Discovering Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, located in Southeastern Beaufort County, is more than 45 square miles making it the second largest barrier island on the east coast. Although the island was first visited by Spanish explorers in the 15th century, discovery of the island is credited to William Hilton, an English sea captain who first explored it in the 17th century.

Located a mile from the mainland and eight nautical miles from Savannah, Georgia, the Island has more than twelve miles of beach, twenty two championship golf courses, and an abundance of natural wildlife and beautiful scenery. Hilton Head's combination of gorgeous beaches, luxury resort complexes, and quiet southern atmosphere inspire romance and relaxation. Many weddings are held every year in this picturesque location as well.

Hilton Head Island's development is particularly eco-sensitive, providing a rare mix of luxury vacation rentals, upscale shopping and dining, and pristine maritime wilderness. Naturally, the island features wide swaths of sandy beaches, perfect for a family vacation to the shore or romantic walks on the dunes. The island was developed as a resort, which means that there are no billboards, all street signs are a uniform height, all colors, for the most part, are earth tones, and building is only allowed to the height of the trees. Most of the oceanfront property is made up of private homes.

You'll find no shortage of activities during your vacation, from scuba diving to bike riding, waterskiing, deep sea fishing, to shopping and dining. Visitors interested in learning more about the history of the island can visit the numerous Shell Ring Sites, remnants of which date back as far as 8,000 BC.

Many Civil War era plantations are still standing as well, and most have been turned into museums and historic landmarks. The first vacation cottages were built shortly before Charles Fraser developed the premiere modern plantation community for residents and tourists, the Sea Pines resort in 1955. The first golf course on the island opened on Sea Pines in 1967, and since then, golf has become one of the primary reasons why more than 2.5 million people visit Hilton Head every year. With so much to see and do, it is easy to see why many visitors plan their yearly vacations around excursions to Hilton Head Island, and why so many first time visitors can't wait to return for yet another unforgettable experience.