Hilton Head Island is located in the southeastern corner of South Carolina, a mere 40 miles from Savannah, GA, one of the most captivating cities of the South. HHI is among the largest East coast islands in the USA, and is a day's drive from 5/8 of the US population. In relation to other major US vacation destinations, it is 5 hours north of Orlando, 8½ hours south of Washington, DC, and 2½ hours south of Charleston
Our house - called SUPER VALUE LUXURY HOUSE: BEACH, POOL, BIKES, GOLF on the major vacation booking sites [with a large service fee], or on this site www.Hilton-Head-Vacation-House.com [with NO booking fee] - is at the northern end of the island, only a few minutes' drive after crossing the bridge from the mainland, in the gated community of Hilton Head Plantation, and within that, in the tranquil neighborhood of the Rookery.
Our house - called SUPER VALUE LUXURY HOUSE: BEACH, POOL, BIKES, GOLF on the major vacation booking sites [with a large service fee], or on this site www.Hilton-Head-Vacation-House.com [with NO booking fee] - is at the northern end of the island, only a few minutes' drive after crossing the bridge from the mainland, in the gated community of Hilton Head Plantation, and within that, in the tranquil neighborhood of the Rookery.
Where are we?
Click maps to enlarge ~~
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The Communities of Hilton Head ~~
ACTIVITIES ~~
1 START RIGHT HERE! In our own neighborhood of Hilton Head Plantation, there are
- 7 miles of level, groomed and paved walking/running/biking pathways
- 3 public golf courses: https://www.bearcreekhhi.com/ ; https://www.dolphinheadgc.com/ ; https://www.heritagegolfgroup.com/clubs/south-carolina/oyster-reef-golf-club/
- 2 designated, boardwalked, educational Nature Conservancies
- 8 well-regarded to top caliber restaurants at price points for everybody
- a 2 mile private walking and sunning beach on Port Royal Sound
- a major grocery store and a street of fine boutiques http://mainstreetvillagehhi.com/
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2 OR GO BEYOND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ... Out the Security gates, onto Highway 278, and into a world of other Island opportunities, among them:
- the Seashore and Public Beaches - one of the primary draws to Hilton Head Island; they are described here: http://www.hiltonheadisland.com/beaches/beach-information/
- more golf courses than you could play in a month https://www.hiltonheadisland.org/golf/golf-courses
- more glorious restaurants and succulent food choices than you could savor in a month
- 2 miniature golf courses
- boating and stand-up paddleboard rentals plus kayaking at calm Broad Creek
- travel back in time to view the history of the Island and the Low Country https://www.coastaldiscovery.org/
- a Zip-lining and Aerial Adventure playground https://ziplinehiltonhead.com/activities/aerial-adventure-hilton-head/
- mid-island's Shelter Cove Towne Centre with major grocery stores and high end boutiques and chains http://www.sheltercovetownecentre.com/
- South Beach's Marina and shopping attractions https://www.seapines.com/recreation/harbour-town/
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3 OR VENTURE FURTHER AFIELD ... off the Island, here are some of our own and past guest favorites experiences
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Tanger Outlets ~ 15 minutes from the house, are 2 - yes two - outlet malls, one mile apart https://www.tangeroutlet.com/hiltonhead, Turn left at the 3rd traffic light once you are on the mainland, and you can shop till you drop. Stop by one of the Guest Services Kiosks to collect a map and coupons before you launch your attack on the stores. A nature day at Pinckney Island ~ It's close. It is the island you passed on the bridge from the mainland before you reached Hilton Head itself. A mere half an hour from our house is the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve - a beautiful refuge for hiking, biking, and wildlife observation and photography. Formerly a privately held game reserve for decades until donated to the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1975, it was established - with great foresight we think, for our benefit - as a wildlife refuge and forest preserve for aesthetic and conservation purposes. An active society of volunteers offerstips and tours even for those with impaired mobility. Wildlife commonly observed on the Island include waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, neo-tropical migrants, white-tailed deer and American alligators, with large concentrations of white ibis, herons, and egrets. |
