000 – 5 Beds, 4 Baths, 2,792 Sf

MLS # 406000

New Listing

37 S Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 3 Baths, 1,850 Sf

MLS # 406278

New Listing

23 Egret Street, Hilton Head Island

,095,000 – 7 Beds, 7 Baths, 4,080 Sf

MLS # 406274

New Listing

24 Jacana Street, Hilton Head Island

,250,000 – 7 Beds, 7 Baths, 5,100 Sf

MLS # 406289

New Listing

40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 1 Beds, 1 Baths, 540 Sf

MLS # 406260

New Listing

5 Ocean Watch, Daufuskie Island

,895,000 – 4 Beds, 5 Baths, 4,569 Sf

MLS # 406015

New Listing

40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 1 Beds, 1 Baths, 540 Sf

MLS # 406201

3) Mitchellville Beach Park (North End)

I consider this the Hidden beach, as you must drive down a dirt road to find the park.  They have bathrooms, outside showers, plenty of parking, and a walking path for convenience at the park.  Typically, this area is not too crowded especially in the evenings when I’ll take Max to play a great game of fetch.  The video below was taken at Mitchellville Beach Park one evening. 

2) Coligny Beach (South End)

Coligny is usually the most popular beach spot on the island.  While this location will be more crowded than Mitchellville, you can still find plenty of room in the morning and evenings to play with your furry friends.   Just access the beach through the park entrance and head North or South for a short distance, and you’re good to go. 

1) Burkes Beach (Mid-Island)

This is by far the most popular spot for my wife and I to take Max on a normal basis.  There is plenty of parking and Burkes seems to be the ideal choice for most pet lovers.  Max always has plenty of friends to hang with while also having an abundance of sand to run, roll, and occasionally take a quick swim. 

Hilton Head Animal Rules

Just for reference here are Hilton Head’s rules for your pets according to hiltonheadislandsc.gov

• Are not permitted – Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day
• Must be on a leash:
• Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. April 1 through Thursday before Memorial Day
• Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday after Labor Day through September 30
• Must be on leash or under positive voice control at all other times.
• Persons in control of animals on the beach are required to remove and properly dispose of the animal’s excrement.

Photographing all kinds of animals, scenes, food and people has been a hobby of mine since I was in my teens. My father, an excellent amateur photographer, taught me to expect, at best, only one good photo from a roll of 36 negatives. He was right. Then came new technology and easy ways to crop and edit photographs. “Delete” became my new best friend! “Delete” saved me a lot of money too. Film was expensive. Taking great pictures with film was challenging. Waiting for the local drug store or K-Mart to develop film tested my patience. Here’s to digital photography and instant gratification! I photographed these two fascinating green wonders of nature with a digital camera and iPhone respectively.

Moss Creek and Belfair Properties for Sale

9 Fox Meadow, Bluffton

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,343 Sf

MLS # 398641

New Listing

270 Bamberg Drive, Bluffton

,000 – 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 4,153 Sf

MLS # 405375

New Listing

144 Belfair Oaks Boulevard, Bluffton

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 3,019 Sf

MLS # 406236

New Listing

45 Royal Pointe Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 1,613 Sf

MLS # 405864

New Listing

205 Summerton Drive, Bluffton

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 4,007 Sf

MLS # 405735

21 Hunting Court, Bluffton

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,277 Sf

MLS # 406091

42 Richland Drive, Bluffton

,295,000 – 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 4,536 Sf

MLS # 405566

43 Stable Gate Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,371 Sf

MLS # 405747

78 Cumberland Drive, Bluffton

,695,000 – 5 Beds, 4 Baths, 5,571 Sf

MLS # 405405

This Green Anole Lizard was in Belfair sunning on the deck rail of our old house. Anoles are all over the region and plentiful in the landscape at our new Moss Creek home. They eat insects so they’re good to have around. Displaying a bright red dew-lap, this anole was either courting or declaring his territory to other males. Anoles change colors from emerald green to brown depending on the color of the background where they are situated. They are often called chameleons and marketed under the same inaccurate moniker for sale as pets. They are not chameleons.

