Hilton Head Island!! Woo Hoo!!! tell me..tell me!

[coastalhh]

Locals Guide to Hilton Head
Breakfast—
Sunrise Café @palmetto Bay Marina (great crab cake benedict);
Signe’s @ 93 Arrow Road ((blackberry French toast and
homemade sausage as featured on the Food Network).

Harold’s Dinner-641 William Hilton Parkway (Business 278)—
good southern Diner themed in Boston Red Sox decor. Local
cooks though. Be sure to sign your order!
It’s a dining car run by a few Boston guys that have the accents and are rude on purpose. But the food is great. They also have great Burgers for lunch. Be prepared to be insulted but its part of the charm.

Plantation Café- 96 Mathews Drive Apt 180
It’s a traditional breakfast place that reminds me of Pamela’s in
Pittsburgh(for you northerners) the Crab Cake Benedict is my
choice but Sunrise Café is better.

Lunch—
Sea Shack @ 6 Executive Park Road (best variety of local caught
fresh fish). This is just off Pope Avenue. Hole in the wall local’s
joint featured in Costal Living as best seafood dives.-Also open for
dinner.
Bluffton Family Seafood House- in Old Bluffton at 27 Dr.
Mellchamp Drive. Owned and operated by old area fishing family.
Before or after lunch go see their oyster and shrimp boats and
processing facility on the water at the dead end of Wharf Street in
Bluffton

Hudson’s-Bar Area is better than dining IMO-good for lunch or
happy hour. Authentic local shrimp and oysters and cold beer in
nautical setting. Off Squire Pope Road.
Sit out back and just get steamed shrimp and oyster. They usually have a singer in the
summer months as well.
http://www.hudsonsonthedocks.com/

CharBar –Best Burger on Island, also good for dinner
This is a fairly new restaurant and is a upscale burger place where everything is made from scratch. My sister loved it for her kids because they have tablets on every table for
the kids to play games while you wait. They also have a lot of good cocktails.
https://www.facebook.com/CharbarCo

BBQMy
favorites are
Bullies BBQ- Quick Service place but great pork with a great
selection of 5 or 6 sauces on the side
http://bulliesbbq.com/
SmokeHouse- Was once a dining car that was great. Now it has
grown into a big restaurant with full bar, bands at night and large
wait. Depending on the season sometimes the quality can slip
keeping up with demand but it is still solid bbq
http://smokehousehhi.com/
Bluffton BBQ- The most authentic around and true traditional bbq
made by a local legend. It is in a very small building off the
promenade in Bluffton
http://blufftonbbq.com/
Dinner-Boathouse restaurant and Bar @ 397 Squire Pope Road—
sit outside on the water and watch the sunset. The Boathouse has about
the best atmosphere of anywhere on the island and they have a kids camp where they can paint, play etc while you wait outside by the docks in the summer months. It also has a great outdoor bar and it is run by the best restaurant company on the island the Serge Group.
http://skullcreekboathouse.com/
http://serggroup.com/

Old Oyster Factory-
Some of the best views on the island and one of the largest
restaurants. Good big seafood menu and oyster bar. Good to take
Large Parties as they have the space to accommodate
www.oldoysterfactory.com/


Slightly upscale but always Hilton Head Island casual:
Redfish on Arrow Road- some of the best food on the island.
Good Wine selection and my favorite is the Sea Bass
http://www.redfishofhiltonhead.com

Sunset Grille off 278 as you drive onto the Island-located within
the waterfront RV resort above its Laundromat GREAT. I know
that doesn’t sound great but it’s a great place. Also one of the
nicest RV parks around

