• Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Home Decor
      • Before and After
    • Fashion
      • Jewelry
    • DIY
    • Entertaining
      • Holidays
      • Birthdays
    • Healthy Living
    • Family
    • Travel
    • Uncategorized
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Instagram SHOP
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Home Decor
      • Before and After
    • Fashion
      • Jewelry
    • DIY
    • Entertaining
      • Holidays
      • Birthdays
    • Healthy Living
    • Family
    • Travel
    • Uncategorized
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Instagram SHOP
  • Best Gift Guide for Family

    Best Gift Guide for Family
  • A Pink Christmas

    A Pink Christmas
  • DMJewelry Shop–Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

    DMJewelry Shop–Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale
  • Black Friday Guide 2019

    Black Friday Guide 2019
  • Sweater Dresses for Thanksgiving Dinner

    Sweater Dresses for Thanksgiving Dinner

Travel Guide to Hilton Head

Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

We call Hilton Head, South Carolina, our beach home– second to the Route 30A, Florida. So many wonderful summer time beach memories, and a place my children love to visit. Less than a four-hour drive from Atlanta, Georgia, Hilton Head was an easy family vacation spot. So, I am quite surprised that I haven’t done a travel guide yet, but better late than never! Although we have moved away from Atlanta, we are eager to continue our yearly visits to Hilton Head. Here is my Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina of places to eat, shop and visit.

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

One of the main attractions to Hilton Head is that the beaches are all open to the public. Hilton Head Island is about 12 miles long and are easily accessible and enjoyable to all. We love how wide the beaches are especially at low tide. The hard-packed sand on Hilton Head shoreline makes for an easy bike ride, and you have full access to 12 miles of beach front. We make sure to bring bikes and love to ride where we can find shells, marine life and washed up shark teeth.

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head Island is all about the beach. All.day.long! That is where you will usually find us. One thing we love about Hilton Head is that the shoreline is not lined with high-rise hotels. There are building codes and much of the natural elements are preserved, so you still feel like you are on an island. Spanish-moss trees, palm trees, sea marshes are all along the HH Island along with world-renowned golf courses.

To break up the beach, one place we love to visit and explore more of the HH island is Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge . This is the perfect place to go on a morning or evening hike and see island wildlife. So many amazing birds that you won’t see anywhere else. If you are on a hunt for an alligator, this is the place to see them.

If you have little children, Lawton Stables is also a fun break from the beach. They have a small animal farm and pony rides. They also have horse-back riding travel guides around the island. My children love visiting Lawton Stables.

Harbor Town Lighthouse is a fun place to explore. We like to visit in the evening after a day at the beach and grab dinner around there. Although if you go in the morning, you may see dolphins near the piers. There is shopping and restaurants near the candy cane striped lighthouse, which is the center of Harbor Town. Climb to the top of the iconic Lighthouse to get a beautiful visit of the harbor.

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

There are a few shops we love to visit while in Hilton Head. We definitely make it a point to stop by these shops. Right across from Coligny Beach is a shopping center called Coligny Plaza this is located in the town’s center and a great place to walk from beach to shopping. We always stop by Quiet Storm to pick up any kind of items for our skimboards, surfboards and boogie boards. They have the best selection. I also like to pick up a new beach hat here and a cute tank top or see what sales they have on clothes. I love all of their selections. I also love to stop by Black Mineral Market to pick up stones and sliced agates for my jewelry shop. My kids always like to out a rock or two. They always have a great selection of rocks, minerals and shells at affordable prices. And the last shopping spot we always like to hit up while in Hilton Head is The Spice and Tea Exchange. They have exotic spices and recipes to use the spices. You can also find a wide range of olive oil and teas from around the world.

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Feeding a family of six can get quite expensive, so we like to find friendly family restaurants that are really good and well priced. If you like seafood, the beach is the best place to find restaurants that have fresh fish and seafood. We tend to go where the locals like to go. Kenny B’s Cajun Seafood Hut is so good with the taste of New Orleans with a Southern style. The gumbo is amazing and barbecue shrimp. Get there early because there is usually a long line around 5 p.m! Another similar casual dining restaurant where diners arrive around before dinner is Sea Shack. This restaurant is HH best seafood secret. They have picnic tables outside the restaurant, and best seafood options you can get for a reasonable price. If you are looking for entertainment and a place for your kids to hang, the Salty Dog Cafe is a great place to go and HH’s famous restaurant. We love how it is right on the water and they have live music. Looking for pizza? Giuseppi’s Pizza and Pasta has the best pizza made with homemade dough. I use to recommend the French Kiss Bakery, which has the most amazing almond croissant. But we had the worst, horrible customer service experience the last few times we went that I vowed never to return. However, I hear they have new owners so I’m hoping they have change the negative attitude around.

