When I was a kid my family visited Harbor Town in the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island and it was just as awesome as an adult. It has been 27 years since I have been to Harbor Town, and it was as wonderful as I remembered as a kid.
Arriving at the Sea Pines Resort, which occupies the entire western end of the island, you have to pay $6 to enter the property. So if you go with friends, try to carpool. Six bucks isn't much, but that is an extra margarita at the bar.
After winding through the property and following the signs to Harbor Town, we parked and walked the short distance to the harbor for the expensive yachts of Sea Pines, and dining, shopping and entertainment. The place is perfect for kids and families.
First thing we did was climb the Lighthouse. Kids under five are free but everyone else pays $4.25. You get a wristband and it is good for the entire day. We climbed the stairs.
There are 151 steps to the top of the lighthouse, but it is worth it. You pass a local museum along the way and the views at the top are incredible.
After taking in the views it was time for dinner. We decided to enjoy some local seafood at the restaurant beside the Lighthouse, The Quarterdeck.
The food was really good, my wife had the crab-cakes and she said they were amazing. I had local shrimp and it was very perfect. I'm not really a food critic, but I know I liked it and would go back. Plus we had a beautiful view of the water while dining.
After dinner we went back up the lighthouse to work off our meal and to get some pictures of the sunset. It was a beautiful night... a little hot, but beautiful.
One warm night in the summer of 1990, I visited Harbor Town and listened to a guitarist sing funny songs for kids like, "Is that a booger in you sugar, no it's snot". We actually got his cassette tape and listened to it all the way home. His name is Greg Russell and the children's guitarist is still there doing his thing.
He was already jamming after we got done with dinner and the crowd was incredible. Hundreds of families listened to Greg sing about funny stuff that was relatable to kids and parents. We listened while we played on the playground, but here is a shot of the massive crowd under the "Liberty Tree".
The kids had a wonderful time and my wife and I were able to just look through the shops, enjoy the time with the family and relax some. It was a wonderful night.
We left easily out of Sea Pines and returned to our condo at the northern part of the island. The kids fell asleep quickly once we arrived and my wife and I stayed up drinking beers on the porch people watching. The perfect end to a wonderful day. Visit Harbor Town if you ever go to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. One of the most beautiful beach resort towns in America.
Have you ever been to Hilton Head? Do you want to go?
To my followers, you are the lighthouse guiding me to port.