David and Donna Weir

We live in a small town, Chardon, in northeast Ohio. It is considered the 'snow capital' of our area and while we love the snow - we REALLY appreciate the mild temperatures of Hilton Head. We have three children, all out of the house (one who lives out of the country), and a grandson on the way. David is a healthcare administrator and Donna is a high school counselor. We enjoy riding bicycles, kayaking, walking, and most recently, ballroom dancing (Donna enjoys the dancing more than David:) David likes to golf and Donna golfs - very badly!! We also love to travel and vacation, particularly when it involves other cultures and wildlife.

Both of us enjoy food (who doesn't) and trying new restaurants. Donna likes to cook and the regional foods - fresh seafood, and regional southern dishes, are fun to try.

David & Donna Weir purchased this villa in 2011

Our friends own a Villa in Ocean Palms and invited us to stay with them this past July. We fell in love with Hilton Head, Ocean Palms, and all the wonderful activities in the area.

Hilton Head is a reasonable drive for anyone living in Ohio and there are actually some fun places to stop on the way down. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Lexington, Kentucky and are expecting their first baby. Hilton Head is a one day trip for them and we look forward to 'raising' our new grandson with memories of fun on the island.

Ocean Palms is a ten minute walk from the ocean - perfect for early morning or late night walks on the beach. Ocean Palms is a quiet community, even in peak season, which makes it wonderful for a quiet get away and families. The amenities available to us through the Westin are a nice addition - especially the children's activities.

We are so impressed with the careful planning in Hilton Head. The island has all the amenities; shopping, restaurants, etc. and yet it is all hidden behind beautiful palm trees which makes one feel as though you are in the middle of a tropical island. Great ecological planning. Ocean Palms is a short walk, about 10 minutes, from the beautiful white sand beach. We have been there in the busiest seasons and the beach never feels crowded. Everyone you pass on the beach says hello - friendly and relaxed. Trails all over the island allow you to jump on a bike and go anywhere. There is a little seafood market, just minutes by bike, where you can get fresh fish, she crab soup, keylime pie - yum!! Inland waterways are great for kayaking and dolphins come along side the kayak. It's fun to kayak along the waterways and view some of the beautiful homes.

David likes to golf and the golf courses are lovely. It's nice that free golf is a perk of staying in Ocean Palms and even though I am a terrible golfer, it's fun to walk the course. Neither of us know much about tennis, but with free tennis courts right in Ocean Palms, we go over and hit balls back and forth (or run after the tennis balls:) There are innumerable restaurants on the island, from casual to gourmet, and everything in between. We can give you a list and directions to some of our favorites.

And then, the relaxed nature of the island atmosphere just makes the time go in slow motion and you feel the tension and fast pace of everyday life just drift away like the ocean tides. Love it!! And then there are the turtles - turtle mounds that you can adopt, waiting for the little turtles to hatch and scurry out to sea. One of these times I am going to be on the beach to see them make their way to the ocean.

We really want Hilton Head to become our family home away from home. We want our children and grandchildren to carry memories of family vacations on the island. Hilton Head is the right place.