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Check out our family bike adventure video in Hilton Head:

Please subscribe and like the video!

Travel Guide to Hilton Head, South Carolina: Our favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Visit while in Hilton Head, South Carolina || Darling Darleen #hiltonhead #familybeachtrip #summerbeach #hiltonhead #southcarolina

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: family trip, summer travel, travel guide, travel post, traveling with kids

What To Do In Downtown Denver

Make sure to stop by these historic landmarks when you visit Downtown Denver and pack these Fall outfits and shoes to fully enjoy your time in Denver. || Darling Darleen #downtowndenver #falloutfits #fallinDenver #darlingdarleen

What To Do in Downtown Denver

This past weekend I headed to Denver for a family wedding, which was so beautiful!  I took my oldest daughter, and we had the best mommy/daughter girls trip seeing family and the beautiful union of my nephew and his bride.  I made sure that the weekend was a long one, so we could spend quality time hanging out with family after the wedding.  We spent a beautiful fall day in Downtown Denver, and the weather was so gorgeous and sunny in the high 60s.  I fell in love with the vibrant, walkable downtown area of Denver with yummy eatery and eclectic shops.  The last time I was in Downtown Denver I don’t remember it being this urban, cool gathering place of art galleries, boutiques and the best farm-to-table restaurants.  Perhaps I missed it, but I was truly impressed this last trip!

Make sure to stop by these historic landmarks when you visit Downtown Denver and pack these Fall outfits and shoes to fully enjoy your time in Denver. || Darling Darleen #downtowndenver #falloutfits #fallinDenver #darlingdarleen

We started off in Downtown Denver walking around Larimar Square and checking out all the specialty boutiques.  Many of the shops have a distinctive fashion style from modern to bohemian to punk.  All the shops are housed in Victorian-style buildings and the street is lined with light strings that hang across the main road.  I hear the best time to visit is at night when the lights are on.

Make sure to stop by these historic landmarks when you visit Downtown Denver and pack these Fall outfits and shoes to fully enjoy your time in Denver. || Darling Darleen #downtowndenver #falloutfits #fallinDenver #darlingdarleen

We did quite a bit of walking around Downtown Denver but these mules were so comfortable!  My feet did not hurt.  Truth is there is a lot of walk, so if you have sensitive feet wear comfortable shoes around Downtown Denver.  However, there is quite a bit of parking lots around the area.  After hanging out in Larimar, we walked up to Union Station, which is located in the heart of Downtown Denver.  Union Station is a renovated 100-year-old train station with chef-owned restaurants, a hotel and numerous boutiques.  I had the best homemade gingersnap and banana pudding ice cream at Milkbox Ice Creamery.  And my brother loved his vegan Oreo cookie ice cream.  You can play shuffle board, pool, chess or just read a book in the common area.  It a great place to gather with friends.

Make sure to stop by these historic landmarks when you visit Downtown Denver and pack these Fall outfits and shoes to fully enjoy your time in Denver. || Darling Darleen #downtowndenver #falloutfits #fallinDenver #darlingdarleen

Our last stop was just a short walk up to the Dairy Block, another historic block with tastemaker restaurants, a chic hotel and quirky boutiques.  I loved the casual cafeteria style of eating with open communal tables.  The alley way is the perfect spot to snap a picture or play bean toss games.

Make sure to stop by these historic landmarks when you visit Downtown Denver and pack these Fall outfits and shoes to fully enjoy your time in Denver. || Darling Darleen #downtowndenver #falloutfits #fallinDenver #darlingdarleen

Here are a few of my items I packed for my trip to Denver in the Fall.

