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.

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 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 4th and 11th.
Summer dates begin June 5th and run every Thursday and Friday morning until August 22nd.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.