Hilton Head Vacation Rentals - Vacation Rentals Places By Owner

Okay, it all sounds so great; twelve miles of beach, golf courses and tennis courts around every bend in the road, dolphin watching, alligator safaris, bicycling, historic sights, surfing, sailing, jet skiing, para-sailing, fishing and crabbing, sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, nature tours, dog parks, birding, shelling ... but, all those things are “fair weather” activities. So, what’s left to do if it begins to rain?

First of all, it hardly ever rains for more than an hour or two straight during the “season”. Most rainfall during the summer comes in the form of thunder storms and showers, and you can usually count on the day returning to normal when the storm has moved on. There are, however, occasional days that seem to be one thunder storm after another, when this does happen, it’s a safe bet it will be bright and sunny the next day; but still that does leave visitors with a day to fill. Don’t forget your “souvenir list”—who goes on vacation without a list of people they have to “bring something back" for? The island has dozens of specialty shops that are perfect for your keepsake shopping. Even on a rainy day, Coligny Plaza is a fun place to just tool around. Almost all the walkways are covered and about one-third of the stores are great souvenir shops. If you still haven’t found “just the right thing for Aunt Helen”, almost every shopping center has at least one store that should help, and don’t forget the mall! If you need even more shopping, head on over to Bluffton and the two Tanger Outlets, which offer more than eighty-five factory outlet stores.

Hilton Head Island is known for its fresh local seafood and wonderful restaurants that serve it each day. We love our local seafood so much, we think it is worthy of a celebration in its honor!

Come help us celebrate our favorite local cuisine at the “5th Annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival” at the Shelter Cove Community Park on April 27th from 5-8pm and April 28th from 11:00 am-5:00 pm. Sample some of the Island’s best seafood from our area restaurants and see for yourself why it is a favorite of locals and visitors of the Island.

The Festival will kick off on Friday evening at 5pm with live entertainment from Cranford & Sons and then resume on Saturday from 11am – 5pm with local restaurants serving their seafood specialties and live entertainment by The Headliners.

A favorite tradition of the Seafood Festival is the “Iron Chef Competition” where local chefs compete, just like they do on the popular “Food Network” TV show. The chefs will be presented with “mystery baskets” containing a variety of ingredients, which will include two selections of local seafood ingredients. They will have one hour to create an appetizer and an entrée then will receive votes from the panel of judges on taste, creativity, presentation and composition.  The winners will receive prizes and trophies, and bragging rights until next year’s event!

In addition to the fine local seafood creations, there will be the famous crab races, cooking demonstrations and a Kids Zone. The $5 admission fee and a silent auction will benefit The David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation, which supports the American Cancer Society, M. D. Anderson Cancer Research Center, and the Island Recreation Scholarship Fund.

For more information visit: www.davidmcarmines.org/seafoodfest. If you would like to make a donation or volunteer to help at the Seafood Festival, contact ajcarmines@hudsonsonthedocks.com.

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Each April, thousands of people make their way to Hilton Head Island, SC to be a part of South Carolina’s only PGA event, The Heritage Golf Tournament. Making its home at Harbour Town Golf Links in The Sea Pines Resort for more than 40 years, The Heritage is recognized as one of the most distinguished and premier golf tournaments in the country.

Hilton Head Island is honored and excited to continue the tradition of hosting the prestigious Heritage Golf Tournament. This popular family friendly event features some of the biggest names in golf and is a very popular Tournament, with thousands of spectators from around the world in attendance each year.

The first Heritage Classic Golf Tournament was held in 1969 and started out as a way to introduce Hilton Head Island to the world as a beautiful golf and vacation destination on the S.C. coast.  The tournament was held at Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus’ newly designed Harbour Town Golf Links. Arnold Palmer won the 1st Heritage Classic, taking home the trophy and a check for $20,000 for his victory. Over the next 40 years, the Heritage would grow from a clever marketing strategy by Sea Pines developer, Charles Fraser to one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour.