Casual Fall City Outfits:


Sporty Fall City Outfits:

 


 

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: fall clothing, fall outfit, travel guide, travel post

The Ultimate Guide to 30A Florida

the ultimate guide to 30A Florida, guide to seaside Florida, rosemary Florida, travel to, where to stay in 30A, where to eat, what to wear, where to shop, alys beach, rosemary beach, the Hub 30A, Florida panhandle, guide to watercolor Florida, guide to Alys beach

The Ultimate Guide to 30A Florida

When we lived up in Connecticut, we were obsessed with Cape Cod and it’s islands and visited the area multiple times a year. When I found out we were moving to the South, my heart ached because I knew our summer times at Cape Cod were coming to an end. But since we have moved to Atlanta, the Florida Panhandle, specifically the 30A, has become a new beach favorite and a replacement for our beloved Cape Cod. Just a short 5 hour drive and we are at the world’s most beautiful beaches. We visit the 30A quite a bit every year, that by request from so many of you, I put together the Ultimate Guide to 30A Florida–broken up by beaches of where to stay, eat and shop. Before I give you a breakdown of the 30A, so many have asked what exactly is the 30A. Well it is short beach highway, called 30A, located between Destin and Panama City. It’s quaint and quiet with charming chic beach towns that line the crystal emerald blue waters and white sandy beaches. The beach communities on the 30A have strict commercial and residential codes that prohibits high-rises and hotels to be built and construction to adhere to architectural details and codes. This keeps the charm of towns and keeps the large hotels out! The beach towns are very laid back and perfect for families. It’s not a place for beach clubbing and nightlife which is found in Destin or Panama City. So please stay away partygoers! 🙂 Check out The Ultimate Guide to 30A Florida!

the ultimate guide to 30A Florida, guide to seaside Florida, rosemary Florida, travel to, where to stay in 30A, where to eat, what to wear, where to shop, alys beach, rosemary beach, the Hub 30A, Florida panhandle, guide to watercolor Florida, guide to Alys beach

SHOP the Post:

When is the best time to visit 30A Florida? Well, anytime is good, of course! But we LOVE love love going in September/October. The ocean water is amazing at this time. So calm and the perfect temperature. I love to take out my paddle board in the morning, and you see the most amazing marine life because there is usually no waves in the water and the water is so clear you can see right down to the bottom. Also, the beach towns are much quieter with less tourists. This year, I was lucky enough to have my sister Christine and her family came out to visit us in Seaside, Florida, and they loved it so much they are scheduling another visit next year at the same time.

Okay below is the Ultimate Guide to 30A Florida broken up by beach towns. As far as where to stay, here are some recommended websites. Since there are not a lot of hotels on the 30A, we usually book a beach house. In addition to Homeaway and Airbnb, here are some other websites we have used that manages many of the rental homes on the 30A. You can search by beach town:

  • 30A Blue Properties
  • Sunburst Vacation Rentals
  • Cottage Rental Agency

Seaside, Florida

Fun fact: The Truman Show was filmed here!

My favorite things to do in Seaside is stroll the charming beach entrances. A great place to take pictures and watch the sunset. Look up the town events to see what is happening in the Square like the Farmer’s Market and Movie Night.

Where to Eat: Seaside Square is the place to be for good eats and yummy desserts. My friend recently told me to eat here but there are so many great restaurants that I’m not sure where to try first! The food in Florida is amazing!!

  • The Great Southern Cafe–we eat here every time we visit. Fresh fish and seafood with a southern flair. We love the open-air casual seating. It gets quite busy but worth the wait.
  • The Food Trucks at the Square–lined with numerous little food trucks, we like to get lunch here and frozen treats. I like to stop by and grab a smoothie in the morning and grilled cheese sandwich in the afternoon. And we are so excited they added a shaved ice and bakery.
  • Dawson Yogurt & Heavenly’s Shortcakes–two great choices for frozen yummy treats. We love to bike over to the Square just to get a ice-cream from Dawson or a strawberry shortcake from Heavenly’s.

Where to Shop: head to Seaside Square to find outdoor shops and restaurants

  • Perspicasity–a popular open-air clothing bazaar and a great place to find a beach cover up, flip flops or straw hat
  • Sundog Books–I love strolling and look through their unique books, prints, artwork and postcards
  • Modica Market–a gourmet grocery store with pre-made food, deli sandwiches and desserts. A quirky store with a lot of random knick knacks. I like to buy their spices.
  • The Seaside Style–pickup a Seaside t-shirt for the family. They also have the cutest children’s swimsuits.
  • Deja Vu–trendy dresses and tops and hats.
  • Duckies–a fun toy store that even attracts adults! My kids love this place.

 

the ultimate guide to 30A Florida, guide to seaside Florida, rosemary Florida, travel to, where to stay in 30A, where to eat, what to wear, where to shop, alys beach, rosemary beach, the Hub 30A, Florida panhandle, guide to watercolor Florida, guide to Alys beach

SHOP THE POST:

Watercolor, Florida

Watercolor is located right next to Seaside Florida

My favorite thing to do in Watercolor is bike to the park then take the bike trails over to Western Lake and watch the sunset. Biking around the charming neighborhoods to see the homes is also a favorite thing to do.

