Andrew Carmines, Hudson's Seafood on the Docks (Hilton Head Island, SC)

Around 2.5 million visitors make the trek to Hilton Head Island, S.C. each year, and a portion of those at least, have made it a family tradition to rent homes on the island for holiday gathering, which is a smart idea when sunshine and palm trees are the backdrop for Santa instead of snow. Andrew Carmines of Hudson's Seafood on the Docks (locally just referred to as Hudson's) has been a part of this seasonal rhythm his whole life, growing up on the island and in the family restaurant he now operates. Local fishing and shrimping boats dock right at the restaurant on Skull Creek, and Andrew farms local oysters, making Hudson's one of the freshest and most seafood-centric spots on the island. The breeze is fine, the drinks are cold, and there's plenty of seating on the patio with friendly service ready to share some Lowcountry flavors.