Enjoying and Eating on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina!

By Jodee Weiland

Enjoying and Eating on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is the perfect place to visit when you want to sit back and relax! The weather on Hilton Head is perfect in the spring when we visited for eating out on deck areas of restaurants, walking along harbor walkways and piers, or biking along trails throughout the beautifully landscaped plantations and harbours. People will also take cruises to watch dolphins or hire boats to go fishing. On this beautiful island shaped like and described as a foot, you will see people boating, playing tennis, golfing, and jogging from the ankle area of the island near Skull Creek Marina to the toe of the island in the Sea Pines Plantation. The island is conveniently divided into four areas of the foot: the ankle, the heel, the instep, and the toe. Within each, you will find various plantations, marinas, and harbours to visit and enjoy!

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There are so many wonderful harbours and marinas to choose from for shopping, dining, and entertainment when you visit. In the popular Sea Pines Plantation, many people enjoy Harbour Town and all it has to offer. For over thirty years now, The Crazy Crab has offered fresh seafood dining indoors or outdoors while overlooking the beautiful Harbour Town Marina and one of its main attractions, the Harbour Town Lighthouse and museum. All along the harbour walkways, you will see red wooden rocking chairs where people can sit and enjoy the views.

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https://learnfromyesterday.comIf you are lucky, you may be able to catch Gregg Russell, a beloved classic performer at Sea Pines Resort, under the famous Liberty Oak in Harbour Town, entertaining children and adults alike with his concerts. The concerts are all complimentary during the spring and summer, as well as most holidays, and you will love them! He will have both adults and children alike laughing and singing throughout the evening! He is so well loved, CDs of his concerts are sold at the many unique shops in this area.

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Another great place to visit is the Shelter Cove Harbour for free live entertainment seven days a week while you dine at a variety of restaurants, many with waterfront seating and beautiful views of the largest deepwater marina on Hilton Head. Besides the many unique shops along the marina walkway, there are also planned activities like the Art Fair we attended while there. What a great way to experience the beautiful art work of skilled craftsmen, from hand crafted pottery to jewelry to painting and more!

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While in Shelter Cove Harbour, Scott’s Fish Market Restaurant and Bar is a great place to grab a sandwich and/or a drink on the patio dining in the afternoon or a full meal in the evening. The seafood is fresh and deliciously prepared. The Herb Parmesan Crusted Grouper topped with charbroiled shrimp in a lobster cream was delicious. Be sure to start off with the She-Crab soup with just a hint of sherry, another delicious menu item here! In the afternoons, you will find casual patio seating where you can enjoy a grilled seafood sandwich made by the owner himself.

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Another of my favorite restaurant of mine in Shelter Cove Harbour is La Fontana Waterfront Grill. This restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants I have eaten at and for me that says a lot. I’m Italian, so I am picky when it comes to eating Italian out. We had such a wonderfully authentic Italian meal here, that we even ordered dessert, which we rarely do. We started the meal with a bottle of Chianti and a simple garden salad. My entrée was the delicious Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, homemade potato dumplings in a tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. My husband had his favorite, Spaghetti alle Vongole, little neck clams sautéed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and cherry tomatoes in a white wine sauce. He loves this dish, but according to him it was one of the best he had ever had! We then shared a fabulous dessert tray that had tiramisu, chocolate profiterole, limoncello cake, and cannoli. Each and every one of these selections had wonderfully rich flavors and tasted fabulous! This restaurant is a must if you visit Hilton Head.

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In Skull Creek Marina, you will find live entertainment with outdoor or indoor seating as well. One of our favorites in this area of the island was the Skull Creek Boathouse. When we first arrived, we found this restaurant almost by accident. Once we arrived, we knew it was going to be good, because although there was a large parking area, cars were lined up waiting for spots to get in and park. We considered ourselves lucky that we got a space and enjoyed a wonderful meal.

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I loved the Grouper Imperial with Crab Imperial Topping and Lemon Butter Sauce. My husband had a special with grilled Amber Jack. Both meals were so good, we went back another night, but it was so crowded we could not get in to eat that night. We returned the next day for a late lunch. Again it was busy, but we got in because most people had arrived earlier for the Sunday brunch. Instead of brunch, we enjoyed a wonderful late afternoon lunch. I had Pecan Ginger Crusted Mahi Mahi with a Creole Honey Mustard Drizzle, and my husband had Carolina Shrimp and Grits with Sautéed Shrimp, Smoked Sausage, and Tasso Ham Gravy. Both dishes were absolutely delicious, and we would gladly return again when visiting in this area!

