Hilton Head SC, USA

Hilton Head suggestions as promised! I cut and paste from other people I have sent these to so if I missed a category just text me. My cell is # 336-473-1943. Have a great trip!  I have been going for 36 years of my life. Love that island and I know a lot about it! Happy to share my tips. Did you find a photographer? Hope do.  Enjoy!!!!  Definitely stop at outlets... There are two centers. One has under armour and Kate spade and Janie and jack (great for lulu) and the next has Nike, Banana republic and things like that. Bikes will be fun. Definitely pick up a few good boogie boards as well. You are staying outside of sea pines in a more crowded area so definitely try to go into sea pines a few times when biking. It's much quieter and you won't be on busy roads. Kids may get tired so you could have one person drive in (I.e. To harbor town) and let big kids ride in.  Eating:  The nice thing about HH is there are stores nearby for a quick grocery run and restaurants if you don't feel like cooking. Piggly wiggly is closest to you but very small. Try publix or Harris teeter by the sea pines main gate.  Casual restaurants we often go to or grab takeout from: -Amigos on Pope Avenue (in bi-lo shopping center. Very close to your rental! best mexican food but a total hole in the wall. we like to stop here on the way into Sea Pines and get take out for when we arrive at the condo. BEST bbq chicken salad you will ever taste. Don't miss it. Scott likes the carne asada burrito. Stop for lunch one day if you want or a casual dinner. -Mellow Mushroom- just outside the Sea Pines main gate next to Harris Teeter. This is by far the most economical option for a crowd on HHI. After pizza walk next door to Marley's for ice cream.  -Salty Dog Cafe outdoor grill (In Sea Pines)- this is a favorite of ours for lunch if we are craving Peel n'eat shrimp. You pay by the plate but they have burgers, sandwiches, shrimp and things of that nature. You can also take it to go.  -Hudson's- there is a big sign for Hudson's just as you get onto HHI. It's a very casual dockside location with water views (super kid friendly!!!) and if it's a nice night you can sit outdoors overlooking the water at picnic tables and enjoy the yummiest peel n'eat shrimp and hush puppies. They have other seafood as well. It's not a fancy place and we do takeout some times if kids don't want to wait. Sit down restaurants worth trying if kids are up for it or as adults: -Truffles (Our favorite- one inside Sea Pines and one just outside the gate on Pope Ave that has more steakhouse feel. Great  for an adult night out or brunch as well!) -Skull Creek Boathouse (outdoor dining and great views.) At the other end of the island, but so lovely in the evenings. You can sit outdoors at big picnic tables. So family friendly.  -The new Sea Pines Plantation Club is GORGEOUS and has a new restaurant called 'Live Oak'. Worth stopping in to see the decor and buy the boys a vineyard vines belt in the pro shop with the hhi lighthouse in it! The new decor and views are stunning. It's right across the street from the beach club. Beach club also has a new restaurant called 'Coast' where you can eat outdoors. Coast is family friendly but Live Oak is an adult atmosphere. Lovely if you wanted to take Matteo's mom out for lunch or dinner.  Ice Cream (a daily ritual):  - Salty Dog- probably our favorite spot for ice cream . At south beach in sea pines. You might drive.. It's a long bike ride from where you are. Ice cream is right out front and you can enjoy sitting at tables overlooking the water. -Harbour Town- we like the ice cream inside the Cinnamon bear country store. There is also a shop right under the lighthouse called 'scoops' that is good. There are also sometimes smaller ice cream, snowcone and italian ice stands set up during the Gregg Russell show times.  -Marley's- Outside the Sea Pines gate, so you would probably drive. But it's a fun spot. -Orange Leaf- this is a new one in Shelter Cove shopping center around corner from Kroger that has the best frozen yogurt and toppings bar we have seen. Such a fun spot. (Michelle's kids love this place too!!!) -Rita's water ice- near your rental in Coligny. Very crowded at night but a yummy treat worth stopping for. Ice plus custard?! What could be better? To Do's: Go into Sea Pines in the evenings for some fun activities or when you need a break from the beach. It's $5 to enter the plantation but several of these are must sees if you go to HH. Especially the lighthouse at Harbor Town. Sea Pines is where we had our beach house. It's a great spot to look at for next time you travel down there. The bike paths alone are worth it for the kids. Watch for gators in sea pines when you bike! Lots of them in the lagoons and by the golf courses.  -Golf- if your boys like to golf the new Sea Pines Planatation Club does a golf clinic for kids every afternoon. I sent Nate every day last summer that we were there. It's from 2-3pm I believe. Call the pro shop to check. Then my boys played 9 holes with Dad in the afternoon when it's less expensive. There is also company called 'Last Minute Tee Times'. It's half price if you call the night before and are flexible as to what golf course they play. There are lots of nice ones to choose from on HHI and just off the island too.  -Salty Dog Cafe/South Beach  (music at night, great ice cream, fun shops, check their daily activities as they have alot of free things for kids). And of course don't forget to buy the tshirt! There is shop above the ice cream store and another one in the back of the shopping center that is larger with more selection.  -Harbour Town (playground, climb the lighthouse (easy for the kids!),  shopping, watch dolphins off the docks, paddle boarding rentals, shop for souvenirs(great toy shop), swing and climb on the live oak trees etc... concerts at night by Gregg Russell every night except Saturdays which is changeover day for renters.) -Lawton stables- this is the horse barn inside sea pines with a small petting zoo and pony ride area. Fun place to bike or drive to as well. They offer trail rides through the forest preserve. Not sure if you have any horse lovers in the group! -GREGG RUSSELL CONCERT- I feel like this needs to be in caps because if you don't go see Gregg Russell you might not have really experienced hilton head! It's a favorite- I have been going since I was a child. My kids love him. He performs every night at 8pm (except Saturdays and weather permitting) under the Big Oak Tree in Harbour Town. He doesn't wrap up until almost 9:30 so it can be a late night. He sings, and he let's the kids participate so have your kids ready to sing a song if they get chosen! The kids can make signs to bring with them, he loves to read them out loud. And of course, Harbour Town has great ice cream, so don't forget dessert! Go early- around 7pm and lay down a beach towel on the benches to save yourself a spot. Then go walk around and get ice cream and come back close to 8pm when he starts the show.  -Mini Golf- there is a pirate golf mini golf my kids love. I think it's called Legendary? It's on the main drag of 278 business and is fun on a cloudy day or when you need an evening activity. Bring your bug spray!!!  -Commander Zodiac tours and kayaking- If you are wanting more adventure there is a place in South Beach Marina and Shelter Cove we like called Commander Zodiac and another outfitter called Outside Hilton Head. They offer a cool sandbar tour by boat that takes you at low tide to a sandbar between Dafuskie island and HHI. Kids can collect sand dollars, see starfish and all kinds of shells and sea life. They also do a few kayak tours and eco tours to see dolphins. And fishing trips too. -Bikes on the beach- go at low tide and ride the beach. It's alot of fun. -Rainy Days- Sometimes things get stormy in the afternoon. The outlets are great (there are two centers) and the Marshalls is really great by the outlets as well. Also , there is a movie theater right outside the Sea Pines gate and another one up by Walmart. We bike in the rain sometimes if there isn't thunder of course.  The Tides: The tide chart is your best friend!!! I recommend planning your day around the tides. I like to go out to the beach right at low tide to enjoy the big beach. Set your chairs back pretty far. Boogie boarding waves are good as the tide comes in ;) Biking is best and easiest at low tide as well. Here is the link for tide chart.  http://www.hiltonheadisland.com/category/beaches/tide-chart/ Sharks- the best info I can remind you of is that after 4pm it is shark feeding time. I recommend not letting your kids go very deep into the water after this time. There haven't been attacks in HHI for years but it's just common sense. Also- certain times of the summer HHI has more jellyfish. I'm not sure why that is. Just be on the lookout.