Courtesy Hilton Head Island CVB
Hilton Head
Location: Near the southern end of the South Carolina Coast, Hilton Head Island is the last major tourism destination travelers will reach before crossing into Georgia. The island is approximately 30 miles north of Savannah.
Claim to fame: Island tranquility. Hilton Head Island is 12 miles long and five miles wide, and was planned as the country’s first eco-resort destination. According to town ordinances, no building on the island may be constructed higher than five stories so as not to protrude above the treetops. The island also bans neon signs and streetlights, giving visitors an unpolluted view of the stars in the night sky. The net result is a coastal destination that elevates nature above traditional beachfront fare.
The secret side: With its emphasis on nature and conservation, it should come as no surprise that Hilton Head Island is home to two nature preserves and a dolphin habitat. The Audubon-Newhall Preserve comprises 50 acres on the southern end of the island where visitors can hike through a wetlands bog and other habitats. And at the Sea Pines Resort, the 600-acre Sea Pines Nature Preserve is home to hundreds of species of native flora, fauna and birds.
Exploring Hilton Head: Groups can visit Sea Pines regardless of where they’re staying and take part in numerous eco-activities at the resort. Horseback tours through the preserve include stops at the site of a 4,000-year-old Indian village, and walking tours over a series of boardwalks and observation areas introduce travelers to the marshes and wetlands that are home to more than 200 species of birds.
Adventurous groups can take kayaking or paddle-boarding tours with Outside Hilton Head. Other adventures on the water include dolphin-watching tours and visits to offshore oyster beds.
Hilton Head Island is home to a population of endangered loggerhead sea turtles, and the Coastal Discovery Museum offers late-night turtle-watch tours for visitors to see their habitats.
Free time: Give your group a chance to experience Hilton Head by bicycle. The island has more than 100 miles of bike paths, and the hard-packed sand on the coastline is perfect for beachfront cycling.
More information:
www.hiltonheadisland.org
Charleston
Location: Charleston sits roughly at the midpoint of the South Carolina coast, about 100 miles south of Myrtle Beach and 100 miles north of Hilton Head.
Claim to fame: Three centuries of history. Charleston was first settled as an English colony in 1670 and grew to become an important seaport in the Colonial era. The first shots of the Civil War were fired at the local Fort Sumter. Today, the city is full of restored buildings that showcase centuries of architecture, and groups can tour numerous plantations around the area that hearken back to the glamorous Old South.
The secret side: An outdoor adventure scene has begun to take root in Charleston, providing adrenaline-filled alternatives to traditional tours of historic mansions. An eco-touring company called Charleston Outdoor Adventures operates on Bowen’s Island and offers naturalist-guided kayak tours, kayak rentals, paddle boarding and chartered motor boat tours that explore area estuaries and islands.
For more elegant exploration, SpiritLine Charters operates a fleet of charter boats for sightseeing cruises, gala dinners and receptions along the coast.
If your group has some die-hard adventurers, they may enjoy a trip up the climbing wall on James Island, the tallest outdoor climbing facility in the area.
Exploring Charleston: Groups can discover history, local cuisine and Gullah culture during a visit to Boone Hall Plantation. This estate is more than 300 years old, and has appeared in several movies and television shows. Instead of cotton, the plantation now grows tomatoes and strawberries and offers you-pick fields for visitors. The plantation also has interactive exhibits on Gullah culture and African-American history.
Among the most distinctive attractions in the area is Irvin House Vineyards, where locals make handcrafted muscadine wine on a 48-acre estate. The location is also home to Firefly Distillery, a company that has been crafting sweet tea vodka since 2008. Groups can have tours and a tasting at the winery and distillery.
For entertainment on a summer evening, take your group to catch a Charleston RiverDogs baseball game, a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
Free time: On Saturday mornings, Charleston Farmers Market makes a great place to browse for local soda, boiled peanuts, handmade crepes and seasonal produce.
More information:
www.charlestoncvb.com
