MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY BY EXPERIENCING THESE UNIQUE HILTON HEAD ADVENTURES

Family Fun

Play on the Pirate Ship: Lowcountry Celebration Park features the reimagined Adventure Playground Ship. Complete with mist cannons, it is named for the vessel captained by explorer William Hilton who discovered the island in 1663.

See the Dolphins: A dolphin cruise is a great way to get out on the water and get closer to wildlife. These adventures are informative (learn about the dolphins’ behavior) and fantastic family fun.

The Town that has it all

Hilton Head Island has everything: Beautiful beaches. World-class golf courses. Award-winning restaurants. Wonderful weather.

But Hilton Head Island is more than just the scenery and tourist attractions. Hilton Head is also about the people, its history and its year-long appeal.

Locals embrace our waterways 12 months a year, including public marinas, fishing piers and boat launch sites. You are always within a short drive from a marsh, river or the Atlantic Ocean.

IN THE LOWCOUNTRY & COASTAL GEORGIA

The Lowcountry is home to many of the country’s top golf communities. Our area is ripe with lush greens just waiting for hackers. Here are some of the best public courses.

LEGEND STAN SMITH EARNS LOCAL, STATE ACCOLADES

BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY | PHOTO BY RITTERBECK PHOTOGRAPHY

Stan Smith has enjoyed a decorated tennis career. The Hilton Head Island resident, a former No. 1 player, won the U.S. Open in 1971 and Wimbledon in 1972.

He won 39 singles titles and 61 doubles titles. He also founded, with B.J. Stearns, the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, which has developed young tennis players for 20 years.

BY SLOAN KELLY

Blessed with natural beauty, sandy beaches and a temperate climate, it’s no wonder that Hilton Head Island has earned a reputation as one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. The island and nearby Bluffton offer many opportunities for all ages to make fun vacation memories.

Here are a few of the area’s “don’t miss” activities:

That is where COOL Delivery can help! We specialize in food delivery from ONLY local restaurants. These eateries are owned, operated, and employed by our Hilton Head neighbors, friends, and families. We take pride in that support.

BLUFFTON OPENS WRIGHT FAMILY PARK, CALHOUN DOCK

STORY BY ANTHONY GARZILLI | PHOTOS BY MADISON ELROD

After much anticipation, in December the Town of Bluffton opened Wright Family Park, the town’s second public park offering access to the May River. The park opened after about three years of renovation and construction.

Wright Family Park, across the street from the historic Church of the Cross, offers a boardwalk, a large central lawn, walkways, parking, landscaping, site furnishing, lighting, fencing, public restrooms and views of the May River.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY BY EXPERIENCING THESE UNIQUE BLUFFTON ADVENTURES

Family Fun

Picnic at Wright Family Park: With a large central lawn, walkways, landscaping and views of the May River, this public park is a town favorite and a beautiful spot to enjoy a relaxing picnic.

KIM VILJAC SPEARHEADS BLUFFTON’S FARMERS MARKET

STORY BY NINA GREENPLATE | PH0T0S BY ROB KAUFMAN

Kim Viljac’s love of community and talent for connection lends perfectly to her position as executive director of the Farmers Market of Bluffton.

Viljac lived for a time in the south of France which helped foster her lifelong affinity for great food and outdoor activities.

“I spent a lot of time at open-air markets with all the beautiful colors, fragrant aromas, and friendly people,” she said. “I guess that’s where it all started.”

In search of oysters, pad Thai, spanakopita, sole meunière, jerk chicken, pimento cheese, crab cakes or churros? You can find all of those items on Bluffton menus.

Bluffton’s restaurant choices range from casual to fine dining with an eclectic selection of regional cuisine. Seafood, barbecue and Lowcountry dishes are well represented along with lounges, bars, breweries, pizzerias, diners, cafés, bakeries, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops.

Bluffton is booming. The town has grown from one square mile when it was first incorporated to 54 square miles today. The town’s development exploded, bringing business and families to the Lowcountry — and it gave Bluffton its own identity.

