The Beach House, a Holiday Inn Resort Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - Family Travel

We are thrilled our Summer Family Travel Adventures took us to The Beach House, a Holiday Inn Resort  Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 


As a young college girl, we LOVED out weekends at Hilton Head Island.  The delight of this Island is like no other.  So naturally, before I began my big city corporate job (back in New Orleans working from Lawyers who were colleagues or my Dad), I Nannied on Hilton Head Island to extend the fun, ponder my life and make more memories.

They were treasured times.  Yet, as I cared for this precious little one and a half year old girl, I dreamed of having my own family some day and playing on these same beaches.

This Summer we finally came full circle and our Family Road Trip travels took us back to Sea Pines to climb the Lighthouse and watch fireworks, catch a lightning storm on the beach (it as a long ways away but still incredible for my weather lovers).  We retreated to the Tiki Hut afterwards.

The Beach House Resort is a perfect Family Resort with Ocean Front Property.  They have a wonderful Swimming Pool,  and even Ping Pong Tournaments by the Pool!  Our son won!  How's that for a Kids' Memory, "I won The Beach House, Hilton Head Island, Ping Pong Tournament Summer 2013!"




Biking is a beautiful way to explore the Island and the Beach.  




We LOVE to Boogie Board so we were often on the beach IN the water. Occasionally, 
for a quick pic you can find us like this. :)






We loved waking up to the calm of the shore every morning.  LOVE our view?!  We did, too! 



WE even sat poolside and read a little.  It was very relaxing at The Beach House. 




They have all the gear. This day, we just used the towels by the pool and swam a little. 


More of the Poolside Ping Pong fun! 

The Beach House HHI Resort Ping Pong Poolside

Did you know Savannah, Georgia is only a 45 minute drive from Hilton Head Island. 
So we took the opportunity to escape the heat of the day on the beach.  We had lunch 
at Paula Deen's "Lady & Sons!"  We LOVED it.  Every time we have been to 
Savannah as a family, Lady & Sons was closed and we were on the path 
directly to Disney World, so this was the time. 

It was FABULOUS! 

Land & Sons Hoe Cakes Savannah
Happy parents to enjoy Southern Cooking on vacation.  


Our boys devoured this awesomeness and made their Southern Mama so proud!  We all
hydrated up with water but you know we all sipped a little Mint Sweet Tea 
from Mrs. Paula! Oh yum! 
Paula Dean's Mint Sweet Tea

Back to The Beach House, here is our room. I LOVED this picture of the Lighthouse at Harbor Town, so voila. 



Our happy family in our happy place, God's Creation, the Beach! 

Hilton Head Island Family Photo Shoot

The Tiki Hut keeps refreshment going all day and Ice Water waiting by the 
boardwalk. This was very handy.  There was live beach music which always sounded 
convivial. 

The Beach House Tiki Hut

Another pretty site on the HHI Beach....


Dad and the Boys setting up our umbrella for Mom, mainly, because 
they last FOREVER in the Waves! 


I took a nice Run, my 5k, on the beach a couple times. 
It was awesome to run on the beach and no one was there. My guys were boarding. 


The Palm Trees were abundant, the Customer Service at The Beach House was 
very attentive and helpful.  We LOVED our room and used the refrigerator 
for our picnic foods, water and gatorade lite. 

Mom Fashion at Hilton Head Island Monogramed Hat

Yes, confirmed, I am slower running in heat and humidity by a few minutes! 
Runner's World is right. Apparently, I'm not the only one. The beach was the sweet reward. 


And my reading of "A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet!" by Boo Mama. 


This is what our day looked like! 


Happy to be back at The Salty Dog Cafe Sea Pines with my Family. 



LOVED seeing my Hanes and The Salty Dog Cafe working together.  
Our boys adore their Hanes Salty Dog Tee Shirts! 

Hanes Salty Dog Cafe Tee Shirts

This was our favorite lunch!  Here we are full circle!  My family. 


And the heavens opened up and my precious college friend, we were in each 
other's Weddings, she was at the South Beach Marina, too!! 
How fortuitous! to see each other after too many years! 



We introduced our Children to each other!! Precious times. Her husband, high school sweetheart, 
was in California litigating away as he does so well.  We captured the memory!  They were 
enjoying Summer days at Hilton Head preparing their daughter for UCLA this Fall!  Life is beautiful. 


Our last night we climbed to the top of the Lighthouse and savored every second. 
Snapped a million pictures and watched the storm roll in that my son noticed probably 
before the weathermen.  


We closed our Hilton Head Island memories this Sunset at the top of the Lighthouse! 
Forever thankful and grateful for these summer memories! 



The Beach House is a beautiful property to make Family Travel Memories for a lifetime.  We loved working with them.



You may Rent Bicycles at The Beach House and enjoy exploring the Island and the Beach! 



Just so you know The Salty Dog Cafe Food is fabulous....