For several years in the 60’s, I had a pet “chameleon”. Handling a squirming little reptile is an acquired skill, but easy for most country kids. Anoles don’t have teeth. As an adult, the only anole I’ve ever touched is one I rescued and released outdoors from the living room of a home we had listed for sale. Once, driving home from work, I discovered an anole crawling across the windshield of my car. I turned the car around and drove back to my parking space where I shooed the little guy away to be with his mates. I love animals.

This praying mantis was exploring a freshly picked red tomato at our family farm in Meadville, Pennsylvania last summer. Odd to find the mantis on the tomato because, like green anoles, mantises eat insects. But who can resist a fresh red ripe tomato! Mantises are garden friends because they eat crickets, moths and other bugs. Sometimes they eat each other! Females have been discovered eating males after, or even during mating, but males aren’t discouraged! Mantises have five eyes – three little eyes between two bigger ones. They can turn their E.T. like heads nearly 300 degrees. Praying mantises are very hard to find because of Mother Nature’s gift of green for their long stem-like bodies, perfect garden camouflage. Mantises can be found all over the Low Country.

31 Sago Palm Drive – MLS# 381632
Open from 1-4pm on 6/3/2018!

Easy single level living in this move-in ready home in Palmetto Pointe with the best backyard location in the neighborhood. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2-car garage and wooded view, private fenced-in yard. Features include a dining room/flex room, eat-in kitchen, newer appliances, 42″ kitchen cabinets, reverse osmosis water in the kitchen and more that you will love. Hurry, this wonderful home will not be on the market long. Fabulous location to schools, Bluffton, Savannah, Beaufort and HHI.

Contact Stacha Schiller-Stinson for more information about
31 Sago Palm Drive at 843-338-5879 or DMGstacha@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there!

Click HERE for photos, details and to take the Interactive 3D Tour

I received an email from Hilton Head Plantation saying that there is a Farmer’s Market scheduled on every Saturday in May, June and July on Saturdays. It is open to HHP residents from 9:00 to 11:00. I took a ride over to community garden this Saturday and found a charming display of vegetables and flowers for sale. As you can see in the photographs the produce looks delicious.  There was a steady flow of cars coming in to purchase onions, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, preserves and lovely bouquets for the dining room table.

Hilton Head Plantation Properties for Sale

New Listing

7 Cottonwood Lane, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,148 Sf

MLS # 406179

New Listing

86 Cypress Marsh Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 3,380 Sf

MLS # 406247

New Listing

46 Big Woods Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,054 Sf

MLS # 406272

New Listing

2 Prestwick Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 3,650 Sf

MLS # 406264

New Listing

27 Broomsedge Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,515 Sf

MLS # 406284

New Listing

32 Fernwood Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,434 Sf

MLS # 405919

New Listing

3 Redstart Path, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,024 Sf

MLS # 406133

New Listing

55 Cypress Marsh Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,707 Sf

MLS # 406178

14 Adventure Galley Lane, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,920 Sf

MLS # 406057

The growers are members of the Hilton Head Plantation Farmers Club; established in 1980. As a member one can rent a plot of land to farm or be a volunteer to help with planned activities.

Each Plantation on Hilton Head Island has wonderful amenities and clubs to join. If you are interested in property in Hilton Head Plantation you might want to take advantage of this club. A great way to make new friends.

Ancestry.com, 23andMe.com…it seems everyone is looking for their heritage and history.  If you are a heritage and history buff, why not look into the heritage and history of the place where you vacation! Hilton Head Island is rich in heritage and history, and the best place to explore the past and experience our rich history is at The Heritage Library History & Ancestry Research Center. 

