Dolphin Watching in Kiawah

One of the local wildlife treasures in the Charleston area are the dolphins that can be spotted swimming the Atlantic coastline. It is pretty common to view these amazing creatures up close whether sailing the Charleston harbor, taking a ferry to Fort Sumter, or even walking the beaches of Kiawah and Seabrook. One ideal location to try and spot dolphins is over in the Captain Sam’s Inlet area. This inlet is at the beginning of the island where the Kiawah River feeds into the Atlantic. One can get access to the inlet area at Beachwalker County Park which is just before the Kiawah security gate. It is this location that is teeming with abundance of fish, birds, and of course dolphins. For those that want to dedicate a few hours to really seek out dolphins, there are a few local guides that will take you on a dolphin watching cruise . These cruises are a great way to explore the salt water community and see numerous animals besides dolphins, and view some really pretty homes that are situated along this vibrant inter-coastal waterway.

Usually when you see one dolphin walking along the beach, you will surely see a few more. Dolphin pods are sometimes mistaken for sharks until you get a closer look at the fins. Here is a fun video of dolphins beaching or “stranding” themselves along the Kiawah River. Dolphin or whales stranding typically means the mammal has beached itself with intent to die due to disease or orientation complications with sonar. These critters seem to be just acting playful perhaps in pursuit of a mid day lunch of small fish swimming along the shoreline.

Review of Charleston International Airport

Getting in and out of the Charleston airport is a pretty darn quick process. That process holds true for public parking, check in, baggage claim, and car rental. I usually make my excursion to the low country via minivan (ala fifteen hour road trip), but there have been those times when a two hour flight from Chicago to Charleston is the ideal way to travel. While the selection of carriers flying to and from this smaller market destination can be limited, I find it encouraging that the popular discount carrier, Southwest airlines has added Charleston to their list of cities for travel. This no frills airline has stood behind their reputation of keeping rates competitive and not gouging the customer with baggage fees as all other carriers seem to be doing. Other airlines traveling into Charleston include US Airways, United, Continental, Delta, and American Airlines.
Coming into Charleston from a larger airport such as O’Hare, I am amused, if not intrigued by the small jet way stairs that greet the passenger as you depart the plane. The quick walk to the gate has you getting to baggage area for clubs and suitcase in only a minute or so. Then there is the matter of car rental if you do not have someone there to pick you up.
There are seven rental companies represented at the car rental counter located within the arrivals area of the terminal. I have rented cars from Enterprise and Avis and experienced good overall service. The car rental lot is located just outside the terminal baggage area. No need for a shuttle, train or long walk to get your rental car and get out; this fleet of cars are about a minute’s walk away. Leaving this airport, it is pretty easy to get your bearings when heading out on International Drive and into the Charleston area via interstate 26.
The public parking lot is also a breeze to find as it is located just across from the terminal. The parking deck allows pickups and overnights to park at $15 per day with a surface lot located behind it at $8 per day. Excess parking can be found on busy travel days as these overflow lots are located at the end of the circle (proceeding away from the terminal drop off area). Here is a web link and map of the airport.
If I did not have a large family, I would most likely opt to fly instead of drive to the lowcounrty for every annual visit.

Vacationing in Seabrook and Kiawah in 2012

Merry Christmas! As we approach another year end, it is time to start thinking about making those vacation plans whether they are for Spring break or even during the summer season. It is never too early to start looking at rentals whether through vrbo.com, resort quest, or the Kiawah golf resort. The villas, condos and vacation homes get reserved early; especially when considering popular getaway dates such as Memorial Day weekend and the week of the Fourth of July. Also remember the August 2012 season will the time of the year when Kiawah Island hosts the PGA Championship. Rentals will be practically impossible to find if you have not reserved one already for this big event.

Don’t overlook the early season of February and March to come down to the lowcountry for a nice relaxing visit. The temperatures are cooler to borderline cold, (though not even close to the cold that I experience up here in the Chicago area!) The early season also offers some of the lowest rates of the year for rental accommodations. The Carolina coast is also susceptible to a few warm sunny days during these months where a nice round of golf or two is definitely possible. This is also good season for doing a few walking tours and exploring the sites and sounds of downtown Charleston and Savannah.

