Hilton Head Island
Around Hilton Head Island
Photo: Lee Coursey · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · South Carolina · 237k people
Hilton Head Island
Locals say Lowcountry · “HHI”, “The Island”, “Queen of the Sea Islands”
Hilton Head Island · Bluffton · Port Royal · Beaufort
Salt-washed days and sweet tea nights
Deep TealMarsh Green
Welcome to the Lowcountry, where the marsh meets the sea and sweet tea flows. Whether you're here for the golf, the beaches, or the seafood, you'll find a laid-back rhythm that's all our own.
Clubs for Hilton Head Island
No clubs for Hilton Head Island yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Hilton Head Island. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Hilton Head Island. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Harbour Town Lighthouse Iconic striped lighthouse in Sea Pines.
- Coligny Beach Park Most popular public beach with amenities.
- Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife refuge with trails and marsh views.
- Hunting Island State Park State park with a historic lighthouse and beach.
- Beaufort Historic District Antebellum homes and waterfront park.
- Spanish Moss Trail Multi-use trail along the old railroad.
- Outdoors Kayaking through tidal creeks
- Outdoors Biking the Spanish Moss Trail
- With kids Coligny Beach
- With kids Coastal Discovery Museum
- Evenings Live music at Shelter Cove Harbour
- Evenings Sunset cruises from Harbour Town
- Locals love Seafood shacks
- Locals love Marsh boardwalks
Through the year
- RBC Heritage April PGA Tour golf tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links.
- Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival March Tastings, chef demos, and wine seminars.
- Beaufort Water Festival July A week of water sports, concerts, and parades.
- Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival October Art shows, live music, and seafood dishes.
- Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival February Oyster roasts, shrimp boils, and chef competitions.
Subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best in spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—mild temps and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Bew-fert”
- How locals pronounce Beaufort.
- “pluff mud”
- The thick, dark mud in the salt marshes.
- “tidal creek”
- The narrow waterways that wind through the marsh.
- “oyster roast”
- A casual gathering where oysters are roasted and eaten.
Getaways
- Savannah Historic squares, riverfront, and Southern charm.
- Charleston Historic architecture, restaurants, and harbor.
- Okefenokee Swamp Wildlife refuge with boat tours and trails.
Local flavour
Rooting for Atlanta Braves, Carolina Panthers, South Carolina Gamecocks, Clemson Tigers
Eat and drink
- Shrimp and Grits Lowcountry staple
- She-Crab Soup Classic Lowcountry soup
- Lowcountry Boil Also known as Frogmore stew
- Sweet Tea Southern signature drink
- Oysters Raw or roasted, local favorite
Where people go
- Beaches Sandy shores and oceanfront
- Golf Courses World-class links and resort courses
- Marsh Boardwalks Walkways through tidal marshes
- Historic Districts Antebellum homes and oak-lined streets
- Lighthouses Iconic Harbor Town Lighthouse and others
- Marinas Docks for boats and yachts
Heritage and traditions
The Lowcountry is proud of its Gullah/Geechee heritage, historic charm, and the natural beauty of salt marshes and live oaks.
This time of year in Hilton Head Island
- Oyster season Fall and winter Oyster roasts and harvesting from October to April.
- Shrimp season Spring and fall Shrimp boat activity peaks in spring and fall.
- Beaufort Shrimp Festival October A fall street festival in October.
- Beaufort Shrimp Festival October A street festival honoring the shrimp harvest with seafood, music, and a 5K.
Say it like a local: “I'm well” — I'm fine.
Festivals
- Gullah Celebration February A month-long celebration of Gullah culture with music, food, and arts on Hilton Head.
- Beaufort Gullah Festival May A weekend of Gullah heritage, crafts, and storytelling in historic Beaufort.
- Beaufort Shrimp Festival October A street festival honoring the shrimp harvest with seafood, music, and a 5K.
- Penn Center Heritage Days November Celebrates the history of the Penn School and Gullah culture on St. Helena Island.
- Beaufort International Film Festival February Independent films screened in historic venues, attracting filmmakers nationwide.
Landmarks with a story
- Penn Center One of the first schools for freed slaves, now a Gullah cultural center on St. Helena Island.
- Mitchelville Freedom Park The first self-governed town of freed slaves in the U.S., located on Hilton Head.
- Chapel of Ease A historic tabby church on St. Helena Island, built in the 1740s.
- Parris Island Museum Tells the history of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the region's military heritage.
- Fort Fremont A Spanish-American War era fortification on St. Helena Island, now a historic site.
- Heyward House Historic Center A preserved 1840s farmhouse in Bluffton, offering a glimpse of antebellum life.
Food traditions
- Oyster roasts Community gatherings in fall and winter where oysters are roasted over open fire, a Lowcountry staple.
- Gullah red rice A tomato-based rice dish with sausage or shrimp, a Gullah classic with African roots.
- Benne wafers Sesame seed cookies brought by enslaved Africans, a sweet treat with a nutty flavor.
Music and arts
- Gullah spirituals and storytelling A rich oral tradition preserved through music and narrative.
- Sweetgrass basket weaving A Gullah craft using native sweetgrass, passed down through generations.
- Penn Center's cultural preservation A hub for Gullah arts, music, and education.
- Lowcountry art galleries in Bluffton and Beaufort A vibrant scene of local painters and craftspeople.
A little history
- 1862 Robert Smalls' escape
- 1862 Mitchelville founded as a self-governed freedmen's town
- 1861 Union forces capture Port Royal Sound early in the Civil War
- 1915 Parris Island becomes a Marine Corps Recruit Depot
- 1950s Hilton Head developed as a resort community with golf courses
Rivalries
- Clemson Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks College football rivalry that splits local fans.
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day RBC Heritage golf tournament
- Outdoors Crabbing off the docks
- Outdoors Oyster harvesting in the fall
- With kids Sweetgrass basket making workshops
- With kids Visiting the Parris Island Museum
The Lowcountry accent is a slow Southern drawl with Gullah influences, especially on the sea islands. Common phrases include 'How you make?' for 'How are you?' and 'boon' for friend.
Only here
- The Gullah/Geechee culture, one of the most distinct African American cultures in the U.S.
- Mitchelville, the first self-governed freedmen's town in America.
- Parris Island, where every Marine recruit trains.
- The live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to live with humidity and hurricane season (June–November).
- Respect the tides when boating or kayaking—they can change quickly.
- Try Gullah food like red rice and benne wafers.
- Visit the historic districts of Beaufort and Bluffton.
- Know that Hilton Head is more resort-oriented, while Beaufort is more historic.
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Nearby
Every areaSavannahGeorgiaMoss-draped oaks and riverfront charm.WalterboroSouth CarolinaWhere the rivers run black and the oaks hang low.HinesvilleGeorgiaSmall-town warmth, big-hearted service.CharlestonSouth CarolinaWhere marsh meets sea and history breathes.StatesboroGeorgiaWhere the pines meet the plains and the Eagles soar.BaxleyGeorgiaWhere the river runs through pine country.JesupGeorgiaPine-scented days and riverbank evenings.BrunswickGeorgiaWhere the marsh meets the sea
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.