Islander Knowledge of Hilton Head Island

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

It's Fall Y'all - Oyster Season is Here!

Labor Day marks the end of summer for most but here in the Lowcountry, Southerners look forward to this time of year as it marks the beginning of a new season…oyster roast season. When is the best time to enjoy oysters in the Lowcountry? It’s quite simple; any month with the letter “R” in it means it’s safe to indulge in these tasty treats. Around the Lowcountry, oysters mean a party, one where friends gather around a fire pit and catch up over beer and bivalves. In our neck of the woods, an oyster roast is simple. Don’t let the word “simple” fool you though. They are usually a first class affair.

The first step to a successful oyster roast is friends and family. This will make the difference! Next, you’ll need oyster tables where guests can gather round for the shucking. I've seen everything from a simple plywood board set up on sawhorses to reclaimed barn wood set atop beautiful brick pillars. Your guests will need an oyster knife, hand towel or a glove which will aid in retrieving the hidden gem. Steamed oysters can be enjoyed a-la-carte but it’s always nice to provide saltine crackers, cocktail sauce, hot sauce and melted butter.

Here in Bluffton, oysters can be purchased at the Bluffton Oyster Company and are sold by the bushel which will feed about 6 to 8 people. The best advice is to rinse them thoroughly before you steam. An oyster steamer is the best way to achieve the perfect oyster. If a steamer is not available, oysters can be cooked over the coals on an iron grill. An oyster grill is easily created by placing an iron grate, supported by bricks at each corner, over a fire pit. Layer the oysters on the grill and when their mouths are well open, they’re done. All that’s left is to transfer them to an oyster table and enjoy. Happy Oyster Season!

HiltonHeadIslander.com, a division of Performance Development Corporation (PDC), features information about Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from vacation rentals to real estate featuring details on events, hotels, restaurants, golf, activities, shopping & spas. Created for visitors and locals alike, HiltonHeadIslander.com is the source for all things Hilton Head Island.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

The Mystery of the Indian Shell Ring in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve

The very first visitors arrived on Hilton Head Island 4,000 years ago. These early Indians migrated to the coastal islands of the Southeastern Coast and returned again and again. The evidence of these early visitors lies deep in the heart of Sea Pines Plantation in the Forest Preserve.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve Map

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve has a long and colorful history. Starting in 1700, it flourished as an agricultural area producing rice, indigo and cotton. But even before settlers came to Hilton Head Island, the Nomadic Indians visited the area to hunt small game and harvest seafood. During their visits to the island, a shell ring was constructed most likely as a tribal or ceremonial plaza. This perfect circle of oysters, clams, whelk, and other shells and bones from animals, is estimated to have taken over 300 years to build. That’s an impressive return-trip rate to our Island. The shells were carried a short distance from the tidal salt marsh that once flowed through the center of Sea Pines. The structure was constructed by placing shells in a ring formation, then filling in the gaps with more shells and lastly, packing the ring with crushed shell and soil. There are no signs that anyone lived around the ring, only that is was most likely a gathering place for the passing visitors. Similar rings and Indian mounds are found throughout the Southeast, seemingly providing an encampment for the Nomadic Indians.

Finding a shell ring in the middle of a forest may seem strange to visitors but there is a reason to its placement. Nearly 40 centuries ago, the current freshwater swamp in the heart of the forest preserve was once part of a tidal inlet that ran from Folly Creek to South Beach in Sea Pines. The inlet was an easily navigable route for the Indians to find refuge while hunting and fishing in the area.

Exploring Hilton Head Island’s nature preserves and history is a must while visiting the Island. Visiting the Sea Pines Forest Preserve and the Indian Shell Ring is easy. Pay a small entrance fee to Sea Pines Plantation and begin your adventure. Once in the gate of the community, about a mile on the left is a sign for the Forest Preserve. Park here and begin your scenic walk across boardwalks, through woodlands and past beautiful lakes. About 20 minutes into your walk, signs will lead to a shallow basin enclosed by a low shell wall. You've arrived at the Indian Shell Ring.

No one knows why the ring was abandoned over 3,500 years ago. Scientists attribute the disappearance of the inhabitants to climate change and a rising sea level that left seafood populations scarce. The Shell Ring is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered an Island treasure. Visit the Shell Ring in Sea Pines Forest Preserve and formulate your own story. Hilton Head Island is full of mysteries, history and nature waiting to be discovered.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

He's the Iconic Voice Under the LIberty Oak in Harbour Town

Gregg Russell has been performing for Hilton Head Island residents and visitors at the Harbour Town Yacht Basin for over 30 years. It’s that time of year again! Gregg Russell will be entertaining crowds of all ages starting March 31, 2014. It’s fun for the whole family with games, interviews, sing-a-longs, and of course, great entertainment. Come to Harbour Town for dinner and stay for the concert under the old oak tree.

