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Hilton Head, SC | HiltonHead.com

Hilton Head is the perfect destination for activities, watersports , and fun in the sun. From kayaking to golfing , there’s plenty more opportunities to explore the Island. If you’re looking for something more low-key, check out a local brewery or take in the arts . Whatever your preference, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

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Beach Photographers

A picture truly is worth a thousand words. The beach photographers on the Island can help preserve your vacation memories in the most professional and artistic way. What better place to photograph your children and family in the throws of freedom and fun than at the beach on Hilton Head?

Nature Tours & Watersports

Hilton Head visitors can make the most of their vacation days by choosing a Nature Tour or explore Hilton Head’s waterways by kayak, waverunner or rent your own boat. No matter what you decide, Hilton Head has so many nature tours & watersports for you to choose from. Get out and enjoy our beautiful Island.

Discover the ultimate family fun on Hilton Head Island! Take nature tours to explore the beauty of the Island, go kayaking on the calm waters, or take a zipline tour and get a bird’s eye view of the live oaks. See dolphin on a dolphin cruise or skiff boat. Whatever adventure you take, Hilton Head […]

Bike Rentals

Biking is a great way to explore Hilton Head Island and get around quickly. With so many bike rentals available, you can easily find the perfect bike for your needs. There are more than 50 miles of hard-packed beaches and paved public pathways. Whether you’re looking for an adventure or simply want to take in some […]

Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries

Hilton Head Island is the perfect backdrop to enjoy a refreshing adult beverage. Whatever your preference, the Island has a plethora of options. Whether it be a crisp glass of white wine, a micro brew or a world-class cocktail, we’ve got you covered… find it all at one of our breweries, distilleries & wineries.

Arts and Museums

Looking for exceptional cultural opportunities? Find the local arts and museums that fit your interests. Explore the rich history, wildlife and heritage of South Carolina at The Coastal Discovery Museum. Or, take your children to entertaining and educational play areas at The Sandbox. In addition, check out local exhibits relating to the Island’s history and culture. […]

Fishing & Boat Rentals

Hilton Head Island fishing & boat rentals are truly legendary. Inshore and offshore fishing charters offer the best of the Lowcountry for novice or experience anglers. When it comes to water sports, the island features an endless array of options including kayaking, sailboat excursions, paddle boarding, parasailing, Jet Ski rentals and many more things to […]

Golf, Tennis & Pickleball

Serious about your tennis or pickleball game? Hilton Head Island offers the ultimate destination for anyone who wants to improve his or her golf, tennis & pickleball game. In addition, the Island featured tennis programs and clinics for juniors, adults and seniors from novice to advanced players. Lastly, Hilton Head resorts offer programs for everyone […]

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Island Events

FREE at more than 350 locations on Hilton Head Island and the surrounding area. Island Events provides a comprehensive view of what Hilton Head Island has to offer in the way of shopping, dining, activities, and events.

Savannah Scene

FREE at more than 300 locations in the city and surrounding areas. Savannah Scene provides a comprehensive view of what this city has to offer in the way of shopping, dining, activities, and events.

Rack Card Distribution Center

FREE at several locations on Hilton Head Island. The rack card distribution center is chock full of businesses that offer activities, shopping, dining and more.

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P.O. Box 5511 Hilton Head, SC 29938

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16 Best Things to Do on Hilton Head Island — From Golfing to History Tours

Planning a trip to one of the Lowcountry's most beautiful and welcoming islands? Here are 16 of the best things to do in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Ever a contender among the best islands in the United States as ranked by Travel + Leisure readers, Hilton Head beckons with historical and cultural learnings dished up alongside culinary and beach delights.

Venture to these shores to be surrounded by water and waves, miles of biking trails, great golf courses, Gullah/Geechee culture, and much more. With something for every type of traveler, here are 16 of the best things to do in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Say bonjour (with a southern twang) at this cute breakfast spot.

Welcome a beautiful Lowcountry day with sparkling marina views on Shelter Cove while enjoying a breakfast of sweet and savory pastries with authentic French flair (plus American flavors) at Hilton Head Social Bakery . Fair trade organic coffees and teas are the perfect complement to a flaky croissant, mango tart, or croque monsieur. There are even French hot dogs on the menu, cradled in baguettes and topped with a dollop of Dijon mustard, bien sûr.

Dive into Gullah history on a heritage tour.

Traditions, customs, and art from West Africa make up an important part of Hilton Head's cultural fabric, which you can discover through tours with Gullah people who are the descendants of enslaved people and comprise one of the island's oldest communities. All of the guides with Gullah Heritage Trail Tours were born and raised on Hilton Head before the island was connected by a bridge to the mainland. Seeing the island through their eyes offers a singular view into the Creole Gullah language, traditional foods, music, and more.

Get your golf on.

Golfers know Hilton Head as one of the best spots in the southeast for a year-round game, even if springtime and autumn tend to usher in the most appealing temperatures for teeing off. Whether you're in it for putting lessons, some driving range action, or to win against friends, your options include championship courses like the oceanfront Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort, Pete Dye's legendary Heron Point by Pete Dye at Sea Pines Resort, and Sea Pines' epic PGA Tour course, Harbour Town Golf Links , to name just a few.

Pedal a bike along a scenic trail.