The Heritage Library is a private reference and research center that is open to the public for a daily fee.  The Library shelves hold a wide range of historical works, and visitors are encouraged to browse the collections for items of interest.  The Library also houses the records of The Hilton Head Island Historical Society which contains a wealth of historical information, old photos and maps.  Formed in October, 1961, The Hilton Head Island Historical Society was the oldest cultural organization of its kind on Hilton Head Island when it merged with the Heritage Library in 2005.

Hilton Head Plantation Properties for Sale

New Listing

7 Cottonwood Lane, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,148 Sf

MLS # 406179

New Listing

86 Cypress Marsh Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 3,380 Sf

MLS # 406247

New Listing

46 Big Woods Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,054 Sf

MLS # 406272

New Listing

2 Prestwick Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 3,650 Sf

MLS # 406264

New Listing

27 Broomsedge Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,515 Sf

MLS # 406284

New Listing

32 Fernwood Court, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,434 Sf

MLS # 405919

New Listing

3 Redstart Path, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,024 Sf

MLS # 406133

New Listing

55 Cypress Marsh Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,707 Sf

MLS # 406178

14 Adventure Galley Lane, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,920 Sf

MLS # 406057

Here is Where the Fun Begins for You! 

With this merger came the responsibility for two sites, Ft. Mitchel, a Civil War earthwork battery on Skull Creek, and Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery, a Revolutionary War and antebellum site.  The Heritage Library regularly conducts tours of these historic sights that are open to the public.  Choose any or all of the tours below and experience Hilton Head history in person.

HISTORIC BIKE TOUR – PERFECT TOUR FOR PHOTO & HISTORY FANS

Learn about Hilton Head Island’s history of Native Americans, Civil War, Reconstruction, Fishing and Farming and the Gullah Culture.  This tour meets at the Hilton Head Island Community Park, 137 Squire Pope Road (Sailing and Rowing Center). Helmets required. 

Admission is per adult, per child (ages 10 and up only) with your own bikes, or per adult and per child if we provide the bikes. Tours are every Wednesday 10 am – 11:30 am

Click here for additional information!         

FORT MITCHEL TOUR

Tour this historic Civil War earthwork battery with an experienced guide.  Fort Mitchel is located inside Hilton Head Plantation at 65 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29926.  When entering the Plantation, please ask the guard for a pass to Fort Mitchel. The guard will ask for a valid ID.

Admission is per adult and per child ages 7-12. Ticket is required for entry. Tours are held every Thursday at 10AM.

Click here for additional information!

ZION LIVING HISTORY TOUR

Hear an on-site presentation about the oldest existing building on the island and the planter’s antebellum church and cemetery. Meet one of the “residents” of the cemetery who will tell you about their life on Hilton Head Island.

Located at the corner of Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway.  Access from Mathews Drive. Entry tickets are required. 

Admission is per adult and per child ages 7-12.  Tours held Fridays at 10am.

Click here for additional information!

DINE WITH A UNION GENERAL!

Join General Ormsby Mitchel for a three-course meal at the Old Fort Pub in Hilton Head Plantation and enjoy a talk on the battle of Port Royal Sound and Hilton Head Island during the Civil War. After the dinner and talk, General Mitchel will lead a guided walking tour of Fort Mitchel.

Call the Old Fort Pub for reservations, 843-681-2386.

Tickets: per adult; per child

A portion of your ticket fee will go to the Heritage Library

For more information on any of these tours, call the Heritage Library at 843-686-6560 or visit their website, http://heritagelib.org/

Have fun experiencing Hilton Head Island’s history and ancestry, and when you are ready to become a part of our history, call me; I can help you find the perfect piece of our “Lowcountry Paradise”!

Over 50 people will take golf instruction today at the Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy.  They will experience:

1. The exhilaration of the ball rocketing off the clubface and flying straight to the target.
2. An 80 year old man will realize he still can play golf and experience the personal satisfaction of a well struck shot.  He can play proudly with his grand children.
3. A 3 year old girl will sing songs and learn she can putt the ball in the hole consistently from 5 feet. That child will be challenged to putt with their eyes closed.  They will come to learn that even Helen Keller and Stevie Wonder could have enjoyed golf.
   

