TAT fam, don’t you just want to get away sometimes? Don’t you long to just get away from the challenges and stresses of your day-to-day lives to clear your head, even if it’s just for a weekend? Well, I needed a break from the hustle & bustle of Atlanta, so I jumped in the car with my ‘Mister’ and we headed south on I-75 to Savannah/Hilton Head.
1st Stop Savannah
On our way to Hilton Head we made a stop in Savannah at the SCAD Museum of Art (scadmoa.org). I love visiting museums when I travel, and this is one of my favorite contemporary art museums. They always have creative exhibits that showcase a wide range of artists, photographers and designers.
The SCAD Museum is housed in a National Historic Landmark that is the only surviving antebellum railroad complex in the country. The 1953 brick structure that was once a railroad is a work of art alone. You can still see original high ceilings and some of the original brick and timber displayed throughout the museum.
2nd Stop Hilton Head Island
After touring the SCAD Museum we continued our journey to Hilton Head. We decided to stay at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa (westinhiltonheadisland.com). The drive from Savannah to Hilton Head is not the most scenic drive, but once you turn off the highway headed to the resort you start to see the true beauty of Hilton Head.
Our stay started with a nice valet attendant greeting us and assisting us with parking and our bags. We walked into the lobby which was beautiful and very inviting, so I knew right then our weekend getaway was off to a great start. The front desk representative, Sally, was very welcoming and helpful with telling us about the resort. Our room was very spacious and included with a private balcony with beautiful views of the resort, which was a perfect home away from home for the weekend.
We decided to eat at the hotel the first night of our stay. Eating at a hotel restaurant can sometimes be a gamble, but I have found some amazing hotel restaurants in my travel, and this was no exception. We started the evening by making a stop at the bar and chatting with the bartender, David. He was very knowledgeable about Hilton Head and gave us some great suggestions on where to eat on the island.
We started dinner by ordering the Charleston She Crab Soup and the Duck Duo Salad as our appetizers. We loved both of the appetizers, but let me say this, the She Crab Soup was the best I’ve EVER had (yes I said EVER), and it’s worth a visit back to Hilton Head just for the soup! The entrees were delicious too. My ‘Mister’ had the delicious Lump Crab & Shrimp Linguine and I had the Filet Mignon. Dinner was perfect, and I can now add Carolina Café at the Westin Hilton Head to my list of favorite restaurants.
We spent the majority of the time relaxing, so we didn’t take full advantage of the activities and amenities at the hotel. We did get out to walk the beautiful grounds each morning on the trail. The Westin Hilton Head has a beautiful pool with a bar/lounge area overlooking the beautiful beach. You can also play a round of golf, tennis and relax at the spa located on the grounds of the hotel.
While there we also dined at the Skull Creek Boathouse (skullcreekboathouse.com) in Hilton Head. This is a pretty popular place for both tourists and local residents. They have a fun casual atmosphere with a large patio overlooking the water. We enjoyed the live band and cocktails while we waited on our table. The seafood was fresh and very tasty, and the bill didn’t break the bank.
We wrapped up our weekend by making another stop in Savannah on our way home. I couldn’t go to Savannah without seeing my Grambling alumni, DeShawn and her beautiful family. We met for brunch at Soho South Café (sohosouthcafe.com) in the heart of Historic Downtown Savannah. We had a great brunch packed with old stories and a lot of laughs. After brunch we took in the beautiful scenery and architecture of Savannah before hitting the road.
I left the stresses of Atlanta for an amazing weekend and returned to Atlanta rested and refreshed. Make sure you keep Savannah/Hilton Head in mind if you are looking for a quick affordable weekend getaway.
Photos Credit: Yours truly, Mario Benoit aka Mister Media & Westin Hilton Head website