Hilton Head Island – Something for Everyone

Updated October, 2020.  

We have written several blog articles about some far flung European and Canadian destinations, so we thought we would offer an article about a destination that is a little closer to our home in Asheville. Last month we traveled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for our first trip to this fun-in-the-sun destination. Hilton Head truly has something for everyone. From long sandy beaches to extraordinarily beautiful golf courses.  If you enjoy being outside, Hilton Head may be perfect for you. Let’s take a closer look at what Hilton Head has in store.

First, a Little Bit of History

Hilton Head’s history started with Native Americans who lived on the island seasonally prior to the arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the mid 1500’s. In 1663, English explorer Captain William Hilton discovered the island’s headland near Port Royal Sound and named it Hilton Head. At the conclusion of the Civil War, hundreds of former slaves settled on the Georgia and South Carolina islands, including Hilton Head. Their descendants, known as the Gullah people , have a fascinating history and a strong cultural identity that they have worked hard to preserve.

It wasn’t until the 1950’s that the first real resort development arrived, called Sea Pines. Many developments on the island quickly followed, but Sea Pines is still one of the largest and most well-known. Sea Pines covers 5200 acres on the south end of the island and encompasses the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse.

TIP: You can enter Sea Pines and enjoy the surroundings, which include restaurants and shops, but it costs $9 to enter the neighborhood. Go for the day, or at least the afternoon, to see the lighthouse and have a meal.

From the very beginning of the development of the island, the environment has been a huge consideration. This concern continues today, with very strict land use rules meant to protect the natural aesthetics of the island’s landscape. And there is a lot that is well worth protecting. The island has numerous forested areas that are home to otters, bob cats and even a subspecies of white-tailed deer. In addition, there are beautiful salt marshes all along the eastern portion of the island, with many types of beautiful birds including osprey, eagles, blue heron, egrets and wood storks. In fact, there are more than 350 native species of birds on the island, making it a birder’s paradise. Just be a little careful around some of the creeks and lagoons because they can also be home to alligators. It goes without saying that you should not approach an alligator and of course, you should never, ever feed one!

Throughout the developed parts of Hilton Head, most streets are lined by towering oaks and lush vegetation that often belie the store fronts hidden behind them. It is quite apparent that great care has been taken to ensure that the island’s development strikes a balance between meeting the needs of residents and visitors, while minimizing the impacts to the ecosystem.

Location and How to Get There

Hilton Head Island is a barrier island located off the coast of South Carolina, only 20 miles from Savannah, Georgia. The William Hilton Parkway and its bridges over the Mackay and Skull Creeks is the only roadway to the island. This single point of entry can get a little crowded on summer weekends and during PGA events, but normally there are not many traffic jams on the bridges or on the island itself.

Two airports serve the Hilton Head Island area. The first is the Hilton Head Airport, located on the northern part of the island. Three major airlines service this airport with direct flights from 7 cities, although some flights are only seasonal. The other airport is the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, located approximately 45 miles away in Savannah. This large airport can meet the needs of travelers coming from anywhere and is still only a short drive to the island.

Things to Do

If you love being outside, Hilton Head has a lot to offer. Hilton Head’s semi-tropical weather is relatively warm pretty much year-round. It certainly can be a bit hot in the middle of summer, but there are many days during the dead of winter with highs in the 50’s. As such, most of these outdoor activities can be enjoyed many days of the year.

• Golfing – Hilton Head has been known as a golfer’s paradise for a long time. There are at least 24 championship courses on the island and nearly 20 others in the nearby town of Bluffton on the mainland. Even the PGA Tour plays on the island at Harbour Town each year in April. With so many golf courses in the area, and many of them public, you can play a different course every day!

Golfing on the island will be more expensive, but the courses are nice and convenient.  In October 2020 I played Palmetto Dunes – Robert Trent Jones course.  It is very pretty and will run about $175 with tax.

