The Beaches of Hilton Head Island

Thousands of visitors come to Hilton Head Island each summer for its pristine beaches, high-class small town atmosphere, and resort vacationing.  Summer is a fabulous time for a beach vacation on Hilton Head Island and with over twelve miles of sparkling sand beaches, there so many areas to enjoy the sun and surf.  All of Hilton Head’s beaches are public, from the ocean to the high water mark, although access to the beach is often private.

Public beach access points are Alder Lane, Coligny Beach, Fish Haul Park, Driessen Beach Park, Burkes Beach, Folly Field Beach Park, and the Islanders Beach Park.  Wheelchair access is available at Alder Lane Beach Park, Driessen Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park and Islanders Beach Park. With so many great options, it may be hard to choose where to set up your umbrella and lay your towel.

For those that are vacationing in the Forest Beach area, the closest public beach is Alder Lane Beach. Located just off South Forest Beach Drive, Alder Lane beach provides meter parking, handicap access, restrooms, outdoor showers and seasonal life guards.  The beaches here are wide and usually full of families enjoying the sand and surf.  Also located in the Forest Beach area is Coligny Beach.  Along with parking, showers, restrooms, handicap access, and seasonal life guards, Coligny beach also has WI-FI and seasonal Beach Rentals.  Located at the end of Pope Avenue, just off Coligny Circle, Coligny Beach is within walking distance to shops and restaurants.

Mid-Island beaches include Driessen Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park and Islanders Beach Park. All three of these public beaches are located off William Hilton Parkway around the Folly Field area.  They all provide metered parking, handicap access, a boardwalk, restrooms, and seasonal life guards.  Driessen Beach Park and The Islanders Beach Park include grills, picnic pavilions, and playgrounds.  These areas provide the perfect space to take a break from the sun to have lunch or just let the kids play on the shaded playgrounds.

Mitchelleville Beach Park and Fish Haul Park are located off Beach City Road on the northern end of Hilton Head Island.  These beaches are great for shelling or just taking in the natural beauty of Hilton Head.  These less crowded strands of beach are surrounded by woods, tidal creeks, marshes and mudflats.  Located on the Port Royal Sound, these mud flats are excellent feeding and resting habitats for many shorebirds.

Hilton Head Island has done a wonderful job of protecting its beautiful shoreline. While visiting, there are a few rules to abide by in order to keep our beaches in their natural state.

• Pets are not permitted on the beach during the hours of 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., from the Friday before Memorial Day until the Monday of Labor Day weekend.  From April to May, pets must be leashed between 10 A.M and 5 P.M. and from October to March, leashes are not required at any time.  Local law requires owners to clean up after their pets.
• Fishing and casting are prohibited in designated swimming areas.
• Liquor, beer or wine, glassware, horses, sleeping on the beach after midnight, and the operation, launch or landing of motorized watercraft are prohibited on Hilton Head Island’s beaches. 

HiltonHeadIslander.com, a division of Performance Development Corporation (PDC), features information about Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from vacation rentals to real estate featuring details on events, hotels, restaurants, golf, activities, shopping & spas. Created for visitors and locals alike, HiltonHeadIslander.com is the source for all things Hilton Head Island.

Day Trip From Hilton Head to Daufuskie Island

Hilton Head Island is full of activities for the vacationer but if you would like to experience something a little different, take a day trip to Daufuskie Island. Daufuskie is full of history and culture just waiting to be explored.  Daufuskie was originally occupied by native Indians prior to the arrival of European explorers in the 16^th century. Plantations covered the island prior to the Civil War when they were occupied by Union Soldiers. Freed slaves then occupied the island and grew cotton which has left a legacy of rich Gullah history. Remaining virtually untouched,  Daufuskie Island offers a glimpse of what other sea islands were like before technology and urban growth.

Visitors won’t find the hustle and bustle of city life. In fact Daufusie has very few paved roads and not a single traffic light. Instead the visitor will find unspoiled beauty of the lowcountry, quiet beaches, and natural woodlands filled with pines and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Included in the natural flora and fauna of Daufuskie Island, you’ll find loggerhead turtle nests, herds of deer, the rare black fox squirrel, alligators sunning on banks, bald eagles soaring the sky, and pods of dolphins frolicking along the shore. Exploring this beautiful island, you’ll find treasures including arrowheads and pottery from Indian settlements, relics from revolutionary and civil war battles, and remains of china from large plantation homes that once occupied the island. Daufuskie is also home to some of the few remaining tabby ruins in Beaufort County. Serving as plantation slave quarters, these homes were constructed of a mixture of crushed oyster shells, lime, sand, and water. Few know that Jimmy Buffet’s 1988 song, “The Price of Tides” laments the urbanization of the island and the loss of the Gullah culture. And Pat Conroy’s book, The Water is Wide, was set on Daufuskie island where Mr. Conroy recounts his experiences of teaching on the island in the 1960’s.

Daufuskie is home to approximately 250 full time residents and 400 part time residents. Haig Point and Melrose include private residences and rental cottages but the rest of the island remains undeveloped with a few homes scattered throughout the island.

