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.
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’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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
A piece of history in Palmetto Dunes and the site of many legends, the Rear Range Lighthouse in Palmetto Dunes has been restored to its former glory.
The lighthouse is part of the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular stop for visitors.
1. Peace of mind
As the world around us seems to get more turbulent, there is something very reassuring about living in the Lowcountry. Our world in the Lowcountry seems pretty darn normal, and for once, that is a really good thing.
2. Natural beauty
There are only a few places in North America that can rival the beautiful surroundings we live in. We’re blessed us with incredible beaches, pristine tidal creeks, calming marshes, pluffmud and Spanish moss. Great vision and planning allows us to live in harmony with all the natural beauty.
Just a couple miles across Calibogue Sound from Harbour Town lies Daufuskie Island, a small, largely undeveloped barrier island begging to be explored.
A 45-minute ferry ride up the Intracoastal Waterway whisks visitors back in time when, depositing them on Daufuskie — accessible only by boat — and a world away from from the trappings of modern-day life.
• Climb to the top of the iconic lighthouse in Harbour Town for spectacular views of Harbour Town Golf Links, the Harbour Town Yacht Basin and Calibogue Sound. Need to catch your breath as you climb? Displays lining the stairs document the island’s rich natural history.
• Reserve a tour at the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head. Since 2003, the nonprofit museum has been commit ted to maintaining Gullah customs, traditions, language, stories, songs and structures in the Lowcountry. The preserved Little House is a quiet, haint-blue cottage just off Gumtree Road, built in the early 1950s before a bridge connected the island to the mainland. The museum also hosts oyster roasts and educational seminars throughout the year.
THE LOWCOUNTRY IS GOLF COUNTRY
