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Hilton Head Island is the #1 island in the continental US and America’s favorite island, far from an under the radar or off the beaten path destination. Hilton Head Island is one of the most popular vacation destinations in South Carolina,- yet there are plenty of off the beaten path adventures that await during springtime!

Spending a vacation on Hilton Head Island delivers the best of both worlds for travelers – 12-miles of sandy beaches, award-winning sports, activities galore at Harbour Town, Shelter Cove and Coligny Plaza, and quiet off the beaten path adventures away from the touristy spots of Hilton Head.

1. Unwind with a Quiet Beach Day

It is possible to have a quiet beach day without the crowds on Hilton Head Island. The north end of the island does not attract as many tourists and offers a quieter beach life. Mitchelville Beach Park is the most secluded, natural beach on Hilton Head for sunbathing or a quiet beach stroll – but is not lifeguarded, or great for ocean swimming.

One of the island’s best kept secrets is Burke’s Beach, located mid-island near Chaplin Community Park and accessed on a short walk (or bike ride) around the protected dunes. There are no major resorts or restaurants nearby so pack a picnic and enjoy miles of sandy shoreline, shallow lifeguarded water for the kids, crabbing adventures, and a fenced in dog park for your furry four-legged family member.

Coligny Beach is where you’ll find the crowds but, if you head slightly south, Alder Lane Beach Park is one of the most peaceful beaches on the island and is both pet-friendly and lifeguarded for a quiet family beach day. Wherever you choose to spend a beach day on Hilton Head, bottlenose dolphin sightings and nesting sea turtles (May-Oct) are common sightings.

2. Get Out on the Water

Getting out on the water is what Hilton Head Island is all about! Hilton Head is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway with Broad Creek winding through the center of the island. Aside from fellow paddlers, the waterways are secluded with hidden coves and creeks abounding with dolphins and wildlife, and constantly changing with the tides. Book a guided kayaking, stand up paddleboarding or boating adventure with Outside Hilton Head, or consider a full moon tour to completely escape the crowds. Gear rentals are readily available to paddle the waterways alone.

A private Hilton Head fishing charter will take you far away from the crowds into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Hilton Head Island is a top destination for all kinds of fishing with inshore, offshore, lagoon and sharking fishing tours in the high seas and on the Intracoastal Waterway.

3. HorseBACK Ride in Sea Pines Forest Preserve

Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a lush 605-acre wildlife habitat with tranquil nature trails, boardwalks and bridges, fishing docks, and endless outdoor exploration. Escape the crowds (and the heat) on a horseback ride along the shaded trails in Sea Pines Forest Preserve with Lawton Stables, or alternatively opt for a boat tour, eco-adventure or fun hay wagon ride with the kids.

4. Picnic at Audubon Nature Preserve

Pack a picnic (and the binoculars) and head to Audubon Nature Preserve near Sea Pines. This small, 50-acre protected nature reserve is pure paradise with a small network of trails and boardwalks winding through five unique ecosystems, birds, butterflies and wildlife, and a tranquil pond perfect for a picnic. The Audubon Nature Preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset and also offers guided tours with a naturalist.

5. Bike the Trails

Hilton Head Island is one of the most bike-friendly destinations in the US with over 60 miles of interconnected bike paths and trails across the island to either loop round the island with fellow cyclists or venture off and explore the island at your own pace. Sunset Rentals partners with Vayk Gear to provide compliment bike and beach gear credit at select Sunset Rentals properties, making it easy to bike the island trails, for free!

6. Visit Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve

Visiting Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve takes you right off the beaten path into 4,000 acres of pristine wilderness for hiking, biking, fishing, birding and wildlife viewing. Once an island lookout during the Civil War, this historic wildlife refuge features 14 miles of hiking and biking trails, salt marshes and ponds for fishing, and historical markers outlining the history of Hilton Head during the Civil War. The preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday 9AM to 5PM.

7. Explore the Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum is rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage and is truly one of the most beautiful places to visit on Hilton Head Island. Guided tours and activities are available (with options to escape the crowds) but the 68-acre grounds are also perfect to quietly explore alone with centuries old buildings, interpretive trails, giant oaks and lagoons, and wildlife encounters around every corner.