This year’s Tournament will be held April 9-15, 2012 and promises to be another year of exciting golf and Island events centered around the Tournament. Ticket prices for the Heritage Golf Tournament start at just $35 for Practice Round Badges, with various other levels of access and packages available for purchase.

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Hilton Head Island is gearing up for one of its favorite annual events and to our delight, the festivities begin a bit earlier this year! Experience the wine, fresh local seafood and other culinary delights at the Annual Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival.

The popular Festival kicks off this year in January with the official opening festivities at the “Uncork the Festival” on January 27th. Also included in the pre-festival January activities is the International Wine Judging & Competition which will be held January 28-29th on the Island. The Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival is among a limited few wine and food festivals throughout the country that incorporate an international judging component in its wine competition.

The Official Annual Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival gets underway on March 5-10, 2012. The annual event has grown from a small wine tasting to one of the East Coast’s largest tented wine festivals. The “Great Chefs of the South Wine Dinners” will be held  March 5-8, the Grand Tasting and Silent Auction will be held on March 9, and the most popular event of the Festival, “WineFest” will be held on Saturday March 10 at The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation.

This is your opportunity to be a part of the largest public outdoor wine tasting event on the East Coast! There will be over 400 wines, live entertainment, food samplings from Island restaurants as well as live and silent auction. Come out and support your favorite local food and beverage staff member at the Waiter’s Race and Bartenders Challenge, which is always a crowd favorite. You also will not want to miss the Outdoor Gourmet Pavilion which features cooking demonstrations by local chefs and your chance to taste some of the best food in the Low Country.

For additional information regarding Festival events and ticket sales contact (843) 686-4944 or visit www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com

Welcoming the New Year each December 31st is a time honored tradition millions of people around the world enjoy. Hilton Head Island has many celebrations planned to help you ring in 2012 for couples, singles, and even the kids! From a Magical New Year’s Celebration in Harbour Town to a “Noon” Year’s Eve Party for the kids at the Sandbox, Hilton Head Island has New Year’s Eve festivities for everyone!

Magical New Year’s Eve Celebration in Harbour Town

Magical New Year’s Eve Celebration in Harbour Town, 7 p.m.-midnight. Food and fun at the Quarterdeck and Topside Waterfront Restaurant followed by two New Year’s Eve Giant Golf Ball Drops from the top of the Harbour Town Lighthouse at 7 p.m. and midnight. (843) 842-1979 or seapines.com.

“Noon” Year’s Eve Party at The Sandbox

“Noon” Year’s Eve Party at The Sandbox, An Interactive Children’s Museum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Special games and activities, a bounce house, snow, arts and crafts, lunch, party favors and a balloon drop at noon. Tickets are $10 for adults and children. 18A Pope Ave. (843) 842-7645 or thesandbox.org.

New Year's Eve Benefit

“Celebrate Island Style!“ New Year’s Eve event to benefit The Sandbox, An Interactive Children’s Museum. Call for details. (843) 842-7645 or thesandbox.org.

New Year’s Eve Gala & Private Concert at the Jazz Corner

New Year’s Eve Gala & Private Concert featuring The Noel Friedline Quintet with vocalist Renee Ebalaroza at The Jazz Corner in The Village at Wexford. Reservations required. 1000 Wm. Hilton Pkwy. (843) 842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

Salty Dog Cafe New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

Join the New Year's Eve & New Year's Day Celebration at the Salty Dog Cafe.  Call about specials to ring in the New Year with the Salty Dog Crew on Hilton Head Island! www.saltydogcafe.com

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Hundreds of thousands of twinkling holiday lights, decorations and visits from Santa transform South Beach Marina in the Sea Pines Resort into a festive Christmas Village for the whole family. Come out and experience a South Beach Christmas that includes FREE pictures with Santa every Friday and Saturday from November 25th through December 18th at the South Beach Inn Office.
 
