WAYS TO FUN ON HILTON HEAD!
Hilton Head Island is many wonderful things to different people but, in our view at least, it is at its very best for family fun...whether the families visiting have kids or not! Here are some of our favorite family things to do.
GO TO THE BEACH
The beach usually is the first thing that comes to mnjd when you think of family fun on your island vacation. And, it probably SHOULD be among your first thoughts. The beach is the perfect place for everyone to relax while frolicking in the ocean, building sand castles and just plain having fun. However, the beach is a lot more complex than it seems. Its marine and other life serves as a perfect opportunity for children to learn a little about the ecology of the coastal region as they are having a good time. Purchasing a inexpensive magnifying glass along with an animal/plant field guide can provide an educational activity that will keep children busy for hours. Magnifying glasses can be found at many pharmacies. Field guides can be found at bookstores such as Waldenbooks at the Mall at Shelter Cove, and the Audubon Nature Store at the Village of Wexford. Mole crabs and Koquina clams are just two beach inhabitants easily found. Gathering sea shells is both fun and interesting. Afterwards, shell collectors can go through their guide and try to identify the various types of sea shells they have collected. If you are trying to decide which beach is best for you, refer to our Beach section. It provides a good selection of beaches with public access.
VISIT HARBOUR TOWN
When many people think of Hilton Head, Harbour Town is one of the first places that come to mind. Both Harbour Town and Shelter Cove Harbour are great places for family visits. There are lots of good places to eat, boats to look at, ice cream or adult beverages to buy, waterside walks and docks to stroll along, shops to visit. They are just plain great places to visit. For more information and directions to both, please refer to our Scenic Tour section.
GO BICYCLING
A great way for the family to see Hilton Head, get a little exercise and just have plain fun is to go bicycling. The island is flat, so biking should not be too difficult for anyone. There is plenty of opportunity for bicycling on local roads, bike paths and beaches. It's a great way to see the island, and learn where things are located. In general, the best places for bike riding are on the bike paths or the beach. Sea Pines, Shipyard and Palmetto Dunes all have extensive networks of bike paths. There also are paths along Pope Avenue, North and South Forest Beach Drive and William Hilton Parkway between Sea Pines Circle, Palmetto Dunes and Hilton Head Plantation. There are many bicycle rental firms on the island. Most rent on a weekly or daily basis, but there are several that rent on an hourly basis as well. Please refer to our Bicycling section for more information about renting bicycles.
GO ON A PICNIC
A picnic is another great thing to do with kids. The most popular place to have a picnic on Hilton Head is the beach. The island has many beaches to choose from, so finding one that is suitable for you should not be too difficult. If you do not choose to make your own picnic meal, there are plenty of restaurants that feature take-out dining suitable for picnics. You may wish to pick up a copy of the Hilton Head Island Restaurants magazine. It has a section devoted to take-out dining. Please refer to our Dining Out section for more information.
GO BOATING & FISHING
Boating and fishing are two other activities that can be fun for the entire family. There are plenty of tour boats and party boats for fishing and watching dolphins. Tour Boats such as The Gypsy and The Drifter are located in South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. The Spirit of Harbour Town, Stars and Stripes and The Vagabond are located at Harbour Town in Sea Pines. Shelter Cove Harbour offers The Captain Hook, The Adventure and The Holiday. The Tammy Jane is located at the north end of the island on the dock near Hudson's restaurant. For more information, please refer to our Boating, Cruising & Fishing section. Fishing is one of the best ways to relax, have fun and maybe even catch a little dinner! The island boasts of many different kinds of fish. Snapper, grouper, kingfish, cobia, bluefish, spot tail bass, swordfish and shark are just some of the fish often found in the saltwater surrounding Hilton Head. Try identifying the fish you catch and learning a little about them. It can add a good lesson to a delightful pastime! Three boats at opposite ends of Hilton Head offer special programs to give kids a "hands-on" experience with fishing. The Gypsy, operating out of South Beach Marina in Sea Pines, offers 3 separate cruises for kids in season. They can pull a crab pot, throw a cast net, fish for sharks, spot a dolphin and more. The Captain Hook operating out of mid- island Shelter Cove Harbour is very "kid-friendly" on all its cruises throughout the year. In season, evening shark fishing cruises stay out late to watch Shelter Cove's Tuesday night fireworks from an especially good location. The Tammy Jane (at least two separate cruises), at the north end of the island, lets kids share the catch from trawling using a 40' commercial-style net, including "shrimp, fish, crabs, shells and more." The Tammy Jane takes kids fishing for shark, cobia, pan fish, mackerel and bluefish. For more information, please refer to our Boating, Cruising & Fishing section.
WATCH A FREE TENNIS EXHIBITION
Tennis is an excellent spectator sport. Many of our local racquet clubs are designed with grandstands and/or clubhouse porches for watching others play. Several clubs have FREE evening professional exhibitions once a week for much of the year. They are casual, fun events that usually appeal to serious tennis players (the pro's are good), and to folks who play only occasionally. Some even offer free refreshments! For more information on weekly and ongoing events, please refer to our "Weekly Events" section.
TAKE THE SCENIC TOUR
We have suggested a driving tour that will show you much of what makes Hilton Head one of America's premier destination resorts. It includes beaches, golf courses, our famous Harbour Town, New England-style South Beach Village, Shelter Cove Harbour, sea marshes, lagoons, selected hotels, residential neighborhoods, and much more.
DINE OUT
One of the first questions that most visitors ask upon arrival on Hilton Head is "Where Should I Eat?" Dining out on Hilton Head offers a truly wonderful opportunity to sample many kinds of cuisine...often combined with interesting surroundings and/or an outstanding view. Restaurants range from pizza restaurants to restaurants specialing in seafood to restaurants with views. There even are excellent Early Bird Specials and other special offers available to you. Please refer to Hilton Head Island Restaurants Magazine for more information.
PLAY GOLF
Hilton Head is justifiably renowned for its outstanding golf courses. Please refer to our"Golf" section for descriptions and locations of courses open to public play, and for addittional information.
TAKE A GOLF LESSON
The pro's at many of Hilton Head's golf clubs offer instruction for those who would like to improve their games. Please refer to our "Golf" section for details.
LISTEN TO THE SYMPHONY PLAY TENNIS
Hilton Head has numerous racquet clubs, some among the most attractive anywhere. Tennis is excellent exercise, and lots of fun. Please refer to our "Tennis" section for descriptions and locations of racquet clubs open to the public. Most have racquets available for rent.
GO FOR A WALK
Hilton Head genuinely is a walker's paradise. Perhaps the single most popular place is the beach. However, there also are many lightly traveled roads and a large network of bike paths (select "Bicycling" link) that allow one to get some exercise and see our Island at the same time. Golf courses also are a wonderful place to walk just before dark, when golfers have finished their games for the day. One word of caution... PLEASE do not walk our courses when there may be golfers about. Getting hit with a golf ball is no joke!