8. Tour the Gullah-Geechee Neighborhoods

Soak up the history and heritage of Hilton Head Island on a Gullah Heritage Trail tour through the original Gullah-Geechee Neighborhoods of Hilton Head. Led by local Gullah descendants, this tour trails away from the island’s top tourist attractions through the historic and cultural sites in Mitchelville Freedom Park, the Gullah Museum, and the local Gullah neighborhoods on the island.

9. Plan a Day Trip to Daufuskie Island

You don’t get more off the beaten path than Daufuskie Island, a small and serene barrier island nestled between Hilton Head and mainland Savannah and accessible only by boat, ferry, or kayak! Take a private tour of Daufuskie Island without the tourists or rent a bike or golf cart to adventure along the trails and dirt roads alone. Find your sandy space on 3-miles of secluded shoreline, book a horseback ride on the beach with Daufuskie Trail Rides, visit historic lighthouses, and dine on Daufuskie Deviled Crab and Lowcountry cuisine overlooking the marina. Daufuskie Island is one for the bucket-list!

10 Stay Off the Beaten Path with Sunset Rentals

Escape the hustle and bustle of Hilton Head Island and stay off the beaten path with Sunset Rentals. With one of the largest collections of vacation rentals on Hilton Head, you can choose to stay oceanfront near Coligny Plaza or enjoy the peace and tranquility of your own private pool home in the islands top resort areas – surrounded by only luxurious comforts, the sounds of nature, peaceful views and a tropical island ambiance.

A summer vacation on Hilton Head Island offers the best of both worlds – serenity and quiet seclusion away from the crowds and action-packed activities and adventures on land, along the Calibogue Sound, and in the warm Atlantic waters, that beckon you to dive right in!

Hilton Head is “The South’s Best Beach Town” and is consistently ranked the “#1 Island in the US” in the World’s Best Awards. While Hilton Head’s 12-miles of unspoiled, natural beaches and Lowcountry landscapes are the top summer attractions, an abundance of unique experiences await on our small slice of paradise.

Hilton Head Island was one of the top-booked summer destinations in 2021 so don’t leave your vacation planning to the last minute! Here’s our team’s favorite tours and experiences to add to your summer vacation itinerary on Hilton Head Island.

Dolphin Discovery Tours

Hilton Head Island is rated one of the 10 Best Dolphin Sighting Destinations in North America. The waters surrounding Hilton Head are home to a year-round population of over 170 inquisitive and friendly Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins cruising the sounds, creeks, Atlantic waters, and strand feeding along the muddy banks.

Experience our favorite locals up close and in the wild on a Dolphin Tour of Hilton Head Island, with chance encounters of manatees, otters, and sea turtles along the way. You’ll find dolphin encounters for every occasion on Hilton Head Island – pirate cruises for the kids, regular cruise boats departing the marinas, or small boats with freedom to follow the pods and engage in intimate encounters with Hilton Head’s dolphin pods in their natural habitat.

Kayak & Paddle Tours of the Waterways

Navigate the hidden creeks and pristine waterways and head off the beaten path on a kayak or SUP tour of Hilton Head. Hilton Head Island boasts 25 miles of back creeks, tidal salt marshes, and serene waterways teeming with wildlife, marine life, and beautiful shore birds. Surrounded only by the sounds of nature, Lowcountry serenity, and your travel tribe, nothing quite matches a Hilton Head eco-adventure along Calibogue Sound.

Get out in nature on a guided eco-tour with Outside Hilton Head, Hilton Head’s outdoor experts. With unique experiences ranging from guided tours with a naturalist and family SUP classes, to full moon kayak tours and fireworks paddles at Shelter Cove, there’s a tour for every traveler.

Boat Tours & Fishing Charters

If paddling your own boat is not your style, hop on a boat tour of Hilton Head Island and let someone else take the helm. Outside Hilton Head offers a wide variety of boat tours, cruises, fishing charters, and family water skiing adventures from Shelter Cove Marina, or head to Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort Area.