Where to stay:

  • Watercolor Inn— a luxury inn with great amenities and located right on the beach.

Where to Eat:

  • Fish Out of Water–over looking the beach and located in the Watercolor Inn, chic cafe with southern style seafood dishes
  • The Wine Bar–located right on the main drag, they have an extensive wine list but we like to go for the gourmet dishes.

Where to Shop:

  • The Blue Giraffe–find local art and gifts at this gallery
  • Fuss Boutique--casual, stylish clothes and shoes
  • Beachfolly–need a bathing suit? Head to Beachfolly!

the ultimate guide to 30A Florida, guide to seaside Florida, rosemary Florida, travel to, where to stay in 30A, where to eat, what to wear, where to shop, alys beach, rosemary beach, the Hub 30A, Florida panhandle, guide to watercolor Florida, guide to Alys beach

SHOP the POST:

Alys Beach, Florida

Alys Beach is a fairly new luxury beach town with stark white homes with architectural details of angles and curves similar to the same architecture-style of Bermuda. The town’s stunning bright white buildings is a dramatic beautiful contrast against the emerald blue ocean. The town is fairly quiet since its mostly residential. Furture plans are in the works to bring in more shops and restaurants.

Where to Eat

  • George’s at Alys Beach Locally sourced and organic, George’s is a great place to stop for lunch or an early dinner.
  • Fonville Press–the local coffee shop that serves pastries and cafe-type food. Also pick up a good book to read.
  • Charlie’s Donuts–Get there early to grab homemade, freshly baked donuts
  • Piper’s Kitchen–a great place to grab a quick bite as you head to the beach

Where to Shop

  • Alys Shoppe–pick up a local t-shirt or a hat before you head to the beach

If you love architect, you can spend the day strolling through the neighborhoods admiring all the details.

the ultimate guide to 30A Florida, guide to seaside Florida, rosemary Florida, travel to, where to stay in 30A, where to eat, what to wear, where to shop, alys beach, rosemary beach, the Hub 30A, Florida panhandle, guide to watercolor Florida, guide to Alys beach

SHOP the POST:


Seagrove, Florida (Watersound)

We love staying in Seagrove because beach houses are a little more cheaper and because the beaches are a little more flatter than Seaside…and that’s important if your husband and boys are into skim boarding!

Where to Eat

  • The Perfect Pig–tasty yummy chic bistro that serves breakfast and lunch with a focus on ham and bacon
  • Steamboat Grill–a good place to grab a burger or fried seafood
  • Cowgirl Kitchen–great atmosphere. Love the wraps and salads
  • Angelina’s–if you are wanting Italian food or homemade pizza, Angelina’s is the place to head.
  • The Hub at the 30A–definitely stop by The Hub which is lined with restaurants, shopping and entertainment

We like to go to Goatfeathers in Seagrove to pick up fresh seafood if we plan to do a low country boil, which we do frequently when we head to the beach.

Shop the Post:


Rosemary Beach, Florida (Seacrest Beach)

Where to Stay:

  • The Pearl–chic and hip and with the cutest black and white striped awnings and most recognizable building in Rosemary
  • Rosemary Beach Inn–quaint and small, but charming boutique hotel right in the heart of Rosemary
  • Rosemary Cottage Rentals–the town has their own beach rental site for cottages

Where to Eat:

  • Sugar Shak–get your sugar fix here with ice cream and candy
  • Havana Beach Bar & Grill–located in The Pearl and has a Cuban and Spanish flare. Head there for brunch!
  • La Crema Tapas & Chocolate–inspired by the cafes of Barcelona with small and grand tapas. Its the perfect spot for people watching right on Main Street
  • Restaurant Paradis–country-chic seafood restaurant
  • Amavida Coffee and Tea--if you like tea like I do this place has some fun brews. Also pick up a yummy pastry.