The Spirit of Christmas is alive and well at the Salty Dog and South Beach Marina. From the Christmas snow, thousands of lights and the large nativity scene illustrating the true meaning of Christmas, South Beach radiates holiday cheer.

The Salty Dog Cafe will sponsor photos with Santa every Friday and Saturday from 3-7 pm in the office of The South Beach Inn starting the day after Thanksgiving. Bring the kids! (Well behaved pets are also welcome). Photos are posted on the Salty Dog website for FREE & available for download Call (843) 671-6498 for more information.

If you'd like to see South Beach Christmas Village, check out the webcam here!

Nothing says Southern hospitality like a delicious homemade pecan pie.  Whether you like yours made with a splash of Southern bourbon or topped with sweet whipped cream, a slice of crunchy and gooey pecan pie is a Southern favorite any time of the year, but especially around the holidays.

A staple of Southern kitchens, this nut packed dessert may look and  taste like someone spent all day in the kitchen  baking, but this super yummy and  easy to make dessert takes only one mixing bowl and seven ingredients! Finish your Holiday dinner on a sweet note with this Southern favorite!

The Perfect Southern Pecan Pie

Ingredients 

• 1 9-inch deep-dish pie shell, unbaked

• 1 3/4 cups pecan halves

• 3/4 cup dark corn syrup

• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 large eggs

*Optional - 2 tablespoons good quality Southern bourbon (Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, etc.)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 425ºF.

• In a large bowl mix corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla and eggs with a wire whisk until blended.

• Coarsely chop 1 cup pecans; reserving remaining pecan halves. Combine chopped nuts into mixture.

• Pour filling into pie crust. Bake for 10 minutes at 425ºF.

• Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF and continue to bake pie for an additional 40 minutes or until edges of filling are set. The center will still jiggle slightly and will firm up during cooling.

• Cool completely on wire rack. Top with whipped cream before serving.

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The South is known for its culinary delights and the holidays are the perfect time to celebrate these unique and delicious creations with a Southern Thanksgiving Tradition – a deep fried turkey! You probably won’t be surprised to know that deep fried turkey originated in the South “the fried foods capital of the US”, but this Southern tradition is quickly gaining popularity around the nation.

Deep frying your turkey ensures one of the moistest, most flavorful ways to serve your Thanksgiving Day bird. You can prepare the turkey with your own traditional flavorings - minus the stuffing - or go for extra taste and flair with an injectable marinade of your favorite flavors. You can even pick up a unique injectable marinade that is readily available at your local grocery store or gourmet shop.

Below is a simple, fool-proof recipe for a moist and delicious Southern deep fried turkey that is sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving get together. Pay special attention to the “Tips for the Perfect Deep Fried Turkey” before you begin to cook your turkey, as it is a lot different that traditional oven baking of a turkey and takes a lot less time!

Southern Deep Fried Thanksgiving Turkey

• 1 - 12 to 15 Pound Turkey

• 2  - Tablespoons Ground Red Pepper or a Jar of Injectable Marinade

• 5  - Gallons Vegetable Oil

Preparation:

• Remove giblets and neck and rinse turkey with cold water.

• Drain cavity well and turkey pat dry.

• Place turkey on fryer rod; and allow all liquid to drain from cavity. This takes about 20-30 minutes.

• Rub outside of turkey with red pepper or inject turkey with your favorite marinade.

• Pour oil into a deep propane turkey fryer 10 to 12 inches from top; heat oil to 375° over a medium-low flame according to manufacturer's instructions.

• Carefully lower turkey into hot oil with rod attachment.

• Fry turkey for 1 hour or until a meat thermometer inserted in turkey breast registers 170°. Oil temperature should be around 340° during cooking.

• Remove turkey from oil; drain and cool slightly before slicing. Garnish, if desired.

Tips for the Perfect Deep Fried Turkey

• Do not stuff turkeys you plan to deep fry.

