Best Tree Service in Kiawah Island

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – A Lowcountry chef was named one of South Carolina’s ‘Chef Ambassadors’ during a special ceremony at the Statehouse Wednesday morning.

Gov. Henry McMaster was joined by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers, and South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director Duane Parrish as they appointed three chefs to serve as South Carolina Chef Ambassadors for 2022.

These chefs prepare dishes using Certified South Carolina produce, meats and seafood, support local farmers and highlight the state’s rich food traditions.

“South Carolina Chef Ambassadors do South Carolina a great service by shining a light on our state’s destinations, signature dishes and locally grown foods, and their own incredible talents,” said Gov. McMaster. “We’re proud to have these three great chefs represent our state.”

Among them is Executive Chef John Ondo of The Atlantic Room on Kiawah Island.

Chef Ondo grew up playing in the tidal creeks of the Lowcountry, according to the governor’s office. It’s something he said left an indelible mark on him as he has spent his 20-plus-year culinary career drawing inspiration from the area’s fields and waterways.

It was here in Charleston where Chef Ondo developed long-lasting relationships with local farmers and fishermen. He often stops by to visit and discuss how crops are coming in and to pick up produce that will appear on plates that same night at The Atlantic Room.

“With his wry sense of humor and affable nature, Chef Ondo is a recognizable spokesperson for Lowcountry foodways,” said Gov. McMaster’s office.

Ondo accepted the honor along with fellow Chef Ambassadors, Chris Williams of Roy’s Grille in Lexington, and Haydn Shaak of Restaurant 17 at Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest.

“Man, had y’all told me all these cameras were gonna be here today I would have brushed my hair,” Ondo joked as he stepped before the podium, just seconds before First Lady Peggy McMaster reached up to brush his hair with her hand.

“This is a huge honor to be able to represent my home state and the hard-working farmers and fishermen and shrimpers, just producers of Carolina products,” he said. “This is a huge honor and I’m happy to be here.”

The governor’s office said the Chef Ambassadors, a program now in its eighth year, will represent South Carolina at food festivals, media events and other forums.

The program was created in 2014 to highlight the state as a top culinary destination. It unites agribusiness and tourism, two of the state’s largest industries, which together contribute tens of billions of dollars to the state’s economy each year and account for hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide, according to Gov. McMaster’s office.

“These three talented Chef Ambassadors honor South Carolina’s diverse culinary heritage and local ingredients,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “Chefs connect with and promote our state’s farmers and help teach us all how to eat fresh, local food in season.”

“Our hospitality industry has been on a rollercoaster ride since March 2020,” said Duane Parrish, Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “From shifting to a to-go model almost overnight, to navigating workforce challenges, to welcoming an influx of visitors as tourism began to rebound – they’ve really seen it all in a very short timeframe. The Chef Ambassador program highlights and celebrates some of the very best of what this resilient and tenacious industry has to offer, and helps showcase just how significant and extraordinary our culinary scene is in the Palmetto State.”

To learn more about the program and past Chef Ambassadors, visit discoversouthcarolina.com/chef-ambassadors.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Two North Atlantic right whales were spotted recently off of Kiawah Island, brining the number of sightings of the endangered animal in Lowcountry waters over the past year to 19.

JR McCroskey and his group of recreational fisherman saw the whales about 15 miles off of Kiawah Island on Christmas Eve.

The sighting was confirmed to News 2 by The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN).

The group first saw the baby come up for air, and couldn’t quite make out what it was.

“I see what I thought was a piece of debris. As we got closer, I noticed some blowing going on kind of like dolphins do. I thought it might be a manatee,” said McCroskey.

When the mother whale surfaced, they realized what they were seeing.

“When a whale comes up that’s twice the size of the boat you’re in then you know exactly what you’re dealing with,” said McCroskey.

According to the LMMN, right whales are critically endangered, with less than 400 reported worldwide.

The most common dangers to right whales are boat propellers and fishing nets. Laws state that vessels must remain 500 yards away from them for protection.

“As soon as we got a picture of (the mother) and a video of her we pulled back and gave them the space they needed,” said McCroskey.

There are multiple documented incidents of whales being seriously injured after collisions with boats.

Given the dangers posed by humans, right whales tend to stay further offshore.

