The South Carolina barrier island has miles of bike trails, restaurants serving fresh-caught seafood and farm-to-table fare, and a toes-in-the sand beachfront bar.
by Cathy Martin
When I think of Hilton Head Island, I think of golf courses, a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere, and those ubiquitous Salty Dog Café T-shirts that were everywhere in the ’90s and early 2000s.
But the barrier island northeast of Savannah is also known for its dog-friendliness, iconic red-and-white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse and late-midcentury architecture. The island’s low-profile wooden villas and homes were designed to blend into the natural landscape. It’s also home to a nationally acclaimed wellness retreat and the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, held each fall.
Here are 5 essential things to do at Hilton Head Island.
DINE DOCKSIDE
Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks — a former seafood-processing plant that was converted to a restaurant in 1967 — is an island mainstay. More than 90% of the seafood served at Hudson’s is sourced locally. The restaurant serves more than 3,000 gallons of oysters and 70,000 pounds of shrimp a year. First-timers might want to start with the “Can’t Decide Sampler” appetizer: Oysters Hudson (fried oysters wrapped in bacon), Oysters Rockefeller, beer-battered shrimp, mini crab cakes and blackened scallops. And no meal here is complete without their famous hushpuppies. Hudson’s doesn’t take reservations, and the waiting list fills up fast. It’s worth the longer wait for a table on the dock to take in the sunset view.
Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks
VISIT OLD TOWN BLUFFTON
This quaint lowcountry community is as picturesque as it gets, with towering oaks dripping with Spanish moss, waterfront parks on the banks of the May River and 1800s architectural gems. While much of the town burned during the Civil War, several of its oldest structures remain, including the Heyward House, a former summer residence that’s now a museum and welcome center, and The Church of the Cross, a Gothic-style wooden structure that stands proudly at the corner of Calhoun and Bridge streets. FARM Bluffton is a charming farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on hyper-seasonal ingredients. If you can’t get a dinner reservation, don’t sleep on their Sunday brunch. Start with a craft cocktail like the Blueberry Spritz (blueberry, Lillet blanc, lemon and prosecco, $13). Then choose one main dish (buttermilk waffle, shrimp and grits, frittata with seasonal veggies, etc.) plus two sides (their seasonal salads and bread pudding are to die for) – all for about $20 or less.
Church of the Cross, brunch at FARM Bluffton, Old Town Bluffton
HOP ON A BIKE
It’s easy to cruise around Hilton Head on two wheels. Though the island is only 12 miles long and 5 miles wide, there are more than 60 miles of bike trails. Bike to brunch at Nectar Farm Kitchen or brake for coffee and croissants at Hilton Head Social Bakery. Bring your own, or rent bikes from one of several outfitters on the island.
Bike paths connect Hilton Head Island beaches, shops and restaurants; breakfast at Nectar, right
LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC ON THE BEACH
The Tiki Hut, which opened in 1977, is an island institution. Cool off with a frozen cocktail like the Tiki Lemonade (Deep Eddy lemon vodka, blue curacao, lemonade) and nosh on nachos, burgers and footlong hot dogs at this toes-in-the-sand music venue at the oceanfront Beach House hotel. The bar keeps the summer vibes going year-round, with live music seven days a week. The Tiki Hut reopened in May after a major expansion, part of a $13 million hotel renovation that also included a swanky, expanded pool with swaying palms and private cabanas. Close to the bustling Coligny Plaza and drawing a crowd that ranges from babies to boomers, The Tiki Hut is people-watching at its finest.
Live music by the fire pits at Tiki Hut; a Tiki Hut cocktail; the pool at Beach House Hilton Head Island
GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE
Filled with native plants, the Audubon Newhall Preserve is home to more than 140 bird species, from ospreys to ruby-throated hummingbirds. The 50-acre park was established in 1965 after Caroline Newhall convinced Sea Pines developer Charles Fraser to deed the land as a preserve. Admission is free, and the walking trails are dog-friendly and wheelchair-accessible. Volunteers lead tours on Tuesday and Friday mornings (summer hours may differ). The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
Audubon Newhall Preserve
Featured image: Tiki Hut at Hilton Head Island
