Hilton Head For Little Money

We spent our time on bicycles, walking tours, boat docks, looking at fine homes, and eating really fine food. There are many places to fish from Hilton Head and the party boats do not cost an arm and a leg. You don't go out to the Gulf Stream but as a result you are spared a five hour boat ride. In just minutes you are fishing a mere four miles from shore, hoping to catch Cobia, Red Fish, flounder, and Blsck Sea Bass. For only .00 you can fish for over three hours and the price includes fishing gear and all the bait you can use.

Quick Tips:

The first thing to do is get a Restaurant Guide which not only lists 99% of the worthy restaurants, but also posts the menus for each. There is no need to go to a place that is higher than you think. Read the guide and know!

The second thing to do is lose the car. Most bicycle shops deliver to your hotel and you can even ride to Harbor Town and not have to pay the five dollars to take your auto in. That five dollars is a bit of a rip as Harbor Town is mostly overblown with overpriced art galleries and overpriced shops.

If you want to shop, plan a day trip to Savannah or Charleston where the selections are much broader and considerably more fairly priced.

Best Way To Get Around:

The bicycle paths are everywhere and just about the safest I have seen anywhere in the world. I never had a need to take a bus or a taxi so I cannot speak to those issues but I can warn you that a marina tour is just about out of the question for walkers. The island is too large and the marinas are too spaced out to make walking practical. Public beaches are available but just walking to them would also be difficult. If you are a nature lover, bikes give you a way to see nature up close; you will see so many things that you would almost always miss from a car seat.

Tip: Public facilities and a good shower are available at the public entrance to the beach marked Folly Field.

In a word - Great! The room was large with a king bed, a full size refrigerator, stove, and microwave. The air conditioner was fine and the furnishings were of good quality and in pristine shape. The real plus was the added value feature of this hotel. It is the only one on the island that allows a guest to prepare his own food and for very little money. We didn't try it, but there was a form in the room stating that we could order groceries on the checklist with no extra charge for delivery.

The tennis courts were excellent, and the pool and jacuzzi were clean and well maintained. There was also a work-out room. These things are important, but the real treasure was the well-trained staff who went out of their way to make us feel at home. They went out of their way to show us the best the island has to offer.

The hotel offers a free full service breakfast buffet that featured eggs and waffles with all of the fruit juice and milk that you could hold. In the afternoons Monday through Friday at five p.m. there is a free ice breaker with wine, beer, and snacks for all guests. The manager, Larry Aumburn, turned out to be a charmer who gave great advice as to where to eat and what to do. By all means look him up and get his input when you visit the island.

The helpful manager at the Marriot recommended this restaurant as being perhaps the best dining on the Island for the money. It gets my vote as being a great place to eat for the money.

My wife had a 1 and 1/4 pound lobster for only $13.95. We sampled the swordfish at only $16.95, and I had the seafood combination for $15.95. The salads were crisp, but the blue cheese dressing could have been improved. The bread was freshly baked and the vegetables were nicely done. It would have been easy to spend over $80.00 for this meal in any good restaurant, but our total after everything, to including a wonderful dessert, was under $60.00 including the tip.

The chef is a culinary arts school graduate and the staff was very attentive in spite of a full house. The location is in a beautiful place by the beach. There is a fountain located near the picture windows that extend around the sides of the restaurant. The restaurant boasts a wonderful bar and can serve just about anything requested. The management was evident and very involved with the clientele.

It was a very positive dining experience. Many of the diners were locals and they seemed to be repeat customers.

I usually tell people that I am going to write a journal about their establishment before I eat. The reactions usually vary and in this case one of the owners was present. She was a really nice person. Her restaurant had all the whistles and bells.

The Old Fort Pub is located in a very historic part of the island where the Northern Army once placed a battery of guns to menace Confederate shipping that was attempting to invade after the North occupied Hilton Head early in the American Civil War. The views from the dining area of the restaurant--both inside, and out on the porch--were marvelous, and the staff was beautifully trained. I learned that this restaurant is one of four owned by the same partners on the island and that they do everything possible to keep business booming.

My wife and I had already eaten but we bravely attacked Eggs Benidict, a scallop appetizer, and a salad. Fresh hot bread, butter, and jam were brought out first. The scallops were among the best I have ever had, and all the rest was good enough.

The prices were in line with other upscale dining choices and we did not regret our choice here. We hope to return soon and write about the three other restaurants we missed this time around.

Rustic is the word that came to mind when we walked into this magnificently located venerable restaurant. It is right on the water and boasts its own fleet of fishing boats to ensure that the catch is fresh everyday. The seafood platter was the best value for the money we had on the island. The manager, Bob Delmar, was friendly, attentive, and proud of the restaurant. He explained the history of the establishment and showed us the paintings that were of historical importance to Hilton Head. He also pointed out which stuffed fish on the wall were real and which were not. That was charming but the bottom line was that the food was really good even if the interior of the restaurant was old and not as pleasing in appearance as it might be. Coming from the South I was used to finding gems like this restaurant since I was a child. I really liked the seafood platter and hush puppies. I hope that everyone gets a chance to try this place at least once. I am sure you will go back.