The appeal of the Caribbean is undeniable. Even the heartiest land-dogs prick up their ears when the Caribbean comes a-calling. Think of it...there is the warm tropical sun, which creeps into the marrow of your bones, infusing you with a delightful languor, rendering you so lazy that all you can do is laze in your hammock and beckon, from time to time, for another pina colada, which you rest on your chest as you soak in the bright colors of the Caribbean landscape. Just as the sun seems to be getting a trifle too warm, a cool trade breeze wafts across you, soothing your light sunburn and beckoning you to take a dip in the sea, which embraces you like an old friend. Parrots flit playfully from tree to tree, calling to each other and perhaps singing old sea chanties learned from sailors who find any excuse to return to this wonderland. Every so often a ripe coconut gently disengages from its stem and falls to the sand with a soft "whumph," announcing that it is ready to be made into a pie or a rum drink. Ah, in the Caribbean, life is good.
Hilton Head has a slice of the Caribbean at Coconut Republic. Coconut Republic takes you to the exciting and romantic milieu of the Caribbean, hearkening to Key West and dozens of islands strung like bright jewels across the crystal waters of the sea. At Coconut Republic you will find all the accessories you need to undertake a journey into the dazzling sun and mysterious nights of the last frontier of hedonism.
Coconut Republic has the look and feel of a tropical hut, complete with screen door, palm thatch awnings and a ship's mast at the counter. In the center of the store is the motherlode of all tropical shirts. You can choose among dozens of prints and colors: Toucans, Amazon parrots, Macaws, and African Greys stare out at you from various nooks and crannies; they are surrounded by palm fronds, tropical fruit, folk-art designs, island landscapes, and old-fashioned advertisements for a Hawaiian adventure. The birds, trees, and other prints come in every color in the sunrise, in the sunset, and in every hour in between. You will see yellow, blue, green, red, gold, bronze, sunset-pink, midnight-purple, and other colors that you have only imagined.
For ladies there are items from the MMAC line. These are dresses with tropical fish, starfish, and other designs in a basic black or a palmetto green. These come in short sleeves or sleeveless, calf or full-length. Ladies will also delight in the sarongs, as well as the straw picture hats with gaily-colored ribbon bands, while men will want to model the safari-style hats, perfect for keeping the sun from your eyes as you hike the beach in search of the perfect sand dollar.
The happy aura of famed singer and writer Jimmy Buffett hangs over the Coconut Republic like an old friend, and many of the shop's pieces are a tribute to the Number One Parrothead. Coconut Republic has zany beach shirts with such Buffet aphorisms as "If we weren't crazy, we would all go insane," and "Blew out a flip-flop, stepped on a pop top." There are also Margaritaville beach towels ("Fins to the left, fins to the right!"), not to mention a full complement of Jimmy Buffett music on CD and cassette, as well as writings by and about him.
For getting around in comfort, Coconut Republic has nylon shorts, rubber beach sandals, and straw sling bags. For more formal occasions you will find tropical print neckties--in the Caribbean, it is customary to wear one of these with a Hawaiian shirt and a pair of shorts when attending a posh dinner party. For the more adventurous, there are navel clips and toe rings, which are best worn with Coconut Republic's hula skirt and coconut shell bra.
Once you have visited Coconut Republic, you won't ever want to return to civilization. We bet that you'll book passage on a tramp steamer to Key West, and then on into the beauty of the Caribbean. Let Coconut Republic help you write your own ticket.
Coconut Republic is located at Beach Market on North Forest Beach Drive, across from Coligny Plaza. Open daily 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call 843-686-3311 or 800-585-FINS. For more information on the whereabouts and activities of Jimmy Buffett, try the Internet at www.buffettonline.com.
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