There are more unique boat tours operating from the Harbour Town Marina. Learn to sail the America’s Cup Stars & Stripes, trawl for shrimp aboard the Tammy Jane, take a sightseeing tour on the Vagabond, or take a luxury cruise on the Spirit of Harbour Town to experience the beauty of the Lowcountry in style.

Birdwatching Tours

With miles of Lowcountry coastal habitats and 300+ species of birds, Hilton Head Island is a prime destination for birding enthusiasts. Top birding destinations on Hilton Head include the Audubon Newhall Preserve, Sea Pines Forest Preserve, Fish Haul Beach Park, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, and the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn.

Birders have miles of trails to explore alone but Hilton Head Island’s birdlife is best experienced under the guide of a local, knowledgeable birdwatcher! The Coastal Discovery Museum offers walking tours of Pinckney Island at the northern tip of Hilton Head. The 4,000 acre preserve lies along the Atlantic Flyway with three unique birding habitats (salt marshes, maritime forests and freshwater lagoons), and an abundance of birdlife including duck, egret, pelicans, ibis, and the iconic Great Blue Heron.

Hilton Head Bike Tours

Get ready to pedal! Hilton Head Island is a gold level bicycle friendly community with designated bike lanes, more than 60 miles of public trails, and 12-miles of hard-packed beaches to explore by bike. You can literally bike everywhere on Hilton Head Island and Sunset Rentals make it easy to get on the trails with an exclusive bike and beach gear credit program with Vayk Gear and complimentary rentals on select Sunset Rentals.

The Hilton Head Pedego Tour is always a hit with visitors to Hilton Head. Departing from Shelter Cove Plaza, the 2-hour tour cruises the Hilton Head bike trails highlighting the top attractions, history and culture of Hilton Head Island. Join a group tour or book a private bike tour just for the family!

Touring Sea Pines Preserve on Horseback

From the saddle of a Pedego to a western saddle! The 605-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve is one of the most scenic settings on Hilton Head Island with secluded forests of Palmettos and moss-draped Oaks, lakes and fishing docks, wetland boardwalks, and historic ruins dating back over 4,000 years.

Visitors to Hilton Head can tour this protected wildlife habitat on horseback with Lawton Stables, a local equestrian center and top attraction on Hilton Head Island. Saddle up for a western style trail ride through the preserve (minimum age 8-years) or if you’re visiting Hilton Head Island with kids, the Shetland pony rides and petting zoo are always a hit with the kids.

Nature Tours at The Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum at historic Honey Horn is not only a bird watcher’s paradise, it is a top Hilton Head destination for nature lovers with a museum in an original Hilton Head plantation house, historical landmarks, an interactive Kids Zone, and endless tours, nature programs, and on-site and off-site eco-activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Guided tours include the marsh critters and creatures of the Lowcountry, the Marsh Tacky horses of Honey Horn, and tours of the historic plantation grounds and butterfly gardens. Coastal Discovery Museum tours extend beyond the Honey Horn plantation with off-site turtle tours, beach discovery tours, boat tours, and guided history tours of Hilton Head Island.

Guided History Tours of Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island lies in the Gullah Geechee Corridor, a National Heritage Area recognizing the authentic West African culture, traditions and customs of the South Carolina sea islands. The Gullah culture survived centuries of slavery and today visitors to Hilton Head can embark on a historic adventure with Gullah guides, born and raised on Hilton Head Island.

The Gullah Heritage Trail Tours at the Coastal Discovery Museum is an immersive experience of the Gullah communities on Hilton Head Island, the Gullah language, traditional foods, music, and more. Tour highlights include Gullah family compounds, plantation ruins and First Freedom Village, where freedom began in 1862 for Hilton Head. The Coastal Discovery Museum also offers tours of the Forts of Port Royal, occupied by the union forces during the civil war.

Tours of Daufuskie Island

Touring Daufuskie Island is a bucket-list day trip from Hilton Head Island. Daufuskie Island is a small (five by two miles) and remote island nestled between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, and only accessible by boat or ferry.

Daufuskie Island abounds in natural beauty and boasts a rich history dating back to the early 1700s. Today, the Gullah heritage still thrives, and visitors can hop on a ferry to explore the uncrowded beaches, scenic bike paths and Lowcountry landscapes by foot, bike, or golf cart.

