5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Hilton Head Island

One of the most beautiful towns in South Carolina, Hilton Head Island is renowned for its pristine beaches and championship-grade golf courses. Nestled between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, this 12-mile barrier island offers a less crowded atmosphere than these two more popular destinations. Hilton Head has been voted #10 on the list of Best Golf Resorts in the World by readers of Golf Digest and was named America’s Best Island by Travel Pulse, making it the ideal place for a weekend of relaxation and recreation.

Coligny Beach

With soft, white sand and gorgeous coastal surroundings, Coligny Beach is one of the main draws to visiting Hilton Head Island. Though there are a total of seven beaches on the island, Coligny is a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Before hitting the beach, you can peruse the shopping area with surf stores, bars, and restaurants. Once on the sand, beachgoers can sip a cool drink from the beachside bars or partake in a lively game of volleyball. To explore the entire stretch of sand, rent bikes for the day and ride along the shore. Find out more about the other beaches on Hilton Head Island and explore the less populated areas.

Golf Courses

Wine & Food Festival

For more than 30 years, Hilton Head Island has hosted the Wine & Food Festival every March. This culinary celebration spans six days and incorporates winemakers, chefs, and local food traditions. Anyone visiting Hilton Head in the spring will not want to miss this must-do festival. With events taking place across the island, guests can choose to attend food-centric lectures, join several different wine tastings, and indulge in one (or more!) of the wine dinners. Throughout the festival, there are also a number of culinary competitions, including the much-anticipated International Wine Competition.

Wildlife Preserves

The natural conditions of the Lowcountry breed a particularly unique ecosystem teeming with wonderful wildlife. The beauty of the landscape is one of the most rewarding aspects of visiting Hilton Head Island. While in town, travelers should consider a trip to one or more of the island’s wildlife preserves.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is home to many outdoor attractions like walking trails, fishing docks, boardwalks through the wetlands, and even guided excursions. The Shell Ring, a 4,000-year-old shell deposit composed of oysters, mussels, and clams, is the oldest archeological finding on Hilton Head, and it lives right in the forest preserve. Visit this rare natural formation before embarking on a guided boat tour or exploring an area known as the Vanishing Swamp.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

This wildlife refuge spans across four islands and covers more than 4,000 acres, but Pinckney Island is the only section open to the public. Dozens of wildlife species, particularly native birds, rely on this land to survive. Bring along binoculars if you wish to do some bird watching, and you may just spot a Painted Bunting or White Ibis, two of the more common birds in the area. Armadillos and alligators are also known to wander through the refuge.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.