In case you missed it, the groundhog says that spring is coming early this year! It may be a cold winter day in February, but spring break is right around the corner.
Hilton Head is the perfect place to skip the planning, sightseeing, and endless itineraries of a city vacation — and simply unwind. Its one of my favorite vacation spots.
The island is located at the southernmost point of South Carolina’s shoreline, just northeast of Savannah, Georgia. The island has a unique topography, being surrounded by marsh and swamplands on the inland side, with white sandy beaches on the ocean side. The island is shared between private residences, resorts, and vacation homes, and is overflowing with recreational activity and wildlife. However, it appears to the naked eye as a secret escape from the overcrowded market of southeastern beaches.
THE BEACH: The best place to hit the beach on Hilton Head is at the Sea Pines Beach Club. Sea Pines is a large private resort at the southern end of the island, where most of Hilton Head’s attractions are located. The Beach Club is the crowned jewel of the Sea Pines community, and can be accessed by anyone visiting the island for a small fee, not just those staying at Sea Pines resort.
WHERE TO BE: After a day at the beach, food and shopping are priorities for an evening in Hilton Head. Harbour Town is a circular marina full of beautiful yachts, surrounded by shops, restaurants, live music, and home to Hilton Head’s famous lighthouse — a recipe for the perfect summer evening, especially if you’re in the South.
My second favorite spot on Hilton Head is the Salty Dog Café at South Beach Marina. The Salty Dog is a southern institution which has turned from a humble dockside restaurant into an entire marina village at the islands southernmost tip. There is a dock with table service overlooking the water, live music every night, and the famous Salty Dog T-Shirt Shop in a tiny apartment above the marina.
WHAT TO DO: Hilton Head is full of recreational activity. When I’ve had enough sun at the beach, my favorite way to see the island is to rent a bike for the day. Along every paved road on the island is a bike trail, and along every trail are maps of the island with directions and mileage to the main attractions, including every spot I’ve mentioned above.
Watersports such as jet skiing, deep sea fishing, parasailing, and kayaking are Hilton Head’s most popular activities for the adventurous, while others can find rich history and world-class golf around every corner.
WILDLIFE: Another thing that I, and many, love about Hilton Head is the abundance of wildlife. Everyday sightings include alligators in the marshes, dolphins swimming up to the beaches, and an abundance of marine life like crabs and jellyfish. Rarely, this can be dangerous, but most of the time the animals are a nothing more than a beautiful reminder of who we share the ocean with.
Hilton Head is great because it has something for everyone. You’ll find all the requirements for a perfect beach vacation here — from the quiet beaches to thrilling water sports, deep sea fishing lessons to delicious seafood, and everything in between!
So, ready for spring break?