I traveled to the Island of Hilton Head for a total of 4 days with the Husband. It was the tropical escape we needed. If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen some of the highlights, but I want to give you guys a full recap of our getaway experience.
Ok, so listen. I needed a vacation so bad; I was close to a B R E A K D O W N . Between the #Panarama, my wedding, work woes, family illness, and death - I slowly but surely turned into a Schleprock. Hubs was feeling it, too. The motivation to do anything was gone; a change of scenery was more than needed, so we pulled out our laptops and booked IMMEDIATELY.
When choosing our destination, I knew I wanted two things: 1) a beach; and 2) a laid-back environment. As soon as we arrived, I knew we found the right cure for our wanderlust withdrawal. I damn near cried while breathing in that fresh, salty air and breathing out all that home-fed stress.
White sand, warm beaches, and easy accessibility - all reminiscent of what you typically get internationally. Hilton Head Island is a wonderful alternative for those who wish to travel domestically.
Over 12 miles of coastline. Pictures don't do it justice.
Let's get into some details...
Commute
Only two airports service the Hilton Head Island area. Hilton Head Island airport is only in partnership with three airlines (Delta, United and American), making flights very seasonal - especially from my location. The next best thing was to fly into the Savannah GA/Hilton Head International Airport. Since our hotel was only 45min to an hour's drive from Savannah, we decided to rent a car and drive into the island.* The scenery is gorgeous, and you get a chance to take in the "low country" scenery.
*If you're able to catch a seasonal flight directly into Hilton Head Island, definitely go for it. But driving from Savannah isn't bad either. You won't regret it.
Another suggestion is road-tripping it! Here's a few major cities only hours' distance out by car:
42 min from Savannah
90 min from Charleston
3 hr 44 min from Charlotte
4 hr 34 min from Atlanta
7 hr 26 min from Miami
Where We Stayed
Because of the proximity to the beach and the main thoroughfare, Holiday Inn's Beach House Resort* is the more popular boutique hotel on the coastline. Beach House sits next to the Coligny Beach access (so expect foot traffic). The resort also features Tiki Hut: the ONLY bar at the beach on Hilton Head Island. All of the staff were friendly, professional, and accommodating. The resort pool is lovely, and that poolside service is clutch! You don't have to leave your lounger for anything.
Where We Ate
This French toast, though?! So, so good. And the seafood omelet. If you decide to eat here: GET THE SEAFOOD OMELETE.
BRISKET. GRILLED. CHEESE. *chef's kiss*
The food culture on this island is amazing. There's tons of Gullah-Geechee and Caribbean influences, so flavor is not lost down here at all. We peeped who was really whippin' in the kitchen!
Recreation
The Island is all about its leisure. Hilton Head is pretty much a Golfer's retreat, with mounds of green literally everywhere. Every kind of water sports to try out, and miles and miles of paths for walking and biking. We said the next time we go back, it'll be based around an itinerary of excursions. I think that's the best way to see what the Island truly has to offer.
For The Gram
I can't state this enough: the Island is so beautiful. Every stitch of it is picturesque. I snapped shots as I thought to take them, but mainly I wanted to enjoy my time and stay in the moment. For those who want that perfect optic, here are a few Instagram-worthy hotspots I recommend you stopping by during your visit.
Coligny Plaza
Coligny Beach Park
Along the Bike Trails
Harbour Town
Sea Pines Forest Preserve
Rooftop Bar at Poseidon
Needless to say, Hilton Head Island has become a fast favorite of ours and will be returning soon. Hopefully this guide has convinced you to make a visit for yourself.