Wedding & Event Venue Near Hilton Head Island, SC.

Passing Dreams

Did you ever listen to one of those white noise machines? You know, the ones that play calming, relaxing nature sounds like babbling brooks, or birds chirping in the rain forest, or the sound of ocean waves gently flowing and ebbing on the beach?

After last week, I can heartily agree with Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell: “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, baby.”

The real thing, in our case, was the waves of the Atlantic slowly washing onto the fine sands of Hilton Head Island then back again, endlessly over and over and over.

If you set up a lawn chair on the beach, slather on a little sunscreen and pull your wide-brimmed Tilley Hat over your eyes the real sound of ocean waves will induce a deep and satisfying afternoon nap, baby.

Hilton Head, just a short drive into South Carolina from Savannah, GA, was our winter getaway trip this year. Last year we spent a couple weeks in the Phoenix area. Not getting into a snowbird routine, we wanted a different trip this year, one that we could keep to a week in order to get back home and help ease the transition of mother-in-law Dolores from an assisted living apartment to a nursing home room.

Texas didn’t feel right, or Florida, or California, and we happened upon South Carolina while looking for a place where we could be assured of temperatures in the 60s and 70s. We were hoping that our time away would coincide with one of those cold snaps back home, but in any case, a week in the high 60s is a welcome respite from 30s and two feet of snow.

We booked an Airbnb condo unit about a three-minute walk from the beach and settled easily into R&R mode.

We’d already decided being retired means not have to schedule something for every minute of every day, a concept confirmed by the routine we established on day one and maintained, save for a couple rain showers, for the rest of the trip.

Start by sleeping until whenever you feel like getting up, which is a lot earlier than it used to be and having a bite of breakfast and some coffee. Put on some shorts, a t-shirt and whatever shoes you don’t mind filling with sand, and spend the next hour or two watching the gulls and sandpipers and waves as you walk along the beach.

Clearly we weren’t the first ones to approach a getaway this way. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of beach walkers out there each morning, most of whom appear to be in a life situation similar to ours. Some wear hoodies and joggers, others are in shorts and t-shirts. Some wear tennies, some sandals and some are barefoot They’re spread out over a couple miles of shoreline, so the sands are not as packed as the freeways, at least in February.

After the beach walking, we head back home for lunch, then grab the lawn chairs and go back to the beach for siesta time. For me that means letting the hypnotic sounds of the ocean take control of your mind and lull you to sleep. For her it means getting lost in a book about happy living in the second part of your life.

Afternoons might be spent visiting Harbortown, taking a dolphin-watching cruise or just hanging around the condo and trying to avoid reading about the latest nut-worthy ideas coming out of the North Dakota Legislature.

No schedules, no judgment, just leisure and pleasure.

Hilton Head is part of geographic region with a rich cultural history. The low country, as it is known, stretches across South Carolina’s coast including the sea islands. If you’re a landlubber from the prairies, you assume low country refers to the to the fact that the land gently rises from the sea – but not much. You wouldn’t be wrong.

But with salt marshes and other coastal waterways it also is a critical source of biodiversity, and has been an important agricultural region, notably for rice production.

Culturally, coastal Carolina is known as the home to the Gullah people, who are known to have preserved more of their linguistic and cultural heritage than most other African American communities in the country.

Saturday, rain having settled in the afternoon previous, we ventured out to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina to take in the annual Taste of Gullah celebration.

Like most cultural celebrations, food is a centerpiece. Scandinavians feature lutefisk, lefse, rommegrot and krumkake. Gullah folk feature favorites like conch stew, shrimp gumbo, oxtail stew, collard greens, sweet potato pone, seafood and fried fish, all served from food trucks where patient customers stand in line despite incessant showers.

Inside the art center was the “De Aarts Ob We People” exhibition featuring Gullah artists. The name, of course, derives from the speech patterns of the people.

One of them, Sabree, an artist from nearby Savannah, noted that all of her paintings and other creations tell a Gullah story. It’s tradition.

Around the corner there was a demonstration of traditional Gullah basketweaving. The artisans proudly explained that their hand-woven sweetgrass baskets are coiled so tightly that they can hold water.

In the parking lot here and at our condo we counted license plates from about half of the states and a couple of Canadian provinces, a nod to the attraction of the sea and the friendliness of the Gullah and other Carolinians.

All in all, they seem equally as friendly as Dakota Scandinavians and Germans, and they’re not afraid to be openly welcoming. A perfectly fine place to spend your winter getaway.

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Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.- The Coastal Georgia men's and women's tennis teams finished up their matches at Hilton Head, as part of the PTR Spring Tennis Fest, going 2-0.

