Hilton Head Island South Carolina Gullah History and Beaches

Why visit Hilton Head Island

The beaches are the first draw. The sand is wide and firm at low tide, firm enough to ride a bike along the water's edge, and the surf is usually gentle.

The island is also one of the most bike friendly places in the South, with a network of paved pathways running beside major roads and through the residential communities that locals still call plantations.

Look beyond the resorts and you find deep history. Indigenous people built shell rings here more than four thousand years ago.

Sea Pines and the south end

The gated Sea Pines community covers the island's southern tip. Visitors who are not staying inside pay a per vehicle day pass at the gate; check the Sea Pines website for the current fee.

Harbour Town Golf Links

Designed by Pete Dye with input from Jack Nicklaus, this course has hosted the Heritage since 1969, and the final holes run right along the sound beside the lighthouse. Even non golfers can enjoy the view from the marina side.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve

Hundreds of acres of woods, lakes and wetlands are protected here, with walking trails, boardwalks and observation platforms where you can spot alligators, herons and turtles.

Stoney-Baynard Ruins

Tucked into a residential area of Sea Pines, these tabby walls are what remains of a plantation house built around 1800. Union troops camped here during the Civil War.

Beaches and the mid island

All of the island's Atlantic beachfront is open to the public below the high tide line, but public parking is concentrated at a handful of beach parks.

Coligny Beach Park

At the end of Pope Avenue, Coligny is the island's busiest and most convenient public beach, with restrooms, outdoor showers, shaded swings and a short walk to the shops and casual restaurants of Coligny Plaza.

Shelter Cove

Midway up the island on Broad Creek, Shelter Cove combines a deepwater marina, waterfront dining, shops and a park lawn.

History, Gullah heritage and the north end

Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn

Set on the grounds of a historic plantation off the main parkway, this museum explores the Lowcountry's natural and cultural history through exhibits, gardens, a butterfly habitat, marsh boardwalks and grand live oaks.

Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park

On the north end near Port Royal Sound lies the site of Mitchelville, founded in 1862 for people freed from slavery after Union forces took the island.

Zion Cemetery and Baynard Mausoleum

At William Hilton Parkway and Mathews Drive, a small cemetery is all that remains of the Zion Chapel of Ease, built in 1788. It contains the Baynard Mausoleum, built in 1846 and the oldest intact structure on the island.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

Just before you reach Hilton Head on US 278, this refuge protects salt marsh, forest and freshwater ponds once owned by General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

Food and local flavors

This is Lowcountry country, and the menu leans on the surrounding waters.

Waterfront dining is easy to find at Harbour Town, Shelter Cove and along Skull Creek on the north end, where restaurants face the marsh and the sunset. Coligny Plaza and Pope Avenue are best for casual meals near the beach.

Popular dishes to try in Hilton Head Island

Where to stay

Sea Pines suits visitors who want golf, quiet bike paths and Harbour Town on their doorstep, with villas and homes for rent inside the gates.

The Coligny and South Forest Beach area is the best choice if you want to walk to a public beach, shops and casual restaurants without a car.

The north end and Port Royal area are quieter and more residential, good for longer stays.

Where to stay in Hilton Head Island

Best time to visit

Spring, from April to early June, brings warm days and blooming azaleas, plus the RBC Heritage golf tournament in mid April, the week after the Masters; book early if you are visiting then.

Summer is peak season with families, full beaches and heavy weekend traffic on the single road onto the island.

Getting there and getting around

Hilton Head Island Airport, on the north end, has a limited schedule of commercial flights, typically from hubs such as Charlotte and Atlanta.

By car, US 278 is the only road on and off the island, crossing bridges from Bluffton; it connects to I-95 about forty minutes inland.

Biking is the best way to get around. Paved pathways follow the main roads, and rentals with delivery to your lodging are widely available.

A suggested itinerary

Practical tips

• Book summer rentals, spring golf and Heritage week lodging months ahead.
• Ride bikes on the pathways rather than the road, use lights after dark and follow the posted beach biking rules.
• Keep a safe distance from alligators in lagoons and ponds, and never feed wildlife.
• During turtle nesting season, turn off beachfront lights at night, fill in holes and remove beach gear before dark.
• Check beach rules before you go; the town regulates items such as glass, tents and pets on the sand by season.
• Carry insect repellent for no see ums and mosquitoes, especially near marshes at dawn and dusk.

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