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Charming Savannah ~' Pillaged and burned - along with a huge swath of the South - by the 62,000 Union troops of Gen Sherman in his controversial 1864 March to the Sea campaign (meant to demoralize Confederate sympathizers and deprive Conderate soldiers of food and materials), Savannah has transformed herself in the past 70 years into a charming, accessible, vibrant and historic tourist destination. The city is a short trip from Hilton Head and worth the trip for an interesting day. |
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Walking tour of Old Town Bluffton ~
Currently one of the fastest growing municipalities in America, Bluffton emerged slowly in the early 1800s, as an alternative summer residence area for the Hilton Head Island planters to the harsher living conditions there that included unbearable summers and high yellow fever and malaria risks. By 1830, Bluffton was a flourishing summer haven, and social and commercial hub for the area. The invasion of Union forces early in the Civil War brought development to a screeching halt as the town was pillaged and eventually burned in 1863. Only 15 houses and 2 churches survived, but within 35years at the turn of the century, a resurgent economy from oyster harvesting and a new wave of summer residents had put Bluffton on the ,map again. Many fine homes - representing antebellum, post Civil War, and early 20th century - earned Old Town Bluffton a National Register Historic District designation in 1996. For walking tours and information, go to www.visitbluffton.org If you visit on a Thursday, you can take in the very popular Farmer's Market of Bluffton on Calhoun Street, 1pm to 6 pm www.farmersmarketbluffton.org Historic Charleston ~ Currently the Conde Nast Traveller #1 Readers Choice for Best Small city in the US (https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-10-08/top-small-cities-in-the-us-readers-choice-awards) and also named t he 17th Best Place to Visit by US News (https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-usa-vacations/) Charleston is 2-1/2 hours away, up I-95. Start early if you plan to sample this mecca as a day trip. A non-rushed 2 day journey is much preferred since there is so much to see, BUT if you only have one opportunity, do the 1 day sampling, and pre-planning is essential.
https://charleston.com/visit-charleston-sc https://www.charlestoncvb.com/plan-your-trip/tours-attractions~204/ |
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Escape to Daufuskie Island ~
Get away from the hectic madness of the modern world to a simpler era. Daufuskie Island is located between Hilton Head and Savannah, and is reachable by ferry from an embarcation point at 35 Buckingham Landing, www.DaufuskieIslandFerry.com, or on the mainland from Broad Creek Marina off Marshland Road and near the wonderful Up the Creek Pub that welcomes a well-behaved dog on the patio www.upthecreekpubandgrill.com/. The 60 minute crossing of Calibogue Sound gives you time to breathe in the ocean air and let your body relax. Once there, rent a golf cart or use your bikes to explore the 3 by 4 mile island including the many lovely homes that have been built there in the past 40 years. For all the details, consult: www.daufuskieislandmagazine.com/info-for-first-time-daufuskie-island-visitors/ Resources on the history of the place and early inhabitants are available at https://www.hiltonheadisland.org/gullah/tours-and-resources/ |
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Travel back in time to view the History of the Island ~
You do not have to be a history buff to be intrigued by the history and development of Hilton Head and the Low Country. Honey Horn Plantation - as you come onto the Island - houses the Coastal Discovery Museum, which is a treasure trove of information about the Low Country past and present. https://www.coastaldiscovery.org/ Did you know that Hilton Head Island had tremendous significance in the Civil War, and became an important base of operations for the Northerners' extensive blockade of the Atlantic Southern ports, particularly Savannah and Charleston. Prior to the Civil War, the Confederacy had established a fort (Fort Walker in what is now Port Royal Plantation) to protect Port Royal Sound, a waterway was vital to the Sea Island Cotton trade and the southern economy. On October 29, 1861, the largest fleet ever assembled in North America moved south to seize it. The fort fell to over 12,000 Union troops.The Union also built a military hospital on Hilton Head Island with a 1,200-foot (370 m) frontage and a floor area of 60,000 square feet (6,000 m2). Hundreds of ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head Island, where they could buy land, go to school, and live in government housing. A community called Mitchelville (in honor of General Ormsby M. Mitchel) was constructed on the north end of the island to house them. See Wikipedia for more |
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OR... take a look at this wonderful publication to keep you and your family active for days on end!
