15 Things I learned

1) How to write blogs
2) How to build a website
3) Create a Sneeze Page
4) Make products in Cafe Press
5) How to write pillar articles
6) Promote products through Amazon
7) Write articles for others to use
8) Product reviews
9) Articles reviews
10) Promote other blog posts
11) Create a link post
12) How to start an online business
13) How to monetize a website
14) How to generate traffic on a website
15) How to create an e-book

Good Bye

I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone. This project has taught me so much about starting an online business. There were times when I wanted to give up but I kept on pushing through it. I am glad that I did because I kept learning more about different websites and more information about Kiawah Island. I also learned how to become a blogger and I truly enjoy it. This has made me very excited about going back to Kiawah Island in the future. I hope you have gotten just as excited as I have about Kiawah Island. I also hope that you have learned more about the island and other areas around the island. You can have a wonderful vacation with your family or friends at such a beautiful place. I know the memories from my family vacations there are always on my mind. The beach is a great place to go no matter what time of year it is. Do not forget that you can look back at my different blog posts to get the right information you need. You can also go to my website http://vacationkiawah.webs.com/ to get even more information about Kiawah Island. You can find articles there to read about what other people think of Kiawah Island. I hope you have enjoyed reading each blog post that I have posted about the island. Go out and travel to Kiawah Island, you will have a wonderful time there. Thank you for reading my blogs about a special place in my heart.

Sneeze Page

If you are ready to do some traveling because you are tired of staying where it is cold or want to go somewhere new. Then Vacation Kiawah can help you with that since there are many blogs about the different places you can go while staying at Kiawah Island or traveling through Charleston, South Carolina. I know I am getting the itch to travel to places and if I could get the chance I would be heading straight to Kiawah Island. I am sure since you have been keeping up with the blogs and the website you are just ready to go there yourself. There are ideas of where to stay, eat, play, and many other exciting places to go while experiencing Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

If you go back to September there are blogs about restaurants to eat at while in Charleston and Kiawah Island. There are blogs about renting places to stay while on the island. There is a blog about the packages that are available to purchase while on the island.

In October, there are blogs about photography, nature, and the golf courses on the island. Most of the blogs in October are about the golf courses since they are so well know. There is so much detail on each course that you will feel like a pro.

In November, I wrote blogs about how to spend your days while on Kiawah Island. There are three different ones and they explain how to spend your day on the beach, the house, or Freshfields Village. Then there are a couple of blogs about what I would do if I could go back to Kiawah Island.

Then in December, I wrote about the South Carolina Aquarium and what they have to offer. I also mention crabbing, traveling, and the weather on the island.

There is plenty of useful and entertaining information about Charleston and Kiawah Island. So go ahead and dig deeper into the blogs.

Analyzing a top blog

I was looking through Carolina Joes’ blog and noticed how well it was put together. The blog covers many different areas of the South Carolina Real Estate. I find it really fascinating how the blog is posted almost every day or every couple of days. The blog covers Charleston South Carolina Real Estate, which talks about the different areas that are available to live in. Another topic is what they sold and it tells you how many they have sold. Then there is a place for homes for sale and buying a home, which also tells you how many entries they have. Another area is Charleston restaurants, which is really neat since it explains different restaurants to go to. It also has an area for community information, which tells you if there is construction in certain area. It talks about financing in the Charleston area. There is even a section on green features. There is only one blog post about home inspection. They talk about home maintenance, home renovation, and homeowners insurance. They also mention market conditions, miscellaneous topics, property taxes, selling a home, and a welcome section. The last area that they cover is on events and attractions, which is their biggest area of blogs. This area talks about different places you can go and check out. It is really interesting since they post pictures to go along with the places. You can check this all out on http://www.carolinajoe.com/blog/ to get a better look at what they have to offer.

Weather

The weather in any place can be very fickle. I remember the weather being different every time we went to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The first time we went in July and part of August and it was very hot. The second time we went to the island in early July and it was hot. It was not as hot as the first time we went. The third time was in mid July and it was even warmer than the second time. The fourth and fifth times were at the end of June. This really made quite a difference in the temperature while we stayed on the island. It was really nice but not super hot either. I think that was really nice since I am not one for hot weather. Even though the weather can change from season to season, you can still have a wonderful time on Kiawah Island. It looks like this week they are in for some lovely weather. They get temperatures in the fifties and the sixties. That sounds wonderful right about now since the temperatures are in the twenties and thirties where I am from. I would love to drop everything and head on down to Kiawah Island to be able to enjoy that weather. Since I am not one for cold weather either. It would be lovely weather to go golfing while on the island. That really beats the winter weather that is going on right now. You do not have to go to Kiawah Island only in the summer. You can go anytime of the year. If I had the chance, I would be down there right now. Go ahead take some time off and go enjoy Kiawah Island’s wonderful weather.

Traveling

Traveling on vacation can be a hassle depending on who you are. I know packing can be difficult but I never saw any problem with it when my family went on vacation. It always seemed that we got everything to fit into the vehicle we took. Now you may not want to drive all the way to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. For those that do not want to drive you can get a flight on an airplane. The only problem with that is you cannot pack everything you want to take due to it not fitting in your bag unless you want to pay for extra luggage. Now that is not always fun to do so I would recommend driving down there. I think road trips are a lot of fun especially with family. Plus you can stop at different locations on the way to Kiawah Island. That was one of my favorite parts about traveling on vacation was getting to go to different states on the way there and learning more about the states or places we would go to. There was time for bounding with different family members since we went together as families. Sometimes I would get to ride with my cousins and we would talk or watch movies or read books on the way down there. There is always time for a nap as long as you are not the one driving the vehicle. It is up to you to make this traveling experience a great one for your family. Happy Traveling!

Crabbing

I would never have thought to go crabbing while on Kiawah Island but it is a perfect way to involve the whole family on a great activity.  It sounds like it is easy to do and not that expensive either.  First, you need to review the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources guidelines on crab regulations.  This is just to keep you out of trouble.  Second, you will need to get your equipment and bait.  You can get some inexpensive crab line and weights at the sport store located at Freshfields Village.  Crabs will eat any kind of meat but the recommended bait is boney chicken parts such as wings or necks.  You just need to make sure you get meat with bone interconnected to make it easier to fasten your line to your bait.  Then you will need to find a good crabbing location.  The ideal place would be near tidal salt or brackish waters, which are located near docks, bridges, and boat landings.  You can go to the Kiawah river boat lands since you can sit down on clean places and plus you are sage from marsh predators.  You will want to knot the crab line around your bait securely.  The weights will help keep the line from being too high up in the water.  You will then throw one end of the line into the water and hold on to the other end of the line.  Then it is the waiting game for the crabs to find your bait.  You will feel some tension on the line.  Next, you will want to slowly pull up the line hand over hand.  Once the crab and bait are closer to the surface, you will need some assistance with pulling in the crab with a net.  You can keep your crabs cold in a cooler or a bucket.  By doing this activity as a family, you also have dinner but you will not want to wait too long to cook the crabs.  This is because they will not last long out of water. Go get those crabs!