Gregg’s Spring and Summer schedule is as follows:

Spring – Concerts start at 7:30 pm

March 31- April 4

April 7 – 11

April 14 – 16

Summer – Concerts start at 8:00 pm

May 23 – 25

May 28 – 30

June 1- August 22 (every night except Saturdays)

August 28 – 31

Don’t forget Gregg’s Bubble Gum Club

The Bubble Gum Cruise leaves the Harbour Town Yacht Basin on its very one Vagabond.

Spring dates include April 4^th and 11^th.

Summer dates begin June 5^th and run every Thursday and Friday morning until August 22^nd.

The Vagabond leaves the Harbour Town dock at 9:30 am and returns at 11:00 am. The cost is $20 per person (kids three and under are free). Tickets go on sale at 8:30 am on the day of each cruise. Drinks and snacks are available on the boat. The only thing you may need is sunscreen.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Beaches of Hilton Head Island

Thousands of visitors come to Hilton Head Island each summer for its pristine beaches, high-class small town atmosphere, and resort vacationing. Summer is a fabulous time for a beach vacation on Hilton Head Island and with over twelve miles of sparkling sand beaches, there so many areas to enjoy the sun and surf. All of Hilton Head’s beaches are public, from the ocean to the high water mark, although access to the beach is often private.

Public beach access points are Alder Lane, Coligny Beach, Fish Haul Park, Driessen Beach Park, Burkes Beach, Folly Field Beach Park, and the Islanders Beach Park. Wheelchair access is available at Alder Lane Beach Park, Driessen Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park and Islanders Beach Park. With so many great options, it may be hard to choose where to set up your umbrella and lay your towel.

For those that are vacationing in the Forest Beach area, the closest public beach is Alder Lane Beach. Located just off South Forest Beach Drive, Alder Lane beach provides meter parking, handicap access, restrooms, outdoor showers and seasonal life guards. The beaches here are wide and usually full of families enjoying the sand and surf. Also located in the Forest Beach area is Coligny Beach. Along with parking, showers, restrooms, handicap access, and seasonal life guards, Coligny beach also has WI-FI and seasonal Beach Rentals. Located at the end of Pope Avenue, just off Coligny Circle, Coligny Beach is within walking distance to shops and restaurants.

Mid-Island beaches include Driessen Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park and Islanders Beach Park. All three of these public beaches are located off William Hilton Parkway around the Folly Field area. They all provide metered parking, handicap access, a boardwalk, restrooms, and seasonal life guards. Driessen Beach Park and The Islanders Beach Park include grills, picnic pavilions, and playgrounds. These areas provide the perfect space to take a break from the sun to have lunch or just let the kids play on the shaded playgrounds.

Mitchelleville Beach Park and Fish Haul Park are located off Beach City Road on the northern end of Hilton Head Island. These beaches are great for shelling or just taking in the natural beauty of Hilton Head. These less crowded strands of beach are surrounded by woods, tidal creeks, marshes and mudflats. Located on the Port Royal Sound, these mud flats are excellent feeding and resting habitats for many shorebirds.

Hilton Head Island has done a wonderful job of protecting its beautiful shoreline. While visiting, there are a few rules to abide by in order to keep our beaches in their natural state.

Pets are not permitted on the beach during the hours of 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., from the Friday before Memorial Day until the Monday of Labor Day weekend. From April to May, pets must be leashed between 10 A.M and 5 P.M. and from October to March, leashes are not required at any time. Local law requires owners to clean up after their pets.
Fishing and casting are prohibited in designated swimming areas.
Liquor, beer or wine, glassware, horses, sleeping on the beach after midnight, and the operation, launch or landing of motorized watercraft are prohibited on Hilton Head Island’s beaches.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Day Trip From Hilton Head to Daufuskie Island

Hilton Head Island is full of activities for the vacationer but if you would like to experience something a little different, take a day trip to Daufuskie Island. Daufuskie is full of history and culture just waiting to be explored. Daufuskie was originally occupied by native Indians prior to the arrival of European explorers in the 16^th century. Plantations covered the island prior to the Civil War when they were occupied by Union Soldiers. Freed slaves then occupied the island and grew cotton which has left a legacy of rich Gullah history. Remaining virtually untouched, Daufuskie Island offers a glimpse of what other sea islands were like before technology and urban growth.

