Wonderful Villamare vacation and restaurants on a budget

Hi! Thanks to the help of many on this forum (especially Stan) my family just returned from our fourth consecutive vacation at HHI. Even tropical storm Alberto didn%26#39;t wash out the fun; just added a little extra excitement (and a lot of wind!) to the trip.

First off, let me say that our particular unit, #3528 at Villamare was absolutely gorgeous. The Vacation Company was even kind enough to let us check in over an hour early so that our little one could rest. They came to the room, checked it over and welcomed us personally. The entire condo was extremely well updated, spacious, and comfortable for the 9 of us. The pool was lovely, only wish it was a little bigger due to the number of people staying there, but what do you expect in the middle of June? Also, a nice surprise was that Villamare shares a walkway to/from the Marriott in Palmetto Dunes and my older kids and husband walked over there on more than one occasion to enjoy their outdoor eating area. The beach was the most crowded I had ever seen it, but again, we normally come the first week of June, and according to Greg Russell, beloved performer at Sea Pines, the week we arrived marks the general onslaught of high season.

Next, may I offer a couple of suggestions in regard to restaurants? I don%26#39;t know about anybody else, but we are not millionaires or even hundred thousand-aires. We are a working class family who saves all year to come on vacation. We found several places this trip that we greatly enjoyed at a very reasonable price. To name a couple:

Street Meat: I know it sounds funny, but it%26#39;s actually a very nice place. It%26#39;s in a little shopping plaza off Matthews Road, about a 10 minute ride from Palmetto Dunes. The theme of this restaurant is to take the vest street vendor type food from across the country (think Cincinnati style hot dog or Philly cheese steak) and bring them to one restaurant. One of the owners came out and spoke with us, thanking us for coming and asking how we found out about them. They have only been open a short while (3 months maybe?)

but it was certainly an enjoyable casual dinner.

Jump and Phil%26#39;s: My son is an avid Green Bay Packers fan to put it mildly, so we took him here on his birthday since it boasts that it is the Green Bay Packers connection on HHI. We%26#39;d passed over this place a time or two before, but we won%26#39;t anymore! The staff was extremely frirendly and again, one of the owners (Phil) came out to ask how we liked the place, wanted to know what we%26#39;d like on the TV%26#39;s around us, then came back later to ask how our food was. The service was excellent and they thanked us as we were leaving. This place was a little more expensive but not much and was a first class operation all the way in this poster%26#39;s opinion. Our bill was about $100 without tip for 9 people eating. 6 adults and 3 kids.

Wild Wing Cafe: Most people already know about the Wing but just wanted to give it a shout out because they were such a friendly, bright staff. Several of them stood around and cheered on my 19 year old son as he polished off his ';Braveheart'; wings. He wept actual tears these things were so hot. Very great experience as always at Wild Wing. Lots of fun.

Also, for the budget savvy: For a $5 admission to Sea Pines, you can be highly entetained by Greg Russell under the big oak and your little ones can play to their heart%26#39;s content at the lovely playground they have there in Harbourtown. You can also walk down and stand at the shore of Calibogue Sound and throw shells in the water, or walk down the pier and pull up a crab pot, watch the yachts come in, or just stand in awe of a beautiful sunset. If you%26#39;re lucky you can pull your car over to the side of the road by Lawton Stables and pet a horse or two.... or ten. You really don%26#39;t have to be wealthy to come here and I think that%26#39;s a big misconception!

Wonderful Villamare vacation and restaurants on a budget

I%26#39;m glad you had such a wonderful time--great report---

We loved Srteet Meet the owners are really nice and the food was great. ----Summer

Wonderful Villamare vacation and restaurants on a budget

Lots of other possible budget eating in Port Royal Plaza, the shopping center where Street Meet is.

Next door is Bella Italia, Checkered table Red Sauce Italian and Pizza.

Reilleys North - A northern outpost of the famous Sports bar near Sea

Pines. pretty much the same menu.

Fiesta Fresh - Northern Island outpost of the Mexican Restaurant.

Scratch Kitchen - good Southern cooking - a meat and 2 or three sides. - Sorry closes at 4:00 but will prepare takeout.

Kyoto - Japanese Tapaki table, Sushi, and bento boxes. not as crowded as similar south island places.

Mickey D%26#39;s - no explanation here.

Stan (hhiguy)

You%26#39;re right, Stan, it looked like there was quite an offering in that little plaza; Scratch Kitchen was on our list of places but when my son opted for Jump and Phil%26#39;s it got bumped. Too bad, because their menu touts something called ';attitude adjusting chocolate pie';.... sounds right up my alley!! I also noticed they served banana pudding; that%26#39;s something we make here at home quite often and I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ve ever seen it on a dessert menu anywhere. Can%26#39;t wait to get there next summer and try out a whole new list!