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FLL-Charleston Trip Layover Consideration

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Alzira II, Apr 11, 2021.

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  1. Alzira II

    Alzira II Member

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    Hello Gang, Im going to take the boat back to Charleston and I will have some guests who are new to coastal boating-all experienced boaters only FW not SW. I am picking them up at port Cananveral where they will fly in. Then I was thinking I would do a good solid run and layover at Ferdinand Beach which has a nice quaint town and a new marina. Then Day 2 maybe do a shorter run and maybe stop at Hilton Head? This first day would be a good solid run but then a convenient town to stretch our legs and get some good dinner. The Second day to HH would be shorter, we could run all the way to Charleston but I don't want to just make it all about running the boat but I would be skipping over the entire state of Florida on day 1.
    Any thoughts or destinations that I am overlooking? I have never done a Hilton Head layover. Any marina recommendations in HH? the ability to dock and walk around and get some good grub is a plus. Taking in some low country/beach culture is great.
  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Love those hush puppies. Yes Hilton Head. Only one place really. The island's ok, but for an overnight I'd stay at the marina. You can fuel, have a nice dinner, do a little shopping and wander the marina. Beaufort, S.C. is also a lovely little town with charm and history in case you're going inside the next day. But if you're going to run outside the next day I'd stick with HH.
  3. maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

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    Check fuel priced in Hilton Head. Last time I was there, I came in dead empty, and filled up without asking. It wasn’t quite Nantucket pricing, but it was significantly more than I paid anywhere else that Summer.
  4. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Yes you pay for the convenience, plus your choices are limited. There's an RV park around the corner after you come under the bridge. They have a fuel dock and I think they're cheaper. Fueled there a few times when I had the time.
  5. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I assume you're saying Harbour Town, located at Sea Pines, but Shelter Cove is very nice, located at Palmetto Dunes. Need to be careful to check any that are reciprocal agreement clubs as some of those are not currently accepting transients.
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I'd stop in Brunswick, GA at the Morningstar marina and skip over Fernandina. Hilton Head, yeah Harbourtowne is very nice with bars, restaurants, shopping etc.
  7. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Sorry but DK from Sea Pines or Shelter Cove. Generally stayed at Harbour Town and once by the RV park where I also fueled a few times and once over in Beaufort for a couple of days. Lots of one night stays in my business and not generally too much exploring far from the marinas unless awaiting repairs. My only experience with HH beyond the marinas was cabbing over to a nice restaurant across the island and a trip to the hospital There's also a private marina which is where I think you're talking about reciprocal agreement clubs, but that I'd have no knowledge about except that they don't like wakes. Fortunately I was never the one they were calling out at.
  8. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Don't think I've stopped in Brunswick but Fernandina is a really nice town with some good places to eat and it's a day's run from there to HH inside or out. Call early to reserve your spot though. I always tried to avoid Ga cause of the flies.
  9. tusindtak

    tusindtak Member

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    I was at Harvour Town at HH on last Wednesday. Pleasant, not buggy at all. Several bar/restaurants at the harbor. All going strong.
  10. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    I just did Hilton head to Fernadina to Cape Carnival. Fernadina did have a nice downtown that’s very walk able. We home base in Harbour Town. In the marina there are two restaurants with nicer one being rebuilt. That leaves the burger shack which is great for burgers or the Crazy Crap which is just ok. The golf country club house ( open to public) is much better and just a 4-5 minute walk.
  11. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Exactly. It's an easy inlet, immediate proximity to the inlet for the next leg, and an overall terrific marina that I've used several times to break up this trip. I would go there directly from Canaveral.
  12. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    Morning star is a good marina and a good restaurant but that’s it. If you guest want to get off and explore there is nothing.
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Fernandina beach is a great stop, nice little town.

    not a fan of HH, instead I prefer Savannah. I ve often docked downtown at river Side dock. A bit of detour but worth it

    Beaufort SC is a nice stop as well
  14. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    We love both, but think Savannah is one of the most overlooked destinations on the coast. We also like to dock downtown, incredible access to the city, quality docks. We like to explore the river in our tenders as well.

    One reason we didn't mention Savannah is that with their destination of Charleston, then Hilton Head is a great contrast while Savannah does share many attributes with Charleston.
  15. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Savannah is a nice city, but I've only been there by land cause it's too far up river and out of the way while in transit. Beaufort S.C. is really lovely as are the residents I've met there. If you remember the movie Cape Fear that's where it was filmed. Just keep in mind that they're very serious about their No Wake zone. Also remember that it's pronounced Bufort as opposed to the one in N.C. Unfortunately if you're running the ocean it's a little out of the way, but if you're staying inside I highly recommend it.
  16. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    A really easy UBER ride into St. Simons (10 mins) where there's a beautiful lighthouse, beaches, shops, bars, restaurants, etc.
  17. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Morningstar is a nice marina, but there's really no place walkable from there. So it would not be my first choice for the OP given his plan for entertaining friends and also Georgia's flies. Most of my stays there were because of a slow boat or bad seas. What's the story about coming past the salvage work?
  18. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    No problem at all, I was just in there a few weeks ago. All of that work is outside of the channel and it's a nice easy inlet. A ship's port. Fernandina was very nice, now it's just ok, between the city marina being closed for a few years while the city fought over who was going to pay to rebuild it and covid, some of the businesses and restaurants are no longer there. Plus you have the nasty smell and dust from the paper mill if the winds anywhere out of the South.
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2021
  19. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Agreed. That's what we do. Then again, depends on one's definition of "layover". To me, layover is a brief rest between destinations, typically for fuel, sleep, weather. Perhaps that has a different meaning to others.
  20. Alzira II

    Alzira II Member

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    I would love to try Savannah but I have read some mixed reviews on active captain about the downtown docks. There are several to choose from. Olderboater do you recommend a particular dock?