Kiawah Island Spring Break 2007

Views of beach, Ashley River, cemetary ghost tour and Kiawah entrance.

Day 1
Saturday 12 p.m. –Leaving Chicago and 40 Degrees.

We set out on our trek with the two little ones. The car was mightily equipped with leapster, portable DVD player and plenty of snacks. We made it as far as an hour into the trip when discovered that the DVD player did not have the ac adapter to plug into the car. We visited three truck stops before we found an adapter that fit our system. We weren't in the car for more than 5 minutes before High School Musical came blaring through the speakers. That was a good thing because the travel bingo was wearing thin with the oldest. Meanwhile our son felt only inclined to pop a pretzel into his mouth and watch along. Eight hours later we stopped in Clinton, Tennessee at Holiday Inn Express. Our room had a refrigerator! Who knew? That silly discovery was good news for keeping our perishables from biting the dust.

Day 2
Sunday – Onward to Kiawah

We woke up early, did the continental breakfast thing and set out on the road. We proceeded through the picturesque mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina before proceeding on through South Carolina. We finally reached our destination about 3 p.m. We were all relieved to get out of our car and unpack. We took a late afternoon stroll along the beach. The kids as usual had a good time looking for shells and beach treasures. The wife and I capped off the evening having a beverage on the patio with the sounds of the surf in the background. Good to be back.

Day 3
Monday - Golfing/Beach

I spent the day golfing at Shadowmoss golf club in West Ashley. The course is about ½ hour from our villa. The course is pretty decent and the rates are outstanding. I shot my best round that day. (I should have stopped there). The rest of the family went to the beach for sunbathing and sandcastles. We spent the evening dining at Sticky Fingers Barbecue. This is always a must visit when in town so we were only too happy to oblige.

Day 4
Tuesday – Shopping/Dining

We did some walking along the beach in the morning and decided to have lunch at Bessingers in Charleston. This is another barbecue joint that knows their business. After lunch we proceeded to downtown Charleston and walked the Market. The Market has all sorts of knick-knacks for the tourists and locals to peruse. This is also a good place to find the sweet grass baskets. I walked away only down $10 after purchasing a fresh water pearl ring for my daughter.

Day 5
Wednesday – Bicycling/Golfing

We spent the morning doing some island touring via bicycle. The kids really seemed to enjoy the ride. We were able to spot herons and alligators along our travels. My golf companion and I spent Wednesday afternoon at Stono Ferry golf club. This course is also off the island and sits along the inter-coastal waterway. There are nice looking fairways on this course. We usually play this one at least once when we come down. I shot terribly but enjoyed getting out anyway.

Day 6 – More Charleston

We came down to Charleston and had lunch at the Noisy Oyster. The food was good. We took the kids over to the Charleston Confectioner and they went crazy. Our daughter stocked up on what appeared to be a pound or so of salt water taffy. The rest of the stroll was spent visiting all sorts of shops along Market Street and some of the adjoining avenues. The highlight of the evening was doing the cemetery ghost tour. Whether you believe in these stories or not is entirely up to you, but the guides do provide some interesting history to the city of Charleston. We really enjoyed the tour and so did the “no see ums" ( I am referring to the gnats.... not the ghosts!)

Day 7 – Golf and Packing

We set out early for a final round of golf and we were done by noon. We all went to Freshfield’s village for some lunch. We found a toy and candy store that had the “create your own” stuffed animal concept. Needless to say, we came home with a stuffed pink flamingo. We concluded the day by getting a pizza and some she-crab soup (local favorite).

Day 8 - Home to Chicago

Can’t wait to go back!

Kiawah Island - "Ideal Family Vacation"

My favorite Coastal Getaway

My family and I have been visiting this beautiful coastal area for over seven years and keep coming back. We have found coastal South Carolina to be a “retreat” to relaxation from our fast paced lifestyles in Chicago. For those that do not know, Kiawah Island is located about a half hour south west of Charleston. Kiawah Island is an inter-coastal paradise that boasts about 10 miles of pristine beaches. The allure is not only the sandy beaches, but the network of jogging/bike trails throughout the island that provide visitors a chance to experience close up views of some amazing wildlife. The one thing you will not find in Kiawah, is the hustle and bustle of commercialism. The island is quiet and peaceful. That being said, there are plenty of things to do for the fitness enthusiasts, couch potatoes, and nature lovers alike. Here are some of the things that one can take advantage of when visiting Kiawah:

1. Walks on the beach. This is what keeps us coming back every year. There are miles of shoreline suitable for sunbathing, jogging, biking, etc.

2. World class golfing. This is so true. The island courses are darn right challenging and can be pricey depending on your budget. Sometimes it pays to book your visit with resorts that may offer seasonal or weekend golf packages. I usually opt to play two or three courses that are just off the island and considerably cheaper. There are several courses in the Charleston area as well.

3. Travel the island by bike. This may be the best way to see the island. The inter coastal/marsh views can be spectacular. This is also a good opportunity to see some of the critters of the island (deer, alligators, bobcats, etc.). The other great feature with these island bikes is they are suitable for riding on the beach.

4. Go kayaking or canoeing on the inter-coastal. As mentioned in #3 above, this is a great way to see the wildlife in their native habitats.
Shell collecting. This activity is a good way to bring home some souvenirs of your visit to the island. This one goes with #1.

5. Fishing & Crabbing. The island offers fishing charters as well as crabbing supplies to try your luck at catching some local seafood.

6. Visit Newton farms. This is a good place to load up on groceries for those meals you want to prepare yourself. In addition there are a variety of stores that cater to all interests (clothing, ice cream shop, etc). There is even a Internet cafe should you feel to send a quick hello e-mail back home.

7. Visit the Sanctuary. This is the premier hotel on the island. I personally haven't stayed here, but the grounds are beautiful with great amenities such as large pool, health spa, and few first class restaurants. Hotel offers wireless internet capability so I usually check my e-mail here in the lobby while sipping a coffee watching the ocean.

8. World class tennis facilities. There are several tennis courts on this island that offer court rental as well as instruction. Good place to practice up on your game.

9. Night Heron Park..........Large recreation area is great place to take kids to burn off energy. Features basketball courts, soccer fields, pool, and many other activities. There is also a neat nature museum that features some of the local critters found on the island.

10. Take a drive into Charleston. It is about a half hour drive from Kiawah. We usually go into Charleston a few times a week to get our barbeque fix at Sticky Fingers as well as satisfy our seafood appetites.

I recommend Kiawah Island as a place to visit for the ideal family vacation spot.