I’ve shared with you how much our family loves sports, and last weekend we were able to watch an exciting finish to a golf tournament in one of our favorite places of all time… Hilton Head Island, SC. Ironically, the winner of the tournament was from the UK, and vacationed on the island with his family for many years as a kid before he became a professional golfer. They fell in love with it, just like our family did, many years ago. We’ve been going there each summer for (I think) seventeen years in a row. Usually I get antsy about going to the same place or doing the same thing over and over again, but something wouldn’t feel right about a summer without a trip to the low country.

One of our favorite things to do when we get to Hilton Head is ditch the car and ride bikes all week. You can rent beach cruisers and pedal around at a snail’s pace if you want. The moss covered trees surrounding the bike trail present a gorgeous backdrop for a stress free and relaxing ride. My husband also uses this opportunity to go on gator watch. There are alligators on the island and if you’re lucky (or unlucky, I guess it’s all in how you look at it) you can catch a glimpse of one swimming in a lagoon or sunbathing on the grass. It’s scary and exhilarating all at the same time. Some years we are totally into running and get in a few miles early in the day before it gets too hot, and some years we prefer to catch up on our sleep. As the kids have gotten older, I’ve added activities to our itinerary like parasailing, shark fishing, kayaking, hiking in the Forest Preserve, paddle boarding and sailing. But I think the thing they look forward to the most is spending time in Harbor Town.

If you’ve never heard of Harbor Town, you are missing out. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Picture quaint shops and restaurants surrounded by the Calibogue Sound, with million dollar yachts and the famous red and white striped lighthouse. You can stroll on the pier, eat ice cream and watch the sun set over the water. When we first came to Hilton Head, our friends urged us to take in a free show under the Liberty Oak tree. It’s a one man show by a guy named Greg Russell. Russell sings corny songs, and caters a lot to the kids who sit on stage with him, but with a twist. He peppers jokes into his act especially for the parents in the crowd; he’s been there for 43 years in a row and draws a huge crowd six nights a week. We go every year, and wouldn’t dream of missing it- it’s that good. 

When I think back to our vacations over the years I have to laugh about some of the memories that stand out. Like when my parents went out on a bike ride, and my mom came back alone because my dad has no sense of direction and they got separated. I think we spent an hour driving around looking for him, wondering where in the world did he go? Or when it was pouring rain one year but we still managed to play mini golf despite all the puddles and our soggy shoes. One time we rode the trolley home from Harbor Town in a fierce thunderstorm and we questioned whether we would make it home alive. Our vacation would not be complete without dinner at Guiseppi’s pizza, wandering through the Stoney Baynard ruins and fishing from the shore (one year my husband and youngest son even caught a skate)!

When we first started going to Hilton Head, our kids were 7, 4 and 3. It seems like ages ago and it also seems like it was just yesterday. I have to give credit to my husband, because he was the one who encouraged me to embrace going back to Hilton Head each and every summer. How do I know he was right? The look on our kids’ faces when we reminisce about our past trips…it’s pure joy and happiness, and there’s not much in the world better than that.