There are shopping centers along U.S. 278, schools and athletic fields along McCracken Circle and dining and entertainment keep Calhoun Street and the Promenade vibrant. Even though Bluffton is growing, it is still a small town, with a neighborly feel. You’ll know your neighbors. You’ll enjoy their company and enjoy peace of mind.

TAKE A TRIP AROUND THE LOWCOUNTRY

The sprawling beauty of the Lowcountry invites us to explore the area in a variety of ways. Fortunately, we live in the perfect place where it is easy to take trips of adventure and relaxation. From miles of bike paths to the open water, there are countless ways to get around and experience the Lowcountry. Whether you enjoy an adrenaline rush or a casual, laid-back ride, there are many fun ways to explore our area.

PLENTY OF OPTIONS TO ENJOY A DAY ON THE WATER

Catch a Fish

Most of the lagoons on Hilton Head are brackish, meaning they are both fresh and salt water. Don’t let the calm waters fool you; fish can grow to enormous sizes (red drum can weigh more than 50 pounds). Or if you are looking to catch some tarpon, striped bass, black drum and the occasional blue fish head inshore or offshore on one of the area’s many fishing charters.

MOST SCENIC RIDES

The boardwalk at Barker Field overlooking the marsh is simply amazing. If you’re on the south end, visit the “toe” of the island on the beach looking at the entrance to South Beach Marina. You’ll see Harbour Town in the distance, Daufuskie Island dead ahead and the Atlantic to the left.

AWARD-WINNING PATHWAYS OFFER A QUINTESSENTIAL RIDE

There are few things more rewarding then saddling up on your bike, pointing your tire down a new pathway, and letting exploration unfold all around you. And there are few better places to enjoy a blissful bike ride than Hilton Head Island.

It’s not just in the gentle climate or the pathways that wind in and out of dense forests, beach parks and tranquil lagoon areas, it’s in the dedication that Hilton Head Island has demonstrated in creating the ultimate cycling experience.

RULES AND REGULATIONS HELP KEEP THE TURTLES SAFE

Sea turtle season is the time when sea turtles come ashore to nest and lay their eggs on the island’s beaches. Loggerheads nest at night to avoid predators and overheating in the summer sun, selecting a site above the high tide line. Loggerheads are listed as a threatened species by the federal government and the state of South Carolina.

Sands. Surfing. Swimming. Sunning. Shores. Sailing. Sanctuary. Whatever your vision of the “beach life” may entail, the sun-splashed beaches of Hilton Head Island offer as many experiences as there are shells on their sandy shores. From its heel to its toe, here’s an overview of some of the island’s popular beaches and hidden gems.

LOWCOUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK A HILTON HEAD MUST-SEE

BY CARRIE HIRSCH | PHOTOS BY MATT GARBADE STORY AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF HILTON HEAD MONTHLY

Located on the south side of Pope Avenue between Circle Center Shopping Center and Coligny Beach parking lot, Lowcountry Celebration Park is a sought-after attraction.

The park includes a sprawling lawn, a small pavilion on a lake, a stage for events, walking trails, exercise stations, boardwalks and The Sandbox Children’s Museum.

THE LOWCOUNTRY IS FULL OF THINGS TO DO. HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITES

GET OUTSIDE

The outdoors allows for plenty of leisure time, so why not hit the beach. On Hilton Head, Coligny Beach is the most trafficked (and has a selection of shops and restaurants within walking distance). Burkes and Driessen are equally beautiful public beach options. The Lowcountry is a great place to enjoy lavish views. Take it all in with horseback riding and biking. The island has 6 miles of bike lanes and 117 miles of shared-use pathways.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF HILTON HEAD AUDUBON 

Birding is one of America’s favorite leisure pastimes. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 45 million Americans watch birds, whether in our backyards or in a local park or far-flung destination.

The good news is that on Hilton Head Island, you don’t have to go far to enjoy great-looking birds. You just need to step outside. More than 220 bird species have been observed on Hilton Head, and fall migration is a great time to see them.