I'm sooo jealous. This is the first time in five years that we
won't be there for the week between Xmas & New Years'. (Ah, school calendars this year didn't match up to timeshare weeks :annoyed: and I won't miss Xmas Eve at home with my family. Oh well, we'll be back next year!!) I agree with Janette. I could spend the week just riding my bike and walking on the beach - the weather in HH is great for those things this time of year. Swimming in the pool followed by a dip in the hot tub is fun too. The Marriott pools are usually nicely heated (I think only 1 outdoor is heated at GO and the indoor). We usually swim every day.
We also find most restaurants are open, none are crowded, so you don't ever have to wait for a table. Not like the summer! There's a new place in the group of restaurants and bars down by the main Sea Pines gate, right next to HH Brew Co. I can't think of name right now (it's late, I'm tired). When it comes to me, I'll post it (or I'll ask Hubby and post it

). Anyway they had great ribs and many half-price appetizers at Happy Hour. We really liked it there and the food was very good and very reasonably priced. Used to
love HH Brew Co. but haven't been there since it reopened and have heard some not-so-good things about it. I second Frankie Bones - they used to have a great early bird special too. Check it out. I like the Brick Oven Cafe. Food is good and they also have a good Happy Hour special there with half-price appetizers at the bar and a huge martini list. A favorite for seafood is Hudson's on the bay. It's way up the north end of the island. Also, when we're just looking for a casual, relaxed, inexpensive-but-good meal, we like Reilly's Pub. There's one at each end of the island but we have only ever been to the north end (tend to stay up that way more often). And like Dave said, Wild Wings is always fun and the wings, sandwiches, and dips are good. Not a place to go for conversation, though, as it is usually quite noisy there.
And there are some great bargains to be had, especially in the days after Xmas. There's a great Hallmark store up by the Barnes & Noble, right next to Walgreens (Indigo Run shopping center where Walmart and Publix are, but up in the strip near 278). I go there every year after Xmas and always get lots of great bargains, including some great half-price Hallmark ornaments. Bath & Body Works in the Shelter Cove Mall is another favorite for after-Xmas buys.
Mostly we just relax (biking and walking are relaxing to me, Hubby loves golf) and enjoy the gorgeous weather, glad to be out of the freezing northern temperatures!!