South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor is a really neat place to check out while in Charleston, South Carolina.  There are plenty of areas to go to and it does not matter how old you are.  There is the Great Hall, which introduces the aquarium to visitors.  It has a large wall map of South Carolina that allows you to see the regions of South Carolina at the aquarium.  The Mountain Forest Aviary journeys some of the habitats in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina.  On your walk, you go through waterfalls and sheltered by a canopy of trees with songbirds in them.  Under the largest waterfall, there are two young river otters that you can see.  In the water, there are three different types of freshwater trout that you can see swimming.  In the Piedmont Gallery, you get to explore the natural habitats of bass, crappies and suckers.  The other exhibits give a peek into what South Carolina use to look like in prehistoric times and the science behind fly-fishing.  You get to discover the fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants in the Coastal Plains Gallery.  The Saltmarsh Aviary is an interesting exhibit that gives you the feeling of kayaking through a salt marsh tidal creek.  It allows you to get a close look at the coastal plants, birds and marine life.  In the Coast Gallery it shows sea horses, flounder and stingrays that live in the Charleston Harbor.  There are other exhibits in this gallery you can check out while you visit.  The centerpiece of the Ocean Gallery is a two-story Great Ocean Tank that holds hundreds of animals.  For instance there are sharks, pufferfish, and a loggerhead sea turtle in the tank.  Do not forget to look at the other exhibits in this gallery.  You cannot forget the Touch Tank, which allows you to touch live invertebrates.  They have hermit crabs, whelks, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, Atlantic stingrays, and much more.  It sounds like you could have quite an adventure in the South Carolina Aquarium.

Off The Island

I would really love to explore off the island instead of staying in the house.  In the past, we were only allowed to go to Freshfields Village when the moms had to go shopping for groceries.  It was reasonable when we were younger but now that we are older we can go places without adult supervision.  It would be lovely to go to Freshfields Village with a few of my cousins and just be able to look around the stores.  We could even do some shopping while we were there.  We could also go for dinner instead of eating at the house.  I think it would be really neat to spend time with my cousins without being in the house with others.  If that did not work, we could always go to a restaurant on the island.  I mentioned a few of them in previous blogs that sounded good to me.  It was always nice to get out of the house ever once in a while.  You love your family but sometimes you just need your space from them.  Especially when you are all under one roof day in and day out.  In my last blog, I talked about going on bicycle rides around the island to check it out.  I would even love to take some of the nature classes that the island offers to guests.  I think that would be neat to be able to spot the different creatures on the island without them being in a zoo.  There are plenty of other places I would want to go but then I would have a long blog post.

To Go Back To Kiawah Island

If I were to go back to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, I would definitely go golfing on the courses they have on the island.  I have had the opportunity to learn golf while at school and I would love to be able to play on a real golf course.  I would do this with my uncles because they love to go golfing while we have stayed there.  Also now that I have learned more about the golf courses on the island, I would have knowledge about each hole.  That may or may not help me while I play a round of golf.  I would love to be able to explore the island by a bicycle.  I would ride the nature trails up and down the island to see different areas of the island.  Once we started living in the house, we only stayed near the house.  We never got to go exploring since we were too young to go by ourselves.  Now that I am older I can do that without adult supervision.  I also would like to check out their tennis courts on the island.  I am not very good at tennis but it would be neat to be able to play on their courts.  I would be able to learn better technique from the workers at the courts.  I think it would be neat to be able to go to the different restaurants that I talked about in my blogs.  When we stayed there we never got to go to the restaurants on the island.  I would love to be able to check those out and be able to eat at a few of them.  There are many other activities I could do if I went back but these are just a few of them.

To Go Back To Charleston

If I were to go back to Charleston, South Carolina, I would explore so much more areas than I have in the past.  I would visit the places that The Notebook is filmed at.  I mentioned these places in the blogs titled The Notebook, a review and Old Village at Mount Pleasant.  I would visit the downtown Charleston area to explore the different restaurants they have.  Now that I am old enough, I would go to the bars in Charleston, South Carolina.  I would go to Hank’s Seafood Restaurant due to their great food and their history.  The Pavilion Rooftop Bar at the Market Pavilion Hotel sounds amazing.  I would love to have a meal and a nice beverage on the rooftop.  It has some beautiful views of historical Charleston.  Another bar I would love to visit would be AC’s Bar & Grill located in downtown Charleston.  They offer a $2 beer of the month.  They also offer tasty food for a decent price.  This would be a great place to go to if you want to keep on your budget.  I would really enjoy going to see Rainbow Row.  I sort of remember seeing it but now that I am older I would remember it better.  The Boone Hall Plantation would be on my list to visit while in Charleston, South Carolina.  I think it would be fun to just walk around Charleston, South Carolina.  This would be an adventure and I would not really stop unless a place caught my eye.  I am sure there would be other places that I would want to visit but these are a few of the places I would want to visit if I went back to Charleston, South Carolina.

Vincent's Soda Fountain

I cannot believe I forgot to mention Vincent’s Soda Fountain at Freshfield’s Village.  I was reading a blog post about it and I figured I would share it with you.  The website is http://lowcountrytourist.blogspot.com/2010/07/vincents-drug-store-and-soda-fountain.html.  This store has a 1950’s feel to it once you enter.  This store has a pharmacy section, an array of products for visitors to buy, and a diner.  I love how this blog talks about the different aspects of the store.  It really does a wonderful job of talking about the different services this one store can offer to vacation visitors.  I would agree that the diner is the biggest attraction at the store.  This is due to the wonderful food and service they offer to their customers.  I loved going in there with my cousins and getting an ice cream cone or a shake to go while we were shopping.  They really know how to make you feel like you have gone back in time.  This is also due to the old-fashion ice cream treats and old-time candy selection.  I remember finding mallo cups at Vincent’s Soda Fountain.  They are milk chocolate cups with whipped creamy center and a sprinkle of coconut.  They are delicious and hard to find.  But at Vincent’s Soda Fountain, you can find any old-time candy that you ate as a kid.  I would have to agree with the blog post that this is definitely a place to stop by when you are on Kiawah Island.  You will have a rocking time at Vincent’s Soda Fountain.

Old Village at Mount Pleasant

I know in my previous post I talked about The Notebook.  I forgot to mention one location that they shot at but I did not want to talk about it in the last post.  This is because I wanted to go into more details about Mount Pleasant, which is located on South Carolina’s central coast.  Mount Pleasant, South Carolina was used for The Notebook’s film location of the fictional town Seabrook, South Carolina.  Old Village in Mount Pleasant is unique and wonderful place to live.  This is by people biking, running, and walking on the sidewalks and parks.  There use to be a bridge used for trolleys but it got converted into a park.  Half of it is a walkway and the other half is a grassy lawn area with park benches and palm trees.  This bridge is just beautiful with a wooden pier at the end for those fishing fans.  And you can see the sunrise over Sullivan’s Island and the midday sun over Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.  Do not forget about the sunset behind the charming steepled city scape of Charleston.  Then you can go for a nice meal at the famous historic Post House restaurant.  They offer Toby’s Clam Chowder, Poached P.E.I Mussels, House Salad, Post House Pate Plate, Iceberg Wedge, New Bedford Sea Scallops, Crab Cake, Beef Carpaccio, and Fried Oysters for starters on the dinner menu.  The main dishes are Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits, Seafood Pasta, Grilled Salmon, Crispy Fried Pecan Crusted Flounder, Braised Short Ribs, Post House Lump Crab Cakes, and Grilled New York Strip.  You cannot forget about desserts.  Their dessert menu offers Post House Milkshakes, Seasonal Fruit Cobbler, Banana Cream Pie, Post House Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, Sorbet, and Cappuccino or Latte.  Sounds like they have a wonderful menu at the Post House.  You should take a short trip there before heading to Kiawah Island.

