Recently in Hilton Head Category

Growing up on the coast of Southern New England with an aversion to seafood made me an oddity among my clam boil crazed family. But there was one little guy who occasionally turned up at these fishy fiestas, that I could actually stomach with glee: the crab.

Each spring, blue crabs along the Eastern Seaboard shed their shells. The process, called molting, allows the sideways scurrying creature to grow larger. In this unprotected state, it becomes known as a soft shell crab, a delicacy often described as "sweet," "tender," and "succulent." As the catch begins to come in along the coast, festivals spring up in celebration of the exoskeleton-less crustacean, and one of the season's first takes place in the little South Carolina village of Port Royal, just across from The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. On April 15, the locals set up their folding chairs along Paris Avenue, for the Port Royal Soft Shell Crab Fest, as area bands like the Lowcountry Shag Club and The Showmen entertain, and restaurants from around town dish out shrimp, crab cakes, and naturally, the stars of the day, scrumptious soft shell crabs.

Whether you're an experienced oenophile or just enjoy a good glass of wine from time to time, you'll take your grape knowledge to the next level at WineFest 2008 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The festival, which will be held March 6 - 10, 2008, is the largest outdoor tented wine tasting on the East Coast, with more than 1,500 domestic and international wines, live entertainment, and plenty of great food. Kick things off with style on Friday night at the Grand Wine Tasting Event at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. It's a great way to meet the producers of your favorite wines and try to get them to reveal their wine making secrets. On Saturday, head over to Shelter Cove Community Park for an outdoor public wine tasting and wine auction that'll knock your socks off with the depth and breadth of the varietals on offer. Since one shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, some of Hilton Head's best restaurants will be serving up a range of dishes to complement just about every wine. Need a place to stay while in Hilton Head? The Westin is offering WineFest Exclusive Rates starting from $149 per night from March 6-10, 2008. Book now to ensure a luxurious place to rest your head after a glorious day of tasting wines under the South Carolina sun.

It's always nice to contribute to a worthy cause, especially when doing so involves playing golf in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Aspiring golfers will do just that this weekend, as the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament comes to town August 31 through September 2, bringing with it plenty of star power and the warm fuzzies you get from helping those in need. The tournament pairs amateur golfers with a random sampling of celebrities (of varying golfing prowess) to compete in a tournament where the proceeds go to children's charities such as the Child Abuse Prevention Association and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry.

More than forty celebrities will be playing this year, including jazz musician Branford Marsalis, Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, and hall of fame baseball pitcher Rollie Fingers. (I wonder if Rollie still has that outrageous handlebar mustache he sported in the majors.) The tournament features matches throughout the weekend at the Golf Club at Indigo Run (pictured), the Robert Trent Jones course at Palmetto Dunes, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Guests at the luxurious Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa might want to drop by the tournament to cheer on the participants, or perhaps pick up a golf club and take a few good swings to benefit children's charities. Just remember golf's golden rule: drive for show, putt for dough.