Hilton Head Island is an island off the coast of South
Carolina and home to the town of Hilton Head. Hilton Head
Island is located about 90 miles south of Charleston
and 20 miles north of Savannah
and enjoys miles of great Atlantic Coast beachfront and
tourism throughout most of the year. Hilton Head vacations
are particularly popular during the summer, when tourists
flock to the island for summer Hilton Head rentals and
beach front activities. The area is also well known for
the many excellent golf courses
found on the island and is host to the Verizon Heritage
Classic Tournament each year which draws some of the biggest
names in golf.
Hilton Head Island is not only the site of much tourism, but is also one of the few places in the southern United States where southern culture has been well preserved. Spared from the destruction of the Civil War and serving as a refuge for slaves during the 19th century, Hilton Head Island has developed as one of the great cultural spots for vacations in the south. Some great historical museums and festivals, including the Gullah Celebration to commemorate the African Gullah culture that has survived on the island, continue to make Hilton Head vacations popular for locals and visitors alike.
Hilton Head vacations for many tourists take place at
the high number of resorts found on the island close to
the beach. More than 2 million guests visit each year
and as such travelers who hope to find a place to stay
in the summer need to make reservations months in advance.
To reach the island, travelers can actually drive. A bridge
via U.S. route 278 east takes travelers from the mainland
to Hilton Head. There is a small airport on the island that is served by only a few airlines, so
if you plan to fly
into South Carolina your best bet will be to fly into
the Savannah, Georgia airport and drive from there (about
an hour’s drive). Car rental is available at the
airport.
For travelers who want to find Hilton
Head vacation rentals for their Hilton Head vacation
it will still be necessary to make your accommodation
reservations well in advance. Hilton Head rentals can
include large beach houses which can sleep up to 12 people,
or smaller condos and cabins for a couple or small family.
Expect to pay between $300 (for a smaller cabin) and $1200
(for a larger cabin) per night for Hilton Head rentals.
Less expensive options can be found by staying at some
of the smaller hotels on the island.
Whether you stay at Hilton Head vacation rentals or
in a hotel, there are plenty of things
to do on the island to keep you out of your room during
the day. The beaches are of course the main attraction,
and according to quite a few travelers are some of the
most beautiful beaches in the world. All of the beaches
are public property, so travelers will never need to pay
fees to get onto a beach. Colignay Beach and Folly Field
are two of the most popular public-access beaches, and
are free to the public. Guests can expect to find showers,
bathrooms and parking at almost all of the public-access
beaches on the island. Do bring your own snacks and water,
however.
Fishing is another of Hilton Head’s most popular
outdoor activities. For those who want to do some ocean
fishing, you will not need a
fishing license, one of the reasons that pier fishing
in the ocean is huge on the island. For fishing further
inland in lakes, a South Carolina fishing license is required
and is best between September and December. Golfing,
kayaking and camping are only
a few of the additional things to do in Hilton Head. Packages
for Hilton Head vacation rentals which include resort
stays and green fees are also a popular way to vacation
on the island.