Daufuskie is accessible by passenger ferry or private boat with travel times ranging from 15-45 minutes.  Ferry boats to Daufuskie Island leave from Hilton Head Marina at various times. Once you arrive on the island, golf carts are available for rent. Be sure to rent your cart for at least two hours giving you plenty of time to explore. You’ll be provided with a detailed map of the area including landmarks you won’t want to miss. Once you’ve finished your exploration, the island offers two restaurants, the Old Daufuskie Crab Company at Freeport Marina and Marshside Mamas at the county dock. 

Shrimp or Crab...Which Lowcountry favorite do you prefer?

Also referred to as Frogmore Stew, this one-pot wonder is enjoyed by many throughout the south. The traditional Lowcountry Boil is a simple dish consisting of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. It’s easily served up on newspaper, which provides for quick clean up, and usually paired with melted butter and cocktail sauce. Lowcountry Boil is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.  The recipe is pretty basic but feel free to add in onions or blue crabs to make it your own.

Lowcountry Boil

4 pounds small red potatoes
5 quarts water
1 (3-ounce) bag of crab boil seasoning
4 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
2 pounds kielbasa or hot smoked link sausage cut into 1½-inch pieces
6 ears of corn, halved
4 pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined optional
Cocktail sauce

Add potatoes to large pot, then add 5 quarts water and seasonings. Cover pot and heat to a rolling boil; cook 5 minutes. Add sausage and corn, and return to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add shrimp to stockpot; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain. Serve with cocktail sauce. Serves 12.

(Adapted from Southern Living, August 2002 and Real Simple, August 2001)

Found to be plentiful throughout the inland waters of the Lowcountry, blue crabs are another favorite a favorite in the south. Simple to prepare and similar to that of Lowcountry Boil, crabs are best enjoyed around a newspaper topped table with friends. No extras or frills needed here, just melted butter and your cracking skills. Enjoy!

Paula’s Savannah-Style Blue Crabs

3 heaping tablespoons crab seasoning, such as Old Bay                                                                         1 tablespoon white vinegar   
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 dry bay leaves
2 lemons, split in half
1 bunch fresh parsley, roughly chopped
6 blue crabs
Melted butter, for serving

Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the crab seasoning, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves, lemons, garlic and parsley to the pot. Add the crabs and boil until they are red, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the crabs using a spider, and then let the crabs cool to the touch. Crack the crabs over newspaper and pick out all their sweet meat. Serve with melted butter.

(Recipe from Paula Deen from the Food Newtork show, Paula’s Best Dishes, episode: Feeling Crabby.)

HiltonHeadIslander.com, a division of Performance Development Corporation (PDC), features information about Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from vacation rentals to real estate featuring details on events, hotels, restaurants, golf, activities, shopping & spas. Created for visitors and locals alike, HiltonHeadIslander.com is the source for all things Hilton Head Island.

Hilton Head Alligators

Ever wonder about all those Alligators you see on Hilton Head Island? Our Alligator population likely exceeds 1000 so it’s probable that you will see one of these island residents during your stay. It’s best to watch these native creatures from a distance but if you would like to get up and personal with them, an “Alligator Wine and Cheese Cruise” may be right up your “alligator alley”. Hosted by H20 Sports, you’ll take an early evening cruise through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.  As you journey through the Forest Preserve (enjoying your wine and cheese), you’ll see the island in a whole new light. Few visitors OR residents take advantage the many activities provided on Hilton Head to experience the island’s natural beauty. This is a great way to pick up a little history and explore Hilton Head’s flora and fauna.

For those who prefer to stay on land, The Coastal Discovery Museum is having a “Meet and Greet Reptiles on Hilton Head Island” on December 30^th 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This informal presentation will be held in the Sea Island Room and no reservations are needed.

The most important thing to remember is “Don’t Feed The Alligators”.

HiltonHeadIslander.com is your guide to all of what our island has to offer.  At HiltonHeadIslander.com, you’ll find accommodations, things to do, local dining spots, Island beach information, local events, articles, weather, and Real Estate information. You’ll know Hilton Head Island front and back before you even cross the bridge. Visit us today at www.HiltonHeadIslander.com. 

Babysitting Options on the Island

You are on Hilton Head Island for a family vacation because, well, you want to spend time with family. However, it is okay if you feel like one night you might want to sneak out with your significant other and enjoy some quiet, romantic, one-on-one time. Maybe enjoy a long dinner at one our fabulous restaurants or catch a movie you've been excited to see. If you are in need of someone to watch your kiddos, here are a few options:

Guardian Angels Sitting Service : This bonded, licensed, and insured company offers babysitting in the Hilton Head Area. You will need to complete an application and then you can get a referral for a babysitter in their network. Call 877-470-4277 for more information.

Hilton Head Nannies: Nannies can come directly to your hotel room or vacation rental and care for infants and children.

The Sandbox: Once a month during the off season and twice a week during the summer months, the Sandbox Interactive Children's Museum hosts Parents Night Out, Kids Night In. Kids ages 3-9 years old enjoy a pizza dinner, drink and dessert, as well as three hours of playing among the fun exhibits and activity areas. Each child will also take home a fun craft. Call 843-842-7645 for more information.

Island Rec Center: Once a month the Island Rec offers a Kids Night Out program. Drop the kids off from 6-10 p.m. and they will be fed pizza for dinner and entertained with activities, movies, games, arts & crafts. Pre-registration is required. Call 843-681-7273 for more information.

So get out there and enjoy a few hours of adult fun. The kids will have plenty to keep them occupied. Cheers!

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