THIS CONTENT WAS PRODUCED FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND BY the foundry @ MEREDITH CORP. TRAVEL + LEISURE EDITORIAL STAFF WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ITS CREATION OR PRODUCTION.
Hilton Head Island is an outdoor paradise, with miles of unspoiled beaches, championship golf courses, luxurious resorts, and unique family-friendly adventures. Year-round sunshine and mild subtropical climate allow for a variety of land and water activities around the island; you can discover local birds and wildlife by walking or kayaking through the marshes and sea waters, bike on miles of charming hard-packed pristine beaches, play a round of golf with friends, and gather around the fire pit for s’mores under star-studded clear skies.
Plus, with Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) a mere 45 minutes away, you can get there in no time—on any major airline. Here are the best ways to enjoy your time outdoors on your next visit.
Frolic under the sun on
award-winning beaches
Hilton Head Island is one of the rare spots on the east coast where you can find 12 miles of uninterrupted beachfront. Wide, flat shores and calm waters make it ideal for families to swim or simply enjoy a relaxing day on the beach. Wake up early for meditative beach yoga and watch a picturesque sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, or take a long romantic beach stroll basking in the evening sun. Plus, many of the beaches are pet-friendly, so you can bring your four legged family members too!
Bike around the
island’s scenic trails
Named ‘Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community’ by the American League of Bicyclists, Hilton Head Island contains over 60 miles of leisure pathways, fit for beginners and experienced riders. Firm sand and low tides make it easy to ride right on the beach. For a fun and relaxing adventure, rent a beach cruiser or tandem bike from Hilton Head Outfitters and meander through streets shaded by live oaks and Spanish moss, making your way to picturesque salty marshes and the iconic red-and-white striped Harbour Town Lighthouse.
Practice your swing
with the pros
Some of the world’s top courses are located on Hilton Head Island, and each has their own unique characteristics. Play a round of golf at the PGA TOUR-friendly Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort, hit the green at Heron Point by Pete Dye, and score the oceanfront hole at Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III. Most resorts offer stay-and-play packages and there are 23 championship courses to choose from; some former pros in the area even offer instructional courses that can help elevate your game.
Grab your bait and
tackle and go fishing
At Hilton Head Island, you can fish from the docks, the beach, and the sea; cast your net onboard a private fishing charter with Drifter Excursions, Inc., where you can pull crab traps, harvest oysters, and bring home your own catch of the day. And if you can’t land the big one, just head over to one of the over 250 restaurants around the island serving sustainably caught local seafood—a lot offering al fresco dining.
Discover your new
favorite water sport
Enjoy an ultimate ocean adventure in the Lowcountry by sail, kayak, paddleboard, wakeboard, kneeboard, or tube. Outside Hilton Head offers equipment rental outposts at resorts across the island. In the evening, take a sunset dolphin-watching cruise with Mermaid of Hilton Head to see playful bottlenose dolphins (and occasionally manatees!) enjoying their natural environment.
Watch local bird and
wildlife and take a walk
on the wild side
Hilton Head Island’s protected maritime forests and tidal pools attract over 220 bird species, making it an ideal place to go birdwatching. Expect to see neotropical migratory birds such as painted buntings, endangered red knots, bald eagles, and egrets, as well as white-tailed deer. Expert guides at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, a Smithsonian affiliate, offer guided tours of nearby Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge, and educate people about these magnificent creatures and their environment.
Help save sea turtle
habitats and become an
amateur conservationist
From May through October, huge numbers of loggerhead sea turtles return to Hilton Head Island’s beaches to lay eggs every year—in 2021, there were 283 nests. You can help these magnificent creatures by “adopting” a nest for a future season, which means dedicated biologists and conservationists will keep you updated on the status of your little turtles as they develop; Hilton Head Island is serious about saving loggerheads, and you can do your part by keeping the beaches clean and respecting the natural wonder of their hatching time.
Raise a tennis or pickleball
racquet for some healthy
competition
Tennis enthusiasts will find over 300 clay and green courts—as well as tennis academies and clinics—on Hilton Head Island. If you want to try the country’s fastest-growing sport, pick up a paddle and try pickleball at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, named “Pickleball Resort of the Year” by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine; the ease and pace of this sport makes it fun for all generations to play together.
Saddle up for a
horseback ride
Lawton Stables, located within Sea Pines, is a world-class equestrian center where younger kids can take a pony ride and visit an animal farm, while adults can ride solo on the tranquil natural trails of Sea Pines Forest Preserve. For a more remote adventure, take a short ferry to the laid-back Daufuskie Island and ride the horses right on the beach via Daufuskie Trail Rides.
Search for ancient
fossils and shells
Bring out your inner archeologist and discover a 4,000-year-old site at the Sea Pines Shell Ring. This rare circular structure made of decomposed shells and bones was used by Native Americans, which curious beachcombers can study to learn more about the island’s natural and cultural history. Also, keep an eye out for shark teeth and other fossils while beachcombing and exploring the island!
Ready to explore Hilton Head Island? Start planning your trip here.
