Things to Do in Hilton Head Island


Things to Do in Hilton Head SC

As you drive over the bridge to Hilton Head Island, golden sea grass marshes and shimmering blue waters welcome you to all the Lowcountry has to offer, including pristine beaches, miles of biking trails, world-class golf, a vibrant arts scene, outdoor recreation and a wealth of resort and lodging options.

Relax and get ready to experience the natural beauty and history of the place we call home, with more than 12 miles of sandy white beaches, a fabulous culinary scene and all the amenities of a premier island destination. Enjoy a great dining experience, whether it’s fine dining or a locals’ casual favorite. The Island is known for its great local fare and fresh seafood. With a wide range of culinary choices and more than 250 restaurants, the Island is home to award-winning chefs, restaurants and resorts along with casual eateries—many of which are not only family-friendly, but pet-friendly as well.

From easy beach walks to dolphin watching, a quick game of tennis or a round of golf on many of our championship courses, it’s easy to see why Hilton Head Island and its resorts were named among Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s Best in the World 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards as well as one of the top 10 family beaches in the country.

Here you’ll find the attention given to the environment has proudly become the blueprint for other developments around the country. Absorb the Island’s appreciation for the environment while you travel down 50 miles of public bike and nature trails or enjoy one of the top 10 family beaches in the country and you’ll find that Hilton Head Island is a great resort destination for golf and family as well as eco-tourism, accommodations and relaxation.

Outdoor Recreation on Hilton Head Island

From lagoon-dotted golf courses, miles of meandering bike paths to sandy beaches, the protected landscape of the area offers the perfect setting for recreational activities. Whether you are a landlubber or an old salt, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton offer a myriad of activities for visitors and residents to relax and recharge.

The crown jewel of Hilton Head Island’s recreational system is its 12 miles of white sandy beaches. The temperate climate and Gulf stream-warmed waters enable residents of many interests to explore the Island’s beautiful waterways and take advantage of a fabulous array of both land and watersports year-round.

GOLF
There is a reason why residents and returning visitors to Hilton Head Island affectionately refer to the destination as “The Golf Island.” In fact, the game of golf has been a Lowcountry tradition since the first Scottish immigrants to South Carolina organized America’s first golf club in 1786. Today, there are more than 40 championship courses with 24 open to the public on Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry. Seven of the area’s courses have been ranked among the nation’s top 100 in key golf publications, including Harbour Town Golf Links, which is ranked No. 2 by PGA Tour Golf Professionals among favorite golf courses on tour.

With its subtropical climate, sunny skies and lush green fairways, the destination boasts a year-round golf season. Golf enthusiasts delight in the wide and scenic fairways of area courses, created by golf’s most preeminent architects. George and Tom Fazio, Arthur Hills, Rees and Robert Trent Jones, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and more have all left their distinctive marks.

For years, golfers of all skill levels have found that the Hilton Head Island area is a great place to perfect their putts and improve their swings. In fact, all of the area’s public, resort and private clubs offer both group and individual lessons from certified golf instruction professionals.

A number of prestigious tournaments and special events attract attention every year. Perhaps the most celebrated tournament is the RBCHeritage Presented by Boeing, featuring the biggest names on the PGA Tour circuit. The Players Amateur brings many of the country’s top amateur golfers every summer and, over Labor Day weekend, the Island hosts the Celebrity Golf Tournament.

TENNIS
With more than 300 courts in all three Grand Slam surfaces, including grass, Hilton Head Island has earned the distinction of America’s top spot for tennis. Top-ranked tennis facilities and programs attract tennis professionals and amateurs who seek to improve their game with private or group instruction that is available daily.

The prestigious Van der Meer Tennis Center, one of the world’s most renowned tennis schools and international headquarters of the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry, is one of the top-notch facilities offering daily lessons for players of all skill levels.

Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, founded in 2002, helps prepare junior athletes for the highest level of competition. Led by Stan Smith, former No. 1 player in the world along with Billy Stearns, one of the world’s top coaches, and B.J. Stearns, former top-ranked player, the academy is located within The Sea Pines Resort.

The Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy, IJTA, led by eight-time grand slam champion Ivan Lendl, offers programs that combine training, academics and competition for all levels of serious tennis players.

PLAY FOR ALL SEASONS
An alluring array of recreational options is available in the area. Biking, kayaking, sailing, surfing, parasailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, fishing and crabbing, horseback riding, ziplining, miniature golf, playgrounds, swimming pools…the options go on as long as a leisurely stroll on the pristine beach. One of the latest trends making a niche in the market is kayak fishing on the area’s salt marshes.

For the sports enthusiast, some of the most enjoyable competition can be found on the fairways, beaches, baseball diamonds, waterways and tennis courts. And for sports with a more competitive edge, residents and visitors can try a triathlon, a marathon or a soccer game. Other sports that can be played locally include: basketball, beach cricket, billiards, bocce ball, bowling, croquet, equestrian, paddleboarding, gymnastics, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming and ultimate frisbee.

Cultural Things to Do in Hilton Head SC

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
www.artshhi.com
14 Shelter Cove Ln.
P.O. Box 5188
Hilton Head Island 29928
(843) 686-3945

Boys & Girls Club
151 Gumtree Rd.
Hilton Head Island 29928
(843) 689-3646
Bluffton: (843) 757-2845

Coastal Discovery Museum at Historic Honey Horn
www.coastaldiscovery.org
P.O. Box 23497
Hilton Head Island 29925
(843) 689-6767

Hilton Head Choral Society
www.hiltonheadchoralsociety.org
23 Cotesworth Place Hilton
Head Island 29926
(843) 341-3818

Hilton Head Island Recreation Center
www.islandreccenter.org

20 Wilborn Rd.
P.O. Box 22593
Hilton Head Island 29925
(843) 681-7273

Hilton Head Shore Notes
www.hiltonheadshorenotes.com
2 Stonegate Ct. Hilton Head Island 29926
(843) 689-3885

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
www.hhso.org
2 Park Lane, Suite 300/301
Hilton Head Island 29928
(843) 842-2055

The Sandbox | An Interactive Children’s Museum
www.thesandbox.org
18A Pope Avenue Hilton
Head Island 29928
(843) 842-7645