Play Kiawah and Charleston Golf Courses at a Discount

One of the big let downs when visiting the Charleston/ Kiawah area is the hefty prices of the resort golf courses. For example, a round of golf at Kiawah’s Turtle Point or any resort course (aside from Ocean) is going to run a fee of approximately $225. A round at the Ocean course will hit you at $300 and that does not include gratuity for caddies which are required on that course. If you book your accommodations through the Kiawah Golf Resort, you may get discounted golf rates with complimentary shuttle service to the courses, but it is difficult to tell if you are catching a deal because other amenities are rolled up into the cost such as accommodations, a meal voucher or two, and perhaps a spa visit. Still, the prices of these beautiful courses remain painfully high and receive minimal play. It is this reason alone that my one week of visiting the low country is spent playing courses off the island.

That is until I found out about the Charleston Tee Times Golf Passbook last year. This site sells a coupon book which provides significant discounts to all resort courses (Kiawah & Seabrook) as well as those courses found off the island including courses such as Stono Ferry, Patriot’s Point, and courses as far away as Summerville. There are about eighteen Charleston area courses in the book that offer significant discounts. The concept of this coupon book is that you pay $169 (shipping not included) for a one time visit to numerous courses. The coupon or voucher does not cover cart fees. There really isn’t a “catch” other than there is only one coupon per course, and the coupon must be mentioned when booking tee time at the resort courses. I was able to use this coupon last year during my one week vacation stay in Kiawah. I had the luxury of playing Cougar and Oak Point. I had to shell out about $85 in greens fees total for those courses ($50 for Cougar/$35 for Oak Point), but I was okay with that as I played both courses way under the normal price. The other course I played was Legend Oaks in Summerville. I saved a lot of money and more importantly, I saved vacation time as I didn’t have to drive far off the island for two of the rounds played during the week. That was extra time given back to me to enjoy beach time with the family. I highly recommend this book to those that are going to get in least three to four rounds during the year to get the return on investment. The coupon book is only valid for one year and the coupons cannot be transferred to another individual. The pro shops will request identification when you provide coupon for payment. For those interested in purchasing the 2012 Charleston Golf directory book please visit the website.

Good Barbecue Restaurants in Charleston South Carolina Area

When visiting the Charleston area, it is imperative to take in at least one barbecue meal. There are plenty of options to choose regardless of location whether in the city or on the outskirts. I put together a quick list of some very good bbq joints located downtown Charleston as well as the surrounding areas. Of this list, I have tried Sticky Fingers, Bessingers, and JB’s. The other location Hickory Hawg ,comes highly recommended from friends and family. I have not tried Fiery Ron's and Jim ‘N Nicks in Charleston to date. I will have to test out these establishments in my future visits to the low country.

Charleston

Sticky Fingers
Sticky Fingers is located at 235 Meeting Street in the downtown district. (There is also a location in Mt. Pleasant and in Columbia). These guys are a chain located throughout southeastern United States. This rib joint has some really tasty ribs with a myriad of sauce selections that include Carolina sweet, mustard, Memphis, habanero hot, and a few others. I purposely eat a light breakfast and lunch on rib day, so I can easily knock down a slab of Carolina Sweet with a side of sweet potatoes and a few cold Palmettos. I would definitely recommend this place for a great slab of ribs, but for true barbecue (pulled pork, chopped pork, pulled chicken), I would defer to one of the stops mentioned below.

Bessingers

This is another Charleston favorite located in the West Ashley area on Savannah highway (Hwy 17). This restaurant is one of many owned by the Bessinger family; Maurice’s and Melvin’s being the others. The pulled pork sandwich known as the “Big Joe” has a one of kind mustard based flavor that I have yet to find anywhere in my northern origin. The Carolina mustard flavor is always difficult to describe to my fellow yanks when I explain how unique and delicious this sauce is doused over pork. The sandwich comes with a choice of side and has a delicious sweet battered dipped onion ring. The homemade macaroni and cheese is to die for. We have tried to get the recipe from the counter help, but they insist on keeping this secret in the vault. Take time out to have a tasty barbecue lunch at this stop. There are numerous dishes for the younger ones. Just about every trip to the Charleston area requires a stop at Bessingers for a Big Joe, Mac and cheese and a grape Nehi.