The Salty Dog Cafe Shrimp Po Boy

I LOVED my Ladies Lunch which was a refreshing Shrimp Salad plate.  Here's some Ping Pong with the Parents. Memories.  My Parents did this! :)


Just horsing around at the Beach. My boys love to play in the Tidal Pools. 


Here is a section of the huge pool. :) Happy faces. 


Our boys LITERALLY Swam with a Dolphin the morning we left. I will post a 
video later. It was a once in a lifetime experience. We jogged along the beach while they 
swam parallel with a Dolphin! :)  This is literally an iPhone snapshot I took from shore. 
Our boys and a Dolphin! 

Swim with Dolphin at Hilton Head Island


We enjoyed Ice Cream at Coligny Plaza!  Coligny has everything!  It is located right across
the street from The Beach House Resort. 

Ice Cream at Coligny Plaza

Our family Relaxing at The Beach House on the Porch. :)



It was hard to leave, we will not say good-bye, just until next time. 


Warmly, Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by the The Beach House, Holiday Inn Resorts.  All opinions are my own. 

Graphic Image 50% OFF One Day Sale "Christmas in July"


 Summer is swimming by!  


July already?!  That means one thing, Christmas in July!  Graphic Image presents its BIGGEST sale! Now! 


Yes! It's that time again and Graphic Image is running their annual Christmas in July one-day Sale.  


You might have seen it last year on www.GraphicImage.com.  It’s the Graphic Image site-wide sale and everything is 50% off.  


Now, is the time to order your fall items, Christmas Gifts, etc.  Get first choice of colors and be ahead of the game.  


In addition, there will be a few select GiGi New York items on sale so pop over to www.GiGiNewYork.com.   


Only exclusion: the 2014 datebooks, as normally they are not available this early in the year. 


The sale starts late afternoon of Sunday, July 14th and runs through Monday, July 15th. 


Get your order in because 50% is really Christmas in July!  Thank you Graphic Image for such a fun sale! 


Warmly,

Carolina Mama


FTC Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Graphic Image. All opinions are my own. 

Rayovac 7 Hour Instant Charge for Your USB Devices


Do you want to be fully charged on the go with all of your devices?!  Of course, we all do. Right!  Rayovac has you covered Charged! 

We are so thrilled!  Spring and Summer is when we travel most and we cannot wait to try out this  latest power pack on our trips.  I can imagine being in the airport without cell charge and voila, the Rayovac 7 Hour Power Charge!  

Powered with (4) Rayovac AA alkaline batteries will charge me iPhone up fully!  And all Samsung, Blackberry, Androids (whew, I said it, on the blog! lol) and most USB devices are fully compatible. 

See the latest for Rayovac brand new portable power products, the 7-Hour Power. This device will charge ALL USB connector devices. 







With enough power to give your device a complete charge, the Back Up Power Pack provides up to seven hours of instant mobile power! Using Rayovac Alkaline Batteries, it’s a powerful external battery for your mobile device.

Features & Benefits:
Instant Emergency Power for your mobile device
Powered by 4 Rayovac AA Alkaline Batteries (included)
One set of batteries provides up to 7 hours of talk time
Compatible with all USB connector devices
Great for emergencies; No electricity needed
LED light indication – power and charge status


Follow Rayovac for the latest technology products: 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Rayovac 
Twitter: @rayovac 

Hope you enjoy and let me know where you would use the Rayovac 7 Hour Power Charge most?!  Here's my answer: Everywhere! Those who know me, know that I love my devices and being down on power is not a good thing. So I will use this everywhere.  Starting tonight.

Warmly, Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosuer:  I am a Rayovac Power Blogger. All opinions are my own. 

North Carolina Tourism Launches New VisitNC.com

We are so excited to learn from the North Carolina Department of Tourism about their we and enhanced website.  

North Carolina Tourism Launches New VisitNC.com

Enhanced Content, Engaging Experience to Drive Referrals to Partner Sites



RALEIGH, N.C. (July 9, 2013) — For the first time since 2009, the North Carolina Division of Tourism has significantly enhanced its digital presence with a new website for consumer travel planning. VisitNC.com features a fresh look with dynamic content and responsive web design to make travel planning easier and more interactive.

In addition to its agile design, the new website aligns with the Division’s key focus of showcasing North Carolina’s beauty and continued growth of downstream referrals to industry partners’ sites. In 2012, downstream referrals increased 10 percent on record traffic of more than 4 million visitors.

VisitNC.com is the preeminent consumer travel planning website for North Carolina and the centerpiece of our tourism marketing efforts,” said Wit Tuttell, director of tourism marketing for the Division, which is part of the state Department of Commerce. “The site plays a critical role in promoting the state’s tourism industry, which directly supports nearly 200,000 jobs for North Carolina residents and contributes $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenues.”

The Division of Tourism kicks off the website launch with the “Beauty Amplified Photo Sweepstakes,” which offers visitors a chance to win three exclusive trips of a lifetime. Consumers can go to visitnc.com/beauty-amplified to enter and find additional details.