The Notebook, a review

The Notebook is a lovely story based on two lovers who are different in their social standings.  It stars Rachel McAdams as Allie Hamilton and Ryan Gosling as Noah Calhoun, the two lovers in the story.  This movie is based on a novel that was written by Nicholas Sparks.  This movie is set in the 1940s in South Carolina.  I would go on but I do not want to ruin the movie for you all.  I would recommend watching this movie.  This movie was shot in many different places in South Carolina.  I wanted to let you know where some of the scenes were shot.  For Allie’s college, the backdrop was the College of Charleston located in Charleston, South Carolina.  The Hamilton’s summer house was shot at the Boone Hall Plantation, which I mention in my article “Go See South Carolina” on my website http://vacationkiawah.webs.com/goseesouthcarolina.htm.  King Street in Charleston was used for four different scenes in the movie.  One scene is where Noah and Allie lie watching the traffic light.  Second scene is where Allie and Noah watch a film, which is in the historic American Theater.  The third scene is located in the William Aiken House for the wedding dress fitting scene.  The fourth scene is when Allie and Noah walk and talk for 3 blocks.  For that scene, the production team had to replace the contemporary parking meters with period-style meters.  In North Charleston, the old Navy base area was used for many different shots.  The admiral’s house was used for several interior shots.  The interior of a desanctified chapel went through multiple set transformations to serve as the backdrop for scenes of the USO Dance Hall, the infirmary, the military physical exam room, and recruiting hall.  The last place I will mention is High Cotton in Charleston.  This is the scene where Noah looks through a restaurant window and finds Allie dining with her fiancé.  I am so thankful they shot this film in South Carolina because I have gotten to see some of the places they shot certain scenes.

A Day At Freshfields Village

You can always leave the beach and the place you are staying at to spend a day at the Freshfields Village.  It is at the entrance of the island when you arrive.  There are plenty of shops that you can look at.  This was always my favorite activity to do because it gave us a chance to get away from the house.  We could also explore the shops and see what we wanted to get while we were on vacation.  The grocery store is amazing to look around in.  It has wonderful food for you to get while you stay on the island.  There are plenty of gift shops that sell items with Kiawah Island on it.  I know my family has gotten shirts, sweatshirts, cozies, and various other products with Kiawah Island on it.  I remember the clothing stores that my cousins and I would get to go to.  We would get our summer dresses to wear on the beach or in the house.  I still wear those dresses a lot because when I wear them it reminds me of the wonderful time I had on Kiawah Island.  Another favorite store of ours was the ice cream shop.  My cousins and I would always make it a point to get ice cream when we would go to Kiawah Island.  There are so many memories with them when we would get the same ice cream every time we would go there.  There is also a candy shop that you can go in.  I love going into the candy shop and seeing all the different types of candy they have to offer.  One of my favorite candies to get is the salt-water taffy.  It was a treat to go with our moms and check out the neat gifts they would buy for themselves or for others.  Even if you go a bunch of times, there is always something new to check out.

A Day In The House

If you do not want to spend your day out on the beach, you can spend it in the house you are staying at.  There are plenty of activities to do while you stay in the house. You do not have to get up early if you do not want to.  You can watch a movie on the television.  You do need to bring your own movies.  Or you could play video games on the television.  You need to bring a video game console and games in order to do this activity.  A great family activity is to bring different games along to play with each other.  For instance, my family has played different card games, The Game of Things, Apples To Apples, and Yahtzee while we spent time in the house.  We had so much fun playing those games with each other instead of spending time alone.  You could take naps while the others are outside on the beach.  There are plenty of rooms you could go to so you can read your book in peace.  You can also spend that time writing in your journal.  I remember some of my family members would bring coloring books.  That was a fun activity to do while we stayed in the house.  There are plenty more activities you can do while you stay in the house.  These are just a few of the activities my family did while we stayed in the house instead of going out to the beach.  I hope this helps you plan your vacation to your liking.

A Day On The Beach

There are so many activities you can do while on the beach.  But I am going to describe to you a typical day on the beach.  You can get up early to see the sunrise while you walk on the beach.  It really is a beautiful site to see even if it does mean waking up early on your vacation.  Do not forget to take your camera with you while seeing the sunrise.  Even though a camera cannot capture what the eyes see, it still can do a nice job of trying to capture the moment.  After your walk, you can dip your feet in the ocean water to get a feel of how the water will feel that day.  You can get ready to spend most of your day on the beach.  Just do not forget to put on the sunscreen.  You can spend hours in the water just floating around with your family talking about random things you have done while on your vacation.  You can also sit in a chair on the beach while reading a good book.  You can also build sand castles, play Frisbee, or play beach volleyball with the family.  I would recommend taking a break from being outside during the hottest part of the day, which is between 12 and 2 pm.  During that time you can eat lunch or spend it on the deck while soaking up some sun or reading a good book.  You can spend a few more hours after that on the beach but you need to be careful of when the tide comes in.  Once the tide comes in, that ends the fun on the beach.  You will want to make sure all of your items are picked up before the tide comes in.  If you do not do so, you will have lost your items to the ocean.  Have a wonderful time on the beach!

Cougar Point Golf Course Part 2

Here is the hole-by-hole review for the back nine holes of Cougar Point Golf Course.  Hole 10 – It looks like Gary Player, the designer of this golf course, made changes to this hole due to everyone having their ball go into the pond.  Therefore, Player dug the pond back toward the trees and filled in by the landing area.  He also added some fairway bunkers.  Hole 11 – This hole has not changed much but the only change was the fairway bunker was moved back and another bunker to the right of the green was added to make it more difficult for players.  It was also one of the holes used in filming “The Legend of Bagger Vance.”  It stared Jack Lemmon who hits his tee shot on this hole and then walks off the tee down the fairway to the left rough.  Hole 12 – The green was lowered about 6 feet and the tees were raised about 6 feet so that there was a 12-foot difference.  This means that shots hit short and right can bounce off the mounding onto the green and that shots hit long players will get wet.  Hole 13 – Gary Player made changes to this hole due to players getting punished for a good drive.  This was due to having bunkers in the middle of the landing area.  So Player moved them to the left rough.  The green is now wider to give a multitude of options for challenging pin placements.  Hole 14 – There use to be a tree on the front-left side of the green but that was removed to make it a fairer hole.  Now there are still challenges on this hole but there is a bailout area to the right of the green.  Hole 15 – This hole use to have quite a few challenges but they fixed some of them to make it a fairer hole.  For example, Player filled in the water-crossing and removed a cluster of oaks.  There is a risk for the better players by going for the green in two shots over the water.  Hole 16 – Players get to hit out of a shoot of oak trees to a narrow landing area.  Bunkers on the left side guard this landing area and on the right side there are trees.  A front left bunker guards the green.  Hole 17 – This hole is the most scenic hole on the course with water down the entire right side.  There are many different ways to play this hole.  The ways you can play are the safe way or you can play over the water and fairway bunkers to land near the green.  Hole 18 – This hole had some changes made by Player pulling the pond back and adding a bulkheaded pond on the left near the green.  Even with the changes, you still need to watch out for the water near the green.  I hope this helps you have a wonderful round of golf while you stay at Kiawah Island.

