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Book Partner PropertiesThings to Do in Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island packs a lot into twelve miles: championship golf, a beach you can ride a bike down at low tide, salt marsh full of dolphins and shorebirds, and a network of paved trails that makes most of the island reachable without a car. What follows is how visitors usually sort through it, and a guide to every activity we cover.
Start with the water
The Atlantic side is the island’s front porch. The sand is hard-packed and unusually flat, which is why you will see as many cyclists as swimmers on it at low tide, and why it suits small children better than most Atlantic beaches. Coligny is the busiest and most walkable access point; the quieter stretches sit further north and inside the resort communities.
Behind the island, the creeks and sounds are a different trip entirely. Dolphin cruises, inshore fishing charters, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and oyster-shelling trips to the sandbars all launch from the island’s marinas. Check a tide chart before you book anything shallow-water — around here the tide swing genuinely decides the itinerary.
Golf, tennis, and pickleball
Golf is the reason a large share of visitors come. Harbour Town Golf Links is the best known and hosts the island’s PGA Tour stop, but the island and neighboring Bluffton hold dozens of courses between them, from resort layouts to daily-fee tracks that are far easier to get onto on short notice.
Hilton Head also has deep racquet-sport roots, with long-established tennis centers across the resort communities and a fast-growing set of pickleball courts. Most facilities sell court time and clinics to visitors, not only to members.
When the weather turns, or the kids do
The island is well supplied with rainy-afternoon options: bowling, mini golf, the shops and restaurants at Shelter Cove and Coligny, and the island’s history and Gullah heritage sites, which are worth a visit in any weather.
From late spring into fall, loggerhead sea turtles nest on the beaches, and the island takes its lighting and nest-protection rules seriously — reading up before an evening beach walk is genuinely part of visiting here.
All things to do on Hilton Head Island
Book real Hilton Head experiences — dolphin cruises, fishing charters, boat rentals, and sunset cruises — across ten categories of vetted local tours, booked directly through our affiliate partner.
Golf on Hilton Head Island — Harbour Town Golf Links, Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes resort courses, plus a full course listing for the island and Bluffton, SC.
Five mini golf courses on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton — pirate-themed, glow-in-the-dark, indoor and outdoor — with phone numbers and websites for each.
Tennis courts, lessons, and clinics on Hilton Head Island — Palmetto Dunes, Sea Pines, Van Der Meer, and other resorts and public courts around the island.
Pickleball courts, clubs, and leagues on Hilton Head Island — Palmetto Dunes, Long Cove, Wexford, and other resorts and public courts around the island.
Biking on Hilton Head Island — 60+ miles of leisure trails, beach biking, a Bicycle Friendly Community designation, and local bike rental shops islandwide.
Gyms and fitness studios on Hilton Head Island — full-service clubs, barre, Pilates, and CrossFit — with phone numbers and map links for each.
Bowling near Hilton Head Island: Station 300 in nearby Bluffton offers lanes, arcade games, and food for a family-friendly day off the beach.
Historic and cultural tours on Hilton Head Island — Gullah heritage, Civil War history, and boat tours to Daufuskie — with contact info for seven operators.
Guided Segway tours on Hilton Head Island — scenic waterfront paths, maritime forests, and marsh views with Hilton Head Segway and Segway of Hilton Head.
Live music on Hilton Head Island — HarbourFest, the Gregg Russell Concert Series, Hilton Head Jazz Camp, and other waterfront concerts and festivals.
Car shows in the Hilton Head area: the Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, monthly Cars & Coffee meetups, and local car club cruise-ins around the island and Bluffton.
When and where to see fireworks on Hilton Head Island — weekly Shelter Cove HarbourFest shows and Fourth of July displays at Shelter Cove and Harbour Town.
Family-friendly playgrounds across Hilton Head Island — shaded parks, a splash pad, and nature play areas, with addresses and map links for each.
Sea turtles nest on Hilton Head's beaches from May through October. How conservation efforts protect nesting mothers and hatchlings, and how you can help too.
Skip the overnight stay — Hilton Head resort day passes get pool, beach, spa, and cabana access at top resorts like the Omni, Westin, and Sonesta.
Hilton Head Island's history: Native American shell rings, Captain Hilton's 1663 voyage, the plantation era, Civil War, Gullah Geechee culture, and Sea Pines.
Local guides like this come standard for Guests of Partner Properties — one small part of what a Partner Property gives every guest.
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