A major component of VisitNC.com is its responsive design, which provides an optimal layout and user experience for any screen size — from mobile devices to web-enabled televisions. In just four years, mobile traffic on VisitNC.com has grown from 1.3 percent to 33 percent.

“With so many people using mobile devices to make their travel plans, it was important for us to provide a compelling user experience regardless of platform,” Tuttell said. “Whether someone goes to the site on a cell phone, tablet or computer screen, the new VisitNC.com will showcase the state’s awesome landscapes and also reflect the character — the people and places — that adds depth to the journey.”

The website is part of a brand evolution that includes the Division’s “beauty amplified” tagline. A custom-designed logo and typeface build on North Carolina’s position as a place of unrivaled scenic beauty where deeper connections happen. The site was developed in collaboration with Charlotte-based Luquire George Andrews (LGA), the Division’s marketing agency of record.

To shape the site’s content-first architecture, the web team used a research-based approach that drew on consumer traveler studies, usability testing and partner input. Among the enhancements of the newVisitNC.com:

  • Integrated, sharable content. The website is designed to engage visitors in exploring North Carolina and sharing what they learn. Site users can find compelling content by interest, inspiration, geography and date with multiple types of content — videos, trip ideas, feature stories, listings and reviews — gathered around a specific place or topic. One-click sharing via popular social media platforms extends the site's reach.
  • Increased rich media. A new, 90-second “Deeper Journey” video overview of the state is featured on the website and the Division of Tourism’s YouTube channel. Vignettes from the popular North Carolina Weekend program are accessible from VisitNC.com through the Division’s partnership with UNC-TV.
  • Consumer reviews. Listings include third-party insights from TripAdvisor.com. The partnership with TripAdvisor.com reinforces VisitNC.com’s status as the go-to source for North Carolina travel information.
  • Improved keyword search. New content is indexed immediately so that visitors access the most up-to-date information.
  • Industry partner enhancements. Data entry has been streamlined to make it easier for attractions, businesses, event sponsors and others to initiate and update listings. VisitNC.com’s comprehensive statewide database includes 18,500 entries representing accommodations, attractions, restaurants, events, golf courses, seasonal special offers, travel professionals and 375 local and regional destination marketing organizations.

About North Carolina Tourism:
The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development is part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Its mission is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. In 2012, the state welcomed 45.4 million visitors and ranked sixth nationally in visitation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Margo Metzger 919-733-7420margo@visitnc.com or Suzanne Brown (919) 715-6703  sbrown@nccommerce.com

I know you are as excited as we are!  Enjoy and come Visit NC!

Warmly,

Carolina Mama

FREE Apple APPS and Games - Happy Birthday Apple APP Store - Get it!

From ABC's "Tech Out!" I discovered Apple is celebrating Apple APP Store's Birthday with a little something FREE.

FREE Apple APPS and Games for the Win and Celebrating.

So I am set up - Thank You Apple!  Over, Barefoot World Atlas and more.

Barefoot World Atlas


Join the party with this link:  :) show all of the 10 free apps and games

Have fun all of my fellow Apple fans.

Warmly, Carolina Mama

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

God Bless America! Land that I love! So thankful.  Many blessings to you and yours.

Happy 4th! 


Warmly,
CarolinaMama

FREE Cirque du Soleil Quidam Tickets and Discounted Tickets- Raleigh

***Edited to Announce Winner:  #8 Madison.  Congratulations!  Please email us your contact information. 

Have you heard?  Cirque du Soleil is coming to town!



We love all things music, theatre, beauty and I love the Raleigh's PNC arena.  And there is a great opportunity for you to Win (4) FREE Tickets to this year's Quidam by Cirque du Soleil at Raleigh's PNC Arena. 

See the amazing and beautiful Preview Trailer from Cirque du Soleil.



If you want to make sure you have tickets take advantage of this amazing SALE and purchase your discounted tickets. 

ONE DAY SALE JULY 4th!  

Enjoy big savings from Cirque du Soleil – July 4th ONLY! For 24 hours, save $25 on tickets to see Quidam by Cirque du Soleil at PNC Arena. Offer valid July 4th from 12:00am-11:59pm for all performances and select price levels.


Discount offer valid online only using the above link, during the promotional time period or while supplies last. Prices vary; offer valid on all performances $75/$70 and $60/$55 tickets only. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Other restrictions may apply.

Enter to WIN (4) Tickets to the July 10th Cirque du Soleil Quidam Raleigh Show. 

*Enter in Comments below by telling me who you would take with you to the Show if you won. Family, Friends, Your Children, etc.  Good Luck!  This will be so fun! 

**My Giveaway ends on July 8th at 8am.  Winner is chosen on Random.com.  Winner must have a valid email and replay within 24 hours to secure tickets.  Another winner will be drawn if need be. 


See you at the Show!

Warmly, Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cirque du Soleil PNC Arena.  All opinions are my own.