James Island

JB’s Smokeshack

A few years ago we were heading back to Kiawah on Maybank from a long day in Charleston; we sort of stumbled upon this restaurant on accident as the restaurant choices got pretty lean the further we drove away from Charleston. This little diner located at 3406 Maybank Highway has a modest smoke house appearance that one could easily drive past if it weren’t for the numerous cars and trucks parked in front of this joint. We stopped in for what appeared to be a buffet night which made the place packed. We opted for a large order of pulled pork sandwiches and slaw and headed back home as the seats were pretty jammed. This place captures the essence of what a good barbecue joint should be with the small dining area tables covered in the red and white checkered table cloths, a large steel kettle of ice cold sweet tea in the corner, and the aroma of smokiness throughout. My conclusion of this place was the smoky barbecue meat was very tasty and slaw made an excellent sandwich topper. I give JB’s big thumbs up!

John’s Island

Hickory Hawg

This is one of the more recently added barbecue restaurants in Charleston area located in a strip mall at 2817 Maybank Highway on John’s Island. This restaurant is actually not too far from JB’s Smokeshack. I have not tried this restaurant but have spoken to relatives and other low country vacationers that absolutely love this place. The ribs are hickory smoked; as their restaurant name implies. This establishment is on my “to do” list with respect to barbecue joints to visit on my next voyage to the low country. The style of barbecue is known as east Carolina or Lexington style with vinegar and tomato base. The main fare includes pulled pork, ribs and burgers.

Appropriate Golf Attire For Cold Weather Golf

I have a deep admiration for those die hard golfers that are determined to prolong the golf season by playing through the colder months of November through March. Living in the Chicago area, I typically hang up the clubs right around Thanksgiving after the thermometer teeters in the high thirties; as forties is pretty much my cutoff. Though winter golf is pretty much non-existent in the north, there are some ways to keep the game alive for those living (or visiting) the Carolinas and other southeastern states that are typically free of snow, but still exhibit cold golf conditions at times. The success of extending the golf season year around depends on staying comfortable on the course during these colder months. If you are determined to keep the season alive into January and February, don’t let the colder temps deter you by following these easy cold weather golf attire tips.

Keep the Head Warm

The old saying that most body heat is lost through the head is no myth. Just about any decent winter hat will serve you well when playing a round in thirties and forties. Be sure the hat of choice is capable of covering the ears as well as the head. Some popular headgear includes the typical ski hat, a balaclava, or hat with ear flaps. Avoid simply using a baseball style hat or “old duffer style” top as this type of headgear leaves ears exposed to wind.

Body

An absolute must for cold weather golf gear is going with the Under Armour body wear for legs and torso. This extra layer of thermal protection is lightweight and works magic underneath the pants and sweatshirt. Try to keep the layers over the Under Armour shell to be free flowing, water resistant and not too restricting so that the golf swing is not compromised. I would recommend some loose fitting sweaters or sweatshirts followed up with wind repelling jacket. For lower body covering, consider golf wind pants for the outer shell.

Feet

Keeping the game fun and comfortable means keeping the feet dry and warm. The options are limited with footwear as you need to still wear the basic golf shoe with spikes when playing the course. Feet can gain extra protection by opting for heavier sock that will insulate the feet from the cold. If cold soggy conditions ensue on the course, keep the feet dry by wrapping them in plastic baggies before sliding on the golf shoe. If the golf shoes are waterproof, all the better.

Hands

One of the easiest ways to keep hands warm during the colder November weather play is to go with golf gloves on both hands. If a golf glove on the opposite hand does not sit well with your game, simply cover your hands with regular winter or ski gloves in between shots. Another useful aide for hand warmth is to bring along a disposable hand warmers during your round.

Extra Cold Weather Golf Tips

Keep the blood flowing and body warm by walking the course. A course ride in the cart with a cold beverage will drop your body temperature and comfort level down in a hurry. The added benefit to walking the course may include paying reduced fees as well as the benefit of getting a little exercise.

You know you are in Charleston South Carolina When.....

