Review of Chris and Cami Photography Charleston

I wanted to do a shout out to the photographers that did our family beach portraits during our recent stay on Kiawah during our annual spring 2011 trip to the low country. Prior to our drive down to the island, we did some research on Charleston area photographers and were more than impressed by what we witnessed on their website. We decided to run with this photographer and our choice certainly paid off. The photographer doing the shoot was Chris Smith. One could not ask for a more accommodating photographer when it came to working with a large family that included three boisterous children and three dogs. The beach shoot was also in a cold misty foggy forty degree environment which was very untypical for late march Carolina standards. Chris was a champion when it came time to rope in kids and canines to offer up their best smiles for the beach shoot. I also found Chris and Cami’s prices to be spot on given the exceptional level of photos produced. Chris does provide the option of purchasing prints through their company or one can simply order (for a fee) a CD that contains all photos from the shoot. If you plan on coming down to the Charleston, South Carolina area please give them a call or visit their website.

Kiawah Island Spring Vacation 2011

Another spring trip to Kiawah brought us fun, family times once again. Our trip was beset by less than pleasant weather as we endured five cold rainy days (High 50’s). We were fortunate to have two days in the low 70’s. The unseasonably cold weather did not dampen our spirits as we squeezed time in for walking the streets of Charleston, going for walks on the beach, bike rides, and even managed to sneak in three rounds of golf. As usual I was able to spot my good gator friends on the course, notably at Cougar Point and the Oak Point golf courses through the Kiawah Golf Resort. The gators were abundant and large and definitely deterred my pursuit of a few errant shots that went into the tall grass adjacent to the water hazards. As much as it kills me to lose a Titliest golf ball, I don’t want to poke around the water’s edge with mama gator potentially lurking close by.

One of our great finds for my children during our Kiawah trip was discovery of the Night Heron nature center. The little indoor facility has a variety of live animals to observe. The animals displayed at the Nature Center are indigenous to the coastal Carolina waterway and include such critters as Alligators, snakes, turtles, birds, and many others. I took my five year old son on a rainy Kiawah day up to Night Heron and we spent a good hour walking around the facility and gift shop. He was impressed by the enclosed tank of baby alligators that seems to be more feisty that the large “mom and pop” size ones I had spotted on the golf course a few days earlier. The animal exhibits include descriptions and facts about each species as well as access to on site staff that were happy to answer any questions we could possibly have. The facility also includes several items such as fossils. Seashells,and bones for children to observe. The Night Heron Nature center is part of the Kamp Kiawah program offered to children throughout the year. The facility is adjacent to the Night Heron swimming pool area and Night Heron Park. Rain or shine, I strongly recommend a quick family trip to the center to get a better understanding of your local Kiawah island critters.

Kiawah and Seabrook Vacation Rental Guide

Time is ticking for those considering traveling down to the Carolina coast for Spring Break. Take advantage now of any travel deals offered up through airlines and hotels. The Kiawah – Seabrook rentals reservations are already moving in high gear for the March and April months. I have once again put together this easy to review Kiawah and Seabrook Vacation Rental listing which has been previously listed, though I will display them again as people start thinking about Spring getaways to the low country.

1.VRBO.com - Website is a useful tool to bring private owners that rent and renters together. I found our favorite Kiawah Villa on this site. The villa we rent is one of the cheaper units on the island and it even includes bicycles and a beach cart. In addition it is only short trail hike down to the beach. The website is easy to navigate through as you click on the state, city or town, and you fill in the rest of the criteria such as type of housing, number of bedrooms, etc. There is a nice little Calendar icon that when clicked displays those weeks for which the property is available. Also take notice of the different rental rate structures which depend upon season.
2.Resortquest.com – This company manages privately owned villas, homes, and beach homes that can be rented online. The nice thing about resort quest is that they have an office located within Freshfield shopping village that allows you to check in and inquire about additional services you may need during your stay. They will be able to help you out with bike rentals, beach chairs, golf reservations, etc. My only hang up with resort quest is the pricing can be substantially higher than vrbo.com. They also do not list any units that are pet friendly.
3.Kiawah Island Resort – This resort includes the sanctuary and additional villas and homes managed by the island resort company. They are probably the priciest of the three rental sources listed here, though they occasionally advertise golf/tennis/spa packages that cannot be overlooked.

