2 perfect days in Hilton Head

Hilton Head may only be 12 miles long and 5 miles wide, but don’t discount this small island off the South Carolina coast. What it lacks in geographic area it makes up for in attractions so varied it’s guaranteed to appeal to just about anyone you know. After all, how many locations can pander to beach bums, seafood connoisseurs, conservationists, history buffs, and golf aficionados?

This two-day itinerary will marry these diverse appeals, pairing waterfront excursions with a round of golf at one of the most sought-after courses in the country, history lessons with lazy beach lounging, and no shortage of restaurants with views as delicious as their seafood. We’ve also incorporated Tripadvisor ratings and reviews to ensure you make the most of your trip to this charming island in South Carolina’s lowcountry.

Rise and shine with the mouthwatering anticipation of breakfast at Harbour Town Bakery and Cafe, a charming spot to gorge on banana pancakes, freshly baked quiche, or pit-smoked brisket hash and eggs in the sun-dappled patio. Once adequately caffeinated and satiated, saunter down to the southern end of the island for its most recognizable landmark: the candy cane-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum. A winding and harrowing 114-step climb to the top promises a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the 18th green of the Harbour Town Golf Links. Acrophobics can keep to the red chairs at the base of the lighthouse or wander past boats docked along the pier.

After huffing and puffing up the lighthouse stairs, the good news is that lunch isn’t very far. Just a few steps away from the lighthouse base, Quarterdeck is a waterfront restaurant with Instagram-worthy views of the pier, marina, and boats coming in and out of the docks. There are burgers and sandwiches, but you’ll be kicking yourself later if you skimp on any of the fresh-caught seafood dominating the menu.

Now that you’ve caught your breath and filled your belly, it’s time to hit the links. For golf aficionados, no trip to Hilton Head would be complete without teeing up at one of the dozen-plus courses dotting the 12-by-5-mile long island. On the tippy top of most golf-course bucket lists is Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines, which was imagined by none other than the famed golf course designer Pete Dye and pro-golfer-turned-consultant Jack Nicklaus and has since become a formidable stop on the PGA Tour.

For the golf-averse, do not fret because there are plenty of ways to spend an afternoon appreciating Hilton Head’s natural beauty without ever swinging a club. Instead, explore the 600-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve, an eight-mile network of paths and boardwalks winding through Spanish moss-draped oaks, palmetto, and pine trees. There are plenty of trails — all teeming with wildflowers, birds, and fish — but the Shell Ring Trail, which leads to a 4,000-year-old shell ring built by Native Americans for what was believed to have been a ceremonial or community plaza, is the most compelling.

It’s time to head to the northern side of the island for some stunning waterfront views. Dating back more than 50 years, Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks’ fresh-caught (often hours-old) low-country seafood and spectacular sunsets appeal to locals and tourists alike. Time your visit right and you might even catch the restaurant’s shipping fleet coming in to unload the day’s catch of oysters, shrimp, and soft-shelled crab.

There are plenty of cocktails, margaritas, and other boozy frozen drinks at Hudson’s but heading next door to Skull Creek Dockside offers a change of waterfront scenery with the fewest amount of steps and the greatest amount of alcoholic drinks to choose from.

Start your day at Harold’s Diner, a no-frills diner that seems endearingly stuck in time with its silly stickers and signs lining the walls and the motto: “Eat here or we both starve.” The menu is reasonably priced and with all the fixings of a neighborhood diner from sausages, pancakes, french toast, omelets, and eggs any way you please. Sit up at the counter to banter with the cook as your bacon sizzles.

Continue this nostalgic foray to the Coastal Discovery Museum. There’s no better place to learn about the region’s natural heritage and history of the South Carolina Lowcountry with exhibits highlighting the region’s ancient Native American roots and its impact on colonization. Among the salt-water marshes, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and many, many butterflies, the property’s 68 acres also boasts the oldest wooden structure on the island. Don’t miss the Camelia Garden with more than 100 different varieties.

What the small island of Hilton Head lacks in a so-called downtown it makes up for with Coligny Plaza, a central nucleus with live music concerts, local vendors, and the Coligny Plaza Shopping Center, which is your best bet for souvenir hunting.

Shop but before you drop head to Watusi Cafe to fuel up on salads, bowls, sandwiches, and other nutritious fare in the cozy interiors or outdoor patio. Finally, enough of looking at all the water surrounding the island and time to go in it! With dunes, sea oats, and silky smooth sand, it’s obvious why Coligny Beach is the most popular public beach in town. Spend an afternoon splayed out on the shore taking it all in and keep an eye out for breaching dolphins on the horizon.

Load up on oyster roasts, seafood boils, and shrimp and grits at A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant, which celebrates the Gullah cooking and culture at the heart of Hilton Head’s roots. The portions are heaping but make sure to save room for cornbread, homemade banana puddin’, and tasty moonshine cocktails.

Keep the spirit and libations flowing at Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, the kind of establishment that proudly states on its website: “We take our drinks as seriously as the food.” You can go wrong ordering off the hand-crafted cocktail list with curiously named concoctions like Pain in the Coconut (aged white rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, orange, coconut, nutmeg) and We Don’t Talk About Bruto (gin, raspberry liqueur, prosecco).