I’m back from Hilton Head Island after an incredible week of golfing on courses beyond my ability, biking on the beach, shark fishing, eating amazing food and spending time with great people (thanks MB and Dave!). As with past blogging breaks, I’m back with renewed energy and an inspired outlook on the future.

Like most people, I knew Hilton Head Island exclusively as a golf destination, and rightfully so, there are some amazing courses, but in my short time there I learned this unique island is much more than that. It’s rich with history, luxury real estate and activities that can pique a variety of interests.

What I want to touch on in this post is Hilton Head’s focus on sustainable development. The town’s Natural Resources Division enforces the Land Management Ordinance which minimizes the impact of development and governs the style of buildings and how they are situated amongst existing trees.As a result, Hilton Head Island enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover relative to the amount of development.

If you’re interested, you can find the entire ordinance here. The ordinance includes the preservation of trees, native vegetation, wetlands and beaches and reviews all developments to assure that all resources are protected to the maximum extent. The focus on preservation is clearly evident when driving through the town.

This focus on sustainability and preservation will be critical to the island’s long-term viability. In a town that has been hit hard by the recession, maintaining much of the untouched shoreline, beautiful golf courses, and sense of nature will keep people coming back to this gem along the Atlantic.

Also as part of my trip I was also lucky enough to spend an afternoon wandering some of the 22 squares and historic waterfront of Savannah. Savannah’s downtown area includes the Savannah Historic District and the Savannah Victorian Historic District which make up one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. We were surrounded by history everywhere we looked, including the awesome restaurant where we had lunch, thanks to a friend’s recommendation,  Vics on the River.

The building was originally used as a warehouse and later housed Steven Shipping Company. During the war between the States, General Sherman’s lesser officers used the empty offices for planning space. The main dining area of the restaurant showcases a map that was hand-drawn by Union soldiers detailing Sherman’s march from Tennessee through Georgia.

The map was originally found in 1901 during a renovation of the building and the restaurant maintained a small portion which is on display in the main dining room. Historic features like this can be seen all throughout the city. Here are some photos of the city’s unique architecture and historic buildings. I was really amazed at the almost maintained decay of some of the buildings.

Have you been to Hilton Head or Savannah? What do you think?