For me, the break began even earlier on March 3 when we headed a couple hours south to Hilton Head Island. The proximity isn’t a “staycation” but it’s not far from it.
The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa is a great for a weekend getaway any time of the year.
I woke up Sunday morning at 6:40, just in time to catch the sunrise from our third floor room (above).
The frame of our balcony made a nice composition for the dawn of a new day. We were blessed with nice weather all weekend!
The oversized beach chair (left) welcomes visitors to the Westin Hotel and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean beckoning in the background.
Dinner Saturday night at Nunzio Restaurant and Bar featured a delicious lasagne entree that I’m already eager to have again this summer hopefully.
I can’t remember having a better lasagne! Alesia and I split the serving because the bread, Caesar salad and meatballs we had as appetizers were getting us full.
Breakfast at the Westin was also a treat. Sunday morning we enjoyed it outside. The special order omelettes were delicious!
Beach Scenes
Our ocean front room had great views, including of the full moon!
Jarvis Creek Park
We checked out Jarvis Creek Park on Saturday and I’m glad we did. It’s a pretty place with a big pond, hiking trails, plus there were exercise sessions going on and a dog training class as well.
Right away was this interesting alligator encounter. We walked on the small fishing pier and soon noticed this gator swimming our way. We wondered if it had been fed by people. Passing under the pier right below me and my camera offered a unique look at this prehistoric looking creature. I could clearly see its short stubby legs through the clear water. Its large head and spiky back were also prominent from close range.
As we walked around the pond I saw and photographed some different birds. This Anhinga was strutting it’s stuff! The All About Birds website says Anhingas look like flying crosses. How descriptive!
Love the Anhinga reflection in this capture. I just noticed the two turtles on the angled branch directly below the big bird.
What a colorful bill has this duck, the Common Moorhens. Nice reflection here also. It's a bit confusing to me, but this marsh bird is also called Common Gallinule. I need to do some more research to see if there are differences between the two.
Hilton Head Highlights
Dinner Saturday night at Nunzio Restaurant and Bar featured a delicious lasagne entree that I’m already eager to have again this summer hopefully.
I can’t remember having a better lasagne! Alesia and I split the serving because the bread, Caesar salad and meatballs we had as appetizers were getting us full.
Surprisingly at Nunzio, the lasagne is not on the menu every night. It was a special on this day and the fellow at the table next to us had it and said it was really good. That’s why I decided to order it.
Nunzio is on Hilton Head Island at 18 New Orleans Rd.
Breakfast at the Westin was also a treat. Sunday morning we enjoyed it outside. The special order omelettes were delicious!
Being early March, the hotel was not so crowded so we had some fun partaking in the fire pits, corn hole and table tennis.
Beach Scenes
This a common South Carolina shorebird, the Willet.
A pod or squadron of Brown Pelicans fly by.
We were struck by this seemingly mismatched row of homes along the beach.
Don't know if this is seasonal, but dogs are allowed in the Westin Hotel and we saw lots of them on the beach.
Jarvis Creek Park
As we walked around the pond I saw and photographed some different birds. This Anhinga was strutting it’s stuff! The All About Birds website says Anhingas look like flying crosses. How descriptive!
Love the Anhinga reflection in this capture. I just noticed the two turtles on the angled branch directly below the big bird.
The small Pied-billed Grebe diving duck is called “part bird, part submarine” by the All About Birds website.
What a colorful bill has this duck, the Common Moorhens. Nice reflection here also. It's a bit confusing to me, but this marsh bird is also called Common Gallinule. I need to do some more research to see if there are differences between the two.
White Ibis, including juveniles who are more brown than white, feed along the edge of the pond.
Turtle time!
This is an Eastern Box Turtle (I believe).
The sun was being enjoyed by all on this beautiful early March day!
A few final images from this short but sweet weekend excursion…
The impressive King Neptune Statue is at Hilton Head's Shelter Cove Harbour at Palmetto Dunes. The 12-foot bronze statue is a tribute to the Roman god of the sea. It's also a cool sundial and weights one ton!
We really enjoyed the Westin Hotel- 5 stars! And it may be even better next visit as all of the rooms are being remodeled.
You can see Alesia standing on our third floor balcony.
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Impressive fountain at the Westin’s entrance! |
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