• Biking – With more than 60 miles of bike paths on the island, Hilton Head is very bicycle friendly. Bicycles can be rented from many places around the island, often directly from your resort. Here is a great map that highlights some of the excellent biking trails. But trails are not the only place to ride your bike. Because of the hard packed sand and width of the beach, many people prefer to ride there, especially in the morning before all the beachcombers arrive. It’s great exercise and easy pedaling.

• Fishing and more – There are quite a number of marinas on the island that cater to inshore and offshore charter fishing excursions. From individual to group charters, you can easily find the fishing adventure that meets your needs.

But there are even more adventures available on the water. You can chose to explore the island and surrounding areas to check out the wildlife on any number of nature cruises, including several like the dolphin encounter tours that focus on spotting dolphins and other sea life. You could take a crabbing cruise to learn more about the area’s fishing industry or even take a sunset cruise on the real America’s Cup, 12-meter Stars & Stripes from Harbour Town.

• Water Sports – Paddleboard and kayaking are also very popular on Hilton Head, both on the beaches and on the marshes and creeks around the island. These areas not only provide fantastic views of the landscape, but also a chance to view the wildlife.

• Beaches – The extraordinary 12 miles of beaches are the main reason that a lot of folks come to Hilton Head. The beaches here are nearly perfect. They are wide and flat, stretching as much as 300 feet from the water. The beach never feels crowded since the large beach provides plenty of room for everyone to spread out to enjoy the sun and water. But be careful, because the beach is flat the tide can come 100 feet up the beach in no time. Leave your beach chair and cooler too close and they may soon be in the water. But not to worry too much, helpful beachgoers will typically drag your stuff to higher ground.

Since the beach is so flat, the water tends to be very shallow along the edge. As a result, the waves are smaller and there is generally no drop-off where the waves break. This gentle slope is especially ideal for young children. They can play at the water’s edge without worry of a large wave or quick drop-off.

The flat beach also means very easy strolls up and down the beach. With almost 12 miles of beach you can walk as far as you like. During low tide a sand bar parallels the beach most of the way, making walking and picture taking more pleasurable.

TIP: The beaches of Hilton Head are all public. However, the access points to the beach are often private. Check this website to find the public access points to Hilton Head beaches.

• Shopping – Although you can find shops everywhere, there are three main areas on the island for shopping. The main shopping area is Coligny Shopping Plaza. It is very close to the beach and you can easily to get there by bicycle. The Shops at Sea Pines is another great place to stop, especially on the way to Harbour Town. And lastly, stop by Shelter Cove Town Center, where you will find some great restaurants in addition to shopping.

• Sea Pines – Even though you have to pay to enter this community ($9 as noted earlier), there is much to see and do. Don’t miss the Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum and many other activities listed here. Take a break from the pool or beach one afternoon and enjoy the history of Sea Pines.

• Breweries and Wineries – Stop by the taproom at The Hilton Head Brewery. It’s a favorite stop after a day at the beach. If wine is more your thing, then the Island Winery is the place you want to go for a taste from their diverse menu or pick up some bottles with your own personalized label to take home with you.

Places to Eat

• Poseidon Coastal Cuisine – With a great selection of menu items, the food here is very good. Our waiter was friendly and helpful and even gave us some great suggestions for things to do and see on the island. You can sit inside or there is also large bar area outside. This restaurant is very centrally located at the Shelter Cove Town Center where there are plenty of other restaurant choices and shops nearby.

• The Salty Dog Café – This waterfront restaurant is located within the Sea Pines resort at the southern end of Hilton Head, so you will have to pay the $9 to get there. It is a classic restaurant on Hilton Head, in a scenic spot and has good food. You may want to try this restaurant after exploring the other parts of Sea Pines.  Just be aware that this iconic spot is a major tourist location and will be very busy.

• The Quarterdeck – Located at the Marina of Sea Pines, this is our favorite restaurant in the area.  With excellent views of the Marina from the outside patio and some really great food, you might pick this spot for lunch over the more crowded Salty Dog Café.

• Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks – This restaurant is on the north side of the island. It’s one of the more iconic restaurants on Hilton Head and you really should give it a try. The great food and waterfront location make this a very popular spot. They do not take reservations, so get there early to avoid a wait.

TIP: Don’t confuse this restaurant with the Skull Creek Boathouse which is next door. Hudson’s is at the end of Hudson Road, just to the left.

• Ruan Thai Cuisine – If you want a break from seafood, try this Thai restaurant. It’s a small place but has some of the best Thai food we’ve had anywhere. If you like Thai food, you won’t be disappointed.

• The Jazz Corner– For something a little different, try The Jazz Corner. Located in The Village of Wexford, the menu is fairly extensive, the food is fantastic and you get to hear some great jazz. Check out their website to see what events are upcoming. It is a popular place, so be sure to make a reservation.

TIP: Many of the resorts will offer discounts to some of the local restaurants. For example, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has a 20% off deal with some of the nearby restaurants.

Places to Stay

• Hotels – Just about every hotel chain is on the island, from economy hotels to high-end resorts. The price will vary by season, location, and amenities. But there are many choices, so everyone should be able to find something that matches their budget.

• House or Room Rentals – There are many houses and rooms to rent on the island. You can contact one of many Property Management companies on the island or try renting through VRBO/Airbnb. Renting a house is a great choice when staying on the island, and many will provide unique amenities and discounts.

• Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

We have been members of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) for more than 20 years, but had never stayed at this resort. This is definitely not a sales pitch for anything related to Disney, but since we have so much experience with the other Disney resorts, we wanted to spend a little extra time describing the grounds and amenities.

TIP: While DVC resorts cater to members of its vacation club, anyone can stay at a DVC resort, including the Hilton Head resort. So if you are interested in staying here, be sure to check their website for availability.

The resort is located on a 15-acre island called Longview Island in Shelter Cove Harbour. It is designed to look like a 1940’s style fishing lodge. While it is not on the ocean, it is on the waters of Broad Creek, a very secluded and picturesque waterscape. The resort is comprised of about 20 separate buildings, with most having an average of 4 multi-room villas. Each building is tucked into a lovely wooded setting that includes large, mature oak and pine trees along with plenty of shrubs, ferns and grasses, all giving the resort a very rustic rather than ‘beachy’ feel. Even when the resort is full, it never seems crowded. And since this is Disney, you get the usual Disney touches along with excellent service.

We really need to give a shout out to the amazing staff at this resort. Of course Disney employees are always friendly and hospitable. However, we have stayed at plenty of Disney resorts and have never seen such happy and friendly employees! Literally, every single person we saw said ‘hello’ and welcomed us, no matter what time of day or night.

Rooms

The resort offers 102 units made up of Studio, 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom and 3 Bedroom villas. Since this resort was built around the same time as Disney’s Old Key West and Vero Beach resorts, the layout is very similar and just as spacious. All of the grounds are very well maintained, as are the rooms. Many of the rooms have marsh views, while the remainder have more of a wooded view. There really no ‘bad’ rooms or locations within the resort. You can request a room in a particular location, i.e. building number, floor, desired view, etc. The resort will try to honor your request, but they cannot guarantee it. We have always had pretty good luck with our special requests.

Check-in for the resort is located on the second floor of the main building, immediately after you pass through the entry gate. Most of the parking is along the perimeter of the resort, so there could be a little bit of a walk depending on where your building is located. You will find some nice luggage carts stationed near the parking areas that you can use to transport your luggage. Or if you prefer, the resort will be happy to bring your luggage to your room for you.

Pools

There are 2 heated pools at the resort. The Big Dipper pool is centrally located on the property. It is a fairly large pool, with a slide and 2 hot tubs. There is also a splashing fountain play area for little ones. Lifeguards are on duty at this pool. Plenty of seating can be found around the pool, including a lot of shady spots for those that prefer not to get too much sun.

