The second portion of my Carolinas road trip took me from Charleston, further south, to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Hilton Head encompasses a total of 42 square miles and is located just 45 minutes from Savannah, Georgia. The island has beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for adults and children alike.
As I walked along a small part of the 12 miles of sandy beach on the island, I had the unexpected fortune of listening to a live band perform.
A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant
After my morning walk, I stopped for a quick snack at A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant before continuing to explore the island. This casual restaurant serves great seafood dishes. You can dine inside in the cozy dining room or outside on the back patio. Either way, you will feel like you are visiting a good friend's home, rather than a restaurant.
Crab Bisque
This soup was delicious and all I had room for unfortunately. I have been told that other menu items that are a must-try, are the fried green tomatoes, the banana pudding, the shrimp and grits and the authentic, South Carolina moonshine punch. I will be giving some of those a try on my next trip.
After my quick snack, I headed to Harbour Town. Harbour Town is a waterfront community on Hilton Head island where you can shop, stroll, dine, play tennis and golf, enjoy water sports or go boating.
Harbour Town is centered around a circular yacht basin, modeled after the famous harbor in Portofino, Italy. The lighthouse, which was built in 1969, stands proudly at 90 feet and can be entered and climbed for a small fee. At the top, you will get expansive views of the entire island.
For lunch, I went to the nearby restaurant, "Fishcamp on Broad Creek." Fishcamp has a long and interesting history featuring Charlie Simmons Sr., a.k.a. "Mr. Transportation." Charlie, and many of the locals, are descendants of the Gullah (see my last post for more information on this community of freed slaves).
Prior to 1956, when a bridge connecting Hilton Head island to the mainland was built, Charlie piloted sailboats and motorboats to transport both goods and people to and from the island. In 1955, just before the completion of the bridge, Simmons Fishing Camp was established and Charlie created a fleet of land vehicles to continue to bring supplies, residents and visitors to Hilton Head.
Fishcamp at Broad Creek is located in the original, restored building where Simmons Fishing Camp was once located. You can dine on the back patio or in the outdoor, covered bar and gaze out at Broad Creek and the same dock that Mr. Transportation regularly used for almost 30 years.
Fish Tacos with House Made Potato Chips
Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa, Calabrese Chile Aioli, Slaw and Flour Tortillas
Fishcamp's menu offers southern classics and fresh seafood.
The fish in my taco was caught the same day as it was prepared. It was well seasoned and delicious, as were the house-made potato chips and salsa.
That concludes my trip to Hilton Head and South Carolina. I truly enjoyed my time in the Palmetto State and would love to return soon.