“While it’s not uncommon for right whales to be offshore this time of the year, it’s extremely rare to spot them because there are about 100 breeding females and they typically stay offshore,” said Lauren Rust, the founder of the LMMN. “Your chances of seeing them are greater offshore on a boat, but unlikely from shore.”

Rust says that the population is declining because there are very few breeding females and they can only reproduce once every three to four years.

“With approximately 100 breeding females, reproducing on different years, we see between zero and 25 new calves a year. But sadly, most years, more adults die than new calves are reproduced putting them in a negative decline,” said Rust. “I suspect we will see their extinction in our lifetime.”

McCroskey says that he wants to make sure people realize that right whales are living and calving in the waters from South Carolina to Florida until April.

“Just spreading the word out to the recreational fisherman that these whales are out there and you need to be conscientious because they can wreck a boat,” said McCroskey.

Charleston isn’t the first place people think of as a winter getaway, but it can be a perfect destination for those seeking to escape the big chill of the Northeast or Midwest.

Compared to more popular warm-weather favorites—like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, or Scottsdale—hotel accommodations and restaurant reservations are easier to come by in Charleston, and short-term winter rentals are plentiful at more favorable rates.

Admittedly, you aren’t likely to find beach weather in Charleston during January, February, and March. Still, temperatures hovering around 50-60? make it comfortable enough to spend time outdoors without bundling up in warm winter jackets and gloves. In late December or early January, the slight chance of passing snow flurries might even add a bit of pixie dust to the beauty of the city.

Most attractions and historic sites are open year-round, complemented by unique seasonal festivals and events that woo winter tourists.

A Sampler of Things to Do in Charleston This Winter

Where to stay in Charleston

The city offers a range of accommodations from classic to contemporary at various price points. Many are described on the Explore Charleston website, but here are a few worth checking out:

Emeline, located in Charleston’s historic district, is a captivating perch from which to explore the Holy City. The boutique hotel has 212 all-king bed guest rooms, including 128 luxury suites. In addition, the hotel is home to Frannie & The Fox (a wood-fired eatery with Italian sensibilities), Clerks Coffee Company (a more informal cafe and eatery with a hint of nostalgia), and Keep Shop (an exceptionally well-curated gift shop).

Charleston Place, A Belmond Hotel is another luxury hotel located in the heart of downtown Charleston. The Club Level accommodations, a two-floor collection of renovated rooms and suites, offer private elevator access and check-in. Custom wallpaper in the elevator lobby depicts a circa-1820s map of Charleston, an homage to the city’s history. A concierge can help guests coordinate private tours of nearby plantations and gardens.

The Spectator Hotel on State Street offers an Art Deco-inspired interior reminiscent of the glamor of the 1920s. The boutique hotel is the only one in Charleston with personal butler service, available 24/7, who can coordinate anything from delivering freshly baked gingerbread cookies to setting up in-room eggnogs. Be sure to stop at the Prohibition-era-themed cocktail lounge, The Bar.

Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort is the property’s new 153-room hotel. Award-winning amenities available at the resort year-round include championship golf, nationally ranked tennis, an expansive private beach, a 10,000 square-foot luxury spa, and a 2,750 square foot fitness center.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers 255 guest rooms, many with magnificent ocean views. Especially appreciated by golf lovers, the resort is located on a barrier island about twenty miles from downtown. The gracious 255-room hotel is South Carolina’s only Forbes Travel Guide Five Star hotel.

Sweetgrass Properties is a boutique vacation rental company on Kiawah Island offering a searchable database of luxury rental properties on Seabrook Island, Wild Dunes, and Isle of Palms.

IF YOU GO

Explore Charleston, the convention and visitors bureau website, is an excellent resource for visitors.

The Charleston Heritage Foundation’s Essential Charleston Passport is available for purchase online. It offers guests a digital ticket that includes admission to five remarkable historic houses, the Charleston Museum and the Gibbes Museum of Art.

Direct flights to Charleston are available from Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New Orleans, Boston, New York City, Denver, and several other major cities.

As he jetted home that night from Kiawah Island, Phil Mickelson popped the cork on a favorite vintage and tapped out a message on his phone.

“Life is good,” Mickelson wrote, and it was so.

Mickelson wrote the golf story of 2021 — and one of the best golf stories of all time — on the wind-swept Ocean Course on Kiawah Island in May. The 50-year-old, who was eight years removed from his last major title, became the oldest major champion in the sport’s history by winning the 103rd PGA Championship on Pete Dye’s punishing 7,800-yard layout.