There is something definitely magical about taking a stroll through the streets of Charleston and taking in all the sights, sounds, and aroma of the city. The way to really see this city is by foot though a carriage ride should not be passed up when given the chance. I put together a quick list of things that immediately come to mind when visiting this great City.

1. The Market – This historic shopping venue has been around for quite some time and is always a fun three block stroll whether perusing beautiful sweet grass baskets, Charleston t-shirts, or some really off the wall hot sauce. The market has all sorts of knick knacks that appeal to just about anyone. The Market now has a new look and feel as it was recently in the summer of 2011.
2. Pralines – Those that walk down Market Street know what I mean. A stroll up and down the street and you will eventually capture a few good praline samples. The aroma of this delicious confection is enough to lure you into the shop. Pralines are a sweetness of the south that I am only too happy to enjoy.
3. Cemeteries and Churches – The history of this city would not be acknowledged without browsing the local churches and cemeteries found throughout the holy city. My walking tours of Charleston recall the round Huguenot church and St. Philips.
4. Ghost Tours – Our family has a strange fascination with the dark side of Charleston. We have succumbed to three or four walking ghost tours that are always a fun way to burn an hour after dining out in Charleston. Most of these tours are even suitable for children to enjoy.
5. Seafood – The restaurants are teeming with sensational seafood whether the destination is Hymans, Hanks, or the Charleston Crab House. My trip into Charleston once or twice during my vacation week always requires a seafood stop.
6. Cadets – Call it the west point of the south since the “War Between the States”. One is always going to see the traditional and sharp looking uniform of the local Citadel cadets walking the streets of Charleston.
7. Pineapple Fountain – This has been a destination for as long as I have been coming to Charleston the past ten years. This fountain situated on the waterfront is an excellent place for family pictures and for scenic walks along the bay.
8. Hominy Grill – This restaurant though not in the heart of the downtown Charleston area, is in my opinion one of the best stops for eats. The food is incredibly tasty and local. Eating outside in the courtyard even makes the meal more special. Don’t pass up an opportunity to catch a meal here. The chocolate pudding is to die for.
9. Southend Brewery – Okay, so I have had much better microbrews at other cities. A long afternoon spent shopping with the rest of our traveling company requires a reward of freshly brewed ale at Southend. The upstairs is apparently haunted and you may learn more about this upon participating in a ghost tour (See #4).
10. Sticky Fingers – Just down the street from Hyman’s. This restaurant is a chain that started in Tennessee and has grown quite a bit since. I love ribs and this place does them right. This is another must stop place for me to dine when I am in town. They even give you real terry cloth towels to capture the saucy mess. Yum!

The House on Tradd Street by Karen White: A Review

At the urging of my wife and my appreciation for Charleston, I borrowed her book, The House on Tradd Street by Karen White. This mystery was a fairly quick read on my daily train ride into work as it was just over 300 pages. The book had its pro’s and con’s which I will elaborate on in a bit, but overall I would recommend it to those that love a good southern ghost tale with a little humor and southern charm mixed in. There is no plot spoiler here, so feel free to read on as I do not give too much away in my review.

One of the main benefits of this read was White’s ability to successfully transplant the reader to walking down the streets of Charleston whether on King, Meeting, or even Tradd streets. I always felt that the best time in Charleston can be spent with a “to go” cup of coffee and spending an evening walking through this great city. White spares no opportunity to mention the highlights of the city such as St. Michaels, the circular church, Copper River Bridge, and several local eateries such as Ansons and Jestines. She mentions the main character’s affinity to a local bakery known as Ruth’s, though I am unsure if this location is fictional or not.

White excels with the development of the main characters Melanie Middleton, and Jack Trenholm. Some could criticize Melanie’s rather brash or abrasive personality, but that is excusable considering her childhood past. Yes, Melanie is protective and guarded with emotions, though White skillfully plays out Melanie’s vulnerability a few times throughout the book during interactions with the Colonel (Melanie’s father) and even Jack Trenholm.

Jack Trenholm, author and Charlestonian takes an interest in the mystery of the house on Tradd and becomes a likable sort right from the beginning of the book. He comes off arrogant, though likable and becomes a good friend, borderline love interest of Melanie.

