Vacation Company

3rd Annual Hilton Head Island Restaurant Week Begins 1/21/2012

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Restaurant Week Hilton Head

Restaurant Week, HHI, SC, 1/21 - 1/27/2012

Welcome to a week of savory fun at participating Hilton Head restaurants! 

A group of our famous restaurants will be offering prix fixe dinners at discounted menu prices from January 21 – January 27, 2012 to celebrate and inspire great island cusine, while galvanizing the public to get out of their winter caves and try places they haven’t been.

This year a contest has been added for restaurant-goers to vote for their favorite Restaurant Week establishment.  Everyone who votes will also be included in a random drawing for dinner for two at one of the participating restaurants.  Also new this year is a partnership with Foodspotting, an online picture gallery of dishes from foodies’ favorite places.  The website invites diners to upload pictures of the dishes they are about to eat, and then also send in a review for others to evaluate before they head out to a Restaurant Week business and make their own choices.

The whole celebration is much more interactive this year, engaging customers and restaurants in website activities to keep everyone informed and bring word-of-mouth advertising to our popular local restaurants. For more information, lists of restaurants and menus, go to the Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Week web page.

From all of your friends and Guardian Angels at The Vacation Company, Bon Appetit!

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Hilton Head Vacation Beach Property Highlights

May 20, 2011 By 1 Comment

      Three extraordinary properties, each unique unto itself, grace our blogspace today.  What they have in common are serious location draws.  For example, beach proximity (so close, you’ll still have ice in your Coke by the time you get from the fridge to your beach towel), major STYLING upgrades, and excellent views of the sea and sky from various rooms and patios.  These primo properties are also near seasonal live entertainment venues, like the Wreck of the Salty Dog, Coligny Plaza, and the Holiday Inn Tiki Hut.

Holiday Inn Tiki Hut

     Also within daiquiri-drinking distance, are beach-volleyball games, fountains to play in, clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, boardwalk shopping, fine-dining restaurants, cafes & lounges (with al fresco seating), water sports, and charter fishing boats.  So you can park it on arrival, and not start your engine again until check-out. 

Rear View, 101 Dune Lane

     101 Dune Lane, North Forest Beach.  Absolutely, one of our best beach-oriented villa rentals,  this 5 BR, 5 BA home has it all for a multi-family vacation week of fun. Updated with great colors, and several great rooms/deck areas for age groups to escape each other and still have a blast. 

Living Room, 1870 Beachside Tennis, View of Pool & Daufuskie

    1870 Beachside Tennis . Great villa for a family or couples; 2 BR, 2 BA South Beach condo. And Calibogue Sound beckons from your deck.

Port Villas Backyard View, Calibogue Sound & Daufuskie

    1620 Port Villa.  New to our listing and upgraded to the nines!  This 4 BR, 3.5 BA condo in the South Beach neck of the woods in Sea Pines has features and amenities that don’t stop.  And a view to die for.  Or a view to a kill… or whatever.  Wasn’t that a Bond movie?

    Additionally, if you take advantage of some of our local business offerings that will stock your fridge before you arrive, drop off and pick up your rental bikes at your door, and leave you with strollers, cribs, and accessories for the little princes and princesses of your fantasy Hilton Head Sandcastle, you can brag about how your vacation didn’t leave a carbon footprint when you get back to the office because you didn’t have to drive anywhere.   See how we think of everything at The Vacation Company?  We even make you look good for your jealous associates at Corporate when you return with suntans and fishing stories.

     Remember that all of the aforementioned businesses’ brochures contain instructions and fees (and some with discounts if you mention that you are guests of Yours Truly), will arrive two weeks ahead of time via U.S. Mail in the form of a Vacation Company Welcome Packet.  So you won’t even have to think about such mundane chores after driving thirteen hours over mountains, deserts, and swamps, through wind and pelting rain to get to our beloved oasis on the coast.  Yes!   Is there anything else we can do for you?  Give us a call if we missed something.  800-845-7018, or post it here.

    Search here for more pictures and properties with views like the ones mentioned, or if you have any questions about the ones highlighted in this blog, just call a Vacation Company Angel at 800-845-7018.  Your family will LOVE you after vacationing in one of these gems!

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Mooning in the Morning in Sea PInes

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

       Living on Hilton Head is truly a gift when any astronomical events occur, because the night sky is clear and stargazing is unhindered by smog and streetlights.  And with all the excitement recently about the moon being so big and full this past weekend, I made a point of looking for it every night and checking it out from various angles.  It was a beautiful sight, and for those of you who have been living under a bucket in a cave for the past few weeks, the news media tells us that the moon has not been this close to the earth in over eighteen years.

Moon sets over marsh in the a.m.