Flying down to the low country? Southwest airlines (that low fare airline) now flies into Charleston airport. Be cautious when searching flight times and days as Spring break weeks tend to be higher than other seasonal travel. Also consider flying in to Savannah if you cannot find a reasonably priced flight into Charleston that may be offered in Savannah. The distance between the two cities is only a few hours in a rental car.

Easy To Make Frogmore Stew

When spending time in South Carolina restaurants, it is common to find the local favorite low country boil otherwise known as Beaufort Boil or Frogmore Stew. The stew is pretty simple as it consists of a kettle full of hot water and bay seasonings cooking away a delicious combination of shrimp, smoked sausage, corn (on the cob), onions, and new potatoes. There are some variations out there that include adding other vegetables, seafood, hot sauces. The debate with Frogmore stew to some is whether the cooking liquid should be part of the serving. Those that serve it straight up on a platter would discard the liquid and serve as any other seafood boil. I usually serve this item in large bowls with a little liquid which is awesome for dipping biscuits or bread. I recommend plenty of paper towels (for the shrimp peeling) and icy cold beverages to calm the heat of the andouille.
Frogmore Stew Recipe
5 quarts of water
2 bottles or cans of beer
1 lemon cut in half
¼ cup bay seasoning
4 pounds of red (new) potatoes
1 Vidalia onion, chopped
5 ears of fresh husked corn (cut in thirds)
3 pounds of andouille sausage (cut into smaller stew size pieces)*
3 pounds of fresh shrimp, (shells still on).
Method
1.In a large kettle or dutch oven bring water, beer and bay seasoning to a boil; add lemons.
2.Add potatoes and continue cooking fifteen minutes.
3.Add corn, onions, and andouille sausage and cook additional five minutes, covered.
4.Add shrimp and cook another five minutes or until pink.
5.Serve in bowls with a little broth.
*Note: For those that do not want it too spicy, consider using Kielbasa instead of Andouille.

Horseback Riding in Charleston Area – Seabrook Equestrian Center

Some of the immediate activities that come to mind when spending time in the low country involve golfing, playing in the Carolina coastal surf, and sneaking in some fishing. One of the hidden gems that can be found in the Kiawah/Seabrook inter-coastal paradise is horseback riding. Fortunately, a fun trail ride is only as far as a quick stop to Seabrook Island’s Seabrook Equestrian Center.

The Seabrook Equestrian Center is located at 3772 Seabrook Island Road. The stable and riding facilityr features riding tours and lessons for all skill sets whether beginner or advanced level. The riding tours can be taken through wooded trail or on the beach. The beach ride is only available to experienced riders that can manage the horse at walk, trot, or canter.

For some of us greenhorns that are not experience riders, the Seabrook Equestrian Center offers scenic beginner trail rides Monday through Saturday at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. The trail ride lasts an hour and will cost $65 per rider. The minimum age requirement for a trail ride is eight years old. The younger tots can opt for an adult led pony ride for $40 which will last about a half hour.
For more information or reservations, please call (843) 768 – 7541, Don’t wait until the week of your vacation to make reservations as they may fill up fast. The ride times may also vary by season, so phone first!

Places to Golf in Charleston Area

Whether you are a low country resident or just coming in for the week or long weekend, Charleston provides great entertainment for the entire crew. If you do spend a week vacationing in Charleston, plan to take at least two trips to the golf courses. (One trip simply is not enough if you go through the hassle of lugging the big bag of clubs on an airplane or in the trunk). There are several ideal courses worthy of mention that can be found at my Charleston golf course directory. I have also inserted this link on the side of this blog for future reference.

This website created by me is still pretty raw. Please be kind. It is a work in progress . The courses shown on the pages serve the Charleston, North Charleston and areas south west such as the Kiawah, Seabrook and other outlying areas. For those that are staying on the Kiawah, Seabrook Islands, and Isle of Palms, you are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful courses at your doorstep, though be aware these convenient close courses carry excessive greens fees. If price is no option, I would recommend a day at the Ocean course or Cougar Point on Kiawah. I have scanned the internet high and low looking for discounts or clubs offering any kind of reduction in the Kiawah course rates. I have not found any! The only “discount” potential with these Kiawah courses is when a person rents accommodations through the golf resort. I have not explored this option as I rent my villa every year from a private owner. It remains to be seen whether this is a good deal or not. There are several courses located in the West Ashley, Hollywood, and Mt. Pleasant that are good quality courses at the fraction of the price of Kiawah.