The other great attribute to this book was the ghost factor. The haunting of this home sounded quite typical of the ghost stories one will hear as they experience the bulldog ghost tours of Charleston. Most of the ghost stories in Charleston usually stem from tragedy involving parent to child losses or even love triangles that ended up in murder which pre-empted hauntings to occur. Karen White seems to hold true to that storyline and does a decent job of it.
Some of the things that could have been left out of the book were the historic name dropping in the book. I realize to this day, one can go through downtown Charleston and surrounding areas and still find descendants of the great Charleston names. White seemed to run up the tab with dropping the names of Middleton, Drayton, Vanderhorst, and a few others. I think the same effect could have been achieved with Smith, Walker, and Jones.

The side character development also appeared rather weak as Melanie’s best friend, a teacher at the college of Charleston came across as overly stereotyped as was the teacher/yoga instructor Chad that is Sophie’s friend. Their involvement to the book did not add too much significance and their quirkiness bordered on being a tad cheesy. Just my two cents.

Overall, I enjoyed Karen White’s The House on Tradd Street and found this read to be a good escape to almost being in Charleston; though without the desire of being in the presence of the supernatural.

Legend Oaks Golf Club in Summerville South Carolina: A Review

Summerville is a long drive from Kiawah and Seabrook (approximately one hour) but a scenic drive nonetheless. Within this pleasant community west of Charleston, lies Legend Oaks Golf Club located at 118 Legend Oaks Way in Summerville which is a straight shot down SC-61.
Course was designed by team of Scott Pool and Pete Dye and features a few typical Pete Dye challenges (especially on back nine). Good old Pete likes to throw a trick at you here and there. The yardage measures 6,974 with a slope rating of 135. I played this course back in March of 2011 which made for a chilly round (upper 40’s/low 50’s rainy day) that forced us into the clubhouse for some coffee (too warm our hands) and a breakfast sandwich. The pro shop and snack bar people could not have been any nicer and the food was really decent.

The course is abound with plenty of rather ancient looking oak trees with no shortage of water hazards that appear teeming with egrets and gators. That being said, don’t bother retrieving that errant tee shot into the marshes or ponds. The rates range between thirty and fifty bucks from what I remember (depending upon residency, day of the week, etc). The price was right and the course was in tip top shape with respect to greens and fairways. My only hang-up with this course is the absence of a driving range to warm up which is really important when coming into a round rusty as I traveled from the cold northern climate of Chicago and had not played in about four months. It was not too surprising that my opening tee shot was wicked and required a mulligan.

The long trek to Legend Oaks from the Kiawah area makes it hard for me to give this course a high ranking as the roundtrip trek takes two hours. I am probably being unfair to this course because of my accommodations being so far away, but that is two vacation hours lost! Anyway the fact that I am saving quite a bit of money on greens fees compared to playing on a Kiawah course eases the driving distance inconvenience. I also have to give this course kudos for equipping the carts with GPS navigation system. How many times do you play a course and have a tough time finding a yardage marker? Problem solved here. When visiting the Charleston area, I would recommend a trip out to Legend Oaks Plantation for a round.

Traveling to Kiawah in the month of October

A fall visit to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands during October is probably one of the best times of the year to go. The temperatures begin to finally get into the comfortable eighty degree range with much less humidity of which golfing, tennis, and horseback riding become much more enjoyable. In addition to cooler air temperature, the water temperature of the Atlantic Ocean remains quite warm given the long summer months of gradual heating up. I usually prefer the months of May and October to be optimal times to visit the low country. The other benefit to travelling during October is the reduced rental rates offered from some resorts and private owners. Before settling down to one particular villa or rental home, shop around to see which property management company or resort offers the lower rates as some will begin to lower prices effective October 1st, while others maintain the “summer rate” until November.

The other benefit to October travel is the reduced population on the island, though I have never really seen this island congested with tourists. I suppose the quiet peaceful tranquility will hit a snag next summer with the 2012 PGA tournament coming to the island. The availability of golf tee times also appear more plentiful during this fall season which allows one to get in that round of eighteen much quicker and with greater flexibility in scheduling.

If perusing Southeastern U.S. travel destinations to visit in the month of October, consider the Charleston area as one of prime areas to visit.