South Carolina Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Population: 23,694

Located in Beaufort County

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head is located in South Carolina. It’s the second largest barrier island on the East Coast of America. It’s just north of Savannah, Georgia and is one of the most popular places in the US for families to vacation. With beautiful beaches and gorgeous golf courses and tennis courts, it has every thing for mum, dad and the kids and even the grand parents! With dozens of award winning golf courses and miles and miles of pristine sandy beaches, it’s no wonder 2 million visitors a year visit Hilton Head. The food available on the Island is first rate. With over 200 restaurants, there’s no doubt you will find something that will tickle your fancy. In fact, some of the top chefs from around the world have opened up shop solely at Hilton Head. There are so many things to do other than play golf and tennis on the island. Nature lovers are well catered for with an amazing ocean ecosystem. Scuba diving is very popular on the island and there are plenty of places to do just that. You can see why the Native Indians were the first to occupy and see the beauty that Hilton Head has to offer. It wasn’t really until the late 17th century that Europeans (when Captain William Hilton arrived) occupied the island and turned it into a crop grower’s heaven. If you are after a family holiday with everything for everyone in your family, Hilton Head is definitely worth a look.

Starting with winter, residents enjoy not only the mild temperatures but the tranquility of not having to share the Island's pleasures with the rest of the world.

It's a time of reflection and celebration in recognizing the rich Gullah heritage and dramatic history with a month-long festival of food, music, and the impressive talents of local artists. Spectacular winter sunsets are watched from wide, uncrowded beaches as well as picturesque views of egrets, herons, and gators within the Island's 3 major nature preserves. Hilton Head never stops for inclement weather with the multi-million dollar facility, the Self Family Arts Center, which provides many winter events including art exhibits, dance classes, and theatrical performances. The Coastal Discovery Museum features an extensive display of the Island's past while area spas offer a day of pampering and the some 200 restaurants cook up epicurean delights including the area's finest shrimp, blue crabs, and deep-sea Atlantic fish.

Spring brings back the vibrant reds, whites, purples, and pinks of Azaleas, breathtaking blooms of hundreds of Dogwoods, sunny yellow Jasmine, and the magnificent lavender displays of trees lined with Wisteria. It's also time for the nationally televised WorldCom Classic - The Heritage of Golf Tournament along with BRAVO - Celebrate the Arts!, honoring the Island's sporting and creative spirit.

Summer is vacation land for thousands of visitors looking for white sandy beaches and pristine waters without loosing access to modern conveniences. Water-skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, boating, fishing, and sailing are just a few of the watersports available. Inland offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, and even hay wagon rides. Many annual events happen during the summer including HarbourFest, the Antique Show, Fun with Food, Fireworks, Summer KayakFest, Summer Entertainment 200x, summer long dinner theatre, and much, much more.

Fall is just a change of color palettes for the Island. Rich earth tones blanket the area as the tourist start to leave and a tranquil atmosphere once again ascends. However, the healthy outdoor living continues with invigorating moderate temperatures, prompting another legendary annual event, the Celebrity Golf Tournament as well as the famed Collegiate Golf Tournament. Other events listed on the Fall calendar include FoodFest 200x, the Chili Odyssey Cook Off, Trick-or-Treat, Lowcountry Soup Challenge, and more.

Shopping experiences are both endless and exciting. Over 200 unique shops and boutiques are clustered in intimate plazas, quaint marinas, elegant harbors, and a large, enclosed mall as well as several upscale outlet centers.