Destination: Hilton Head

Choosing a vacation destination is arguably the must important part when it comes to travel. It's also one of the hardest things to do.

Almost instantly after Vacation 2011 ended, we entered into the discussion about what we would do for Vacation '12. There were some very serious things that needed to be discussed. First, we had to look at the things we had done before. This was done in the most scientific manner possible. Matt, Katie, and I printed a blank map of the United States. We took three different markers. One color was used for states we had visited on our own, another was used for states that two of us had visited, a third was used for states that all three of us had occasion to pass through.

For me, this was a very dismal experience. I realized that of the three of us, I was the least traveled. I realized that of the three of us, my travel experience was far inferior. In a way, this was a blessing. It gave us a far bigger range. However, there was also the second criteria which we need to meet.

Wherever we went, it had to have an Ocean. My first ocean experience was in Virginia Beach but I think our obsession started with it when we took a trip to the Outer Banks (stories forthcoming). The nights we spent on the beach, staring out at the vastness of the Atlantic pretty much solidified our love of anything related to the ocean.

Naturally, looking at a map resulted in very few choices. Sure, there might happen to be another coast in the United States. I have yet to experience visual proof of this, though, and until such an occasion presents itself, I will continue to think of the Pacific as very creative myth. Given the financial situation of those of us in our mid-twenties and our geographic position, the allure of the Atlantic is irresistible if only for the fact that most of it is within driving distance.

Our first real vacation was to Virginia. After that, North Carolina. As I said, looking at the map and a southwardly precedent gave us very few options. It was South Carolina or nothing else.

Of course, simply choosing South Carolina was only the first step. Obviously, there's Myrtle Beach. After we'd chosen South Carolina, nearly everyone I mentioned vacation to asked if we were going to Myrtle Beach. Admittedly, this was the first thing that popped into my mind as well. Honestly, with my limited sense of geography, I wasn't sure if there was anywhere else to go in South Carolina.

But with a limited amount of research (Wikipedia), I realized there were a few more options. We decided against Myrtle Beach almost instantly on account of it being too touristy. Aside from that, we were looking at the many beaches outside of Charleston as well as Hilton Head Island.

At the time, I was working at a grocery store for over privileged people. I encountered numerous people with Hilton Head Island bumper stickers. Unfortunately, this pretty much made up my mind. After two years in the Outer Banks, I was ready for something a bit more touristy.

And this is how Hilton Head was chosen. After that came the months and months of travel planning that eventually result in one of our vacations. But more on that come.