We have an opportunity to use a condo in Hilton Head during the fall season. Every time that I’ve heard of someone going to Hilton Head it has been in conjunction with playing (many, many rounds of) golf. Since we’re not golfers, what else is there to do in Hilton head come mid-October? Is that still beach weather? Anyone have some favorite things about they are that they care to share?
As long as there are no hurricanes, it should indeed be beach weather. HH has some bathwater-like ocean temps. Very nice.
Also good–lots and lots of bike trails (more so in Sea Pines Plantation). Sailing is great, too. I took a sailing course there when I was younger (from Harbor Town marina). Or you can try shark fishing–another good way to spend the day. Tennis is nice, too, if you play.
Plus, there’s lots and lots of shopping. You’re bound to wind up shopping sooner or later.
I believe there is also some decent birdwatching, etc., esp. at one of the neighboring islands … but i haven’t done it myself. Others here might know better.
But really … do you need an excuse to do anything? Me, I’d just be glad to sit back and do nothing in a swank condo …
Uggh. Last sentence is supposed to say:
Anyone have some favorite things about the area that they care to share?
toadspittle - Sailing and fishing sound cool. Do you or anyone know of some good hiking?
Sitting back and ‘relaxing’ in the condo keeps us occupied for, oh, about 10 minutes… I think we just get bored too easily and would much rather be out doing stuff all day long. Which is why we never rent super nice places for ourselves - we feel like its a waste if we’re only there to sleep at night.
Golfing, beaches, eating. If you’re not into any of those, you’ll probably get bored quickly. I’d recommend side trips to Savannah, GA or Beaufort, SC (either about an hour away) for some diversions.
I’m not a golfer, either, but beaches and eating are fine with me.
Personal experience is that Hilton Head is a great place to go if you want to be stung in nasty ways by jellyfish.
If you are like me, and don’t particularly enjoy that, or you simply aren’t up for something painful, then I suppose there are other things to do, like boating or restaurants, etc.
One thing off the beaten path is Daufuskie Island, the place that inspired Pat Conroy’s “The Water Is Wide,” although it bears little resemblance to the place Conroy described. It’s accessible only by boat from either Hilton Head or Savannah. It’s one of those things I keep saying, “I’d like to do that sometime when I’m in HH,” but I’ve never gotten around to it, either.
It’s only about 5 hours out of your way, but what about a day trip to The Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach?
A trip to Savannah is fun. Also, consider a trip to the Coastal Discovery Museum. Other than that, I would have, as David Lee Roth sang, “a drink in my hand, my toes in the sand” for the remainder of my non-sleeping/eating/shagging time.
We go to HH just about every year (free lodging at a relative’s townhouse – it’s great to have rich uncles) and we don’t golf. Couldn’t afford it even if we did. 
Other things to do:
Go to South Beach and hire the Commander Zodiak for a dolphin watch. The boats are very low to the ground and you get a much more intimate encounter with the dolphins than you do on the bigger boats. The ride itself is great. We do this every year.
Take a dinner cruise on one of the many boats at Harbour Town.
Take a guided or unguided kayaking trip.
Drive or hike through the Sea Pines Nature preserve but don’t forget the bug spray!! The mosquitoes are very bad and, it goes without saying (I hope) that the lakes are crawling with gators. So don’t swim in them.
Go deep sea fishing. You can take 1/2 day or full day tours at Harbour Town or South Beach. Expensive but fun.
Either boat or kayak to Dafuskie Island and take the tour there. Pack a lunch as there are only a few restaurants.
Take a day trip to Savannah. Drive or take the Spirit of Harbout Town over. Eat at Mrs. Wilkes if you have a chance and you like southern cooking.
Take a day trip to one of the plantations outside Charleston (Middleton or the one nearby which escapes my memory) about 2 - 2 1/2 hours north, up 95.
Play tennis on one of the many great tennis courts available.
