My First Impression of the Atlantic Ocean
at Hilton Head Beach
Hailing from the Midwest and Western United States, I had never laid eyes on the Atlantic Ocean. From the Hilton Head accommodations our group stepped onto the long, straight boardwalk heading east toward Hilton Head beach. The boardwalk carried us over an intermittent lake that filled up twice a day when the tide was in. But it was now low tide and the lake was a marsh. The boardwalk was about 8 feet wide and now and again a golf cart would overtake us. One of our men hitched a ride and sat there grinning back at us with an embarrassed sort of wave
At one point we leaned over the rail to follow the antics of some tiny sand crabs that scurried in and out of little holes in the wet sand. They were quite busy, but it was not altogether obvious doing what. We had been warned to keep on the look-out for any of the itinerant alligators that live on the island, but thankfully none made an appearance. We were perched about 6 feet up on the boardwalk anyway. We paused at the open-air cabana with the ocean-front, restaurant and bar. The 9th hole of one of the island’s many golf courses was only about 100 feet over on the right. Then suddenly it loomed before us. The mighty Atlantic in all its majesty, strength and pride. On the misty horizon I could barely make out where steel blue water merged with cloudless sky. All in stark contrast to the pure white sand of the Hilton Head beach on which we stood. No rock, no gravel, it was the perfect beach, laid out in both directions. Past the millionaire houses on one side. Past the pro golf course on the other. A veritable vacation paradise; a Hilton Head vacation paradise. Centrally located on the Eastern seaboard, it’s little wonder that Hilton Head, South Carolina is the most sought after vacation mecca of the entire Eastern United States. In season, Hilton Head ocean front rentals are in high demand and typically command $850 a week and up (usually up). During the winter months Hilton Head rentals are a popular place for Snow Birds to hole up.
The island is within easy driving distance of over half the U.S. population. Yet Hilton Head, South Carolina is still far enough south to have the look and feel of a tropical paradise for almost 8 months of the year – late March to early October. That is the season for a Hilton Head vacation. In just a few weeks the Hilton Head beach would be teeming with 4th of July tourists, but today it was almost deserted. A couple of the girls asked if we’d be there awhile. The surf was calm and they wanted to get their feet wet. I didn’t join them, but afterward wished that I had. They reported surprisingly warm water. No Jaws in sight. Jim, our guide, pointed out a patch of green rising from the water far to the north – Parris Island. “That’s where Denny went this morning,” he smiled. I faked a grimace. I learned that Hilton Head, South Carolina is the second largest barrier island on the Atlantic coast. The barrier islands protect the coastline from storm damage and often harbor unique wildlife ecosystems, such as our intermittent lake. I later discovered the proper scientific terminology was “low marsh area.”
During the Civil War Hilton Head, South Carolina was a strategic piece in Lincoln’s anaconda strategy to strangle the South into submission. The area around Palmetto Bluffs had been a hotbed of political agitation and secession for years and the naval engagement at nearby Blufton turned out to be the largest of the war. It was known as the Battle of Port Royal.I had asked about hurricanes and was informed that Hilton Head, South Carolina had never in recorded history been hit by a hurricane. Something about the cold water currents. There was talk on the way back about the soon to be constructed swimming pool on the west boundary of the beach. Right by the boardwalk. It would be the only beachfront swimming pool of any Hilton Head beach. Pretty impressive. Funny how we were going to build a swimming pool when we had all that water to swim in for free. But people like that sort of thing with their
Hilton Head vacation
Return From Hilton Head Beach to Sell This Old House
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