The best way to experience Daufuskie Island is on a guided tour. Daufuskie Trail Rides offer exclusive beach rides of the historical trails and beaches of Daufuskie Island or embark on a guided tour from Shelter Cove Marina with Outside Hilton Head.

Pirates of Hilton Head

Ahoy Matey! For the young pirates, lads and lassies in tow, nothing beats a swashbuckling adventure on Hilton Head Island’s only custom pirate ship, the Black Dagger. Climb aboard the Black Dagger at Harbour Town in Sea Pines, sail the coastline, fight off Stinky Pete for treasure, and celebrate the defeat of the island’s stinkiest pirate with singing, dancing and a share of the buried pirate booty! If you’re planning a family vacation to Hilton Head Island, it’s a must-do attraction and nautical adventure of note.

Summer Bubblegum Cruise

If you’re a regular vacationer to Hilton Head Island, you’ll know all about Gregg Russell’s famous, family friendly summer concerts under the Liberty Oak Tree at Harbour Town. Every evening through the summer, Greg entertains families with sing-alongs and games under the oak tree – but by day, he has adventures of a different kind. For over 25 years, the Summer Bubble Gum Cruise has been a Hilton Head Island favorite!

Embark on a 90-minute cruise with the kids aboard the Vagabond (every Friday) for an interactive and educational experience with dolphin spotting, singing and games, haunted lighthouses and ghost stories, and a treasure hunt at Harbour Town.

Aerial Tours of Hilton Head

A birds eye view of Hilton Head Island is unbeatable. The Zipline Canopy Tour at Adventure Hilton Head offers the highest views of the island from Broad Creek. The tour includes 7 ziplines, a swinging sky bridge, a spiral staircase in the trees, and a 900-foot long finale on a dual racing zipline. Take it a step further on the high ropes challenge course with 6 high ropes courses and 4 levels of difficulty from beginner greens to double black diamond challenges.

For the ultimate aerial tour of Hilton Head Island, take a climb in altitude along the South Carolina coastline on a Hilton Head helicopter tour. These tours offer unmatched views of the top Hilton Head attractions all the way to the remote shoreline of Daufuskie Island.

Sightseeing Tours of Savannah

The historic city of Savannah, Georgia is only 33 miles from Hilton Head and is easily accessible by car or boat. Savannah is one of the most loved cities in the Lowcountry with historic architecture and attractions, cobblestone streets, tree lined walkways, and tranquil water views from Savannah’s historic riverfront.

Shop along famous River Street, picnic at the fountains in Forsyth Park, indulge in Savannah’s foodie hot spots, and embark on a local sightseeing tour of Savannah. Unique Savannah experiences include culinary tours, hop-on hop-off trolley tours, segway tours, Savannah harbor tours, and ghost tours of Savannah, one of the most haunted cities in the US!

Sunset Dinner Cruises

Sail into the sunset on a romantic dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island’s only sunset dinner cruise. Dine alfresco on the top deck with the best restaurant views in Hilton Head, sip on specialty cocktails and watch the HarbourFest fireworks from the water. For an evening of fine dining with live entertainment, dancing and sightseeing, you’ll create forever memories from the moment you climb aboard a classic Savannah Riverboat for a dinner entertainment cruise along the scenic Savannah River.

Take a Tour of Hilton Head Island’s Top Summer Vacation Rentals

Take a tour of our luxury Hilton Head Island summer vacation homes in the top resort areas of Hilton Head. With a portfolio of 220+ Hilton Head Island rentals and first class service from our on-island team, you can book your Hilton Head vacation home with confidence and ease with Sunset Rentals.

Stay with Sunset Rentals and receive complimentary beach and bike gear credit on select vacation homes and villas, up to the value of $350! Whether you’re seeking kayaks, SUPs or bike rentals to adventure alone or chairs, umbrellas and beach toys for a family beach day, we make it easy to spend summer on Hilton Head Island. Turn your summer dreams to reality with Sunset Rentals!

Tag: SUP

10 Adventure Ideas For Spring On Hilton Head Island