This week we were able to visit and enjoy Hilton Head Island, SC, a place we all hear about, but few actually visit. The island is 12 miles long and five miles across. It’s located between Charleston, SC and north of Savannah, GA. The Intracoastal Waterway’s path is between the mainland and the island. So, we knew we’d be motoring by it as we continued south. We stopped at the north end and stayed two nights in a marina to get our laundry done, clean the boat and look around the island. We found out that the island is divided into “plantations”, a term used here to designate a privately developed residential community with distinct boundaries. There are about a dozen plantations on the island and each one has it’s own culture, cost of ownership and amenities. The one we stopped at is an older community and we were able to bike around a few hours each day to see neighborhoods. After two days we moved to another location at the Wexford Plantation in the middle of the island on a river that bisects the island from the south. This community is 30 years old and, we learned, the most upscale on the island. It has its own harbor, Arnold Palmer golf course, and hundreds of incredible homes. There are 10-foot tides here and this harbor has its own lock system to allow a single boat to enter or leave while retaining a steady water level throughout the waterways of this community. It was quite an experience to enter, be lifted ten feet and appear in a new harbor. The entry was more “interesting” because at one point we saw less than a foot of water under our keel!

Dream Catcher in the lock to enter Wexford Plantation's Harbor

Dream Catcher in Wexford Plantation Harbor

This community recently decided to open up their harbor to outsiders as a possible means of marketing their homes. We were the very first visitors….or the guinea pig. We stayed two nights at no cost. We were able to use any part of the club we chose…restaurant, golf, tennis, etc. Although we didn’t golf or play tennis, we did use the showers and restaurant, as well as walk and bike through the golf course and neighborhoods. The architecture was amazing. The grounds were perfectly kept. And the people were all incredibly welcoming.

One of many waterways through Wexford Plantation

Wexford Harbormaster's Office - not bad!

We had a fabulous time. Each night we had dinner at the club restaurant. The first night two couples joined us, made us feel welcome, and told us all about the place. The second night we had a quiet dinner together, but just as we were finishing another member of the community came over and said hello. She was there with her husband, another couple and one other woman after a day of golf. An hour later we were at one of their homes having a late cocktail, watching football and playing pool. The house was easily 10,000 sf and worth several million dollars. We were in awe. It was the most luxurious home we had ever been in. By the end of the evening we had made some new friends with whom we hope to stay in touch.

 

A bike path bridge on our way to see the beach

After executing the lock exit at Wexford Plantation this morning, we are headed south once again, reaching Georgia by this afternoon. We’re anchored about 40 miles south of Savannah where Crooked Creek joins Little Ogeechee Creek. With a ten-foot tide and two knot currents we let out plenty of anchor rode. We are looking forward to our next stops in a couple days at St Simons and Jekyll Islands, just north of the Florida border.