Old Fort Pub in Hilton Head Plantation via Squire Pope Road.
The areas only 4 diamond restaurant- Great Marsh Views and
located at the site of a old Civil Way Fort
http://www.oldfortpub.com/
The Jazz Corner is a great Dinner and Jazz show and was voted a
top 100 Jaz Club in the world. I prefer the group on Thursdays
http://www.thejazzcorner.com/
Chart House next to Hudson’s on Squire Pope Road.
Chart House is a upscale steak and seafood place with fantastic
views This is a Landry Select Restaurant just like Rainforest Cafe and Trex..you can use your card and 25$ birthday credit here if you are a member
http://www.chart-house.com/locations/hilton-head/

Italian- Michael Anthony’s in a fantastic Italian restaurant
especially for this area who has several mediocre Italian. It is
upscale and expensive but worth it to get a great meal for us locals
http://michael-anthonys.com/

Happy Hour- Outside at the Salty Dog on the wharf or the outdoor
downstairs decks of the Quarterdeck both in Sea Pines; or the
Boathouse. Wings and cold beer on the dock at Up the Creek Pub
at Broad Creek Marina off Marshland Road.

Holy Tequila
Same owners of Charbar so you know the quality is great. Upscale
tacos for a couple bucks and g
reat drinks
http://holytequila.com/
Pizza- Mellow Mushroom at the Harris Teeter shopping center just
outside the entrance to Sea Pines or Fat Baby’s on Arrow Rd

Fat Babies is a local favorite that is more New York Style

Game Watch-
For you Northerners that may be here in football season
Mangiamo’s is the home of Ohio State
Caseys in Home of the Steelers
Calahans the home of Michigan State and West Virginia
Jump & Phils – Green Bay Packers
Street Meet- is the home of the Cleveland Browns
Cheap Seats is the home of Penn State
Boathouse covers most games as does Wild Wings Café and
Mellow Mushroom

Best Place to Buy Fresh Seafood
Benny Hudsans not to be confused with Hudsens restaurant. You
can buy seafood right off the dock
Bluffton Oyster house is the oldest operated fisherman company in
the area and you can also buy it right off the dock.
Hilton Head is Oyster and Shrimp Country depending on the
season. You can also buy local fish

Great side trips:
Outside Hilton Head and Marsh Grass Adventures offer great
guided trips ranging from boating, Kayaking, SUP, nature
excursions and more.
http://www.outsidehiltonhead.com/
http://www.marshgrassadventures.com/Home.html
Marshside Mamas on Daufauskee Island— great food and
atmosphere but can be reached only by boat. Also Daufauskee
Crab Company located on the dock before Marshides for beer,
deviled crab and sunsets via the chairs under the Live Oak on the
water

Bluffton Farmers Market and Calhoun Street
http://www.farmersmarketbluffton.org/
The farmers market is 2 to 8 or so on Thursdays in the spring and summer. 2 to 6 in the
fall and winter and close from time to time between Dec to beginning of Feb depending on the weather but you could go to Calhoun Street where it is anytime. During the Farmers market they have a band, several stands to grab food, vegetables, crafts etc, as well as the shops on the street. You will see several families and kids around.
This area is filled with all low country reclaimed and restored architecture with bright
Charleston/savannah colors. There are several local art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, children’s book store etc..
The end of the street has a 100 year old Church against the marsh next to a public dock, a good place for pictures.
I would recommend eating breakfast or lunch at “The Cottage” or “Bluffton
Bbq”. Bluffton Bbq is in a new development across the main road and The Cottage is right in the center of Calhoun Street. The Old Town Dispensary is also good
http://blufftonbbq.com/
http://www.thecottagebluffton.com/

Just past Bluffton off of Route 46 toward Savannah-- Palmetto
Bluff Resort. When you reach the guard gate tell them you are
going to Buffalos and they will give you a pass. When inside, look
around at this planned community which has been rated by Conde
Nest as one of the best resorts in America. For lunch eat at
Buffalos and for dinner try the dining room at the resort Inn.
Side trip to Savannah—be sure to take scenic Route 46—much
quicker and it’s off the freeways and crosses the suspension bridge
right into downtown SAV Walk River Street and the Market District
in Savannah-Mrs Wilkes Boarding House for real Southern
Cooking served family style. Listed in the Book—1000 places you
have to see before you die. It is much better than Paula Dean’s in
my opinion. Expect a wait but it moves quick
http://zunzis.com/
Zunzis has incredible sandwiches. Travel channel rated the
“conquistador” best sandwich in the south east

 

[chalee94]

when do things get most crowded on the island? i assume things pick up a lot in early june when the schools all let out?

