Hilton Head Island is one of my favorite places to go for many reasons. The island is located within the low country of South Carolina.
Do you have a trip planned to Hilton Head Island, SC or are you thinking of taking one? Here’s some must sees, must dos, and must eats.
Must Sees
Fish Haul Beach Park
People consider this beach park a hidden gem on the island. This is a great location to go searching for sea shells, a great location for picture taking, and a great place to take a nice quiet walk along the beach.
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
This is such a fun place to explore for part of your day. You can see a variety of birds/animals and plants at this wildlife refuge. The trails are great. You can walk or ride your bike.
Harbour Town Lighthouse
The lighthouse is located in Sea Pines. There is an admission price to get into Sea Pines if you are not staying at a villa there. There is also an admission price to tour the lighthouse, however both admission prices are not extremely pricey. The views at the top of the lighthouse are worth it!
Must Dos
Biking
If you plan to take a trip to Hilton Head, you will want to rent a bike. Biking can be used as a form of transportation as there are great bike paths all around the island. The island is a flat terrain which also makes biking much more enjoyable. Taking a bike ride down the beach is one of my favorite things to do while visiting whether that be at sunrise or sunset.
There are lots of bike rental shops all across the island and they will deliver your bike to where you are staying before you arrive if you reserve ahead of time. A couple companies we have used are Pedals and Hilton Head Bicycle Company.
Kayaking
We took a kayak tour out of Shelter Cove for sunset and fireworks at night. Kayaking around the waters on the island is a fun way to see different parts of the island. If kayaking is your thing, you can find different water ways in Hilton Head to explore.
The Beach
We usually stay in a condo complex that has a private beach dedicated to the condo. People can of course walk from the public beach accesses to the private beach areas, however the private beach area is much less crowded usually. The beach is great for walking, running, biking, and laying out enjoying the ocean breeze.
Shopping
I really enjoy all of the outdoor activities and adventures, but we usually like to take part of a day away from those adventures to look around at Tanger Outlets. There’s two parts of Tanger Outlets and they have many stores that each person can find something they enjoy browsing. There is also Coligny Plaza that has mainly local owned businesses, but they have unique things that are always cool to check out.
Tennis and Golfing
If you play either of these sports, Hilton Head is perfect for you! You will find a golf course and tennis courts at just about every resort on the island.
Must Eats
Dough Boys Pizza
This is usually the place we head to the first night we are on the island. Great pizza and salads. They have gluten free pizza.
CharBar Co
Our favorite place to get a burger. They have a gluten free bun.
Hilton Head Diner
If you aren’t sure what you are feeling like eating for the night, go to the Diner. They have such a good variety of options and everyone can find something they will like.
OKKO
Great option for Japanese hibachi. I would suggest making a reservation if you want to eat dinner at a table here. We walked in and the only option was to eat at the bar that night.
Watusi Cafe
You absolutely should check this place out for breakfast. So many great options and lots of gluten free options too. You can sit down for breakfast or grab something quickly on the go at their marketplace bakery.
The G-Free Spot
This is our favorite spot for gluten free goodies. They have so many good gluten free bakery and pastry items. If you are gluten free, definitely check them out. We love their cinnamon rolls, cinnamon coffee cakes, brownies, and many other things.
Frozen Moo
You have to try out the ice cream here. They have over 90 flavors to choose from. They are located in Coligny Plaza which is a great place to spend your night after dinner.
If you have any questions about Hilton Head Island that I haven’t answered, please reach out to me. If I can give any insight on your question, I definitely will.