The Broad Creek Mercantile Shop and the quick serve Tide Me Over Restaurant are both located near the pool, so it is very convenient to grab a bite or drink in the pool area. As with all the Disney Resorts, there are plenty of activities scheduled around the pool to keep the kids busy.

Beach

Since the resort is not located on the beach, a shuttle runs on the half-hour from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM between the resort and Disney’s private Beach House. The shuttle looked fine, but we did not end up using it. We love getting out to the beach very early for a long walk, before spending the rest of the day at the ocean-side pool or the beach. So each morning we packed our cooler, loaded the car and drove less than 5 minutes to Disney’s Beach House.

The ocean-side pool at the Beach House is very nice, but there are no life guards at this pool. There is lots of comfortable seating both in the sun as well as in shaded, covered areas. Adjacent to the pools are restrooms with showers and changing areas, as well as a restaurant, bar and some activities. The restaurant and bar, Signals, is only open daily from 11:00AM to 3:00PM. There is another bar in the pool area called Surfman’s Station, but it is only open on their busiest days. Overall the beach facility is excellent, and the Disney workers there were very friendly and helpful.

The beach itself is really fantastic and is located just a short walk from the pool area. The beach here is huge, never seems crowded and offers plenty of room to spread out. If you do not have your own beach chairs and umbrellas, they are available to rent from Disney. The majority of our days were spent at the beach, simply relaxing while watching the waves and the family of dolphins that rolled by each afternoon.

Activities

There are many outdoor games located around the main resort area, including Bocce courts, horseshoe pits, a putting green and a basketball court. You can rent bikes, fishing poles and other sports equipment from the Recreation Office near the Big Dipper pool. Bicycles can be rented for a 24-hour period, but renting for the duration of your stay is more cost effective. Other activities available include kayaking and paddle boarding, as well as some excursions. You can even arrange a brewery tour or participate in a wine tasting.

The resort offers a lot of activities for families and children. Some things you may want to try are the evening campfire sing-alongs, bingo, outdoor movies or the Kids Night Out. If you just want to relax, consider having a picnic outside or even take a nap under the trees while swinging in one of the many hammocks around the resort.

Dining

The one down side of this resort is the fact that there is no sit-down restaurant on property. However the Tide Me Over quick serve restaurant, located in the pool area, is open from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. Tide Me Over has some tasty food selections (their French fries are amazing), as well as some refreshing adult beverages. A pretty seating area on the deck has a view of the marsh and is a nice break from the pool.

The Broad Creek Mercantile Shop is located right next door to Tide Me Over. They have a small assortment of clothes and other souvenir-type merchandise. But you can also pick up a few basic grocery items, drinks, desserts, snacks and some breakfast items.

Within walking distance of the resort are several dining options, so even though they are not on Disney property, plenty of dining is just a short walk away.

Shadow – The Resort Mascot

One of our favorite things about the Hilton Head Resort is their mascot, a beautiful golden retriever named Shadow, who just happens to be the protagonist of the Disney film Homeward Bound. Shadow makes special appearances throughout the resort and there are usually a couple of opportunities to meet her during your stay. Just look for her appearance times on the resort activity list that is provided when you check in to the resort.

Pet Care

We brought our pup Maddy along on this trip, but since pets are not permitted at the resort, we needed to find a boarding facility for her. There are several animal boarding facilities on the island, but we selected the Evergreen Pet Lodge. They have a wonderful facility along with very attentive staff. With an animal hospital right next door, you don’t have to worry about your pet. Maddy had a great time there and we highly recommend them. Evergreen Pet Lodge is conveniently located near the main road onto the island and is close to the Hilton Head airport.

Our first trip to Hilton Head was a great success! We enjoyed everything about Hilton Head and plan to return there some time soon. Its magnificent beaches, wonderful outdoor activities and so many fantastic places to eat made for a most relaxing vacation. We did not get a chance to try any of the golf courses, but we plan to bring the clubs along on our next visit. Consider Hilton Head next time you are looking for a beach or golf getaway. We think you will enjoy it as much as we did!