Tips for Hilton Head

[KAMommy]

OK, we are going to HH in just a few days. I have never been to the island for vacation (only once on business). We aren't golfers, but are more relaxed beach and info-tainment kind of people. We will have DD5 and DS9 with us. Any hints? Any "don't misses" or "absolutely avoids" out there? Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[jacksmom]

We to are going to HHI for the first time in a couple of weeks! We would also love some info! Would love some pictures also!

 

[VMS]

Definitely do a dolphin cruise.

 

[Dean]

HH is best for Golfing, beach time, relaxing, biking and hiking and don't forget the great restaurants. Throw in a little shopping and you're all set. Just don't try to find your way around in the dark, it's not easy to do with the subdued signs and tree blinds. Rent bikes for sure. If I had to recommend one restaurant, it's be Wild Wings, even for those that don't normally care for wings.

 

[KAMommy]

VMS, which company would you recommend for the dolphin cruise. That is something we definately want to do.

 

[garettdoyle]

We used a company called Dolphin Safari. It was a small boat (15-20 people). In addition to looking for Dolphins, they stopped and pulled a couple of crab pots and used a fishing net to catch some shrimp. Good cruise for kids.

 

[TW1]

Our experience with dolphin and other cruises is to find a small boat. Being herded on with 50 other people was not fund compared to a private boat for the four of us, at the same price!

Try Low Country Adventures. Or, walk across to the Shelter Cove boat launch and simply ask for a referral. We found an outfit there that offered us 3 hours in a private, brand-new boat - just the four of us and stocked with soft drinks. They gave us a 10% DVC discount as well.

Ask them to take you to Daufuskie Island to hunt for shells. - AWESOME!

Can't wait for our return - Enjoy yours!

 

[Tiggeriffic]

We did some kayaking and really enjoyed it. They have multiple tours that you can do. There are some that you can book right there through Disney. Otherwise, you can call up some of the tour companies directly, which is what we did. We got a much better price and a time to suit our needs by doing that. We even saw some dolphins on the kayak tour, although it was only 2 or 3.

 

[TerriBelle]

We were at HH last summer and our kids were close to the same age as yours. (DD10, DS5, DS5) We had a wonderful trip and the kids just this week asked, "When are we going back to HH?"

Our kids liked -

1) Dolphin Cruise - We used the one that you book thru DVC. THey had a discount on Wed. (Members Day). The boat was small, I think only 6 allowed on. We saw lots of dolphins very close. The kids loved this.

2) Campfire - We did this two nights. Everyone had a good time. My boys still do the silly dance and recite lines from the skits! (Sanctuary! Sanctuary!)

3) Pool Party - One night the pool was open late after the bbq. We did the BBQ and the party. They played music and the slide was open at night.

4) My young ones liked the beach but my daughter had broken her arm and was not allowed on the beach. She swam at the beach pool instead. She didn't really mind because she likes big waves and there were NONE!

Let me know if you have any questions! I'm sure you will love it.

 

[Jimbo]

We stayed at HHI last August with two girls ages 6 and 10. Here's some stuff, in no particular order.

They especially liked playing on the beach. The beach starts with powdery white sand. Then there's a section of damp sand that's perfect for making sand castles, burying dad, etc. And then there's a part that is hard packed, and you can ride a bike on it. The 10YO in our group thought that was about the coolest thing she'd ever done. Plus there's two tides a day, so it's constantly changing.

The water was really calm, and it's shallow for a long ways out. We bought some cheap WalMart boogie boards, and the waves were just big enough for them to think they were surfing. The water was real warm, too, but we went at the end of the summer.

There's all kinds of Dolphin tours around. I'd suggest a small boat, too. We went to South Beach Marina to set up a fishing charter, and took our dolphin tour with Commander Zodiac. Great fun!

The kids liked the Goyataku activity at the resort. That's where you paint a fish and press it on T-shirt. We took them both parasailing, and of course they thought that was awesome. But they were bored to death on our kayaking trip. That was our one disappointment.

 

[GrammieMame]

How did the parasailing work for a 6 & 10 year old? Did they go by themselves?

If you go out of the Disney beach access and go north just beyond the hotel, there's a small pavillion that has hot dogs & burgers for lunch. Also have shaved ice cones. My grandsons love to go down and mix up the flavors to get a really nasty colored tongue.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by GrammieMame
How did the parasailing work for a 6 & 10 year old? Did they go by themselves?

We went parasailing in Harbourtown, and they had a tandem option. So each kid went with an adult. The 6YO is a total daredevil, it was her 10YO sister that was a little nervous! But they both had a blast when all was said and done.

I'm sure they have parasailing at other places during the high season. But this was the last week in August, and all of the other places on the island had closed for the season.

 

[VMS]

Sign up for the dolphin cruise through Disney at the activities desk -- it is an outfit they contract out to. They will only take 6 on a boat, and the dolphins come up very close. We really enjoyed it and have never heard anything but compliments about it.

 

[alwaysrunning]

We were there two years ago with kids close to your kids ages. Here were the biggest hits: 1. water skiing trip (booked through Disney). 2. Over in Shelter Cove Harbour (short walk across the Disney bridge) they had a singer/musician playing kids music most of the nights we were there.

Have fun!

 

[BeckyV]

Hi KAMommy and Jacksmom,

We will be there the same time you are. Checking in for a week. Hope I run into you. I have a ds 7, dd 12, and dd 20. We live about 85 miles away so we go to HH often. The activities at the resort are great. Last Memorial Day weekend there was a huge party at Sheltor Cove. Lots of Beach music.

 

[michaeln]

OH NO. More traffic coming to the island.

Just kidding.

I would love to give you some advice, but I live here. Wouldn't know what to do here for vactions. LOL

 

[scduckman]

We'll be there Sat 5/29 thru Tues 6/1 with DD9 and her cousin Allen who also is 9. We wre there for the first time last October. The campfire was fun. DD went out with the CMs one night to the movies. The cost was $20 which included the movie, pizza dinner and about 3 hours of babysitting. What a deal. She was the only child to go so she loved the attention. She did the fish painting along with painting a birdhouse.

 

[canda]

kids under 10 seem to like the "Shannon Tanner Show" if he is performing at shelter cove.

 

[poohj80]

Is there a particular dolphin season that's best for the dolphin cruises? We'll be going for the first time over Thanksgiving.

 

[NancyDVC]

We went to HHI in early November. We did the dolphin cruise through the resort and used the DVC discount. It was great. Only 5 people on the small boat and we got up close and personal with the dolphins.

We also loved the campfire. B'Lou Crabbe did a music/stories of the Low Country talk that was very nice as well.

Goofy Bingo was a blast even for 2 adults without kids!

We also did a wine and cheese pairing that was outstanding. I learned a lot about how to pair waine and cheese and other foods too.