Vincent’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain

If you plan on a brief or long visit to the Kiawah or Seabrook destination, always keep an open lunch date planned for Vincent’s Soda Fountain. This little pharmacy and soda shop is located within the Freshfield’s Village shopping district (110 Planted Row, John’s Island). The store is located kitty corner from the Newton Farm’s parking lot and serves as an ideal lunch gathering before going shopping or heading out to the beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

The store is a throwback to the old time soda fountains one would see on tv or (perhaps experienced personally depending on your age). While the pharmacy portion of the building also looks like a throwback to the fifties, the service and prescription services are as modern as one could wish for. The prescription service includes online and phone in refill service. Though if you plan on getting your medicine refilled please be advised that the hours will not be akin to those 24/7 services provided back at home.

Aside from prescription and over the counter medical supplies, Vincent’s sells a vast assortment of other fun items for the Kiawah visitor to peruse. The store also stocks sun tanning products, camera supplies, post cards, stationery, and lots of candy. We usually walk up and down the aisles of the retail section of the store as our burgers or sundaes are being prepared in the diner.

The biggest allure to visiting Vincent’s is the diner. The old time counter service and aroma of cheeseburgers are the hook, line, and sinker to stopping in for a fun lunch before purchasing groceries for the week at neighboring Newton Farms. The kids enjoy the fun sundae concoctions as they hop up onto the bar stool and watch the creation be prepared. The root beer floats and old time chocolate soda’s is the perfect chaser to the fantastic butter burgers prepared on the grill top.

Fun Beach Games for Kids

Heading down to the beach is always a good time. The key beach essentials will most likely include sun block, towel, umbrella, and perhaps a good paperback to read prior to taking a siesta. Trying to keep children entertained on the beach is a different story. They will immediately kick, splash, and swim around for about a half hour before becoming bored as they look to you for guidance on how to spend the rest of the time on the sand. Here is a list of fun beach games for kids that will require some participation by Mom or Dad, but will be well worth the effort.

Fun Children’s Beach Games -Treasure Hunt

Bring a small plastic or wooden box along to the beach with either small toys or treats as the treasure kept inside. Bury your treasure while the kids are out of sight and create a map with clues that will help them find the treasure chest. Just make sure your buried treasure box is marked well enough that you remember the location also!

Fun Children’s Beach Games - Volleyball

Volleyball on the beach never gets old. Once the net is up and a few people start hitting the ball back and forth, many beach neighbors may request to participate in the game. The more the merrier. If the team environment is all kids, consider using a softer ball instead of volleyball.

Fun Children’s Beach Games -Tug of War

This game involves at least two members on each team with a long rope and a cloth tied to the middle. Create two lines in the sand with a “neutral” zone in the middle. Add some excitement ahead of time by getting a large shovel and creating a big watery moat or sink hole in this neutral zone. The winner will successfully pull the hanging cloth over their respective line and the loser will eventually land in the wet sandy hole.

Fun Children’s Beach Games – Sand Darts

This game is easy to create. Draw a large circle in the sand with a stick. Then draw several circles within the large circle just like a dart board. Each team will throw several feet away and throw bean bags or shells (pick a team color) at the circles in the sand.

Fun Children’s Beach Games – Relay Races

A good beach game is the water bucket relay race. Position two sand or toy buckets near the edge of the water. The two teams at the start of “go” will each have a cup that they will carry to the ocean, fill and run back to the bucket to fill. The next in line will then carry the cup or little shovel and do the same. The first one to fill the bucket will win. This game may last only one round as the kids get pooped out running back and forth in the hot sun.

Buying Real Estate on Kiawah Island

Did you know that Barron’s ranked Kiawah the 2nd best place to purchase a 2nd home in 2010? Not exactly a shock considering Kiawah’s development has been completed in an environmentally responsible manner with residents and the natural landscape maintaining a healthy balance. You will be hard pressed to find this sort of delicate balance co-existing on most other coastal developments which seem to ignore or destroy native habitats.

