Hilton Heads Up!
Dad, there’s an alligator!
While those of us who live on the island are used to seeing creatures (who have been around for about 200 million years) sun themselves on the banks of lagoons, alligators are a definite cause for fascination among visitors. There is an unconfirmed rumor that Verizon and AT&T make hundreds of thousands of dollars in cell phone charges every weekend when visitors arrive on the island, snap a ‘gator with their cell phone camera, and send it to all their family and friends.
A note of caution. The alligators are real. They’re shy, but can get nasty if they feel threatened. Take pictures from afar, or follow our suggestion, below.
Hilton Head Island is not only the perfect place for vacations, it’s also the perfect spot for alligators. Their habitat consists of wetlands, lagoons and marshes. And there’s plenty of food (fish, insects, snails, worms, an occasional bird and small mammals). What more could they ask?
One of the best ways to learn about and see alligators in their natural habitat is the Alligator Boat Tour, an eco tour offered by Sea Pines Resort. This is a gem within a gem. The tour takes pace in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, which we wrote about, on the preserve’s lakes. You get to go out in a safari-like boat (not quite the African Queen) and the guide fills you in on all the flora and fauna – and alligator lore – of the Lowcountry, and the preserve’s ecosystem in particular.
You don’t have to be a resort guest to take the tour, but the schedule varies, so call ahead (843-842-1979 ). Or we can help you schedule one. This one is good for kids of all ages. The perfect family outing.
The guides are very knowledgeable and the sights are extraordinary. We can promise that you’ll be totally amazed. And Verizon and AT&T will be very pleased you decided to go.
Labels: boats, hilton head, nature, sea pines, tips, tours
Hilton Head Island in Bloom!
Granted, everyone thinks of the beautiful azaleas at The Masters this time of year. We, of course, think of The Masters as simply a warm up for The Verizon Heritage.
Hilton Head Island “blooms” from April through June, with spring flowers peaking from the end of April to mid-May. There is no better place to see the “bloom” of wild flowers than in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. The 600-acre preserve is also a testament and tribute to what has made our island special in the eyes of Mother Nature.
OUR azaleas are out right now (just like in Augusta), but – and we mean no offense to our neighbors in Georgia – the Lowcountry flora almost gets carried away when spring rolls around. Ligustrum, Indian Hawthorne, roses, red tips, angel trumpets and, a little later, witches’ fingers and wax myrtles, take over the scene.
Apart from our flora, there is also our fauna. On the banks of the lagoons in Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes and Shipyard, turtles and alligators sun themselves. If you want to photograph them (everybody does), park in a safe area, out of the way of normal traffic. Locals get a little miffed if you’re blocking their driveway.
Note on alligators: they are truly fascinating, but it’s a good idea to have a body of water between you and the ‘gator when you take pictures!
You must also check out the Audubon-Newhall preserve just off Palmetto Bay Road. An amazing, quiet, wonderful spot. Sort of like our own Walden Pond.
Come visit us this spring. It’s the Lowcountry in bloom -- big time.
Labels: nature
Why is Sea Water Salty?
Why is
sea water salty? Why are there tides? What is a “
mudflat?” What are those holes and tubes in the beach?
One of the greatest wonders of Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry is our nature, the ecology of the place, something we have long protected. And few have captured it better than environmental scientist Todd Ballentine and his ever popular book,
Tideland Treasures: The Naturalist's Guide to the Beaches and Salt Marshes of Hilton Head Island and the Southeastern Coast. While the long title is a mouthful, the book (originally published in 1983 and in its “umteenth” printing) is simply a complete delight. If you’re planning on a visit to Hilton Head Island (or are already here), get a copy now, right away, no excuses. You’ll think we are the coolest people in the world when you get it.
The book is based on Ballentine’s “column” (really a beautifully illustrated comic strip style) in
The Island Packet called “On Earth” that the newspaper published in the 1970s and 80s when Ballentine and his family were island residents. Tideland Treasures takes the reader from the sea to the beach to the marsh, the plants and animals to a discussion about conservation. It is written in terms the layman can easily understand.
For those of us who have been living on the island for some time, we remember Ballantine opening up a whole new world for us with “On Earth.” We learned, for example, that shrimp had a set of “feet” for eating, another for walking, and still another for swimming!
The book is definitely user-friendly, for parents and kids. No buttons to push, no batteries needed. It will add any entirely new dimension to your island vacation.
Labels: beaches, books, hilton head, nature, tips