• Be sure to determine the proper oil level using the turkey and water BEFORE frying. Put the turkey in the fryer and add water to cover, making sure there is good distance to the top. Remove the turkey and mark the water line.

• Keep an eye on the time, fried turkeys cook quickly. It only takes about 3 minutes per pound. Overcooking is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make.

• Even if you overcook the turkey and the outside looks burnt, you may be surprised to find that the meat inside may still be delicious, so relax if you make this mistake, all may not be lost.

 Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the Team at HiltonHeadPlaces.com!

Low Country and Southern cuisine is a melting pot of different cultures blended together in a unique and flavorful way that only the people in the South can create. It is a delightful blend of the old Gullah recipes and African culture, the Creole tastes of the Big Easy, and the Spanish influence of inhabitants of the Deep South. Popular around the U.S., Southern Cuisine is a true part of American history and a tribute to all of the cultures that come together to make the South what it is today.

Coastal Living’s “Music to Your Mouth” Festival celebrates the Southern culture and cuisine in a 5 day celebration at Palmetto Bluff, near Hilton Head Island, SC. Delicious seafood from local waters and the freshest  ingredients from local farms are gathered to create a one of a kind celebration of the wonderful food of the South. This delicious fare, partnered with the best wines, friendly people, popular chefs and culinary celebrities in a beautiful SC Low Country setting, comes together to create an unmatched celebration of Southern hospitality at its finest.

The 5 day “Music to Your Mouth” Festival takes place November 15-20th and has many delicious and fun filled activities including a Chef Showdown, a North & South Wine Dinner with dueling sommeliers, a Bourbon-Themed Boat Cruise, Golf Outing, Oyster Roast, PIGnic, and the Potlikker Block Party. The highlight of the week is the Culinary Festival, hosted by Gail Simmons. Ms. Simmons is a culinary expert, food writer and is a judge on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.“ as well as the new host of  “Top Chef: Just Desserts” The Culinary Festival is a unique gathering of culinarians, winemakers, growers, and artisans, who come together to celebrate the abundance of ingredients from our surrounding waters, woods and local farms.  They will showcase their finest dishes and wines and celebrate the wonderful culinary creations from the South.
 
For the Festival event schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit the Festival’s website at www.muscitoyourrmouth.com

 
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If you live on an Island in the South, you gotta be an oyster lover! Hilton Head Island is known for its fresh local oysters and we even have a festival to celebrate this wonderful bounty. The 10^th Annual Hilton Head Oyster Festival is a 2-day event that gives Island residents and visitors an opportunity to come out and taste our local oysters and shrimp, listen to live entertainment and enjoy the beautiful fall weather on Hilton Head Island.

Hosted by the The Island Recreation and South Carolina Bank & Trust, the Hilton Head Oyster Festival will take place on Saturday November 12 & Sunday November. 13, 2011 from 11 am until 5 pm. This two-day event will be held at the Shelter Cove Community Park and will feature a variety of oysters and shrimp, an assortment of beers from Budweiser and a collection of wines from Rollers Wine and Spirits.

This family event features live music and a kid’s zone including moon bounces, carnival games, prizes and much more. Football fans can catch both the NFL and college games on big screen TV’s at the Festival. Captain Woody’s Bar and Grill will be on hand to cook up the best oysters and local shrimp. There will also be other food, including grilled chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs available for those who are not oyster fans.

The Festival events also include a Holiday Craft Show and Silent Auction featuring items such as rounds of golf, art from local artisans, and gift certificates from local restaurants up for bid. Admission is $5/per person with children 12 and under being free. All proceeds go to the Island Recreation Association’s Children’s scholarship fund which insures that “no child is denied” our recreation opportunities.

Make plans to attend the 10^th Annual Oyster Festival and bring the family to enjoy all of the festivities. For more information visit www.islandreccenter.org , call 843/681-7273 or email info@islandrecccenter.org.