Where to Shop:

  • Rosemary Beach Trading Co–cute gift shop with clothes to local finds. Definitely a place to stop.
  • Patchouli’s–fun shop with a great selection of candles, makeup and skincare items.
  • Ophelia–really cute swimwear with top of the line brands

Check out these previous beach posts on the 30A or search Florida

30A Florida

Alys Beach

Classy Blue

Embroidery Dress

 

 

2 Comments Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: seaside, seaside florida, travel guide, travel post

Exploring Savannah Georgia

exploring savannah Georgia with kids, exploring savannah Georgia in a day, savannah Georgia, savannah Georgia city guide, city tour, savannah Georgia outfits

Exploring Savannah Georgia

Where to go on a quick weekend trip from Atlanta? Savannah Georgia of course! We have been to Savannah before, and I loved the charm of the town, but we were there for just a couple of hours so we didn’t do much exploring. So this past Labor Day weekend we took a day for exploring Savannah Georgia. The historic town reminded me a lot of Charleston. The geography is quite similar to it being right on the coastline and the ocean and river nearby. Savannah and Charleston are both port cities with a preserved historic Southern district. Moss-covered trees line the streets and horse-drawn carriage rides wind through the colorful colonial-style houses. So many stories to tell in both cities! We had so much fun exploring Savannah Georgia and squeezed in as much as we could in one day. If we had the money, we’d be looking into an Alpharetta moving company and getting ourselves packed up and to this beautiful city! It’s one of the cutest cities I’ve been to. If you have one day for exploring Savannah Georgia (and doing it with kids), here are a few suggestions on where to go:

Exploring Savannah Georgia:

  • River Street— Located along the Savannah River, River Street is lined with antique shops, art galleries, charming boutiques and brew pubs with the view of the river. Many of the antique shops are located in renovated cotton warehouses. It’s perfect for window shopping!
  • Forsyth Park— a 30-acre park right in the middle of Savannah, we had the children let some energy out but also take a rest from walking. There is a huge fountain in the middle of the park that resembles the grand fountain in Paris.
  • Squares of Savannah–there are about 22 green park squares (about a block around). They are surrounded by historic churches, charming homes, statues and museums. Live oak trees with Spanish moss line the walk ways. We had so much fun exploring the squares of Savannah. So much history and they kept the city alive!
  • Leopold’s Ice Cream— after walking around Savannah take break and grab some Leopold Ice Cream. Yum Yum! Your kids will be happy and same with you! Homemade ice cream, this place is worth the wait.
  • City Market— is a courtyard filled with shops and restaurants. You can grab a bite to eat here while listening to live music.
  • Trolley Tour— Take a trolley tour to sightsee about the city. We didn’t take one but saw a lot of trolleys around Savannah and my kids really want to jump on one for the ride.
  • The Pirates’ House–be sure to make reservations for dinner at The Pirates’ House. It’s one of the oldest buildings in Georgia. The ambiance is fun and the kids are intrigued. A fun place to grab a bite of dinner.

SHOP the POST:


Shop The Fix Shoes from Amazon Fashion! These sliders were the best walking around the city.

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: city guide, travel post, traveling with kids

Sign Up For The Newsletter

Thank you for signing up on our Newsletter!

ABOUT

ABOUT

Hello and welcome to my creative space! I'm Darleen…creator, designer, DIYer, healthy eater, party planner and mother of 4. Oh and one lucky wife! This lifestyle blog is where I share what I am currently up too and inspired by. Thanks for stopping by!

Search

Christmas at Home

Christmas at Home

Decorating the Home for Christmas

Outdoor Birch Winter Planters

Outdoor Birch Winter Planters

How to Make Outdoor Birch Winter Planters

Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Guide

Best Gift Guides!

Holiday Gift Guide for HIM

Holiday Gift Guide for HIM

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR TWEEN BOY

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR TWEEN BOY

HOLIDAY GIFT FOR TEEN GIRLS

HOLIDAY GIFT FOR TEEN GIRLS

SHOP New FALL Items

SHOP New FALL Items

Stock up on your favorite new FALL jewelry items

FALL Home Decor


Where I Shop

AMAZON

Anthropologie

Asos

Chicwish

H&M

J.Crew

Minted

Nordstrom

Serena and Lily

SheIn

Shopbop

Target

Wayfair

World Market

Blog Archives

Categories

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @darleenmeier

Disclaimer

All images and content, unless otherwise stated, are property of Darleen Meier. They are not to be reproduced for individual or commercial purposes. Please do not use any of my images without proper links back to my site. Darling Darleen also contains affiliate marketing links. This means that when you click links or purchase items, I may receive a small commission for the referral. I only post and recommend links from companies and brands that I love, so please know that you are in good hands. Thank you so much for your support!

Copyright 2018 DARLING DARLEEN | A LIFESTYLE DESIGN BLOG · Theme By Pish and Posh Designs

© 2019 Darling Darleen | A Lifestyle Design Blog . Site Design by Pish and Posh Design Studio.