When thinking of Sea Pines and Hilton Head Island, usually two things come to mind- beautiful white beaches and numerous highly acclaimed golf courses.

Since 1987, more than $20 million has been distributed to non-profit organizations from the tournament.  The 43rd Annual Heritage PGA Tour Golf tournament is just around the corner, April 18-24, 2011. This is a great opportunity to see what Sea Pines and Hilton Head Island is all about. In addition to three golf courses and three miles of beaches, Sea Pines Resort has many more amenities for all to enjoy. Two marina villages are inside the plantation, Harbour Town and South Beach Marina both with great shops, dining and multiple water sports. Miles of bike trails through neighborhoods and nature preserves show off the beauty of the resort. Lawton Stables, a full service equestrian center that offers many family activities is also located within the plantation. No matter how many interests you and your family have you can find something for everyone.

The unique circular yacht basin,  along with the many Harbour Town Villas were designed to utilize the incredible views of Calibogue Sound.  Considered the heart of Hilton Head Island, Harbour Town was designed as an intimate village with the ambience of the low country. The Christmas season tends to bring this out.

Start off 2011 right by considering the purchase of your vacation Hilton Head Island home. If you have ever dreamed of that Hilton Head Island Home or Hilton Head Island Villa, now is the perfect time to pursue that dream. According to the National Association of Realtors, more than a half million people bought vacation homes last year. Many are taking advantage of low real estate prices and mortgage rates combined with the potential revenue and are purchasing that home or villa. Historically baby boomers have led the purchases, but the current market is enabling younger purchasers.

Sea Pines Resort and Palmetto Dunes Resort both offer inclusive resort amenities complete with beach, golf, tennis, water sports, shopping and dining without leaving the resort. Shipyard Plantation is private and has more of a community atmosphere with beach access, golfing, dining and is conveniently located to shopping and dining. Forest Beach is considered the downtown area with beach, shopping and dining.

Hilton Head Island Homes, located on golf courses can be very attractive at this time of year. With the majority of the country grabbing their shovels to dig out from the snow, many Hilton Head Home Owners are grabbing their clubs and heading to the links. There are more than 50 championship courses on or around the Island. The two resorts that come to mind first are Sea Pines Resort and Palmetto Dunes Resort.

 Sea Pines Resort is probably one of the most popular or at least one of the most well known. There is a wide variety of Sea Pines Homes that enjoy golf course views. The three championship golf courses give future Hilton Head Home Owners a great selection to choose from. The most well known is the Harbour Town Golf Links that hosts the Heritage golf tournament, a PGA event. The Ocean Course and Heron Point are not to be overshadowed by Harbour Town. All three courses are full of centuries-old hardwoods, lagoons and marshes. Sea Pines Resort offers additional amenities once you come off the links. There are 3 miles of sandy beaches, the Sea Pines Racquet Club, two unique marina villages, unlimited water sports and much more.

Palmetto Dunes Home owners also enjoy a great variety of golf course home sites to choose from. There are three championship courses in a beautiful natural setting designed by three legendary golf architects. Each course is unparalleled in design but distinctly different and challenging. There is the Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront course, the George Fazio Course and the Arthur Hills Course. In addition to the pleasure an avid golfer gets from a golf course home, there are many other amenities available. There are three miles of pristine beaches, an award winning tennis center and Shelter Cove Harbour with an abundance of shopping, dining and water sports.

So often, our lifestyles are so busy we overlook a forgotten piece of paradise in Sea Pines Plantation. Whether you are already a Hilton Head Island resident or vacationer looking for that perfect Sea Pines home you need to take the time and explore the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is open to Sea Pines real estate owners, their guests and visitors of the resort. Made up of 605 acres that offers hiking, fishing, picnicking and wildlife viewing. The landscape is made up of sand ridges and wetlands that was sculpted by changing sea levels over the past 15,000 years.  The first inhabitants were the Nomadic Indians over 4,000 years ago. It has since been used for growing rice, indigo and cotton. You can still see traces of the Indians and rice fields.

Sea Pines Plantation is one of the most unique communities on the east coast showcasing more than you could ever expect in an oceanfront resort. With 3 miles of pristine beaches, two unique marina villages, 4 incredible golf courses, fantastic tennis facilities, miles of bike trails and two nature preserves, Sea Pines Plantation has something for everyone's passion.