More than 60 miles of public trails crisscross Hilton Head, which is only 12 miles long. You can cover a lot of ground here — and get some exercise with ocean breezes while you're at it — by renting a bike. The trails winding through Sea Pines Forest Preserve are particularly lovely and include wetland boardwalks over marshes full of wading birds, as well as scenic bridges and places to stop for a picnic or toss out a fishing line from a dock.

Explore a popular beachfront park.

With roughly 12 miles of uninterrupted beachfront to explore, Hilton Head doesn't want for sandy spaces to roll out your beach towel or go for a stroll. Families flock to Coligny Beach Park , a short walk from a playground and The Sandbox Children's Museum . The beach is wheelchair accessible and has great amenities including chair and umbrella rentals, free parking, complimentary Wi-Fi, and shaded gazebos. Across the street, Coligny Plaza offers a wide array of restaurants and shops.

Board a boat in search of dolphins.

Nothing brings on the warm and fuzzy ocean vibes like seeing dolphins in the wild. And with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins making the waters around Hilton Head home, you've got a great chance of seeing them any time you're out on the water (and oftentimes right from the beach, too). Dolphin Discoveries Nature Tours runs daily trips with a maximum of six guests onboard to spot resident dolphins with names like Blackbird, Gary, and Little Baby Stripes that dwell in the local waters.

Sink your teeth into some South Carolina 'cue.

You haven't been to the Carolinas until you've sampled some of the best barbecue in the land. The island favorite, Bullies BBQ slow smokes its briskets, pork butt, and ribs over hickory and mesquite chips for hours to render a flavor you'll want to bottle up and bring home. If you order just one thing off the menu, make it the Pulled Pork Sandwich (with a side of savory collard greens). Pick up your favorite barbecue sauce or rub here, too, for a souvenir anyone would be stoked to receive.

Beachcomb at Driessen Beach Park.

Driessen Beach Park , on the island's southern end, is a good bet for filling your shell bucket and can be reached via a long boardwalk over a salt marsh. This vast sandy beach is ideal for playing volleyball or taking long walks (bring shoes to protect your feet) while spotting sand dollars and nesting crabs.

Shop like a Lowcountry local at the farmers market.

Head to the Coastal Discovery Museum on Tuesday mornings to browse the delicious local pickings at the Hilton Head Farmers Market , where you can shop alfresco for local seafood to grill on the beach, sip a cup of She Crab soup, or perhaps sample a Lowcountry rice dish from food trucks. This is a great place to pick up the freshest seasonal Carolina produce, too.

Enjoy some peace and quiet at Fish Haul Creek Park.

Those looking for an alternative to Hilton Head Island's popular beaches will find it at the lesser-known Fish Haul Creek Park . This 31-acre nature preserve is located on Port Royal Sound and has a shaded trail through a maritime forest and a boardwalk that leads to the Barker Field Observation Deck. Though it's not a swimmable beach, it's great for bike rides or long walks (including those with your pup in tow).

Go paddling through a salt marsh.

It's a balancing act paddling a SUP through Hilton Head's languorous tidal salt marshes. But the experience gives new meaning to the word Lowcountry while allowing you a unique vantage point on the saltwater marshes and endemic wildlife. Saltmarsh Paddle Tours offers SUP tours at high or low tide and kayak tours throughout the day. A naturalist guide shows you the way through spectacular estuaries where you might encounter dolphins, blue crabs, all manner of wading birds, and sometimes even sea turtles, too.

Charter a yacht for a Calibogue sunset cruise.

Charter a yacht with Hilton Head Yacht Charter and sail into the sunset. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres are served on board as you cruise a mellow route around Calibogue Sound aboard a luxury yacht, where the joy is most definitely in the journey.

Slurp oysters with scenic views.

Right on the site of a historic oyster cannery that dates to 1925, the Old Oyster Factory Restaurant is the spot to settle in for a long, delicious meal of locally harvested South Carolina oysters from Bluffton and Beaufort , plus other flopping-fresh fish sourced just offshore. When it's not too hot for dining alfresco, the most coveted tables are out on the sprawling deck overlooking the salt marshes, where breezes bend the tall grasses and the water laps gently under your feet.

Lounge with the locals at Islanders Beach.

Islanders Beach is a favorite among Hilton Head residents, who roll up with coolers in tow to use the grills and picnic pavilions (between dips in the Atlantic Ocean, of course). You'll also find an accessible boardwalk, playground, and other amenities like free beach wheelchairs, outdoor showers, and beach chair rentals.

Take a day trip to Daufuskie Island.

Accessible by passenger ferry from Hilton Head (45 minutes one way), Daufuskie Island is a beautiful barrier island just to the south that can only be reached by boat. Once on the island, rent a golf cart to explore on your own or, better yet, book a guided tour with the Daufuskie Island Gullah Heritage Society to see fascinating historical sites hidden among the live oak trees with sixth-generation Gullah native, Sallie Ann Robinson. You can try horseback riding, rent a bike to pedal the beach, or make a stop for coastal-inspired art at The Iron Fish Gallery . Daufuskie is full of surprises down every winding lane.

Go birding along the Atlantic Flyway.

If it's a winged thing, you might spot it at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge , a spectacular protected area that lures in thousands of migratory birds each year as they make their way north and south along the Atlantic Flyway. During the late spring and early summer, Ibis Pond is a hotspot to see species of breeding herons and egrets. Wood storks and painted buntings also arrive in the summer months, and large alligators can be seen at the refuge year-round.

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