Cougar Point Golf Course Part 1

The last golf course on the island is Cougar Point.  It looks like Cougar Point is a beautiful course, which will make it a memory for you when you play on the course.  Hole 1 – This hole use to be hard but not it does not beat the player up right off the bat.  There are bunkers on the fairways’ left and right.  Hole 2 – This hole was changed as well since it was relatively easy for players.  Now there are bunkers and water that come into play.  Hole 3 – This hole is a risk/reward hole due to it being switched from two holes to one hole.  Therefore, players need to be careful of the many bunkers and the water that come into play on the course.  Hole 4 – The course becomes more difficult now that it moves into the other holes.  Players need to hit towards the left side of the fairway.  You need to make sure you do not hit too far right since it will make it tougher and the bunker on the right of the green comes into play.  Hole 5 – There is a pond on this hole but it does not come into play much since it is near the tee.  The fairway is fairly wide but you will want to keep your ball on the right side of the fairway.  This is due to tress guarding the left side of the fairway.  Hole 6 – This hole use to be difficult due to the green being small and that it sloped every direction towards the marsh.  But now the green is bigger and it gives players a chance of staying on the green.  Hole 7 – This hole use to be weak but now there is a pond to the left of the green that comes into play.  There are also phantom winds, so watch the treetops when you hit.  You will want to aim your ball to the left to give you room to clear the trees on the course.  Overall it is a pleasing hole for players.  Hole 8 – This hole use to be U-shaped, which made it difficult for players to play on and they did not like it.  Therefore, the course was reshaped and increased playability.  You will want to stay clear of hitting too far right because you will have to hit over a large oak guarding the green.  Hole 9 – This hole looks like a nice one for players.  You will need to watch out for the pond that lines the fairway on the right side.  But it was changed so the balls do not bounce into the water.  That is not fun for players to hit into the water when teeing off.  I hope this helps you on this course since it has been changed from the original course.

Oak Point Golf Course Part 2

The back nine of Oak Point Golf Course looks tough but with these hole-by-hole reviews you will do fantastic.  Hole 10 – The fairway narrows in the landing area of the tee shot.  You need to watch out for the oak tree on the right that can block your shot from that side.  Hole 11 – This hole has bunkers guarding the green for most of the way around it.  There is water in front of the green and on the right of the green.  Hole 12 – There are bunkers that guard the right side of the fairway and there is water on the left side of the fairway.  There is also a bunker guarding the front of the green, which is elevated.  Hole 13 – It looks like you will need to hit with a mid-iron into the green.  You will need to watch out for the pond on the right side of the fairway and the bunkers that are on the left and right side of the green.  Hole 14 – This one is the hardest driving hole on the golf course due to it being tree-lined.  The fairway narrows the farther you hit and you will need to watch out for the lagoon in front of the green.  The bunkers near the green will not come into play unless you are off target.  Hole 15 – It looks like you will need to shot over the water with a mid-to-short iron.  You will need to watch out for the bunker that runs the length of the green just over the water.  The three pot bunkers on the backside of the green do not come into play generally.  Hole 16 – The big hitters can hit past the trouble on this hole.  That includes a fairway bunker on the left and trees on the right if you hit too far.  There is a big bunker on the right side of the green to watch out for.  Hole 17 – This hole can be extremely long, especially playing into the wind.  There is a lagoon on the left side of the fairway to watch out for.  There are also fairway bunkers on the left and right sides of where the second shot landing area is.  There are bunkers and water behind the green.  Hole 18 – It looks like a tough last hole on this course.  There is a marsh in the middle of the fairway.  There are plenty of bunkers that guard the green.  Hopefully, you can do well on the back nine now that you have some knowledge about the holes.

Oak Point Golf Course Part 1

Time for some more golf hole-by-hole reviews at Kiawah Island.  This is going to be the first nine holes of Oak Point Golf Course.  Hole 1 – You need to favor the right side of the fairway due to the trees on the inside can block your second shot.  This is a risk-reward second shot for the better players.  You need to watch out for the water on the left and the bunkers on the right.  Hole 2 – This is a medium-length course with a large green that narrows on the right.  There is a bunker to the right before the green and water on the left.  Hole 3 – Players need to favor the left side of the fairway as to avoid the fairway bunker.  Hole 4 – Players need to favor the right side of this par 5 hole.  Water is on the left side of the fairway and it starts beyond the fairway bunker.  Hole 5 – You need to favor the left side of the fairway because if you hit too far right the trees could block the approach to the green.  There is also the lagoon to watch out far if shots go too far.  Hole 6 – You will want to hit off from the tee to the right of fairway.  But you need to be careful of the fairway narrowing, the bunkers on the left, and the trees on the right.  Hole 7 – This hole is a very difficult one due to the green being long and the narrow green you must hit to.  You will need to watch out for the oak tree on your second shot.  Hole 8 – This hole can be a challenge for players.  It all depends on how you play the hole.  You will need to be careful of the bunkers that guard both left and right sides of the green.  Hole 9 – This hole is relatively short but the wind can play havoc on the players who have miss-hit shots.  If you play into the wind make sure to add two to three clubs depending on the strength.  I hope your front nine holes of Oak Point Golf Course go well due to knowing this knowledge about these holes.

Golf is a sport?

I will mention the other two golf courses in later blogs.  I noticed while looking at the information about the golf courses in Kiawah Island that the golf carts are not allowed during certain periods of the day.  I really think it is a good way for people to get their exercise from walking to the holes on the course instead of riding from hole to hole.  I found a blog that explains how good it is for you to walk the course instead of riding in the cart.  It gives plenty of details about what was done to show that it is better for you to walk golf courses and even mentions an article about the study.  I really found this blog post very interesting since most people do not think that golf is a form of exercising.  This post proves that it is a real sport and that it can help you keep in shape.  You do plenty of walking and lifting your golf bag from hole to hole that it helps you work out.  Golf is put in the moderate to vigorous activity level.  That is pretty impressive to see since we do not think of golf being much of a work out.  I knew that golf was a work out but after reading this blog it really does show you how much of a work out it really can be.  The link to this blog is http://www.bloglovin.com/m/1148575/131124453/a/0/aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRmZlZWRwcm94eS5nb29nbGUuY29tJTJGJTdFciUyRmdvbGZzdGlua3MlMkYlN0UzJTJGOHhURlFjTHNmSWclMkZ0cnV0aC1hYm91dC13YWxraW5nLWdvbGYtY291cnNlLmh0bWw.  Even if the golf course offers a golf cart, you should opt for walking the course instead.  You will get to see the beauty of the course and help keep you healthy.

Osprey Point Golf Course Part 2

Here are the details of the back nine hole-by-hole review of Osprey Point Golf Course.  Hole 10 – This hole now plays in the opposite direction of hole one due to the wind now prevailing downward.  You need that wind-assist to make it to the regulation.  There are bunkers that guard the left side of the fairway and there are bunkers that guard the right side of the green.  Hole 11 – Players need to force carry over water to the green.  They need to be careful of the bunker that guards the left front of the green.  Hole 12 – This hole was lengthened to have more hole play for players.  It also made it more difficult to make the green in two.  There are bunkers that guard the left of the green and there is one on the right side of the green as well.  Hole 13 – The fairway was reshaped and the hole was lengthened in 1997.  This made so players would have to play well to get a good score.  But you need to be careful how far you hit it to the right or the left.  There is a bunker that is almost the entire length of the right side of the hole.  And there is a bunker that guards the left side.  Hole 14 – The green was moved back in 1997 to make it more difficult to hit in regulation.  There is a difficult choice for players to either hit their tee shot over the bunker or lay up with a long iron or fairway wood.  There are bunkers that guard the green and be careful of the water that is behind the green.  Hole 15 – The green was enlarged to make it a little bit easier for players.  There is a bunker that runs from tee to green so be careful how you tee off.  Hole 16 – This is tough hole for players due to the tees and green being moved back.  Therefore, two large oaks come into play near the green.  There is also a deep greenside bunker that guards the right side.  Hole 17 – This hole plays into the prevailing wind, which makes it one of the strong finishing holes.  Canvasback Pond runs the length of the left side of the hole.  This makes it demanding for the tee shot.  There are two deep bunkers that protect the right side of the green.  Hole 18 – This is a high risk/reward par-5 that is an impressive, beautiful and tough finishing hole.  Canvasback Pond guards the entire left side of the hole, especially near the green.  Some players feel adventurous but find Canvasback Pond and double bogeys on their scorecards.  If you want to play it safe, you can reach the green in three shots without entering Canvasback Pond.  So enjoy Osprey Point Golf Course by being adventurous or playing it safe out there on the course.

