006: Hilton Head, South Carolina Family Vacation Tips

Hilton Head, South Carolina offers wide beaches, sand dunes, golf resorts and family-friendly resorts and vacation rentals, making it a perfect vacation destination. Today we learn about family travel to Hilton Head, South Carolina from Karen Dawkins from Family Travels on a Budget. ON THE PODCAST  :43 Tamara is heading back to Gulf Shores, Alabama for a girlfriend getaway 2:33 Kim's favorite beaches -- San Diego or Maui 3:09 Tamara's favorite beaches -- Gulf Coast, FL; Outer Banks, NC 5:00 Welcome Karen Dawkins from Family Travels on a Budget 7:00 Family Travels on a Budget -- Paris for $7000? 8:27 Hilton Head at Christmas (15th trip!!) 9:35 Where is Hilton Head and how to get there 10:15 How long to stay in Hilton Head 11:07 What to do in Hilton Head 12:23 Getting around Hilton Head 13:07 Where to stay in Hilton Head 14:10 Disney's Hilton Head  Resort 14:51 The beach at Hilton Head 17:16 When to book 18:40 Where to eat in Hilton Head 19:55 Where to take a family photo 21:26 Karen's favorite travel gear 23:17 Tip of the week About Karen Dawkins from Family Travels on a Budget Karen is the creator of Family Travels on a Budget, a website dedicated to helping families travel better for less. As she says, “Budget doesn’t mean cheap. It’s smart!” She has also been featured in print and online markets, and on podcast. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.   Karen is originally from Ohio but now lives in North Carolina and has been visited Hilton Head fifteen times. She travels with her husband, two sons and one daughter. We talk about why Hilton Head is great for families, what it is like to visit, what the beaches are like, what there is to do and Karen's favorite places to stay and eat. What to Do If families want some time off the beach, there is plenty to do include paddle boarding, kayaking, and biking. Karen especially enjoys going to Pickney Island Nature Preserve with its wildlife, sea creatures and walking trails. Families on a budget can take advantage of the many city parks that are free and offer great family entertainment. Hilton Head is laid back and low key -- no neon or typical beach scene. Where to Stay Families visiting Hilton Head would fly into Savannah, Georgia, just 45 minutes away. It is also not far off of Interstate 95. Families should plan on spending at least four days, but a week is ideal. There are three main areas to stay in Hilton Head: the Sea Pines Resort, where the big golf course is; Palmetto Dunes, which is the ocean front area that is great for beach lovers; and Disney's Hilton Head Resort that is Shelter Cove. Since it is more protected there, you will find stand up paddle boarding and other activities in this area. Karen recommends the Disney Hilton Head Resort for families. There are also many vacation condominiums available for rent that are perfect for families that want the space and comforts of home.  Where to Eat One Hot Mama's features BBQ and low country food from the Next Food Network Star. Karen also loves the pizza at Mangiamo because she is a big Ohio sports fan and has found that all the Buckeye fans seem to congregate there. Best Place to Take a Family Photo in Hilton Head Karen suggests posing on a live oak tree branch at Coligny Beach for an ideal family photo. Perfect for holiday cards!   You can learn more about Karen's recommendations for Hilton Head over on Family Travels on a Budget including: Hilton Head by the numbers -- What it costs off season  Why Hilton Head is great for families -- and a map of the island Five reasons to vacation at Hilton Head Favorite Travel Gear Karen loves her little black dress from J. Jill for its comfort and style. Tip of the Week Kim recommends bringing a small bottle of baby powder for your next trip to the beach, as it is perfect for getting sticky sand off your body. She also found a fun product at Beaches called the Powder Pouch, which works the same way. Mentioned on the Podcast Alabama Beaches are Calling! Must Try Foods on the Alabama Gulf Coast   Restaurants One Hot Mamas  Mangiamo! -- best pizza on the island     Lodging Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort Sea Pines Resort (golf and tennis) Palmetto Dunes (golf and beach)   Activities Many resorts offer onsite bike, kayak and standup paddle board rentals Biking and kayaking through Hilton Head Outfitters Pinckney Island Nature Preserve Golfing Hilton Head Bristol Skate Park   Sorry for a bit of technical static on this one as we didn't have the best Skype connection for part of the interview! We would love to hear what you think and if you like what you hear, please tell a friend about Vacation Mavens!!