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.

Rosebank Farms - Johns Island

Just before you get to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands on Betsy Kerrison Parkway you will see a large farmstand and farm otherwise known as Rosebank Farms. I have been coming to Kiawah for the past nine years and have never missed an opportunity to pull over to this farm and get some really good produce that will not be found anywhere else.
The farm is a treasure as plenty of fresh vegetables are offered from mid March through early January. Not only can you find exceptional veggies, but also locally caught seafood such as grouper, flounder, and shrimp. The farm stand also sells a large variety of soups, pastries, jams, jellies, and relishes. The farm is a good place to buy your produce if you are a resident in the Charleston area as there is a membership offered by Rosebank that allows you weekly delivery of goods you will not find anywhere else. The fruit and vegetables are picked at the peak of ripeness so you are getting the best of the best. When I make my annual trip to Rosebank, I will occasionally spend close to an hour perusing their fine fruits, vegetables, and sauces and usually walk away with a cooler full of goods to prepare during my short stay in the low country.
The farm also offers a nice little distraction for those that are not into food shopping. Take time out to walk over and visit the farm animals. The grounds include a cow, pigs, goats, mule, fish, and a macaw. My kids always like checking out the critters. Once you say hello to the animals walk down further and you will find a one room school house that contains many artifacts from the 1860’s. The museum also contains remnants of revolutionary war and civil war.
Rosebank farms is a fun way to kill an hour or two when staying at Kiawah. You will be able to shop for a meal or two, stretch the legs walking the rose gardens, visit the animals, and learn a little Carolina and American history. Rosebank farms is located at 4455 Betsy Kerrison Parkway on Johns Island.

Beachwalker County Park

You don’t have to stay on Kiawah to gain access to the beautiful beach. Just before the gate entrance to the Island, take an immediate right and proceed down Beachwalker Drive to Kiawah’s Beachwalker Park. This park is one of many Charleston County Parks throughout the area. The park is situated on the very west end of the island and offers a good sample of the key attractions to the Island which is its great beaches. While this part of the island is considered “public” there is a small fee charged by the county for vehicles ($7.00).
The park is open from March through October with life guards on duty during the peak season (warmer months). The park also has several amenities such as concessions, picnic areas, chair and umbrella rentals, showers, and dressing rooms. Pets are also allowed as long as they are leashed.
For those staying in or near Charleston and have never experienced Kiawah, I recommend a day spent at Beachwalker County park to get a good sampling of Kiawah life. The experience of the Island is not only phenomenal on the ocean side. The park also offers up river access where one can view the beauty of the intercoastal habitat featuring several different species of wildlife such as herons, bobcats, gators, and blue crabs. A day spent at Beachwalker may be all you need to be hooked on this fun destination.

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!