The Shops at Sea Pines Center enfold a kind of oasis in their midst. The plaza there reminds some of southern Spain because of the tawny color of the background and the shade of the palms.

Morbi vitae purus dictum, ultrices tellus in, gravida lectus.

At different times of day, though, the plaza presents a seemingly endless progression of different looks and feelings. The sun seems to trace a path from one end to the other, changing the palette of light and shade as it goes, all through the day.

Takes Time to Pick a Favorite

Lucky Sea Pines residents and annual vacationers talk about their favorite time of day, their favorite look in the plaza. Some make mornings at C’est Bon or Lowcountry Produce a regular part of their day or week, for gourmet coffees or delectable dishes from the region. Sometimes the desire to make this place their own prompts people to get down to business in the mid-morning at Lighthouse Realty or Premier Island Properties or with an appointment at RBC Wealth Management.

If active kids are part of the home or the vacation, then biking away from the Peddling Pelican on our lovely Sea Pines trails, followed by pizza at Giuseppi’s or burgers and tacos at Chow Daddy’s, followed by an Italian gelato at C’est Bon, offer your choice of ways to see the young ones happy and give them memories at the same time.

When It’s Just Us

Grownups, on the other hand, find plenty of tranquility in the plaza, browsing books or art during lazy afternoons at By Hand, Ink or VIVID Gallery. A salon treatment at Le Spa or maybe sampling a taste of regional moonshine at Sea Pines Liquor are a couple of other options for relaxing into the lowcountry pace.

Any time is a good time for feeling welcome at shops such as Palmettoes or Pyramids or The Back Door, where inside advice on what’s going on that’s fun on America’s favorite island comes with or without purchase. Marking memories that last a lifetime is the particular talent of Forsythe Jewelers.

The Hour that Belongs to You

As Labor Day and the high season for visitors dissolves behind us now, we notice the sun growing gentler and settling down behind the western border of The Shops at Sea Pines Center earlier and earlier, day-by-day. The favorite hour for many of us, before sunset, the time that the French call l’heure du berger – the hour of the shepherd, when flocks come home – is among the most beautiful in the plaza. In a few more weeks, that hour will arrive while the shops are still open.

That’s when the plaza glows. Reds and oranges and cerulean blues blossom in the sky of the west. And in the plaza, Truffles Café sparkles as it has for generations with a dining experience that is quintessentially Sea Pines.

Whatever time of day becomes your favorite at The Shops at Sea Pines Center, we’re glad to welcome you, and grateful you made this one of the things people love about Hilton Head Island.