Bobcats on Kiawah

If you have visited Kiawah you have probably spied such wildlife as alligators, turtles, herons, deer, and a variety of other coastal critters. One animal at the top of the Kiawah ecological food chain is the Bobcat. Kiawah and Seabrook Islands play host to the bobcat, though this mammal is in smaller numbers, their role in the coastal ecosystem is crucial to controlling deer and rodent populations.

Several studies have been done with Bobcats on Kiawah. There have been numerous cats that have been tagged with GPS detection colors to monitor location, behavior, and mortality. These cats are constantly tracked to also study the success of repopulation of area bobcats and how the mammals are influenced by the Kiawah community which includes human environmental factors.

I have had the rare fortune of spying upon a bobcat when en route down the pathway to the beach between the Sanctuary grounds and Turtle Point fairway. The cat was no larger than the size of perhaps a midsized canine and seemed very timid as our family strolled down the bike path. Perhaps it was my daughter’s high pitch shouting that sent the cat running for cover.

I have discussed the cats with local residents as well as annual tourists that have claimed to have seen these island inhabitants. While some are timid, there are those cats that will stroll by the back of Island villas and homes with no care in the world as residents look on. I guess I have to spend longer than a week here to be lucky enough to see one of the cats close up.

I have linked a brief video courtesy of National Geographic that demonstrates the tracking done on the Bobcat in the low country habitat.

How To Catch Blue Crabs

Crabbing is very easy to do and is a great way to get the whole family involved in a fun low country activity with the potential to catch a really tasty dinner. Another great benefit is how remarkable cheap it is to get started. There is no extensive tackle or fishing gear involved when learning how to catch blue crabs. Some people swear by the crab pots or nets, though these are not really needed when you have some heavier string or light rope and a good retrieval net.
First thing to do is make sure you have all your supplies. You will need some line, a few fishing weights, a net and a bucket or cooler to keep your crab should you get lucky and catch some. If you are staying on Kiawah or Seabrook, you can find simple inexpensive crab line and weights at the sport store located at Freshfield’s or stop at a Target if you plan on being in Charleston. I am not sure if Publix or Piggly Wiggly has this sort of stuff, but it is always worth a look.
You also need to get yourself some bait. Crabs eat just about any kind of meat. The recommended bait is boney chicken parts such as wings or necks. Fish heads also work well. Don’t go overboard on buying expensive bait such as shrimp. Blue crabs are non discriminating and will be happy with the butcher’s leftovers. Just make sure you buy meat that has bone interconnected throughout to make it easy to fasten onto your line.
Once you get home with your equipment and bait, it is time to gather the crabbing crew and head out to a good crabbing location. Ideal blue crabbing locations are tidal salt or brackish waters that are located near bridges, docks, and boat landings. Blue crabbing is ideal throughout most of the southeastern coastal waters with Charleston area being no exception. We usually walk down to the Kiawah river boat lands as these areas are ideal since they allow you clean places to sit down not to mention be safely clear of marsh predators such as snakes and alligators.
Once you get to your destination, take the bait out and knot the heavy string or thin rope around the bait securely. You only need to knot one maybe two pieces. You will need to place a weight or two just above the bait otherwise the lightness of the line and river current will keep the bait too high up in the water. Now throw the end of the line into the water and hold the other end of the line or tie off to the dock. Allow the line to sit for a while to allow the crabs to sniff out and attack the chicken pieces. If you are lucky you will get some tension and resistance in the line. Crab on! Slowly pull in the line hand over hand. As you get the crab and bait closer to the surface have someone assist you with pulling in the crab with a net.
Review the South Carolina DNR guidelines (or DNR laws of your state) on crabbing regulations as they are subject to change from time to time. When I last went crabbing a year ago the rule was the crab could be kept if over if over 4 inches and not egg carrying females. Please do not keep the crab unless you absolutely intend on cooking them up. It takes about five to six blues to feed an adult. Though these catch numbers per person will go down if you plan on using the meat for crab cakes or as a stuffing.
The crabs should be kept cold or cool in a cooler or bucket. If you plan on cooking up your crab you should probably do so immediately as they will not last too long out of water. Learning how to catch blue crabs is easy and another fun way to experience the low country.

Review of Hominy Grill Charleston

Spending the day touring Charleston and looking for a true southern meal to tie you over? Look no further than Hominy Grill. This restaurant is owned and operated by chef Robert Stehling. The chef maintains a grass roots concept of using only the freshest and local ingredients whenever possible. His dishes are prepared from scratch and the daily specials are always something new and exciting. We have visited this restaurant on five different occasions and I regret not visiting it more often.

Location
If you are roaming the downtown commercial district and would like to get over to Hominy you may want to get back into your car and zip over to 207 Rutledge. The restaurant is much too far of a walk from the downtown area and you may risk going through a few rough neighborhoods to get there. The restaurant has a small parking lot which may involve driving around the block once or twice to find parking.

Hours
Hominy Grill serves all three meals a day and is opened seven days a week. Check the website link on the left for store hours as the restaurant shuts down briefly between meal service.

Reservations and Payment
Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner as word of mouth has traveled fast about Hominy Grill. You may luck out for breakfast and lunch and secure a table outside in the courtyard if the inside dining area is full.
Hominy Grill accepts all major credit cards.

Prices
Prices for breakfast range between $4 and $10; lunch ranges between $5 to $12; and dinner ranges between $8 and $22.

Food Recommendations
Specialties include Shrimp and Cheese Grits, Fried Chicken with collard greens, She crab soup with sherry, chocolate pudding, and buttermilk pie. Another local favorite is the big nasty served during breakfast. The homemade biscuits are also phenomenal.
The food is deliciously prepared and such a great escape from chain restaurant repetition. I have yet to have a bad meal cooked and served at the Hominy Grill. My usually standby is the small cup of she crab soup with a meal of shrimp and cheese grits. My wife and I usually conclude the meal by splitting the heavenly rich homemade chocolate pudding or buttermilk pie.