      I have to say, I enjoy the morning moon setting over the marsh as the sun rises across the golf course, almost as much as I like the evening moon.  Today, I was finally able to get a couple of shots of that lovely sight while walking my dog, Sam.

     Are you a moongazer? Let us know your favorite place to watch the night sky on Hilton Head.  And if you have any photos, send them to me, along with the location and date that you took them, and I’ll post them in our facebook album.

     And remember, if you want to get an uninterrupted view of the night sky, call an Angel for rates on some of the best star-gazing Hilton Head vacation rentals on the island! 855.845.7018

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GET ROLLING WITH THE FAMILY ON HILTON HEAD!

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Island cyclists form their own weekly Tour de Hilton Head

One cannot say enough about the extensive, user-friendly bike paths on Hilton Head these days. Incredibly well maintained and expanded upon, they get frequent use, resulting in fit, great-looking islanders and visitors! What many don’t realize is that there is a growing and constantly evolving trend that is taking hold of both local and guest cyclists, at least, those that know about it. And that is group rides that push the standard distance and time limits of the typical bike path ride through the plantations. As cycling gains in popularity among all age groups, so has the need for varying the difficulty, route, and goal of these rides.

Vacation Company Angels ready for the road! L-R:
Molly, Tiffany, Beth, Deanne, Michelle

If you drove here with serious biking on your mind – and serious bikes attached to your suv (or not, and you plan to rent them) – you will find that, just as in other sporting arenas, Hilton Head Island does not disappoint. Several bike shops that rent and sell bikes, also host weekly, organized group rides that all ages are welcome to attend. Schedules can be found on bike shop websites and they are updated frequently with tips on how to maximize your ride, as well as maps, directions, and service offerings. You can even take bike repair workshops, learn how to keep a bike journal, and of course, make new cycling friends that will be here when you come back next year.

For more information on group rides while enjoying your week in a Vacation Company home rental, below are just two of several Hilton Head Island bike shops that we know personally that help support and participate in family-friendly group rides. Both sites offer comprehensive cycling information, complete schedules, and rules for the road.

Road Fish Bike Shop – located: 807 William Hilton Parkway (rte. 278)
ph: 843.686.2981 For group rides and events page click here.

The Bike Doctor – 2 locations: 55 Mathews Drive, Suite 160
ph: .843. 681-7531, or 31 New Orleans Road, Suite B, ph: .843. 681-7532 Group ride info click here.

And for those of you who already know the convenience of renting bikes and leisure riding along bike paths and Hilton Head Island’s shores, you can call ahead to the Peddling Pelican, to have bikes ready AT YOUR DOOR when you arrive for your vacation. What a great way to wake up and get acclimated on your first Hilton Head morning!

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AARGHH!! YOU MUST LEARN TO SAY AARGHH!!

August 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Just when you thought all the fun ideas had been published, produced, and patented, along comes a no-brainer like this one to make you smack your head V8 style. Patrick Coughlin (aka: Captain Squint) hails from New Jersey and runs the Black Dagger pirate ship in the Harbour Town Yacht Basin. He is the total go-to guy if you want to watch your kids have the best time since Universal Studios opened their doors.

Bring lots of money and buccaneers aged 3-10 years and let the games begin. Captain Squint and his crew of reprobates, who look suspiciously like American college kids (don’t be fooled by the straight white teeth, it’s part of the act so you’ll feel comfortable allowing them to take your children out onto the high seas with their newly painted tattoos), begin training the kids thirty minutes before the cruise on the dock by the Harbour Town Lighthouse. Pirate tutorial includes dressing in the exclusive vest and bandana, swaggering about, learning to pronounce ahoy! correctly, and yelling AAARRGGGHH!!! so loudly, you will swear Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom have just fled their Quarterdeck bar tab.

Now, they stomp down the dock to the Black Dagger pirate ship (amidst adult onlookers’ guffaws) where they will board for the high seas and hunt for treasure. They leave the harbor cruising the Calibogue Sound, preparing for the treasure hunt. But wait! What’s this? Another pirate coming to foil their mission? AYE-AYE! Here comes Stinky Pete armed with a sword and Neutrogena spf 70, coming to steal the treasure map from the pirates of the Black Dagger. What happens next? Good thing Captain Squint has equipped the ship with water cannons to defend against any n’er-do-wells who might try to muddy up the seas, so to speak. Fortunately, crewmember Dastardly Dan brought along his trusty digital Canon to capture this incredible sea battle for YouTube, which is just as funny as it sounds like it would be.