The No. 19 Men's Team (5-1, 1-0) defeated both Lawrence Tech and Morningside by a score of 6-1 while the Women's Team (3-1, 0-1), who is receiving votes, also defeated Lawrence Tech and Morningside by a score of 6-1.

For the men, newcomers Adrien Guye, Santiago Speranza and Trey Maust remain undefeated as Mariners. The doubles pair of Lucas Landaluce and Aymeric Bruno has also been perfect so far this season at No. 1 line.

For the women, Ana Gonzalez is now 3-1 on the year at the No. 1 line for singles. In a similar fashion to last season, Gonzalez fell in her match of the season against No. 3 SCAD-Savannah and has yet to lose since. Fellow returner, Azul Malatini remains perfect at the No. 6 line after beating Lawrence Tech and Morningside while only losing three of the 27 sets she played against them.

The women's team will have a quick turn around as they host Brenau University on Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Marta B. Torrey Tennis Complex on the campus of Coastal Georgia.

Order of Finish: 3, 1

Popular Whitehall Park on Lady’s Island — closed for eight months for improvements — was expected to reopen to pedestrian and bicycle traffic this week following more than $2 million worth of upgrades, including a new lighted causeway to the Beaufort River and a boardwalk offering direct pedestrian access from Sea Island Parkway.

The park at 120 Whitehall Drive with 200-year-old live oak trees offers wildlife viewing, especially multiple bird species, in addition to panoramic views of the Beaufort River marshlands, area bridges and downtown Beaufort. It had been closed for improvements since July 1.

One of the new features is a lighted and paved multiple-use pathway — it’s the old U.S. Highway 21 — that leads to the water’s edge. The 9.72-acre passive park will be open from dawn to dusk. But at night, those on foot or bicycle will be allowed access to the portion of the park with the causeway, which leads to a viewing platform on the edge of the marsh.

Another major change is a 280-foot-long, 10-foot-wide timber boardwalk that now connects the sidewalk parallel to Sea Island Parkway or Highway 21 to the multi-use pathway inside the park. The boardwalk had been completed for months, with passersby eager to try it out, but a board blocked access while the improvements inside the park continued.

“I think there’s going to be some pent up demand with folks wanting access,” Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray said.

The park was expected to be open to foot traffic — but not vehicle traffic — by the end of Thursday, said Stefanie Nagid, Beaufort County’s manager of passive parks.

“We are super thrilled to be able to open the park back up and I really hope visitors enjoy the new amenities,” Nagid said.

Parking and a new pavilion with bathrooms were constructed as part of the $1.7 million project that also included installing new fencing, picnic tables, trash bins and pet waste stations. Beaufort County, which owns the park, took care of that work.

The city of Beaufort was responsible for the $500,000 boardwalk that now connects pedestrian traffic along Sea Island Parkway to the park.

In an agreement with the county, the city will handle maintenance of the entire park going forward. As with other city parks, Whitehall will be available to rent for events, said Linda Roper, the city’s director of Downtown Operations and Community Services.

The Beaufort County Open Land Trust will handle tree maintenance. The Friends of Whitehall Park, which formed to preserved the land, also will work with the city and county on volunteer activities and fundraisers.

Whitehall Park, Nagid said, has “full connectivity” now to Woods Memorial Bridge and residential and shopping areas.

A second phase is planned that includes the installation of a pier and a floating dock so people kayaking on the water can tie up and visit the park, Nagid said. The dock will be for non-motorized boats only. That work is planned in 2024.

People can use the park for all sorts of reasons, Nagid says. That includes bird watching. September’s Hurricane Ian destroyed a bald eagle nest but the young eagles still are in the area, Nagid says. Woodpeckers also nest in the trees in the park.

“It’s really a great opportunity for people to see some unique and interesting species up close,” she said.

People who dine in downtown Beaufort will be able to walk across the bridge in the evening to enjoy the view of Beaufort from the Lady’s Island side of the river, Nagid added.

Electricity and water and sewer still need to be connected and until they are the pavilion will not be open and the park will remain closed to vehicles.

On Thursday, city and county staff were expected to team up to set up picnic tables and benches and pull down the plywood blocking access to the boardwalk, Nagid said.

In 2018, Beaufort County bought the 9.72 acres from Whitehall Development, which had been planning high-density housing on 19 acres, for $5.45 million. The project had sparked opposition from residents and Whitehall Development later downgraded its size. The housing project, which is adjacent to the park, now includes 21 homes, eight townhouses and five mixed-used properties. About half of the lots have been sold and construction has begun on a few houses, said Michael Mark, a Realtor representing Whitehall Development.