Kiawah has several great choices when it comes to choosing a home whether it looking for a one bedroom villa upwards to a five bedroom estate with views of the ocean or salt marsh. Property prices range from around $400K in the millions obviously depending upon location and size. The choices of location are also plentiful whether you prefer a residence on the ocean, golf course, tennis court, or woods.

Purchasing real estate on Kiawah also involves monthly assessment for home owners’ fees. These fees are very costly and can add up quite a bit throughout the year. The broker or agent should disclose these fees to you when browsing island listings.
Several of the Kiawah and Seabrook new homeowners choose to rent out their properties to defray costs of carrying an extra mortgage payment or tying up equity. The island has a few management companies that you may have heard of such as ResortQuest, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and Pam Harrington. Keep in mind these property management companies will come with a fee for services. A less expensive route is using an online rental service such as VRBO which stands for vacation rental by owner. This website matches vacation seekers with Kiawah renters and is a good way to draw attention to your unit.

If you are interested in looking at real estate on Kiawah or Seabrook, be sure to contact one of these area real estate professionals.

KIAWAH AND SEABROOK REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

KIAWAH ISLAND REAL ESTATE
http://www.kiawahisland.com/real_estate
KIRE is the only real estate company which has an office located right here on Kiawah.

PAM HARRINGTON EXCLUSIVES

Local real estate company representing buyers and sellers as well as serves as property manager for several Kiawah and Seabrook vacation homes.

Pam Harrington Exclusives
4343 Betsy Kerrison Parkway
Johns Island, SC 29455
Ph: (800) 845.6966
Fax: (843) 768.7311
Web: http://www.pamharringtonexclusives.com/

ST JOHNS PROPERTIES

1884 Seabrook Island Parkway
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Ph:(800) 763-7653
Web: http://www.saintjohnsproperties.com/

AKERS ELLIS AND THE KEY PARTNERS

Local Real Estate Company serves all communities south of Charleston including Kiawah, Seabrook, John’s Island, James Island, Wadmalaw, and West Ashley.
Akers Ellis Real Estate and Rentals, LLC
3730 Bohicket Road, Suite 5
Johns Island, SC 29455
Ph: (843) 768-9844
Web: http://www.aetrealestate.com/

Kiawah Bike Paths

Have you had a chance to bike Kiawah Island? This is the best way to see the island whether looking at the ocean life, marshlands, birds, gators, or golf courses. This is also a great way for visitors to peruse island real estate up close. If you have never been to Kiawah and planning a trip, consider taking your mountain bike with you or simply rent a beach bike from one of the many Kiawah bicycle renters. The Kiawah bike trail covers nearly thirty miles from the Kiawah gate entrance all the way to the end of the Island at the Ocean Course. The bike trail follows along the Kiawah parkway and branches out in several points to the ocean via various routes to park and beach access.

Bike With Kids on Kiawah

Don’t let little children hamper your ability to bike the island. Most of the local bike shops will rent the Burley trailer that accommodates two small children and easily hooks onto the back of the bike. If a child is slightly older or big for a burley, there are also children seats that attach to the back of the bike or even bike extensions. The bike shops also rent bike helmets and other island items such as strollers, canoes and kayaks.

Kiawah Bike Path Extends to Freshfields

For those that enjoy a trip to Freshfield’s village, now you can take the extended Kiawah island parkway bike trail to this outdoor shopping center. The long awaited bike trail extension completed in January is just to the south of the parkway and extends a few miles from the main gate to Freshfield’s. The trail picks up again and heads on to Seabrook Island and Bohicket marina. This is also a great way to get to the Kiawah River and do some shore fishing.

Bike Accessories

The island can get pretty warm during spring through fall months, so remember to bring a water bottle and also a cooler if you plan on getting any food at the market during your bike trip.

Biking the Length of the Island

For those that have not done so, I highly recommend a bike trip to the furthest point (Ocean Course) provided the wind is at your back and helping you along the way. No need to fear riding into the wind on your return trip because you can simply take a path back to the parkway bike trail on your way back you’re your residence.