Hilton Head: before Christmas or over New Year's?

[alchrismom]

If you've been to Hilton Head in late December, do you mind sharing your experiences? We have two options: one is to visit approximately Dec. 19-23 and the other to visit approximately Dec. 30-Jan. 3. I'd be going with my two daughters, ages 8 and 5. Does anyone happen to know how the activity schedules those two weeks compare to each other?

We've never stayed at Hilton Head, but thanks to the search function I've read multiple threads here about this time period, and I've read great things about the holiday decorations and great things about the New Year's Eve events, but my question is more about the activity schedules and whether my daughters would potentially have more fun one or the other of those weeks. I called the resort the other day, and I was told that the activity calendar just before Christmas will not only be more holiday-themed, but it's possible that more activities overall may be offered during the pre-Christmas days. We don't necessarily need holiday-themed activities especially since indeed if we wait until New Year's to go we'd stay busy at home with holiday-themed activities before Christmas, but I do want to be sure that the activity schedule at Hilton Head is plenty busy for my daughters, particularly since we can't count on a lot of pool time that time of year (though we'll hope we get some most days!). I asked about New Year's Eve, and he explained that the NYE activities are a kid-only thing until 11pm or so when everyone gathers until midnight. My goal is to be with my girls on NYE, not to send them off so I can have a few hours to myself, so I was a bit disappointed to hear that, though the late event sounds fun if we make it that late! Are there any additional family-friendly resort-wide activities or meals over the holidays?

I completely realize that we'd stay happy relaxing, sightseeing, etc. -- indeed a slow pace is my goal of this trip. When we go to WDW, we don't take much resort time at all, so the goal of this trip is to take full advantage of resort fun, relaxation, and campfires!

Also, does anyone know of things going on in the larger Hilton Head area pre-Christmas and over New Year's?

Other factors are at play with this, but they basically cancel each other out. We'd have a bigger room the first week and it's cheaper, but the second week works better with our schedule. It's about 4-5 nights either way. I hope to go back at a different time of year soon too to experience warmer weather offerings and more beach time as well!

Thank you so much!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Although we've never been over Christmas or New Year's (we always go for Thanksgiving), I'd choose the first dates. That's because of things that I know are going on on the island in preparation for Christmas-Santa is at the area next to the Salty Dog in Sea Pines and there's a whole Santa Village there, and in Shelter Cove where Kroger is, there's a big display of Christmas lights. I forget what else. I know at New Years there's been a NYE countdown at the resort-a family type thing at the pool, I think. I know that a few people around here have been over New Years, maybe they'll chime in.

 

[quinnc19]

I vote New Year's because my 8 year old daughter will be there also!

 

[Savagekids]

Although we've never been over Christmas or New Year's (we always go for Thanksgiving), I'd choose the first dates. That's because of things that I know are going on on the island in preparation for Christmas-Santa is at the area next to the Salty Dog in Sea Pines and there's a whole Santa Village there, and in Shelter Cove where Kroger is, there's a big display of Christmas lights. I forget what else. I know at New Years there's been a NYE countdown at the resort-a family type thing at the pool, I think. I know that a few people around here have been over New Years, maybe they'll chime in.

What's the swimming like at Thanksgiving? We are considering a Thanksgiving trip for 2016 but if it's too cold to swim, not sure it will work for us.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What's the swimming like at Thanksgiving? We are considering a Thanksgiving trip for 2016 but if it's too cold to swim, not sure it will work for us.

Well, it could be either extreme. Yes, this is snow and ice on the railing one Thanksgiving-



Yet, this is the "Hot Tub weather" a few years later-



So we just pays our money (or dues) and takes our chances, as my grandmother used to say.

 

[Brownieone]

This may be moot as your first window of dates is upon us, but here goes. We were there for the better part of the week after Christmas three years ago and are returning this year. That time, the highs were in the 50s, but we had sun. We parents were led into the heated pool by out adventurous kids, plus the hot tub works just fine. We still got on the beach to fly kites; we played a lot of ping pong; and did a lot of activities...stuff was offered nearly every hour of the day. The island itself was less crowded of course than during the summer ... plus the dates after Christmas are low season, so the rooms are "cheap" (point-wise). We had our kids with us through the midnight festivities ... we gathered by the outdoor movie screen and watch the NY celebration on ABC of course. Campfires nearly every night and outdoor movies nightly, but again it was cold then. Christmas displays were still going strong across the island, though any place that had a Santa, well, Santa had gone back to the North Pole. This year, it looks like the highs will be in the 70s and lows in the 60s, but maybe some rain. We'll be ready regardless, look forward to it not being in the 50s, and are excited to be at HHI to welcome in a new year again.

 

[alchrismom]

Thank you! I had to cancel for this week so the decision not to go before Christmas was made for me unfortunately, and the logistics are otherwise harder for next week but it's still a possibility and my fingers are crossed. Have fun, and thank you!

 

[csharpwv]

We have been the week between Christmas and New Years before, AND area doing it again this year! We will be there, and taking friends of ours again this time. If you check out the island's website, you'll see that there are a host of things going on around the island, and just off the island!
We are renting bikes this time, it has always been really hot when we've been there in the summer, so I'm hoping to not sweat buckets biking in December! HAHA