This story was originally published March 2, 2023, 12:31 PM.

Hilton Head natives and visitors in December mourned the death of Maverick, the furry celebrity who was a fixture at Coligny Hardware and Beach Supplies for almost a decade.

So widespread was islanders’ love for the gentle giant that around 150 people attended Maverick’s celebration of life, held on Feb. 25. Remembered as a “lot of people’s best friend,” Coligny Hardware owner Beth Castelli said Maverick’s spirit will remain at the store for “a long, long time.”

Castelli said it was still difficult every time she closed the shop after Maverick’s death, though. His absence was noticeable to everyone who’d shopped there during his eight years of service as the store’s “PR guy.”

Thanks to a Valentine’s Day surprise from Castelli’s husband, the shop will soon have a new, eager pup looking to step into the role and bring future customers the same joy Maverick did. The new hire, Charles Henry Valentine, or Charlie, is inheriting the family business, too. Charlie is Maverick’s nephew, adopted from the same breeder just outside of Athens, Georgia.

“I’ve been so sad since I lost my sweet Maverick, that my husband couldn’t stand it. Because I’d cry all day at work, because we talk about him all day, and then I’d go home and cry, and it’s just too hard,” Castelli said. “I heard a rumor from a friend of his (in January) that he was going to surprise me with a puppy. I just went to him and said, ‘No, you cannot surprise me, that will make it harder because I have to grieve, I have to do this.’”

When Valentine’s Day rolled around, Castelli learned the gift would be ready in three to four weeks and that she could ride along to pick it up if she wanted to, her husband told her.

“About last Sunday, I sat him down and I said, ‘If this gift has four legs and a tail, I need to know about it, because I’ve got to make some preparations,’” Castelli said.

Charlie’s scheduled for shots when he arrives, which will keep him out of the shop until a few days after he gets to Hilton Head on Monday. Charlie’s first day at the store will be Wednesday, March 15.

The eight-week-old pup will have a steep learning curve to live up to the standards set by his uncle and longtime public relations representative, but Castelli said she’s excited to get Charlie on the job.

““The puppy’s father and Maverick have the same father, so Maverick was his uncle. I’m hoping some of that same sweet blood flows through him,” Castelli said. “Hopefully he’ll be just as fabulous as my sweet boy (Maverick).”

A new beer garden and restaurant complex is opening soon on Hilton Head’s south end.

The Bank will be located in the former Bank of America building at 59 Pope Ave. It is expected to open in the spring, according to a news release from Watterson Brands.

In addition to the beer garden, the 17,000-square-foot building also will house a brewery — Side Hustle Beer Co. — and four restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating, a family zone, a band shell and a merchandise shop.

Side Hustle Beer Co. is currently the smallest craft brewery in South Carolina. The current 21 Side Hustle craft brews were created by brewer Lee Holyoak and his wife Emily, along with original founders Mike Palmieri and Faith Seiders, as a “side hustle” turned career in early 2021.

L.J. Bush, co-owner of Side Hustle Beer Co. and founder of the youth mentorship program Changing Our Image Now, and Billy Watterson, CEO of Watterson Brands, have been collaborating on The Bank project since they acquired the brewery in November 2021. Side Hustle’s current location on Arrow Road will transition to a new adult beverage venue; details have not been made public.

Dining options at The Bank will be Taco Bills, Bank Burgers, Pizza Co. and Benjamin’s seafood truck.

Taco Bills and Bank Burgers are concepts from Marshall Sampson and Bill Alberts, co-owners of Santa Fe Cafe on Hilton Head. Sampson also owns Pizza Co., which has a location next to Watterson’s Burnt Church Distillery in Bluffton.

Additional beverage and dining options will be located on the exterior of the main building to provide customers an enhanced experience, the news release says.

“Music, storytelling and food are pillars of the Lowcountry experience, and we’re proud to offer this, and more, year-round,” said Bush in the news release. “Additionally, we plan to have trivia nights and other fun activities, and we will be the venue to watch sports on the island.”

The Bank is located at a stop for The Breeze trolley system. It will have more than 100 vehicle parking spots and more than 100 bicycle parking spots.

The business represents a $13 million investment. Hiring for 100 positions is expected to begin in February. Those interested in learning more can visit www.thebankhhi.com.

Last April, Watterson Brands purchased the former Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette building on Buck Island Road in Bluffton.

Watterson is also behind the proposed redevelopment of the former Pepper’s Porch location in Old Town Bluffton into Ma Daisy’s restaurant and a Gullah Heritage Center with Bluffton Town Councilwoman Bridgette Frazier.