Hilton Head...

[acejka]

Ok forgive me for this, I am an eastern shore kinda girl and have never been south for a beach (unless you count FL)

So it is "Hilton Head Island", but I've never seen any pictures of a beach near by.

Is there a public beach that I can go to, or is this more of a marshy area where there isn't a good sunbathing/relaxing in the sand with a book area?

Also, if so, can you walk or drive to it? I would prefer to avoid any kind of shuttles or buses as I get a little weird on public transportation...

Thanks in advance!


*we've gotten confirmation that the dates we are looking at being wide open (and this would be for 5 different weeks to choose from) at this point (not to say they wont fill up) and we are flexible, we are just trying to get some details together to make sure we do want to go to HHI and not just go stay in Savannah...

 

[Dean]

The beach is a little over a mile away. You can easily walk, drive or bike but it's awfully hot in the summer. DVC has a beach house and parking area with a pool but the beach itself is public. It's really quite a nice setup if you don't mind the trek.

 

[CraftyMouse]

The Disney HH resort also offers a complimentary shuttle to/from the Beach House.

The Beach House is lovely. It has access to the beach, but it also has a large, H-shaped pool, a snack bar and a nice room where you can watch TV or play board games. It's a great place to relax and enjoy the island.

Honestly, we don't even go to HH for the beach. We love the woodsy feel of the resort (located on an inland marsh) and only go over to the beach once or twice...although we have a great time when we go.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Like CraftyMouse we go to HHI for the marsh and wildlife with a visit or two to the beach. In this photo you can see in the circle Disney's own little island resort. In the square is the beach house on the ocean. The beach shore there is gradually sloped so you have huge changes from the tidal eb and flow. Also, typically (not always) the waves are very small. You can go to the site I took this snapshot from here and zoom in and move around it is pretty cool. Thanks Doc for untroducing me to this. Oh, and try the Bird's Eye View.... It is really cool.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Does anyone know when they have the big golf tournament at HHI? Is it April? Is it generally the same week every year?

 

[RobDoc]

For 2009, the Heritage Classic is April 13 - 19. It is usually around the same time each year.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

For 2009, the Heritage Classic is April 13 - 19. It is usually around the same time each year.

Thanks WebmasterD....your a wealth of info! Now I can be sure to NOT visit during that week!

 

[RobDoc]

Unless you're staying at or trying to visit Sea Pines, the tourney won't affect stays in most other areas of HH - including the DVC Resort area.

Here are a few photos of the beach in front of the Beach House and the Beach House and pool.

As noted, the Beach House is about a mile from the resort. There is parking there, including a parking garage under the Beach House. It is a public access area. It's an easy walk, but not too comfy on summer afternoons. The resort does provide shuttle transportation and there is also a free van service (Palmetto Dunes Buggy) which runs at times before and after the resort shuttle runs each day. We've always felt the resort has it's onw charm by NOT being right on the beach. It has it's own theme (1930's Fishing Lodge) which is carried out throughout the resort.

Hilton Head Beach

Hilton Head Beach - low tide

Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort Beach House - from the beach

Beach House pool

 

[CraftyMouse]

I just wanted to add that the shuttle isn't like public transportation. It is a vehicle owned and operated by the resort.

We usually rent bikes for the length of our stay and ride those over to the Beach House. Occasionally we take the shuttle or drive our own car.