Your kids will revel on this voyage with a little more room and ease if you book your reservations earlier in the week, says Captain Squint. By Thursday, the dock is crowded with grouchy outlaws and villains who are tired, cranky, and sun burnt because they waited all week to board the ship. You may guard against the last of these beach condo plagues by stopping at The Vacation Company and picking up some complimentary Banana Boat sunscreen packets.


Visit the Pirates of Hilton Head website for further excitement, adventure music, and pictures of Black Dagger treasure hunters past, to make reservations for your crew of miscreants. Cost is $24/kid, $30/adult. Be sure to bring extra $$$ for post-cruise Pirates-logoed keepsakes and marina grub – another good reason to board the cruise earlier in the week when you still have loot to spend. Call with any questions or for reservations, 843-363-7000.

And if you can’t make it this year, Squint tells us that next year the Black Dagger will return to Hilton Head with more exciting adventures for interested pirates.

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S FREE SPA SERVICES

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Visiting Hilton Head Island feels like a week-long spa vacation has been included in your rental package because almost everything the island has to offer is replicated for a fee in city spas. Below is a top-ten list of the island’s spa amenities that come free of charge when you book your trip with The Vacation Company.

    1. Seaweed/salt baths – If you’re from the northeast or west coast, then you’re used to big waves, jagged cliffs, and glacial water temperatures. Try a relaxing dip in the warm southeast ocean that won’t send you running for your blanket with blue lips.
  • Aerobic exercise – Hilton Head has seemingly endless sandy beaches great for biking or running.

 

  • Your massage specialist often plays recorded nature sounds as background music to relax you, like waves lapping against the beach, exotic birds singing, frogs croaking, or breezes rustling marsh grass. On Hilton Head, we simply open a window for the same effect.

 

  • Exfoliating – what better way to mimic this skin smoothing technique than by building sandcastles with your kids?

 

  • Afternoon naps – Just remember to lie on your back. No kidding. This is a wrinkle-reducing technique recommended by dermatologists on webmd.com. According to recent statistics, those who sleep face up accumulate less age lines.

 

  • Temperate climate – Does your morning commute in March include an extra half-hour to warm the car battery and scrape ice from your windshield? Try our climate mood-enhancer; another freebie included with your Vacation Company villa/home rental

 

  • Oils/lotions – Nothing brings a nostalgic smile to one’s face more than the smell of Coppertone suntan oil. And we all know smiling is better for facial muscles than frowning. Lather it on before the beach and your skin will thank you.

 

  • Fresh fish – served in all Lowrey Group restaurants, our own Fresh Market, or can be yours for the catching and grilling.

 

  • Soothing sunset – I can’t describe a South Beach sunset on Hilton Head. You just gotta be there. Doesn’t matter what kind of day the weather gave us –rain, clouds, sun – the dazzling color show at the end reminds us of what life is about.

 

  • Slower pace of life – do I really need to explain why this is good for you?

 

Of course, if you’re the one in charge of getting everyone to all of the above, then you will need to take a day out for yourself. In that case, try The Art of Massage, where Anneliza Itkor, and her field of outstanding, licensed massage therapists will accommodate you with flexible hours and eco-friendly products in unpretentious surroundings. Voted best massage in the 2010 Island Packet Reader’s Choice Awards, The Art of Massage is located at 14 New Orleans Road, Suite #1, call for an appointment, 843.422.8378, or simply drop by any time for a glass of champagne and fruit.

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Eating Out on Hilton Head: Web Deals

April 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Dozens of the island’s finest restaurants are helping you watch your budget by offering “early bird” specials and significant discounts. Where to find them? Right on the web. Alexander’s, which has been on the island since 1977, is a good example. For under $15, you’ll get a three-course meal, featuring entrees like Stuffed Filet of Flounder and Grilled Mahi Mahi. The very popular CQ’s in Harbour Town takes a slightly different approach, offering a $25 gift certificate on your next visit.

The way to learn about specials and discounts at Boathouse II is to sign up for their newsletter. Skillets Café has an on-line 10% discount you can print out. Or you can join their club and get special offers via email. Frankie Bones “early bird” menu features entrees like prime rib, spring and seafood platter, and seven more for $12.99.

If you want to check out just about every “early bird” special for area restaurants you’ll find them at Hilton Head Island Restaurants Magazine site. The site is also full of information about the entire restaurant and club scene on the island.

Two monthly magazines have an excellent on-line presence and offer good, local information that includes restaurant features. Celebrate Hilton Head (CH2) includes a free “local card” that will get you discounts at over 140 local restaurants and businesses. The dining section of Hilton Head Monthly magazine has features on both new and well established restaurant on Hilton Head.

If you’re coming our way (or are already here!), it pays to surf the web for a great (within budget) meal.

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Theatre Vacation on Hilton Head Island?