   Palmetto Dunes Golf Properties for Sale

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   56 Full Sweep, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,958 Sf

   MLS # 405823

   

   
   
   

   7 Ginger Beer Court, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,407 Sf

   MLS # 405807

   

   
   
   

   19 Sea Lane, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,175,000 – 5 Beds, 4 Baths, 2,462 Sf

   MLS # 405477

   

   
   
   

   176 Mooring Buoy, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,975,000 – 5 Beds, 6 Baths, 4,561 Sf

   MLS # 405493

   

   
   
   

   60 Carnoustie Road, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,450 Sf

   MLS # 405443

   

   
   
   

   56 Leamington Lane, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,299,000 – 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 4,765 Sf

   MLS # 405447

   

   
   
   

   29 Rum Row, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,100 Sf

   MLS # 405201

   

   
   
   

   38 Swing About, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,000 – 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2,438 Sf

   MLS # 404490

   

   
   
   

   20 Queens Folly Road, Hilton Head Island
   
   

   ,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,342 Sf

   MLS # 402822

   

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4. Families will play golf together and laugh and giggle having success and failure together.  Dad may even let the kids sit in his lap and drive the cart.
5. A mother of three kids will discover she can join the rest of the family on the course after taking the Ladies Only Class.  She is saying “This is not a strenuous game now that I know how to swing correctly.”
6. The husband is happy now because he gets an extra day of golf because his wife and kids are coming with him to play.
7. The 10 year old boy or girl that lacks confidence will discover “I can do this”.  The Coach asked Bobby why he likes golf and dislikes soccer, baseball and basketball.  Bobby pondered the question and then replied, “The ball waits on me”.   Susie later shared ” that she likes golf because no one is yelling at her to run faster and hustle more.”
8. The introvert can go be by themselves and be challenged by golf- not needing anyone else to enjoy this interesting game and beautiful day.
9. The hard-working person that needs outdoor activity that does not require a lot mentally or physically will be refreshed and energized by the best natural medicines: fresh air, big skies, light activity and personal achievement
10. A “Geek” will discover the similarities of golf and video games.  Both require engagement, have different skill levels and offer satisfying rewards.

You are invited to take golf instruction this week so you can make your own discovery of this wonderful game for a lifetime. Come join Doug Weaver, Local Golf Hall of Famer and Director of Instruction at Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy Monday 4-5 pm at the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.  Forty other people and you will enjoy the trick shots, hands on and interactive golf instruction. You may volunteer for a lesson or win a prize.  No reservation is required, and it is complimentary.  Call 843-785-1138 or 800-827-3006 to learn more or make a lesson reservation with Doug Weaver or any of the Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy Teaching Staff.

With approximately 2.5 million visitors each year, the traffic on our little 12-mile-long and 5-mile-wide Island can sometimes be a challenge, especially in the summer months.   With the recent release of Travel and Leisure Magazine voting Hilton Head “#1 Best Island” in the U.S. for the third year in a row, and Forbes listing Hilton Head Island one of the Top 5 markets for luxury real estate in North America, the traffic will only be increasing.

We are very proud of all these accolades and we love our tourists. And now, thanks to Lowcountry Transportation Authority, moving the tourists around the Island has just become easier for everyone. The Hilton Head Island Trolley has arrived!

A seasonal trolley service, named The Breeze, is now running every 30 minutes from July through mid-October.  The Breeze Trolley transports passengers between Shelter Cove Towne Center and Coligny Circle, with several stops in between.  The Breeze runs between 9 am – 7 pm every day.  On Tuesdays the service operates until 10 pm for the Shelter Cove Harbourfest fireworks.  For just per person, per ride, passengers can enjoy fast and easy access to shopping, restaurants, movie theatres, grocery stores and the beach.   Children under 43″ tall (the height of the fare box) ride free!

The Trolleys are air conditioned, have bike racks on the front and have low floor or ramp access for easy boarding for everyone.