Visitors won’t find the hustle and bustle of city life. In fact Daufusie has very few paved roads and not a single traffic light. Instead the visitor will find unspoiled beauty of the lowcountry, quiet beaches, and natural woodlands filled with pines and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Included in the natural flora and fauna of Daufuskie Island, you’ll find loggerhead turtle nests, herds of deer, the rare black fox squirrel, alligators sunning on banks, bald eagles soaring the sky, and pods of dolphins frolicking along the shore. Exploring this beautiful island, you’ll find treasures including arrowheads and pottery from Indian settlements, relics from revolutionary and civil war battles, and remains of china from large plantation homes that once occupied the island. Daufuskie is also home to some of the few remaining tabby ruins in Beaufort County. Serving as plantation slave quarters, these homes were constructed of a mixture of crushed oyster shells, lime, sand, and water. Few know that Jimmy Buffet’s 1988 song, “The Price of Tides” laments the urbanization of the island and the loss of the Gullah culture. And Pat Conroy’s book, The Water is Wide, was set on Daufuskie island where Mr. Conroy recounts his experiences of teaching on the island in the 1960’s.

Daufuskie is home to approximately 250 full time residents and 400 part time residents. Haig Point and Melrose include private residences and rental cottages but the rest of the island remains undeveloped with a few homes scattered throughout the island.

Daufuskie is accessible by passenger ferry or private boat with travel times ranging from 15-45 minutes. Ferry boats to Daufuskie Island leave from Hilton Head Marina at various times. Once you arrive on the island, golf carts are available for rent. Be sure to rent your cart for at least two hours giving you plenty of time to explore. You’ll be provided with a detailed map of the area including landmarks you won’t want to miss. Once you’ve finished your exploration, the island offers two restaurants, the Old Daufuskie Crab Company at Freeport Marina and Marshside Mamas at the county dock.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Shrimp or Crab...Which Lowcountry favorite do you prefer?

Also referred to as Frogmore Stew, this one-pot wonder is enjoyed by many throughout the south. The traditional Lowcountry Boil is a simple dish consisting of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. It’s easily served up on newspaper, which provides for quick clean up, and usually paired with melted butter and cocktail sauce. Lowcountry Boil is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. The recipe is pretty basic but feel free to add in onions or blue crabs to make it your own.

Lowcountry Boil

4 pounds small red potatoes
5 quarts water
1 (3-ounce) bag of crab boil seasoning
4 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
2 pounds kielbasa or hot smoked link sausage cut into 1½-inch pieces
6 ears of corn, halved
4 pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined optional
Cocktail sauce

Add potatoes to large pot, then add 5 quarts water and seasonings. Cover pot and heat to a rolling boil; cook 5 minutes. Add sausage and corn, and return to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add shrimp to stockpot; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain. Serve with cocktail sauce. Serves 12.

(Adapted from Southern Living, August 2002 and Real Simple, August 2001)

Found to be plentiful throughout the inland waters of the Lowcountry, blue crabs are another favorite a favorite in the south. Simple to prepare and similar to that of Lowcountry Boil, crabs are best enjoyed around a newspaper topped table with friends. No extras or frills needed here, just melted butter and your cracking skills. Enjoy!

Paula’s Savannah-Style Blue Crabs

3 heaping tablespoons crab seasoning, such as Old Bay 1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 dry bay leaves
2 lemons, split in half
1 bunch fresh parsley, roughly chopped
6 blue crabs
Melted butter, for serving

Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the crab seasoning, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves, lemons, garlic and parsley to the pot. Add the crabs and boil until they are red, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the crabs using a spider, and then let the crabs cool to the touch. Crack the crabs over newspaper and pick out all their sweet meat. Serve with melted butter.

(Recipe from Paula Deen from the Food Newtork show, Paula’s Best Dishes, episode: Feeling Crabby.)

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Hilton Head Alligators

Ever wonder about all those Alligators you see on Hilton Head Island? Our Alligator population likely exceeds 1000 so it’s probable that you will see one of these island residents during your stay. It’s best to watch these native creatures from a distance but if you would like to get up and personal with them, an “Alligator Wine and Cheese Cruise” may be right up your “alligator alley”. Hosted by H20 Sports, you’ll take an early evening cruise through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. As you journey through the Forest Preserve (enjoying your wine and cheese), you’ll see the island in a whole new light. Few visitors OR residents take advantage the many activities provided on Hilton Head to experience the island’s natural beauty. This is a great way to pick up a little history and explore Hilton Head’s flora and fauna.

For those who prefer to stay on land, The Coastal Discovery Museum is having a “Meet and Greet Reptiles on Hilton Head Island” on December 30^th 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This informal presentation will be held in the Sea Island Room and no reservations are needed.

The most important thing to remember is “Don’t Feed The Alligators”.

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