Osprey Point Golf Course Part 1

I will be giving a hole-by-hole review of the Osprey Point Golf Course.  Hole 1- Most resort courses try not to make the first hole too long or too difficult.  The one problem with this hole is that you play into the prevailing wind.  There is a fairway bunker and a greenside bunker on the left to watch out for.  Bogeys are just as common as pars are on this hole.  Hole 2 – It is a risk/reward tee shot.  The fairway has a generous landing are but narrows as it nears the green.  There is a possibility to get a birdie due to playing down the prevailing wind.  Hole 3 – The tee shot must be carried over a salt marsh area.  But local knowledge says a right to left crosswind down the marsh is present but cannot be felt from the protected teeing area.  Hole 4 – This hole plays downwind, which makes players choose from a mid- to long-iron to play with.  Be careful of the bunkers that protect the green both right and left.  Hole 5 – The drive should be played to the left-middle of the fairway.  If you go too far right, the trees will block the second shot.  Hole 6 – This hole is long with a deep, narrow green.  Be careful of the pond and the bunker guarding the left side of the green.  There is a bailout area to the right of the fairway.  Hole 7 – This is a risk/reward hole with a par-4.  It features a large mound that incorporates a fairway bunker that players must negotiate.  But there is a big greenside bunker on the left.  So you get to choose where you want to hit the ball.  Hole 8 – You can make this hole in two depending on how you play the hole.  If you favor the right side, you have a clear shot to the green.  If you do not want to do this hole in two shots you can make your second shot be to the left side of the fairway.  Hole 9 – This hole is the longest and most demanding of the par-4s on this course.  It is a beautiful hole and you have to force carry your ball over water from the tee to the fairway split by a pot bunker.  You can either go left to make is a shorter second hit or go right and use a long iron or a wood to get it to the green.  It is up to you how you play the front nine holes of this course.  The back nine will be explained in the next blog post.

Turtle Point Golf Course Part 2

Here are the details of the back nine holes on Turtle Point.  Hole 10 – Jack Nicklaus changed the way the course moved.  He made it go left to right rather than right to left.  There is a bunker that guards the right side of the landing area.  The green is difficult because if you slightly miss the green it will roll into surrounding areas leaving a difficult up and down.  Hole 11 – This hole is both esthetically and in playability so a great golf hole for players.  There is water that lines the right and trees that guard the approach to the green.  Hole 12 – There is a generous landing area a player must take advantage of due to the hole’s length.  You can use a mid- to long-iron for a good drive.  There is a big oak that comes into play on the front corner of the green and the greenside bunker became smaller.  Hole 13 – For an average player, they can make a fairly long second shot if they do not hit a good drive.  There are bunkers on the hole that do not come into play.  But it makes this hole a challenge to be more accurate to make the green in two.  Hole 14 – This hole is the first ocean hole and it has a very difficult green to hit.  This is due to generally playing down-wind to a very small, tough putting green.  If you miss the green on the left side you will move your ball towards the ocean and that makes it difficult to getting it to the hole.  Hole 15 – Nicklaus made the landing area significantly wider by removing the concrete cart path.  The wind is often blowing in the player’s face or from their left.  That makes this hole very challenging plus the postage-stamp size green does not help either.  Hole 16 – The better players will hit every shot with an 8-iron to 3-iron.  It just depends on the tee location and wind strength.  It is a difficult hole but Nicklaus softened it a bit by having only one front right greenside bunker.  Hole 17 – This is a rewarding hole for the players after surviving the ocean holes.  Players will want to hit their tee shot to the left side of the fairway because trees can block the second shot if too far right.  There are bunkers that guard the small green in the front-right, left, and rear.  Hole 18 – It is a great and difficult hole to finish on.  Players tend to underclub on their drive and have to hit a long- to mid-iron over water to a small green.  But there is a bailout area to the right for the timid players.  The back nine holes sound challenging but you will have a wonderful experience on this course.

Turtle Point Golf Course Part 1

I will talk about Turtle Point Golf Course’s first nine holes in detail.  Hole one – Is not easy but not hard either because it should be the opportunity players get to start the round off well.  You should keep your ball down the right side of the fairway.  This is due to trouble approaching the green from the left, which includes a large oak.  Hole 2 – Any player needs to hit over water to a landing area guarded by three fairway bunkers on the left.  This hole gives you the opportunity to pick up a stroke.  Hole 3 – This hole is a little more difficult that the previous holes.  This is due to having bunkers on both sides of the fairway.  Hole 4 – This hole was redesigned from tee to green.  It features native ornamental grass making it a very esthetically pleasing hole.  Hole 5 – It is a scoring hole for both scratch and average players.  A simple, straightway hole with water coming into play for the average player.  There is not much trouble around the green except a bunker to the left.  Hole 6 – This hole is relatively short but for the better player a driver may not be necessary.  But it they use a driver, they should stay to the right side of the fairway.  The key to this hole is accuracy.  Hole 7 – This hole is a difficult golf hole for the better player as it normally plays into the wind.  Players need to be very accurate due to the bowl shape of the green and bunkers in front and on the left.  The average player can run the ball up between the bunkers.  Hole 8 – The designer Jack Nicklaus lengthened this hole by 30 yards making it extremely difficult to reach.  There are bunkers that guard a lagoon so be careful where you hit your ball.  Hole 9 – This is a hole where phantom wind can really affect a shot.  Even though you do not feel the breeze there is a gap in the houses and trees that funnels the wind in to push most balls to the right.  You need to be careful how far you hit your shot.  If you hit too far left, you will be shaping your shot around a large oak.  Sounds like an interesting front nine holes for you to play on.