The Breeze drivers are very accommodating and besides the scheduled stops, if you want to get off somewhere in between, just pull the yellow cord and as long as there is a safe place to pull over out of the way of traffic, they will be happy to drop you off.  If you want to jump on the Trolley in between scheduled stops, just flag them down.  One driver picked up a biker last week who had a blown-out tire on his bike! 

The Breeze Trolley App will be available in August to purchase tickets and track the Breeze in real time. https://hhitrolley.com/interactive-app/

So, jump on The Breeze and enjoy your vacation without fighting the traffic and looking for a parking place.  And, if have any questions about that luxury real estate that Forbes mentioned, give me a call today – owning your piece of paradise on Hilton Head Island can be a breeze! 

Jeff’s most recent listings…..

New Listing

55 Barcelona, Hilton Head Island

,500 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,185 Sf

MLS # 406058

63 Shipyard Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,730 Sf

MLS # 405586

20 Queens Folly Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,342 Sf

MLS # 402822

55 Barcelona, Hilton Head Island

,900 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,185 Sf

MLS # 400745

55 Barcelona, Hilton Head Island

,900 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,185 Sf

MLS # 400744

12 Dunes House Lane, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 1,878 Sf

MLS # 400289

55 Barcelona, Hilton Head Island

,500 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,185 Sf

MLS # 388839

55 Barcelona, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,290 Sf

MLS # 398651

22 River Club Drive, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 1 Acres

MLS # 397896

55 Barcelona Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,214 Sf

MLS # 397791

55 Barcelona Road, Hilton Head Island

,000 – 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,214 Sf

MLS # 397789

18 Woodbine Place, Hilton Head Island

,199,000 – 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 3,632 Sf

MLS # 397368

On a recent beautiful Sunday afternoon my wife and I decided to go spend the day on Bay Street in the historic city of Beaufort, SC.  There is so much to love about this charming city.  Beaufort was founded in 1711, making it the second oldest city in South Carolina behind only Charleston, SC. 

I grew up vacationing in Beaufort and we have made these day trips many times with how close we live.  It’s amazing having so many close Historic cities (Beaufort, Savannah, Charleston) within a short drive away.  It’s about a 40-minute ride or less from Bluffton, SC to downtown Beaufort, and around 50-minute to an hour ride to Beaufort from Hilton Head Island. 

It’s hard to hit every great amenity that downtown Beaufort has to offer in a short post, but I’ll recap what we did and some of the places we’ve visited in the past. 

We started with a quick lunch at Hearth Wood Fired Pizza.  Cool place with a lot of character, good environment, and plenty of tv’s.  I’m usually more of a traditional pizza guy, but we ordered the Prosciutto & Arugula pizza and I must admit it was fantastic.  Wasn’t too heavy since we weren’t starving and made it feel healthier than eating most pizza (not sure if it was, but I like to think so.)    

Other restaurants I recommend (I’m sure there’s plenty more, but these I have been to.)

• Old Bull Tavern
• Panini’s on the Waterfront
• Plum’s Waterfront
• Saltus River Grill

After lunch we went and grabbed ice cream at YoYo’s Ice Cream and enjoyed our cones on a bench overlooking the water views.  The waterfront park is spectacular to say the least.  There’re benches, swings, large playground, big green area for picnics and playtime for kids, and even an amphitheater for concerts and events.  All this while overlooking the marina and enjoying the sights of yachts and fishing charters heading to and from the Atlantic Ocean.  

Before calling it a day we went and toured a lot of the historic district by foot.  We have driven through it many times, but there’s nothing like walking around and enjoying all the small details that you never notice otherwise.  There’re so many beautiful homes that are worth viewing and taking photos of.  Also, there’s many classical looking churches which seem to be on every street corner.   

If you live or are planning to vacation in the Hilton Head Island or Bluffton, SC areas, then I highly suggest a day trip to downtown Beaufort, SC.  You won’t regret it, I promise!