Hilton Head Vacation FAQ

Q: What are all the beaches in Hilton Head, South Carolina?

A: All Hilton Head Beaches are open to the public, however access is limited in some of the resorts and plantations. Coligny Beach is the most popular Island beach and is consistently rated one of the top beaches in the USA. Click here for a link to all the beaches, public access information, wheelchair accessibility and a printable Island map.

Q: What activities are there for kids to do in Hilton Head?

A: Families with children will find plenty to explore on Hilton Head Island. Coastal Discovery Museum offers tours and classes daily. The Sandbox, An Interactive Children’s Museum offers fun when you need to take a break from the beach, or on a rainy day. Click Here for more info

Q: What are the top restaurants in Hilton Head?

A: Di d you know that two stars from the Food Network live and own restaurants on Hilton Head Island?

Robert Irvine is a celebrity chef who has appeared on a number of Food Network programs, including Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, and Restaurant: Impossible. He owns Robert Irvines EAT, located in the Village at Wexford on the south end of Hilton Head Island. This favorite of locals and visitors serves up exciting tapas and interesting drinks in a haute cuisine environment. Click Here for more info

Another local and now national celebrity chef is Orchid Paulmeier, who is the owner of One Hot Mama’s, located in Reilleys Plaza off Greenwood Drive, just before the main gate to The Sea Pines Resort. Orchid is a contestant on the 7th season of The Next Food Network Star, competing each Sunday for her own show on the Food Network. You can see her daily at her restaurant that serves up the Island’s best bbq, including ribs, chicken and brisket. In fact, on one of the episodes, Paula Deen appeared as a guest judge and said that Orchid’s collared greens were the best. You can try Orchids collards, mac & cheese and brisket every day starting at 11:00 am and also try her blue-jean brunch, served on Sundays. Click Here for more info

Q: Is Hilton Head dog-friendly?

A: Absolutely! Hilton Head offers several options for you to enjoy the island with your furry friend. Bistro 17 in Shelter Cove Harbour offers dog friendly meal options made locally, so you don’t have to leave Fido at home for dinner, and on Hilton Head Island, we welcome dogs on the beach. Click here for all of your dogs on the beach rules and regulations!

Q: Does Hilton Head have any biking guidelines I should follow?

A: With over 80 miles of bike paths, Hilton Head Island is a haven for those that like to travel on two wheels. Always lock your bike, be aware of cars, ride with traffic and adhere to signage! For a complete map of all the bike paths on Hilton Head Island, click here.

Q: I enjoy walking and biking in the evening. Are there any precautions I should take while doing so on Hilton Head?

A: Hilton Head Island has been mindfully developed to align with nature and keeping the nighttime actually dark has kept light pollution from skies along our beaches. Unlike other coastal resorts, on Hilton Head Island you can enjoy meteor showers from the beach during the summer, see the Milky Way with the naked eye on a clear night and enjoy other natural phenomenon of the night skies. Expect minimum lighting for safety around parking and shopping areas; no neon signs; not a lot of street lighting; no lit street signage except on the Cross Island Expressway; no bike path lights. And, from May through August – we draw our curtains and shades if we live along the ocean so as not to disorient the tiny Loggerhead hatchlings that are trying to find their way to the sea. So be mindful, be grateful and be prepared to navigate in our neighborhoods!

Q: Are there any environmental precautions I should take or be aware of on Hilton Head Island?

A: Hilton Head Island is a semi-tropical location with a plethora of preserved natural habitats that makes our location so picturesque. All plants, trees, sand dunes and wildlife are protected and there are FINES levied for damage, harm, interference or removal of such. Leave no trace of your passing.

You can help by practicing the following:

• Please do not litter our highways, beaches, parks or bicycle paths.
• Please do not remove live sand dollars, starfish or other live sea critters from the beach.
• Please do not tramp across the sand dunes, pick the sea oats or other dune side shrubs.
• May through September, keep your window shades draws if you are staying oceanfront in order to help the Loggerhead hatchlings return to the ocean. Lights disorient them. Do not disturb the nests!
• Never feed a wild animal as this will make them see us as a food source and they become a lot more aggressive about making our acquaintance. Think alligators.

We gratefully share our island with some of the seaside, marsh and forest creatures: mice, spiders, lizards, squirrels, deer, egrets, herons, sea birds, alligators, raccoons, and possums among others. Most of these animals stay where they belong, but sometimes a mouse or lizard, a few spiders or Palmetto bugs come indoors, or our racoons enjoy the remains of someone’s barbecue dinner in the trash.

We do our best to keep them out with regularly scheduled monthly extermination or trap them when they come in, but, remember, this is the result of being in or around natural habitats. There is no extra charge for these critters and no discount or refund will be given if you decide that their presence is unacceptable.