Preview of The Resort Courses of Seabrook Island

While I have played numerous courses in the area (Kiawah’s Turtle Point, Osprey, Cougar, and Oak Point), I have yearned to get on at least one of the two courses at Seabrook, known as Crooked Oaks and Ocean Winds. Both of these courses are considered the resort courses on Seabrook Island. These courses require staying on the island via the Seabrook Island Resort, or you better at least know someone on Seabrook to play on as a guest. I have not played these courses but have walked a few fairways a few years back when I was on to Seabrook during an island tour (touring a few homes with a realtor).

Crooked Oaks

Crooked Oaks which I consider more the inland course is a 6,754 yard course offering up a slope rating of 139. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. One of the unique features to this course, aside from it majestic oaks is the bent grass greens. Speaking of those oaks, shot selection will require precision due to the nature of these tight fairways and smaller sized greens. Prices for play at Seabrook Island Resort’s Crooked Oaks range from $93 to $170. The costs can be lower depending upon amenity cards that may be included with rental. Tee time discounts of 50% also should be considered if teeing off after three p.m.

Ocean Winds Golf Course

 This course designed by Robert Byrd Sr. is over 6,765 yards with a slop rating of 139. The par 72 course features 9 holes that meander through marsh and forest. The back nine works its way back to the Ocean with picturesque fairways. This course is teeming with wildlife be it egrets or alligators. The course plays much more narrow on the inland front nine, with the back nine playing more open, however the wind becomes a nuisance off the tee box.

For more information on playing golf on Seabrook, please visit www.discoverseabrook.com

How to Protect Your Family at Rest Area Stops: Safety Tips

Every summer our family spends hours traveling up and down the U.S. interstate highways. 

 Though not as quick as flying, the road trip experience can be lots of fun and a good way to bond with family and friends.  Our trip usually involves a few stops along the way at interstate rest areas. These rest areas serve a great purpose as they are much quicker to get off and get back onto the highway in comparison to exiting off at gas stations or restaurants. Our family even stops off at a scenic rest area every year to have a picnic lunch before moving on to our destination. 

Though they are convenient, rest areas stops should be exercised with great caution as these locations can also serve those engaged in criminal activity.

Here are a few common sense tips to remember when deciding to pull off at a rest area.

Stick to Well Lit Areas

If nature calls and you need to stop off at rest area in late evening or early morning, consider using a rest area that is well illuminated. If the rest area is poorly lit with no cars or even one car or truck, I will proceed on to the next rest area or use a gas station or fast food establishment.

Avoid surrounding areas of Rest Areas  

If your stop off at the rest area is for the purpose of stretching or using the toilets, then stick to that purpose. Avoid having anyone in your group run off into nearby woods or any places that would allow strangers to hide. Also avoid parking next to large vehicles such as recreational vehicles or trucks that would permit a stranger in one of those vehicles to snatch and grab one of your passengers.

Buddy System when using Rest Area Restrooms

If the rest area has a family restroom offered, then it is advisable that it used otherwise use the buddy system. Parents should take children with them. Even if a child does not need to use the facility, he or she should accompany parent. No one should be left alone in the parked car.

Avoid Desolate Rest Areas

If the stop off reveals a very empty parking lot, then consider moving on.  Just because there are no vehicles spotted at the rest area does not necessarily ensure safety. Actually the threat can be just as great if not greater because predators will like his or her odds of getting away with a crime as chances for witnesses or police are minimal at a vacant rest stop.

Family Fishing Along the Kiawah River

One of our vacation highlights while we were down at Kiawah during the second week of June was the fishing. The ocean and inter-coastal waterways are teeming with a variety of fish whether it is flounder, reds, trout, shark and so much more. These areas are also plentiful for netting blue crabs and shrimp. For those anxious to shellfish, just remember to bring some cast nets or traps and be familiar with the SC fishing regulations. I am definitely going to give crabbing a try during my next visit.

Our focus during the vacation week was on fish. We managed to do all of our fishing from the pier at Rhetts Bluff on Kiawah Island. The Rhetts bluff area features two piers (only one for fishing), boats launch/landing, and even a gazebo to picnic or seek refuge from the rain.  There is even a portion on both piers that have covered sections. This little roof came in handy when we went fishing on our second day down in Kiawah and experienced a quickly approaching downpour.

With light fishing gear, tackle box, and my two sons and father in law along, we were able to cast some lines from the end of the pier using cut up squid and mullet. The squid is the ideal bait for inter-coastal fishing, as it is rubbery and the dense tissue stays on the hook pretty good in spite of the numerous bites. The fishing pier has a great stainless steel bait station to cut the bait and has a hose to rinse off.