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Enjoying and Eating on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is a wonderful choice for people looking for a place to sit back and relax on vacation. The food options are wonderful! There are trails for walking, biking, and jogging all over the island. There are beautiful beaches, harbours, and marinas to spend some time relaxing. Of course, some of Hilton Head’s biggest attractions are all the areas for playing tennis and all the beautiful golf courses available. But you don’t have to play tennis or golf to enjoy all that HIlton Head has to offer, because sitting on one of those red rockers in Harbour Town overlooking the water may be enough for you. It’s the relaxing atmosphere of the island that appeals to most people, while allowing you to sit back and enjoy!

An Afternoon at Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina

By Jodee Weiland

Spending an afternoon at Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina, is a pleasant way to visit some village shops and galleries in an area declared a local historic district in 1989. The many historic buildings that actually house most of the shops and businesses today in this area date back to the 1890’s when this classic planned community was originally built at the entrance to the George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate. The original community was designed to be a residential prelude to the Estate. It was in this area that people found the train depot, the church, and the entrance to the Estate itself. The Village was designed in the shape of a fan with the focal points being these three main areas.

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Today when one walks through this area, you will find a variety of unique shops, such as the Olde World Christmas Shoppe, to stores selling nature and science equipment like binoculars and telescopes. There are clothing stores and stores with children’s toys and books, as well as antique stores. In addition to thirty unique shops, there are thirteen corporate chain stores and ten cafes and restaurants. The available merchandise ranges from one of a kind decorative items to original artwork and more. There is something for everyone, whether you are looking for a specific type of merchandise or a pleasant meal.

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What makes it all so pleasant is the feeling of being in a turn of the century quaint village with brick walkways and tree-lined streets. The areas surrounding the cathedral are absolutely beautiful, and there is even a lovely playground to one side of the property where you can relax with small children for a while. There are also many outdoor seating areas along walkways throughout the Village where visitors can sit and relax.

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Spending an afternoon at Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina, is not only a pleasant way to spend the afternoon when visiting, it’s something you must see to enjoy a piece of the history surrounding the beautiful Biltmore Estate. This area is very much a part of Asheville’s history, and you won’t want to miss this section of the Village. It’s beautiful, so enjoy!

Enjoy a Day at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin!

By Jodee Weiland

The first day of spring is always exciting no matter where you are! It’s a time of anticipation and renewal. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is a great place to be on the first day of spring or any time with its expansive waterfront views and great downtown shops. So this year we drove about ninety minutes from our home in the Chicago suburbs to spend our first day of spring here in the Midwest at the always beautiful Lake Geneva. What a great time to enjoy a day at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin!

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We actually arrived the night before in anticipation of walking along the waterfront and then into downtown Lake Geneva to visit some of the unique little shops. The views of the lake and the shops make this town the tourist attraction that it is for so many Chicago area folks trying to get away from the city for a weekend or more. We came for a couple of days to do just that and to enjoy this town, where you can snowmobile in the winter and go out on a boat ride in the summer plus so much more.

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The many shops and restaurants in downtown Lake Geneva mean that everyone who visits will definitely enjoy their stay here because it’s unlike traditional city shopping. There’s everything from art galleries to specialty candle shops. You can buy cooking items in one store, hot sauces in another, clothing in several, and fresh made fudge and ice cream in others. Want moccasins? You can find them here for sure. There are many more types of unique shops in downtown Lake Geneva and exploring each of them is half the fun for visitors who love looking for that one special item to bring home or enjoy!

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The restaurants range from pubs and grills like Hogs & Kisses with its European pub setting to Italian dining like the Tuscan Tavern & Grill and more. You can eat at a restaurant that features casual dining on the lakefront like Scuttlebutts, famous for its Swedish Pancakes and entrees, or catch a quick bite at the Harbor Side Pub & Grill. If you like, stop at the Barrique Wine & Brew Bar with waterfront views while you sip exceptional wines and craft beers.  Another lakefront favorite is Popeye’s on Lake Geneva, a family owned and operated restaurant since 1972. At Popeye’s have Blackened Tilapia with a Pineapple Salsa and Toasted Almonds, BBQ Back Ribs, or Rotisserie Chicken, Lamb, or Pulled Pork. The list goes on and on, so anyone can find a restaurant that will satisfy their personal preferences.

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For us, the first day of spring at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, this year was cooler than usual, but the sun was out, and we had a great time! Although the temperatures were only in the forties, after the winter we’ve had this year, the forties and sunny seemed like a gift. It was easy for us to enjoy a day at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin! We walked around downtown Lake Geneva and enjoyed the views, the sun, and all the friendly people we met along the way. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to take some time and enjoy this friendly town. You won’t regret it, so enjoy!