The six-time major champion played it cool all week, moving at a deliberate pace with his brother Tim on the bag, and hiding his emotions behind a pair of ever-present shades.

But there was no playing it cool for the thousands of spectators at Kiawah. After a year in which PGA Tour events were sparsely attended due to COVID-19, the floodgates seemed to open at Kiawah, especially when Mickelson emerged as a contender against a field stuffed with younger stars.

Mickelson fans shouted their support during the week, climbing into trees to get a glimpse of their hero and following him in droves.

On championship Sunday, the dam broke as Mickelson marched up the 18th hole toward victory. He and playing partner Brooks Koepka were swallowed up by thousands of delirious fans who flooded the 18th fairway in a memorable scene.

“Certainly one of the moments I’ll cherish my entire life,” he said after the triumph. “I don’t know how to describe the feeling of excitement and fulfillment and accomplishment to do something of this magnitude, when very few people thought that I could.”

Mickelson’s unexpected victory thrilled his competitors, as well.

“It was like the Phil that I remember watching just when I turned pro and it was great to see,” said South African Louis Oosthuizen, who tied for second with Koepka. “I mean, what an achievement to win a major at 50 years old, and he deserves all of that today.”

Phil’s highest finish on the PGA Tour for the rest of 2021 was a tie for 17th, though he won three times on the Champions Tour. The week after the PGA Championship, he missed the cut.

“But, I won the PGA,” he said with a grin. “So …”

This beachfront sanctuary is less than four hours from Charlotte

Kiawah Island is one of several resort spots along the South Carolina coast where people go to play golf—including the best professional players in the world, who competed in the 2021 PGA Championship in May. Kiawah is so attractive to course developers, resort owners, and golfers because of amenities that nature provides free of charge: 10 miles of white sand beaches, live oaks, and marshes filled with ospreys, egrets, and alligators. It’s a 45-minute drive down the coast from Charleston’s boutiques and restaurants and less than four hours from Charlotte. Golf is the center of Kiawah’s life and economy, but you don’t have to be a scratch player to enjoy yourself here.

STAY: The Sanctuary Hotel and Spa at Kiawah, a luxury oceanfront hotel with 255 rooms, is the centerpiece of the Kiawah Island Resort, which also has 500 villas and rental homes that can accommodate up to 20 people. You can book a spa appointment and grab a round of drinks or a casual lunch at The Ryder Cup Bar and enjoy sweeping views of The Ocean Course and the Atlantic Ocean.

Photographer: Michael Cyra

EAT: The KISS Café in Johns Island, 20 minutes north, serves what locals say is the best breakfast around. Bohicket Marina & Market, just outside the gates of Seabrook Island, is a great spot to grab a cold drink or an ice cream cone after a long day at the beach. Stop by Fischer’s Sports Pub & Grill, a laid-back restaurant with live music, happy hour specials, and crab-leg night every Tuesday. For a date night or special occasion, dine at FortyEight – Wine Bar & Kitchen in Freshfields Village, where you can nibble from a charcuterie board, feast on shrimp scampi or filet mignon, and choose from 48 wines by the glass. You can sample as many varieties as you want with a prepaid card that lets you choose between three tasting sizes at the self-serve wine stations. (They have 48 beers to choose from daily, too.) Save room for some local handcrafted chocolates for dessert.

PLAY: Bring your bike (or rent one at Surfscooter Bikes) and pedal around the oceanfront with the sand beneath your tires, or explore more than 30 miles of paved trails. Stop at Freshfields Village for a cream soda at Vincent’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain, then peruse the shelves for board games, sunglasses, greeting cards, and souvenirs. The outdoor shopping village has mainstays like Lilly Pulitzer and lululemon, plus a mix of local upscale boutiques. Check the event calendar for Music on the Green at the center of the village and pack a towel or beach chair to enjoy an evening of live music. For a quick afternoon adventure, the famed 400-year-old Angel Oak Tree is a 20-minute drive from the resort.

The Ocean Course, where Phil Mickelson won the 2021 PGA Championship in May, has 10 seaside holes, more than any other course in the country. The Sanctuary recently capitalized further on the setting when it opened The Cottages at The Ocean Course, four two-story, four-bedroom cottages next to the clubhouse that overlook the driving range and the Atlantic beyond.