Ocean Course Part 2

Here are the details of the back nine holes of Ocean Course.  Hole 10 – Pete Dye comments that better players can hit driver and short irons and might get a birdie.  It is the reverse direction of hole one.  Local knowledge comments that it is a solid golf hole.  Another risk/reward hole as well but if you can avoid the bunker it can be very rewarding.  Hole 11 – Pete Dye mentions that there are sand dunes on the right that are very severe.  But if you miss those you have a good chance of getting a strong par 5.  Local knowledge mentions that it is a lot of risk/reward to get a good par-5.  Also that Pete Dye changed the transition area to give the average player a better chance to recover if the ball gets sliced.  Hole 12 – Pete Dye says it is a wide fairway but if you miss it right or left it can be a disaster.  You need to carry your second shot to the green, as there are undulations in front of the green, which makes it a bump and run tricky.  Local knowledge says the previous two hole are birdie opportunities well this hole is not.  The second shot is key on this hole.  Hole 13 – Pete Dye indicates that there are two different holes here. The first tee is 470 yards back and has a landing area that is very wide. The second tee is about 400 yards with a very narrow landing area.  You might get timid and hit an iron off this tee.  Local knowledge indicates that it is another risk/reward drive.  On the green there is water to the right and bunkers to the left.  Hole 14 – Pete Dye says that this hole is a change of pace with the wind.  This hole will make you think due to heading back eastward and the change of wind.  Local knowledge says this is one of the most dynamic ocean views on the course.  But it can be nerve-wracking due to an elevated, table-top green with trouble nearly everywhere.  Hole 15 – Pete Dye mentions that there are two tees at this hole just like hole 13.  Sounds like you can play it long or short with an iron.  Local knowledge mentions that it is a good, solid, straight up golf hole with a big landing area on a fairly short, par-4.  Hole 16 – Pete Dye indicates that it is long but the fairway is very wide.  The advantage is to play down the right side and have a panorama of the second shot.  Local knowledge indicates it is another good risk/reward hole that players can reach in two.  Hole 17 – Pete Dye comments the tee shot is all carry over water and a very demanding par 3.  Local knowledge comments that players will be on the back tee to see what Ryder Cup players had to face, especially on windy days.  But wind does play a big part in strategy for this hole.  Hole 18 – Pete Dye says you are teeing of the original sand dunes along the beach.  This hole must be played left to right because of the dunes on the right.  Local knowledge says that it is a great finishing hole.  Many believe that its redesign makes it the best and toughest hole on the golf course.  Sounds like an amazing golf course for you to play on. Go check it out while you stay on Kiawah Island.

Ocean Course Part 1

I will be talking about the different golf courses on Kiawah Island in detail.  I mentioned the golf courses in my early post called Golf Courses of Kiawah Island.  Today I will be talking about The Ocean Course, which is located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island.  There are two different comments on the course of each hole.  They are Pete Dye, who designed the course and the local knowledge.  I will go hole by hole of what Pete Dye says and the local knowledge.  Hole 1 – Pete Dye says that this is the farthest hole away from the ocean and that it is as open as possible off the tee.  The better players will hit driver and 8 or 9 iron.  It should be an easy starting hole.  Local knowledge says it is one of the easiest holes on the course.  The left side of the fairway gives the best angle into the green.  Hole 2 – Pete Dye says that this could be a difficult hole for guests due to the two crossings over marshes.  Even though there is no water around the green just sand, a good player has a wide-open fairway.  Local knowledge says it is a very good risk/reward hole.  Sounds like you could do well or not so well on this hole.  It all depends on your hits.  Hole 3 – Pete Dye mentions it is one of the most unusual holes on the course.  He also says it is probably one of the widest fairways on the course.  Local knowledge mentions that is the most outstanding hole for its elevated, tabletop green.  Also your positioning for your drive is very important.  Hole 4 – Pete Dye says players will have to let it fly since it is a longer fairway.  Local knowledge says it is just a hard hole.  You need a good drive for a chance to reach the green in tow.  Hole 5 – Pete Dye mentions that the green is big that it is really two greens.  The wind is the only factor into this hole.  Local knowledge mentions that it is a great strategic hole.  There can be as much as a 3 to 4 club difference depending upon pin location.  Hole 6 – Pete Dye references that this is the most demanding driving hole and has sand on both sides.  Local knowledge references that most of the holes place a premium on driving but the hardest part of this hole is the second shot.  Hole 7 – Pete Dye indicates that the wind is a huge factor because you can lose a shot.  The green has no change in elevation and there is a major dip in it.  Local knowledge indicates that it can be hard or easy depending on the way the wind is blowing.  Hole 8 – Pete Dye points out that is can be easy or a nightmare due to the wind.  Local knowledge points out that it is a tough risk/reward hole depending on the pin placement.  It is a teaser hole because players want to hit it long and there is no reason to.  Hole 9 – Pete Dye says that the better players will try to hit a roper because of the way the hole is set up.  You could use either a driver, 7-iron in the downwind or into the wind it could be a driver, long iron.  Local knowledge says another hard hole no matter how you slice it.  The drive position is key for this hole.  I will talk about the other nine holes in the next blog.

More Nature!

I mentioned in my last blog about activities you can do while on the island.  I talked about nature well there is more to be explored while on Kiawah Island.  The town of Kiawah Island takes an active role in managing the natural resources on the island.  There are deer, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, river otters, and ospreys that can be seen on Kiawah Island.  A full-time wildlife biologist and an assistant wildlife biologist manage this wildlife.  The heart of the Resort’s Nature Program is the Heron Park Nature Center.  It opens daily at 8:30 am located in the Night Heron Park adjacent to the pool and the Night Heron Pavilion.  You can get information about the different activities or to make reservations for nature tours and programs.  There are exhibits of the local wildlife, interactive displays and information about the ecosystems that comprise Kiawah Island.  There are Resort Naturalists and staff that are on hand to answer questions that you may have about the nature at Kiawah Island.  There is also a link to show you what wildlife sightings biologists have made.  The link is http://www.kiawahresort.com/recreation/wildlife-as-we-see-it.php.  It is amazing to see what they have spotted on the island.  They have seen hummingbirds, seagulls, Atlantic Pearl Oysters, and many other kinds of birds.  You should check out that link because it is very interesting to see what they have spotted.  Since the wildlife and vegetation are getting rare to see along the Atlantic coast, there is a non-profit organization called Kiawah Conservancy.  They are preserving and researching the coastal maritime forests and wildlife.  They are helpful because they keep the area in top condition so you can enjoy the beautiful nature of Kiawah Island.

Nature Anyone?

You can never go wrong on a vacation with a bike ride and seeing nature.  There are thirty plus miles of asphalted bike paths on Kiawah Island.  This is the best way to tour the island since it starts at one end of the island and runs alongside the main parkway.  It is mostly set back in the trees away from the parkway but still a beautiful site.  You can also ride along the hard-packed sand for ten miles with little effort on your ride.  Just make sure you get back on the bike trail when you reach a boardwalk at the other end.  They have a new bike path that leads out to the Freshfields shopping center.  So you do not have to drive to the shopping center.  You can explore the golf courses but make sure to do that when it is late afternoon or evening when the courses are closed.  You do not want to get hit by a golf ball while riding your bike.  There is the “Burley” trailers and baskets you can rent.  The “Burley” is for younger members and it can connect to any of the adult bikes.  The baskets are for when you need to carry groceries back from the shopping center.  Then there are the nature activities you can go on.  You can learn about Logger Head Turtles at the Nature Center in Night Heron Park.  There are two towers that over look the marsh of the island.  The first one is Marsh View Tower, which overlooks Cougar Point golf course and the marsh.  The second one is Marsh Island Tower, which overlooks the boardwalk and marsh.  You can go canoeing and kayaking either on a tour or family kayaking.  Now I saw people kayaking while I stayed on the island and it sure looked tough.  But I am sure they had a wonderful time.  You can have a wonderful time either on a bike ride or exploring nature while staying on Kiawah Island.

Photography

Even though there are many activities you can do during your say at Kiawah Island.  You could have your family photos taken on the beach or in the historical downtown area of Charleston, South Carolina.  I will give you details of three photographers you can go to while you stay on the island.  The first is Photographics portraits, which is located on Kiawah Island.  They will take photos of children, families, reunions, couples, special events, weddings, and corporate functions.  Their sessions include an hour of photography, an online album to look at, and a CD of the session.  You will get quality photos from them.  The second photography is Tammy Bevins Photography.  She is located just outside of Charleston, South Carolina where her studio is.  She will go to locations to take photos of families on the beach, high school seniors, children, and weddings.  She will work with you and your budget to make you satisfied.  The last place that I will mention is Chris & Cami Photography.  They are located in Charleston, South Carolina.  They offer hour sessions or half an hour sessions, which includes online photo gallery and color or black and white photos.  They do portraits, families, reunions, company parties, and weddings.  All three of these photographers are amazing.  Their photos look beautiful and you will be pleased with the ending product of your family photos taken on a wonderful vacation.  You will want to remember those fun times you had as a family at Kiawah Island.

