Ode to Sweet Simplicity: Hilton Head Island
Salt-dotted waves rolling upon the shore to the demise of pesky baby crabs, digging in the sand to God only knows where and attempting to proficiently shield themselves from the gulls surveying the 12 miles of ocean beneath them, passersby soak their feet in the sun-bathed sand and eye the golds and reds and purples ripple with the waves of the Atlantic that rest before them.
It is cliché to say that ‘there is no time like the present;’ it is also proverbial to mention ‘life is a journey, not a destination.’ But upon smelling the salty air, listening to the giggles of kids running along the shore, parents attempting to catch up with these toddlers, the “present” never sounded so sweet — the journey to Hilton Head island, though long and anticipatory, could not have matched the serene atmosphere of the beach itself.
I am sure many acknowledge their favorite vacation hotspots as that of warm climates: everything from Cancun, Mexico, to the Florida Keys. How is Hilton Head Island in South Carolina any disparate than that of its former counterparts mentioned; how is this lackadaisical environment especially transparent?
While I cannot speak on behalf of those who vacationed to Mexico (personally I would avoid it vehemently because of its unsanitary water), nor have I traveled to Florida other than to receive an autograph from Cinderella herself and devour Mickey Mouse pancakes — the ultimate four-year-old dream — Hilton Head is not well-hyped. Some have vacationed to its beach and relentlessly rave about the clean water while also applauding its tiny family-oriented Harbour Town which encompasses a slower way of living — one which is greatly desired amongst an overloaded college student’s curriculum and a workaholic mother and father.
Located within the Sea Pines Resort’s yacht basin, Harbour Town houses everything from quirky boutiques, where children can find a compilation of vintage dolls and salt water taffy, to the freshly-caught shrimp grilled and purchased by the dozen. Sitting at a table on the dock, chomping on the shrimp and eyeing the sun setting and dolphins surfacing, if you’re lucky, the chuckles and conversations of the town sound rather harmonious — families gather together to share a meal or simply walk along the boardwalk to see Gregg Russell’s show at Harbour Town Playground, where Russell himself will sing “The Booger Song” to the next generation of children.
The music, the leisurely pace envelops the familial atmosphere, which has been unchanging since I first visited as a three-year-old and will continue to prolong when I bring my children to this sweet serenity.