What started out as slow bites for the first hour quickly turned to catching a bunch of croakers. (You’ll know a croaker when you catch one by the noise they make).  We then managed to catch even a few smaller sharks and a ray.  My father in law had a serious fish on his line until the line snapped. That was a painful reminder that we should have been using heavier line, especially when casting heavier baits towards the middle and deeper parts of the river. For those that want to get a little flavor of salt water fishing without going through the exercise of chartering a boat, I highly recommend doing some fishing along this Atlantic inter-coastal spot. It is also a great way to introduce fishing to the younger anglers.

Review of Publix Super Market in West Ashley – Johns Island South Carolina

In my thirteen plus years of vacationing in Kiawah, I have spent most of those visits doing my grocery shopping either at the Newton farms store (now a Harris Teeter) or at the local Piggly Wiggly (Johns Island). Those plans changed when the Publix store was built about five years ago within West Ashley Place shopping center (3642 Savannah Highway). My trip to this Publix from the Kiawah villa takes about twenty to twenty five minutes depending on traffic. 

Not sure if it is due to this store still being somewhat new, but cleanliness appears to be a priority of this Publix store; inside and out. The aisles always appear to be easy to navigate. The check out belts and deli counters are always spotless. Even the parking lot appears to be tidy.

Most store associates are extremely friendly. The deli help is super friendly as they occasionally offer up a shaving of sliced meat to sample. I also find it courteous that the check out attendants will sometimes point out store savings when I could be potentially getting ripped off because I overlooked a sale. Thanks guys.

It is a challenge for me to do any comparison pricing when measuring up Publix against  Johns Island Newton Farms (now a Harris Teeter). The island store price markup makes most items at Publix appear very inexpensive.  The real measurement would be comparing Publix to the local Piggly Wiggly (“The Pig”) or Food Lion. I can’t make that comparison because I do not shop at those other locations. Still, I like Publix prices and find pricing comparable to some of the items I can purchase at my home store in the Chicago suburbs.

Aside from being super clean, I really adore the Publix store brand items. Since first walking into a Publix, I have found most of their labeled goods such as their cheesecake, wheat bread, and cinnamon French toast sticks to be the best. If we could find away to bring home numerous cheesecakes back to Illinois in the dog days of summer, we would do it.

All in all, I would highly recommend those staying anywhere relatively close to West Ashley area (within thirty minute drive) to do their weekly shopping there.  You will save a bundle. Just remember to bring a really well insulated cooler if purchasing perishables.

How to Prevent Swim Trunk Rash at the Beach

There is nothing better than spending quality summer time with the family on the South Carolina beaches. Sand and surf can be pleasing to the senses until someone gets a bad rash from playing in the ocean and beach. There are plenty of reasons why people get sand rash in the trunks. Some fall victim to exposure to sand lice or sand fleas, though most rash issues are attributed to the salt water and sand and their abrasiveness to legs and groin area. The unpleasantness of such a bad rash can be a vacation game changer. At that point, even the simple activity of walking becomes a miserable experience.  This actually happened to me a few years ago down in Kiawah as my inner thigh became raw from a day at the beach.  A little detective work revealed there are ways to prevent this from happening. Here are a few tips to try and avoid getting rash when spending a day (or week) at the beach.

1.       Remove mesh lining from swim suit to prevent rash. Most people swear that removing the netting or mesh liner inside the suit will go a long way to keeping away unwanted sand. Of course, the removal of the netting will leave potential for possible “exposure” so consider first putting on a layer of cotton briefs before wearing the altered swim trunks. Those that wear the lengthier board shorts can wear tight fitting spandex bike shorts underneath.

2.       Use outdoor beach showers to prevent skin rash. Many beaches have a nearby beach house with showers or even outdoor hoses to rinse off. Take advantage of such amenities whenever possible and rinse all sand and salt water away from the body and suit. This will go along way into preventing sand rash.

3.       Avoid starting the day wearing a damp suit to the beach.  If planning on swimming every day at the beach, then consider packing a second suit. Many rashes are created by wearing yesterday’s swim trunks that have not had adequate time to dry. Kids will run to the beach and the wet suit will soon get a head start on aggravating the skin before they have even set foot into the water. Make sure the suit is entirely dry to start the day or choose the backup trunks.

4.       Apply Protective Skin Barrier to Prevent Rash – Take precautionary measures before putting on swimsuit by applying a protective barrier to your inner thigh and groin area with skin barriers such as Body Glide, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, or A&D. You might scoff at the idea of walking around smelling “baby fresh”, but you will be re-assured to keep away the rash later on.

If you do fall victim to sand rash, then apply a coating of A&D or Gold Bond medicated powder to the affected area and it should be pretty cleared up the next day. Just remember then to follow the four tips above.