Hilton Head, South Carolina is one of our favorite places to visit! Jared and I took our honeymoon there, and a year later visited again for our babymoon. It was Reagan’s first time at the beach and I think she really enjoyed it! The waves scared her at first, but the water was so warm that once we got past the waves she started splashing and having fun.
Some of Our Favorite Things to do on the Island:
- Go to the Beach. Obviously. East coast beaches are great because the water is SO warm and the waves are calm. When the tide is high you can literally waltz out into the water for what seems like miles. I love it! We even brought Reagan out on a boogie board and just let her sway up and down with the waves.
- Eat at Skull Creek Boathouse. This is some of the best seafood you can get on the island! We’ve ordered the sushi, steak, fish tacos, calamari, hush puppies, and the infamous throw downs of lobster, crab legs and shrimp…and it is all delicious!
- Rent bikes. The sand on the beaches is firm enough to ride bikes on, and the entire island is bike friendly with trails connecting you to all the different beaches and neighborhoods. Take a day and see the island in a unique way!
- Rent kayaks and explore the bay. This is where all the dolphins and other sea life live! We rented kayaks two years ago and followed dolphins around the bay for hours. We were exhausted at the end but it was such a fun experience!
- Go on a dolphin watching cruise. If you go on a Tuesday night you have the option to see the fireworks from the boat as well! The tour guides are very knowledgable and guarantee that you’ll see dolphins or you get your money back.
- Visit the Hilton Head Lighthouse. This was a fun way to escape the heat and get a break from the beach for a couple hours (recovering from a sunburn anyone?) and for only $5 it was totally justifiable. The lighthouse was converted to a museum that you explore as you climb the winding stairs to the top. The view from the top is amazing! I recommend going in the morning so you can enjoy the view longer without overheating.
- Coligny Plaza. This is a fun little shopping center that lies next to the only public beach on the island. There are some fantastic ice cream parlors and fun little souvenir shops to explore, as well as a splash pad that Reagan just LOVED!
We especially love Hilton Head because you can customize your vacation to what you want. It’s totally possible to happily sit on the beach and never leave your resort for a week, or you can plan activities to fill every hour of your visit!
We stayed at Jared’s parent’s timeshare this year and loved the amenities (splash pad at the pool!) and the proximity to the ocean. Is anyone planning a trip to an east coast beach this year? I’d love to hear about it!