Hilton Head Island by Numbers

Hilton Head Island is beautiful and serene. Live Oaks, spanish moss, sandy beaches. If you're looking for a relaxing weekend away from it all, this is the place to go. Here are some things you need to know, by the numbers...

1.5 - Dollars you will need to pay at the toll to get onto the Island. If you're just driving a car.

12 x 5 - Miles across and wide. The size of the Island.

7 - Public beaches on the Island. They are Alder Lane Beach Access, Beachfront at Coligny Circle, Driessen Beach Park,  Fish Haul Park, Burkes Beach Access, Islanders Beach Park, and Folly Beach Park. Plantations and hotels on the beach offer access to their guests. Much of the beach access is private.

We personally visited Coligny and it was beautiful. The beach is wonderfully maintained and the grounds are stunning. Before you even get to the beach you can rest in one of their many Adirondack chairs or porch swings, or play in the water spouts. When you're done at the beach you just have to cross the street for plentiful shopping and dinning. Or take a walk or a bike ride down some of their trails and see if you can spot an alligator. Parking and beach access were free. Restrooms and changing rooms were available.

24 - Golf courses on the Island. Hilton Head was ranked number 10 on Golf Digest's list of the world's best golf resorts. But if you do visit Hilton Head to hit a few balls, watch out for the alligators! No joke. And only a handful of mini-golf courses. You will not find a giant octopus spewing toilet-blue water here.

7,256 - People riding bikes at any given moment. At least that's my estimate. The entire island is criss-crossed with walking and bicycle paths, plus you can ride out onto the 12 miles of beach. Bicycle rental companies are very numerous, and the average rental cost per week is around $25.

20 - Public Parks on the Island. All beautiful, without a doubt.

5 - Dollars to enter Sea Pines Resort. This area covers a third of the Island and is divided into four neighborhoods, including Harbour Town and its lighthouse. You don't have to be staying anywhere on the Resort to visit and with the lighthouse, numerous water tours and activites, and plentiful shopping and dining you will want to visit. I personally recommend stopping by Lawton Stables, a beautiful place offering rides and a small animal farm. The farm is free and food is available to feed the critters.

4 - Restaurants where you can experience the lengend of Jake, the Salty Dog. There's the original Salty Dog Cafe, The Wreck of the Salty Dog, Lands End Tavern, and Jake's Pizza. All restaurants are located within Sea Pines. The Wreck and Jake's Pizza are only open seasonally.

View from The Salty Dog Cafe

3 - Places to get your Salty Dog gear. Jake's Cargo and The Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory are located within Sea Pines, or you can visit the T-Shirt Factory on Arrow Rd. And of course, you can always shop online.

4 - Traffic circles we drove 'round and 'round. I don't know how many are on the island, but they're popular.

10 - At least the number of thrift/antique/second hand stores on the Island. From furniture, to clothes, to designer hand bags you'll find something you have to have. An entire day can easily be spent hopping from one store to another.

3 - Feet. The average height of any roadside sign. City ordinances require signs to be under a certain height, and to be colored in unobtrusive, earth tone colors. So keep a sharp eye out as you drive around looking for somewhere to shop or eat. Buildings themselves are often blocked by trees and signs are easy to miss. It's part of what keeps the Island so beautiful, but you'll need a passanger or two to help you find places.

2 - Alligators we saw. Without even trying. They like to come up out of the water during the day and soak up the sun. Don't approach them, and don't feed them though. Seems obvious, but judging by the number of warning signs posted...it isn't that obvious to some.

Myrtle Beach, SC

I truly love Myrtle Beach. I not only enjoy the ocean, but I love all the different kinds of attractions MB has to offer. Kasey and I decided try parasailing at Ocean Watersports. After we paid, we put on life jackets and waited to be put in a group. A banana boat takes you to the parasail boat. The ride on the banana boat is an experience in itself. It's fast and sometimes bumpy! Hold on tight! When you reach the parasail boat, the fun begins. You are attached to a harness and you feel like you're sitting on a swing. Kasey and I got strapped in and the workers told us to relax and have fun. As soon as the boat starts going again, you start flying up. Words can't possibly describe the feeling of parasailing! It's so amazing. It's like flying. The water below you is beautiful. Word of warning, the workers like to "dump" you in the water! They'll lower you down until you touch the water and then put you back up. They take your pictures as well. You can order them later if you want to. When every one's ride is over, you take the banana boat back to shore. I highly suggest parasailing. It's one of my favorite things to do.

Kasey and I are always looking for new things to try. We've both been horseback riding in TN, and Kasey found a place where you can horseback ride on the beach. We went in Nov., so it wasn't as hot as it would have been in the summer. You don't have to be a trained rider to ride these horses. Trust me, I'm pretty terrified at first when I get on a horse. I've only been horseback riding twice. The horses know exactly where to go and you're never alone. The guides are always there riding with you. We rode the horses for an hour, I believe. I loved it! It's such an incredible experience. You're able to watch the waves crash into the shore. It's an experience that I'll never forget.

Do you like to shop? I have four words: Broadway at the Beach! According to one trip advisor Broadway is the number one attraction in Myrtle Beach. There's more than just shopping there. You have restaurants, an IMAX 3-D Theatre, Ripley's Aquarium, and night clubs. I've also learned there's a zipline and ropes course, Soar and Explore, and a Wonderworks that's being added in 2011. Broadway also has fair rides that you can enjoy at The Pavilion Nostalgia Park. You can spend quite a bit of time there. If you like the band KISS, there's a coffee shop dedicated them. There's also a ton of restaurants. I'm ready to back! Now would be great!

There's also a House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. It's a neat restaurant and it's also a concert venue. So, if you're in the area check and see what bands might be playing. If you go on Sunday morning, they have Gospel Brunch. You could also check out their Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.
There's so much to do in Myrtle Beach. You can easily spend a week or just a few days. No matter how much time you have, you'll always find something fun to do! Until the next time! Happy traveling!

PS - Other popular MB attractions include Alligator Adventure, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park, Dixie Stampede, and the NASCAR Speed Park. Located in North Myrtle, check out Barefoot Landing for lots more shopping, dining, and entertainment. And if you're looking for someplace quiet and quaint to spend the day head on over to Murrells Inlet.