Sea Pines

Just returned home from our stay on Hilton Head Island. I had done a little research on what to do, where to go, what to see whil there. We drove down to the Sea Pines resort to see the Lighthouse. It cost me $10.00 just to get in the gate. I was there all of 30 minutes. I guess it is the locals way of keeping the trash off their island. I really enjoyed my trip but really got the ideal that I was not up to par with the locals.

Sea Pines

Haven%26#39;t been to HHI in a few years--is it really up to $10 to get into Sea Pines? That is a bit steep. I have to say, though, that my impression wasn%26#39;t that the locals were trying to ';keep the trash off their island'; so much as they are trying to keep places like Harbor Town from being overrun by local mainlanders and thus becoming like a mini Myrtle Beach. I guess that if there were free access to places like Harbor Town and South Beach then they would lose some of their charm and just be overcrowded tourist traps even more than they have already become. I do sympathize with you on the $10 though, especially since there isn%26#39;t all that much to do unless you play golf in Sea Pines. We ate in Harbor Town and walked the perimeter of the yacht basin, but we weren%26#39;t there all that long either. We also visited South Beach another day to take a deep sea fishing cruise that departs from there, so we had to pay twice. I think it was $7 or $8 the last time we were there.

Sea Pines

WOW $10 !

We were there the same time it was only $6.00 for us!

We are regular visitors to HHI....I think the gate price is ok....we usually plan a large amount of time to go to Sea Pines...Salty dog Light house or the Heritage to eat late lunch take in little entertainment....but in January not much going on...

So even the $6 seems like alot to go walk and eat dinner! But it is hard to go to HHI with out going to the light house.

We go other times during the year and guess because we spend the greater amout of time not so bad..

HHI is an great place and NO we don%26#39;t want it to become MB !

Do people who stay in Sea Pines have to pay every time they enter the gates? Is this just for visitors?

We haven%26#39;t stayed in Sea Pines, but when we stayed in Palmetto Dunes and Shipyard, the hotel gave us a pass to put on the rear view mirror of our car to get in and out of the gate while we were there.

';Do people who stay in Sea Pines have to pay every time they enter the gates? Is this just for visitors?';

No, you%26#39;re given a pass for your stay when you check in.

';I guess it is the locals way of keeping the trash off their island. I really enjoyed my trip but really got the ideal that I was not up to par with the locals.';

Sorry, about your attitude but you%26#39;re wrong!

When you live in a gated community, you expect a certain level of security. Home owners in Palmetto Dunes, if they want to go to SeaPines have to pay the same amount as you were charged. Many of us locals do have friends who live in other communities and they give us passes when we come to visit.

SeaPines is the largest resort on the island, taking up 1/3rd of the total land area. As a gated community, the POA is responsible for maintaining roads, park areas, and community security. This is a major expense. Not only is SeaPines the largest, but it also gets the largest amount of outside visitors, since they have amenities that are open to public. They include not only Harbortown, and South Beach Marina, but three golf courses, two tennis clubs, an equestrian center, a forest preserve, and last but not least SeaPines Center. All of these are behind the gates.

Amenities like these in the other gated communities are limited, or are accessible without going through a gate.

Since SeaPines get an inordinate amount of outside visitors using their amenities, the POA has extraordinary security issues. That%26#39;s why they feel justified to charge you to come in.

Stan (hhiguy)

What is Sea Pines like? Is it a good area to vacation in?

Sea Pines is amazing. I%26#39;ve been going each year to a week-long timeshare in Swallowtail villas since 1982. It%26#39;s beautifully landscaped, as they%26#39;ve left as many trees as possible on every property, both residential and commercial. The Sea Pines beach club has a large deck area with a bar, food stall, and a small shop. The beach itself is nice firmly packed sand and hardly ever very crowded, and when it is just walk a couple of minutes up or down the beach and you can have yards of space around you.

The bike trails are the best I%26#39;ve ever seen. Though they sort of follow the roads, they are usually well off on their own, with trees and sometimes a lagoon between you and the road. A few places the trail wanders way off into the woods not next to any road at all to provide and nice shady way to get from place to place. Try biking in the late afternoon/ early evening for good wildlife spotting. Alligators, deer, egrets and herons, and if you are sharp-eyed cool little lizards.

Both of the main marinas, South Beach and Harbor Town, have lots of nice shops and restaurants and are very nicely kept up.