September 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

We just had this really great idea. People plan these long New York weekends, have dinner, catch a Broadway show, etc. You know the drill. Why not catch a show on Hilton Head Island instead? Seriously, there aren’t too many beaches or golf courses on Manhattan. And virtually every show at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina has been on Broadway – and every one of them has been a hit. Also, all the actors are professionals and many have toured with the show that’s playing.

Getting “up close and personal” in our beautiful 324 seat theater is a bit easier than, say, New York’s Shubert (1521 seats) or the Gershwin (1933 seats). Then there’s the price: about $40 at the Arts Center, $150 – $250 for Mama Mia at Winter Garden (1524 seats).

No, our plays are not first-run. They’re first-rate. You can’t go wrong! So here’s our idea. The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina has just started its new season. They are opening with La Cage Aux Folles, Jerry Herman’s huge hit, September 24th. As usual, the production will blow you out of your seats. South Pacific opens December 3rd. Steel Magnolias opens February 4th. And it goes on.

Your Broadway weekend in New York would include dinner at a fine restaurant. Well, the Arts Center is located in Shelter Cove. Several fine restaurants are in Shelter Cove proper – minutes away from the theatre. Then, just across William Hilton Parkway is Santa Fe Café. A few minutes east of the Arts Center is the popular Bonefish Grille.

Then, of course, there are accommodations. In New York, it’s about $2,000 a night at The Carlyle, with the possibility of a view of Central Park. We can guarantee an oceanfront view for a bit less than that. Oh, yes, it’s also somewhat warmer on Hilton Head Island.

A theatre vacation on Hilton Head? Give us a call, and we’ll set it up.

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Take a Bike Path and "Go Green"

June 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment

We’ve written about new and improved bike paths on Hilton Head Island before, but a recent comment by a first-time visitor got us to thinking of the bigger picture. This visitor was staying in Sea Pines, was a jogger and cyclist, and had just returned from a 15-month tour in Iraq. This vacation was his wife’s treat.

He told us he usually ran about five miles a day but was so inspired by the beauty of the paths (“leisure trails”) in Sea Pines, he added another two miles his first day. Then he discovered the pathways outside Sea Pines and did a loop down Cordillo Parkway. He couldn’t believe all the runners he saw – to say nothing of the bikes.

His family also discovered they were, at most, a 10-minute bike ride from just about every place they wanted to go. Except for one night out, at a mid-island restaurant, their minivan remained unused for their entire stay!

Sea Pines has 15 miles of leisure trails. Palmetto Dunes has about 14 miles, including all of Shelter Cove. Shipyard has 12 miles. Of course, all of the Forest Beach area is linked by beautiful paths. In fact, now the entire island – inside and outside the gates – is connected by a pathway system. Click here for the town’s map.

No matter where you’re staying on the island, we see two very real benefits you’ll enjoy by choosing pathways, whether its by foot or bicycle. You do have time to “stop and smell the roses.” Paths allow you to alter your pace. You don’t have to hop in the car. You can walk or ride (or run). That’s good for body and soul. You’ll also see the island up close, like the alligators and turtles, the herons and osprey nests.

The second reason? You’ll be burning up calories – not gasoline!

Go for a walk. Go for a run. Go for a (bike) ride. Do your part for the environment. Pathways are very “green.”

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Live – On Hilton Head Island!

June 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The house lights begin to fade to black. The shuffle of late comers and the rustle of program pages quiets. The moment is at hand. The curtain goes up and the play begins!

There just nothing like live theatre. Unlike the movies or television, when you watch a live performance, you become a part of it. The audience becomes one of the characters. There is a kind of magic up on the stage and, for a few hours, you “suspend disbelief .”

Hilton Head Island has one of the most active theatrical communities, in relation to its size, on the East Coast. The extraordinary Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is simply beautiful There is not a bad seat in the house. The majority of the actors are professionals and the performances are equal to (or better than) virtually any regional theatre. There are not many places you can spend a day at the beach and an evening enjoying a recent Broadway hit (often with some of the same actors and sets).

The Buddy Holly Story is playing through July 27. Yes, you’ll be hearing “Peggy Sue.”

For an even more intimate experience, there is nothing quite like the South Carolina Repertory Theatre. “The Last 5 Years,” a musical by Jason Robert Brown, is playing July 17 through August 3. With a seating capacity of only 75, performances are usually sold out. The selection of plays tends to be a bit cutting edge.

If you want to see some VERY talented young adults perform this summer, get some tickets to the Main Street Youth Theatre and it’s performance of “Beauty and the Beast,” running July 2 through August 10. Whether it’s the salf air, the beach, or Hilton Head, the performances here are outstanding.

We love the local theatre scene. Calling it “impressive” doesn’t come close.

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