Restaurants in Charleston

On my website http://vacationkiawah.webs.com/ I talk about places to go see in South Carolina but did not mention restaurants in Charleston.  I did mention restaurants on the island in my last blog post.  So today I am going to talk about a few restaurants that my family and I have been to when we visited Charleston.  There is Sticky Fingers Smokehouse located in the historic downtown area of Charleston.  They have the restaurant menu, kid’s menu, and a family style to go.  On the restaurant menu there are starters, salads, hickory-smoked ribs, half slab combos, blues plate specials under $10, barbecue dinner plates, sandwiches, southern sides, signature sides, and desserts.  On the kid’s menu they can make their own kids meal, which includes the main course, a side, drink, and dessert.  On the family style to go there are express meals to go which range from barbecue & chicken to rib lovers.  I remember the times we would eat there as a big family and have a wonderful time eating and enjoying each other’s company.  There is Hyman’s Seafood Company in the historic downtown area.  There are appetizers, salads and homemade soups, po-boy sandwiches, regular combo platter, seafood dinners and other entrees, beverages, and cocktail specials.  This is a perfect restaurant to get wonderful food and be treated with respect by the servers.  They have two rules:  1) The customer is always right and 2) When in doubt, refer back to rule #1.  Sounds good does it not?  The Charleston Crab House is a roof top dining restaurant in the downtown area.  They have many menus for different options.  Such as restaurant week menu, lunch, dinner, fiddler crabs, beverages, desserts, and specials.  Sounds like you can have a wonderful time here and enjoy the freshest ingredients that they use to make their meals.  The last restaurant that I am going to mention is Noisy Oyster, which is also in the downtown area.  There are plenty of tasty meals at the Noisy Oyster on their lunch, dinner, kids, happy hour, and drink menus.  You will have a wonderful time at any of these restaurants.

Restaurants on Kiawah Island

There are plenty of restaurants on the island for your fine dining experience.  One is the Ocean Room, which writes its menu to support local agriculture due to the availability of fresh produce.  The Ocean Room is the only steakhouse in the US to earn both Forbes 4 Star and AAA 4 Diamond ratings.  Sounds amazing don’t you think?  There is the Jasmine Porch, which also works with local farmers to produce seasonal menus.  Jasmine Porch shows southern charm during breakfast and lunch every day.  They have interpretations of Charleston Shrimp and Grits and She Crab Bisque during dinner.  The Atlantic Room showcases Kiawah’s signature seafood with fresh seasonal ingredients.  This room gives an intimate private dining room adjacent to the main dining room.  Shrimper’s is located at the Straw Market in West Beach.  They revamped their menu and it has your favorite foods from around the world.  For instance, All-American, Southwestern, Cajun, Italian cuisine, unique flavors from Asia, and the Pacific Rim.  You can dine poolside in the heart of the park at The Night Heron Grill, which is great for a quick snack or lunch or dinner for the family.  It includes fried local seafood, specialty sandwiches, and blackened gator bites.  You can dine in or take-out at The Market at Town Center.  They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Some specials are sandwiches, salads, pizza, steaks, seafood and pasta.  There is the Haulover Creek Grill located at Oak Point Golf Club.  So you can enjoy a continental breakfast before golf or enjoy lunch and drinks at the bar.  Osprey Point Grill at Osprey Point Golf Club is perfect to start and finish your day of golf.  There is Tomasso at Turtle Point Club House, which is at Turtle Point Golf Club.  It specializes in authentic cuisine from all regions that evoke true Italian hospitality.  Loggerhead Grill at The Sanctuary serves Island and Pan Asian influenced family friendly cuisine.  It overlooks The Sanctuary’s pools and the Atlantic Ocean.  Don’t forget about dessert!  There is Beaches & Cream at The Sanctuary.  It does not only serve homemade ice creams and homemade sweets.  It also serves breakfast and lunch.  There are specialty lemonades, iced coffees, lattes, and mochas to sip on.  Sounds like a wonderful dining experience that you will have while staying at Kiawah Island!

Kiawah Island Rental

Wanting to go on a relaxing vacation but not sure where to stay.  At Kiawah Island, you can rent a vacation homes, villas, and beach houses to stay in.  There are over 600 beach rentals that they offer to guests.  They also offer comfort and benefits for guests that reserve their stay through Kiawah Island Vacation Rental Program.  Such as preferred tee times on golf, door-to-door transportation service, advance reservation privileges at all resort-owned restaurants, and much more.  There are the Resort Villa Rentals, which are affordable and you can choose your location, size, and view according to your specific vacation needs.  As I mentioned in my blog Kiawah Island Resorts, there are three different types of villas you can choose from.  There are the Resort Home Rentals, which offer a view of marsh, scenic, or ocean throughout the ten-mile island.  The home rentals can offer the greatest amount of living space the resort has.  The Resort Private Home Rentals are great for family reunions and groups of any size.  They also offer a view of marsh, scenic, or ocean throughout the ten-mile island and the greatest amount of living space among the resort’s accommodation options.  The Resort Premier Vacation Home Rentals offer an exclusive selection of spectacular features in privacy and luxury.  Guests are provided with personalized service, which includes prior planning to their visit, customized arrival and departures, and coordination of your resort activities.  There is also full maid service each day, newspaper delivery, complimentary use of four bicycles, and full access to The Sanctuary fitness center.  Sounds like there are plenty of places to live in while on vacation at Kiawah Island with gorgeous views.

Cassique Kiawah Island

Today I am going to give you the top ten reasons to live at Cassique in Kiawah Island.

1)     Sense of Place

It sets you apart from the worries and pressures of daily life.  It gives you the opportunities to explore, relax, and socialize.

2)     Character

Due to the 19^th century, the homes, Clubhouse, and gardens take on the movement on art’s relationship with environment.  There is nature, contrast of colors, and natural light.

3)     The Clubhouse

It hosts book clubs, fireside chats, cocktail hours, and dinners.  It has a Lowcountry backdrop of marshland and supreme golf.

4)     Tom Colicchio – Designed Cuisine

Voysey’s is a private restaurant and pub located with the Cassique Clubhouse.  Tom will make inspired family-style dinners with the fresh ingredients that arrive each day.

5)     Tom Watson – Conceived Golf

Tom Watson a five-time British Open champion designed this golf course.  The course is 6,960 yards with a 72-par that blends natural beauty with a classic links-style layout.

6)     Sports Pavilion

The Pavilion is a wonderful place to get in shape and socialize with the neighbors.  It features personal trainers and professional instructors that lead private and group classes.  That consists of yoga and Pilates.  It also houses clay tennis courts, squash courts, lap pool, basketball court, and a gazebo.

7)     Exceptional Service

The staff pays special attention to each and every detail in order to anticipate Members’ needs.  From the greeting at the gate to the inner workings of the Clubhouse, your stay will be a pleasurable experience.

8)     Shopping and Dining

Close by Cassique is Freshfields Village with shopping, dining, and outdoor events.  There are 45 locally owned shops for guests to shop for groceries, sip coffee, or find the best Island apparel.  Sounds like you will have everything you need at your fingertips?