 

[coastalhh]

when do things get most crowded on the island? i assume things pick up a lot in early june when the schools all let out?

Weekends are realitively less crowded because most hotels here rent by the week and check in check out date is Saturday. So Saturday will be the least crowded day all week.

Spring break weeks get semi crowded.

PGA Golf Tournament at Harbour Town is April 14th to 20th and thats always crowded

Golf Trips start to happen in FEB through May

The really crowded season is Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend
First week of June until July

About the third week of July things start to die down and after the second week of August its back to normal

September/October/November are probably the prettiest times of the year here with little to no crowd

 

[chalee94]

thanks.

 

[MinnieGi]

Love HHI here too!! Some other fun things you may want to try:

Zip Line Hilton Head: Has zip line tours and also an aerial adventure tour. For zip lining there is a weight minimum and age requirement but aerial adventure you can do at a younger age. We did this part last April and enjoyed it so much we went back for a second day!! They have lower rope courses as well as very high aerial courses that my DH did and my 9yo son could not believe his daddy did that!!

Lawton Stables: in Sea Pines Plantation has gentle trail rides in a forested section that can be lots of fun.

We love biking all over the island too. And of course the beaches are just wonderful to play on and to ride bikes on. I just love to ride up and down the compacted sand beach.

The Disney resort is very fun too, the kids love to hang out by the pool and play ping-pong, shuffleboard, corn hole, etc... Its very laid back at HHI, we really enjoy it a bunch! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[staceymay00]

when do things get most crowded on the island? i assume things pick up a lot in early june when the schools all let out?

Yes, HHI is busiest during the summer. We went once in July and would do it again if that was the only time we could go, but May and Sept/October are better if you can travel those months. The weather is nice and the island is not empty, but not nearly as busy as summer season.

 

[Travel60]

My favorite DVC resort.....kayaking, biking, horseback riding, catching crabs off DVC pier, evening campfires. Planning big 3 generation gathering in 2016 if we can get the 3 BR rooms or maybe 2 2BR. Also, close to grocery stores, restaurants and shopping.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hilton Head fans here also! DH admits to loving it more than WDW, and I'm not sure-but it's definitely up there! We don't have traditions for every trip-there's just too much for us to do. However, we do love to go to Pino Gelato (I think it's in Wexford Plaza) for gelato-every day they have some different flavors and I especially love the pistachio or the nutella flavors. We love to drive to Harbourtown and browse in the little shops, walk on the Port Royal Beach, wander through Sea Pines Forest Preserve. We get a 1 BR, so can't recommend a villa. In addition to what's mentioned here, we like Kenny B's restaurant-very casual! And I'm not sure about Roastfish and Cornbread these days. Last time we were at DHHI, a CM told me there are rumors about bad food, service, etc. these days. We used to love it there, but now go elsewhere.

 

[coastalhh]

Roast fish and cornbread did close down a couple weeks ago. I need to update my list and remove it. I liked it until the end but it did take a dip in service. The owner said he may reopen but not in the same location.

 

[mort1331]

I see the summer months are busy but what about mid to late march. Looking at 2016 before easter ?

 

[Simba's Mom]

We went for Easter 2011. It was super-busy, but that was the week of the Heritage as well as being Easter-I don't know how much each had to do with the crowd level. That year Easter was late April. We've gone twice in mid-March and it wasn't too full. It's been about 10 years since we've gone at that time of year, though, and I hear that spring break is influencing crowd levels a little more now.

 

[AnnaS]

Kingfisher is now Pelicant Point.