Absolutely make sure to leave room for dessert!

Review of Shadowmoss Golf Course

When staying on Kiawah or Seabrook, one is not forced to play the pricey courses offered nearby. There are cheaper alternatives with one such course such as Shadowmoss being just a short drive (17 miles) away from the islands. Shadowmoss is located off highway 61 at 20 Dunevegan Drive (off Bees Ferry Road). The course is really easy to pass if you are not looking carefully when driving down Bees Ferry.
The course rates for the am hours are $42 during the weekdays and climb to $52 on the weekends. The afternoon rates begin at 11:00 am and are $37 on the weekdays and $43 on the weekends. Inquire with the pro shop about senior rates as my father in law had is rate reduced to about $28 during a weekday round when we played spring of 2009. The prices at Shadowmoss seem like a steal when compared to the Kiawah and Seabrook courses, but the quality of course is much lesser and is more likely to be compared to the Charleston Muncipal course that you pass by on the way to the islands.
The course is pretty, but seems to always be under construction every year we visit the Charleston area. Maybe it is poor timing on my part. I do credit the course design for creating some challenging holes. There doesn’t seem to be consistency throughout the course with respect to quality of fairways and greens. I always seem to find a few holes on the front and back nine that are in need of some re-sodding or seeding. The practice range and chipping area are also pretty shoddy and could use some work.
The staff at the pro-shop and snack counter are always friendly and welcome customers with tremendous hospitality and a warm smile. I always look forward to starting my morning round with a tasty egg sandwich from the snack counter then circling back for a cold beer at the bar around noon. They treat you well here.
If you plan on staying in the Charleston or Kiawah area for a week or so, I would consider playing your first round at Shadowmoss to work out the bugs or kinks, and then plan on playing a little bit better course such as Stono Ferry, Patriots Point or one of the Island courses if you have money to burn.

Review of Mustard Seed Restaurant Charleston

For the past seven years we have visited Kiawah, we have always managed to squeeze in time to dine at our usual list of no fail restaurants. One of these restaurants is the Mustard Seed located at 1978 Maybank Highway on James Island. The restaurant has a very large menu that has something for everyone. The real treats are the daily specials that cover usually three to four tasty fresh seafood specialties. The daily specials list always features some really delicious desserts.

One of the premier items on this menu is the pad Thai. The dish comes with a ton of noodles, fresh vegetables, and succulent shrimp. This dish is also offered with chicken or even meatless. The portion size is huge and I usually end up overeating, especially when I add dessert to the meal.

The prices are really good as meal for two adults and two children will run about fifty to sixty bucks which usually includes a few drinks. The cost of dining at Mustard Seed is really affordable and swings upwards and downwards depending upon your meal for the night.

The service at the Mustard Seed is always cheerful and polite at the Maybank location. Our service just like the food has always been consistently decent; though the last visit we had waited a little longer for our food due to an issue in the back of the house that was no fault of the food server.

If you plan on coming down to Kiawah, Seabrook, or Charleston for a week in the lowcountry, plan a lunch or dinner excursion at the Mustard Seed. There are two other locations in addition to the Maybank Highway restaurant.

101 N. Main Street, Summerville SC

1026 Chuck Dawley Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC.

I have heard from other s that the consistency is the same no matter which restaurant you choose to dine at. Take caution that this restaurant does not take reservations and is first come, first serve basis. Some nights can be a gamble to get a table if you arrive at peak times during the weekends. Plan on early or late dinner, or pay a visit during the week days when restaurant traffic is slower.

Review of Paula Deen's Lady and Son's Restaurant

During our last Spring break we decided to burn off a day taking a trip south to Savannah from Kiawah. The trip down interstate 17 was about an hour and a half to two hours. The day was cloudy and sprinkling rain so it was a good time to do a little road trip as the beach and golf course seemed like a bad idea.

One of our highlights of the day was to have a family lunch at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons restaurant. We had a two o’clock reservation and got there early so we burned up some time walking around the charming city of Savannah. Just before getting seated we perused Paula Deen’s gift shop and ending up purchasing a autographed cook book for a relative. The highlight of the gift shop was an appearance by Paula’s son Jamie who was saluting everyone with “hello y’all”.

We eventually were seated next the window overlooking Congress. The table was nice and the server was very pleasant. I do not recall his name, but he was a Chicago transplant which was cool as that is where we live. He was quick to deliver us with drinks, ho cakes and cheddar biscuits. These table offerings were superbly delicious.
As we were inhaled our biscuits, we all opted to go with the lunch buffet which main attraction was Paula’s southern fried chicken, roast chicken, and lasagna. The side dishes consisted of macaroni and cheese, black eyed peas, collard greens, and other dishes I seem to be forgetting.

The chicken was outstanding. I think I over consumed too much. If I could have pulled off a doggie back from the buffet I would have taken about twenty pieces back to our Villa! The macaroni and cheese was also very tasty and was really enjoyed by my kids.

Just when we thought we were at capacity, our waiter offered us up a dessert for which everyone but the kids chose a peach cobbler. The kids picked some sort of chocolaty gooey brownie concoction that looked very tasty. The desserts were not surprisingly inhaled and we were given our lunch bill. The cost for the adult buffet was $13. I thought the price was fair and really enjoyed the chicken. It was probably the best fried chicken I have ever tasted, though I am from the north, so a Southerner might have found better in Dixie.

I look forward to returning to Lady and Son’s and trying a dish off the menu.