9)     Club Cottages

The cottages are perfect for housing and entertaining extra guests that are visiting.  This is close to the Cassique so you will not be far from those staying in the Cassique.

10)   Golf Cars

This is the newest addition to Cassique since the cars are comfortable and eco-friendly.  They can be purchased through Club Car.  This makes it easier to get around the neighborhood and a fun experience.

Kiawah Island Villas

There are fourteen different types of villas that I will be talking about today.  In my Kiawah Island Resorts post I talked about other types of villas such as the premier villa, deluxe villa, and resort villa.  The first one is the Boardwalk at Mariners Watch, which is just 30 minutes from Charleston, South Carolina.  The beach is also very close to the villa so you can read a book while looking out at the beautiful scenery or just directly walk out to the beach.  It holds up to six people.  Perfect for a family to stay in.  There is the Penthouse at Windswept, which is located on the East Beach of Kiawah and just 30 minutes from Charleston, South Carolina.  There is custom drapery, designer furniture and colors, original oil paintings, and granite countertops throughout the villa.  Also complete with full views of the ocean.  The Shell Seeker at Sparrow Pond is about a five-minute walk to the beach.  There is a screened-in porch that offers wooded-views of the landscape.  Steps Away at Oceanwoods is a peaceful place to spend a vacation with a two-minute walk to the beach and a short walk to Night Heron Park, The Sanctuary Hotel, shopping and restaurants.  The Clearview at Windswept is on the East Beach of Kiawah Island and has stunning ocean views from the large decks of the villa.  The Mariah is also at Windswept with luxurious comfort and beautiful views of the ocean.  At Windswept there is The Sea Breeze, which is perfect for couples to spend time together.  The Sandpiper at Shipwatch is on the West Beach of Kiawah and only steps away from the Atlantic Ocean.  The Treetops at Shipwatch is a short walk to the Straw Market, The Cougar Point Golf Course, tennis courts, shopping and restaurants.  The beach is just right off of the boardwalk from the villa.  Also at Shipwatch is The Vista is on the West Beach but the East Beach is only a five-minute drive or a fifteen-minute bike ride away.  It is right across the parking lot from the Straw Market.  The Escape at Windswept is perfect for couples or young families to spend a beach vacation.  It is only a minute walk to the beach from this villa.  The Shade at Seascape is on the West Beach of Kiawah with a short walk to the Straw Market.  At Mariners Watch is The Beach Cottage, which is on the East Beach of Kiawah.  The Mariner is at Mariners Watch, which is a thirty-second walk to the beach.  What could be better than that?

Golf Courses of Kiawah Island

Golf is pretty amazing down in South Carolina especially the five Kiawah Island golf courses.  They are the Ocean Golf Course, Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point, and Cougar Point.  I will explain the different courses that you can play on.  The Ocean Golf course just got ranked 25^th in Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest U.S. Golf Courses List and 4^th on Best Public Course List.  The course also hosted the 2007 Senior PGA.  The wind is just as terrible as it is in the United Kingdom and Ireland on this course.  Players can expect up to an 8-club difference on holes depending upon the direction and strength of the wind.  This course is located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island and has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere.  This course also offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.  The Turtle Point course is designed very traditional for a golf course with narrow fairway corridors, small greens, strategically placed water hazards and plenty of out-of-bounds.  It is one of the longest courses on the island and players need to be able to hit the ball well otherwise they will struggle for par.  There is wind on this course as well so players will not know how the wind will affect their shots.  Many players love to play on this course due to its traditional design.  The Osprey Point course includes four large, natural lakes, saltwater marsh, and dense forests of live oaks, pines, palmettos and magnolias.  It is a course for the better golfers, senior golfers and junior golfers.  Oak Point Course has gone through many changes over the last couple of years compared to the other courses.  This course is more of a strategy and thinking approach compared to pure power.  Sounds tough but I think it can be achieved.  Don’t you?  The last course on Kiawah Island is Cougar Point.  This course was redesigned in 1996 to feature a blend of short and long pars of three, four, and five.  Golfers need to have a great strategy to get through this course.  Sounds like people of all ages will love any of these five golf courses on the beautiful Kiawah Island of South Carolina.

Packages of Kiawah Island Resort

I will be talking about the different packages that you can have at Kiawah Island Resort.  There are six different packages that you can choose from.  The first one is the Sanctuary Golf package.  It includes accommodations at the oceanfront Sanctuary Hotel and a round of golf per day.  Then there is the Villa Golf package, which is a round of golf per day, accommodations in a one to four-bedroom villa or home, and daily housekeeping.  There are the tennis packages which include the classic tennis package or the ultimate tennis package.  The classic tennis package is two nights or more, accommodations at the Sanctuary Hotel or the villas, unlimited court time, unlimited round robin during stay, daily breakfast, and daily housekeeping.  The ultimate tennis package comes with three nights or more, accommodations at the Sanctuary or the villas, unlimited court time, two clinics or drill sessions, unlimited round robin during stay, use of ball machine and alley, tennis t-shirt, daily breakfast, and daily housekeeping.  Sounds like there are fun activities for people who love sports.  The fourth package is the Sanctuary Spa package.  This includes a one-night stay at the Sanctuary, a 60-minute Signature Massage per person, a Signature Facial per person, and a Signature Manicure and Pedicure per person.  There is the Romance package for the perfect getaway any time of the year.  This includes luxurious garden view accommodations in the Scenic View West Beach Resort Villa, rose petal turndown on evening of arrival, champagne and chocolates on arrival, dinner at The Ocean Room, Kiawah’s signature steakhouse, scrumptious breakfast buffet each morning, a couples massage at the Spa at the Sanctuary, and unlimited romantic walks on miles of Kiawah’s secluded beach.  Hey ladies need to getaway from the hustle and bustle well there is a Girls Getaway package just for you.  It includes daily breakfast for two, dinner at Jasmine Porch restaurant, a one-hour spa treatment, a custom facial, and round-trip transportation to nearby Charleston for a shopping visit.  Sounds lovely for us ladies that do not get to have some girl time.  There are many different packages to choose from but I am sure you can find the one you really love.

Kiawah Island Resorts

I will be discussing information about Kiawah Island resorts.  It is located on a beautiful barrier island just a few miles from historic Charleston, South Carolina lies Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Official Golf & Tennis Resort at Kiawah Island.  There is plenty of space for you to fit your family in a vacation rental home or an island villa.  There are two different types of homes at the resort.  There are the premier homes, which include personalized services such as advanced planning prior to your visit, customized arrival and departure protocols and coordination of your resort activities.  You’ll enjoy full maid service each day, newspaper delivery and complimentary use of four bicycles to explore the island.  Fine Italian-woven, Egyptian cotton bed linens, spa-quality bath amenities and plush bathrobes provide luxurious comforts.  Then there are the private homes that are private resort residences that offer three to eight bedrooms.  This offers plenty of living space for big families.  They are located throughout the island and can be a choice of ocean, near beach and scenic views.  There are three different types of villas.  One is the premier villa, which is the most luxurious of the three villas.  There is a distinctive style that is shown throughout each home.  These are ideal for guests who want the finest vacation experience.  The Deluxe villas are the second choice guests have to pick from.  They are mid-priced and have contemporary kitchens and bathrooms.  Then there are the resort villas for guests.  They are the most economical offer for a comfortable stay.  It is outfitted with all the conveniences of home.  I will talk about the different packages available at the resort in my next blog.