Pack a picnic lunch and bike to the beach. I recommend AAA Flying Tigers for bike rentals. We usually also rent a kiddy cart and use it to hold all of our beach stuff. Then we bike to Tower Beach, which is near South Beach. You can’t’ drive there unless you’re a property owner, but anyone can bike there. The beach there is great and much less crowded than the public access beaches.
Get a crab trap and some chicken necks and go crabbing.
Go to South Beach and eat at the Salty Dog or Land’s End. Enjoy the live singer and cold chill.
Boogie board at the beach. Or read a trashy novel.
Take a tour with the Coastal Museum folks. They are very knowledgeable.
BTW, there are lots of coupons for these activities in the Things to Do and Island Happenings books that you’ll find throughout the island.
Hope your weather is good. Enjoy yourself!!!
I understand that your desire to enjoy Hilton Head will keep you occupied, but you should make it to both Beaufort (SC) and Savannah (GA). If for nothing other than the historic homes. Both places are great to walk around the historic districts and look at homes that have been well preserved.
In Beaufort, you can wander downtown (Main Street) where they filmed movies like The Big Chill, Forest Gump, and The Prince of Tides. Once you have walked through downtown, and done some shopping, you can venture over to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park (just behind Main St.). “Waterfront Park” is a great place to sit and people watch, as well as watch the boats pass by. There are benches, and some bench swings, that are shady. A nice way to pass the afternoon. There is also a ‘picnic area’ that many people take advantage of. If you are considering a ‘romantic weekend’, this might be a good place to bring a basket (although I do not know what the liquor restrictions are there).
If you are hungry, there are a couple of good restraunts downtown. I would recomment ‘Plums’ for sandwiches and ice cream; ‘W.G. Shuckers’ for seafood, or ‘Steamers’ (which is on Lady’s Island) for a good local setting.
If you make it to Beaufort, you can never go wrong with a little golfing. There are about 10 local courses, most open to the public, that are available. Some private courses are great to play also (Dataw Island and Fripp Island come to mind).
Well, I hope that some of these suggestions peak an interest. If you need more information, just let me know. I try to make it back to Beaufort every couple of years, and was just there last July.
ITATI
Thanks everyone!
Beaufort and Savannah sound like good day trips. Kayaking, fishing (crabbing! bonus!), boogie boarding, sailing, and eating are perfect and should keep us more than entertained!
I knew there had to more than just golf…
Is This All There Is?, I grew up in Beaufort (1972-1984), and lived in Savannah from 1996 to 1999. My parents still live in Beaufort. (It is Bay Street, by the way, not Main Street.) Returned for the Water Festival?
You could easily spend two or three days in Savannah, and a day and half in Beaufort.
You can rent bikes on HH and ride the beach for miles and miles. Very easy riding - it’s totally flat. You only need a 1-speed. Rental is cheap but make sure to tell them you’re riding on the beach - no point in lying about it; they’ll know when you return the bike covered in sand and then they sock you for it.
If you’re hungry, try Market Street Cafe - really great food (not fancy, just good), cheap, very friendly staff. Say hi to Joanie!
I knew that I had been away from Beaufort too long when Main Street looked right. I use to go there to watch the ‘Street Preachers’ on Satuday mornings. I have returned for the Water Festival, which seemed more exciting in my youth. I lived in Beaufort from 1986-1993 and in Savannah form 1994-1998.
OMG! How could I forget the jewel of the greater Beaufort area:
The Authentic African Village of Oyotunji!
There used to be a link to it on roadsideamerica.com, but it’s not there anymore–just a mention.
We tried to visit it one time, but it had been raining a lot, and the unpaved roads into it were pretty bad. Instead we happened to chance upon one of the, um, “Africans” walking who asked us for a ride to a store. We told him, “Sure, just hop on it (the back of the pickup.” We haven’t tried to go back.
No visit to that area is complete without a visit to The Authentic African Village of Oyotunji!