Hilton Head Island, South Carolina: Shopping, Dining and Beaches

Active outdoor pursuits are plentiful on the island. At Harbour Town at the Sea Pines Resort, you can partake in water sports like kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Treat children to a ride on a pirate ship or watch dolphins frolic in the sea. If you want to stay on dry land, enjoy the outdoor pool and private beaches of the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa as well as the panoramic ocean views from its View 32 restaurant.

The active visitor might choose to play golf at the Harbour Town Links, named by Golf Digest and Golfweek magazines as one of the Top 20 golf courses in the country. Located at The Sea Pines Resort, it is home to South Carolina’s only PGA Tour golf event, the RBC Heritage tournament. With the ocean and the Harbour Town Lighthouse as your backdrop, this is also one of the prettiest places to tee off.

For the tennis players in your group, adjacent to the Sonesta Resort within Shipyard Plantation, you’ll find the Van Der Meer Tennis Club, a premier tennis facility that also offers fantastic coaching with certified tennis professionals.

Perfect for family fun is the ZipLine Hilton Head at Broad Creek Marina. It's a faster-paced way to enjoy the outdoors. Absorb the beauty of the area as you soar through the trees.

True to the island’s laid-back nature, shopping on Hilton Head Island is generally dominated by quaint stores, locally owned specialty boutiques and small shopping plazas. There also are high-end retailers and exclusive shops if you want a luxury shopping experience. At Harbor Town, walk to excellent restaurants, shop in cute boutiques or stop in at the homemade ice cream shop. For a wider selection, head over the bridge to Bluffton to explore the Tanger Outlets. You’ll find a large variety of stores, including Coach, Hollister and Tommy Hilfiger.

Hilton Head Island and nearby Bluffton have many art galleries as well. The Art League of Hilton Head, a local organization that supports local artists and the visual arts, has a gallery in the Pineland Station, where local artwork is sold year-round. The organization hosts two annual art shows as well. In Bluffton’s Old Town, you can walk along Boundary and Calhoun Streets to browse a variety of art galleries and antique shops, a great place to find unique mementos or gifts to take home.

Historical sites are just some of the great attractions on Hilton Head. Between tours, make sure to check out the island’s delicious dining options. For the gourmands, take a “tasting tour” where, for a reasonable price, you will enjoy a guided culinary visit of the island, leading you from Bomboras Grille to Sweet Carolina Cupcakes and other local eateries.

At the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, you can watch a professional perform or take in a concert or dance performance. While there, peek in the art gallery attached to the building. For classical music fans, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra offers several fantastic performances throughout the year. Many visitors enjoy the Jazz Corner, a lively club and restaurant featuring live jazz music and delicious food.

Hilton Head Island's resorts maintain the same philosophy as the rest of the island. In addition to the super-luxe accommodations where you can relax and re-energize, there are numerous options for those interested in outdoor activities and communing with nature.

Some of the best attractions in the area are the island's beaches. Hilton Head Island is home to more than 19 kilometers of beaches, and it is easy to explore them all in this bike-friendly community. One of the favorite local beaches is Coligny Beach Park near the heart of downtown. The park’s long stretch of sand is an invitation to relax. On the promenade bordering the beach, there is a fun fountain with synchronized jets for children to splash in, and adults will find rocking chairs and free Wi-Fi. Within walking distance, you will find Coligny Plaza, which offers great shopping, dining and a cinema for your evening entertainment.