Signature Experiences are a collection of tours and activities that provide our visitors a deeper look into the fascinating culture, history and stunning natural beauty of the Lowcountry. Beyond world-class beaches, championship golf courses and outdoor recreation, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Daufuskie Island offer enriching experiences which will long be remembered. Discover the unexpected and the not-so-ordinary life of the Lowcountry.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES
Gullah Heritage Trail Tours
Restoring, Preserving and Sharing the Gullah Culture
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park
Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn
Guides of Gullah Heritage will tour 10 Gullah-Geechee neighborhoods on Hilton Head Island focusing on the heritage culture, language, foods, historical sites and folklore. Includes Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park.
Tour “The Little House” and take a journey through five generations of a Hilton Head Island GullahGeechee family. Learn about the African American farming, fishing and oystering culture.
Discover the first self-governed freedman’s town in America. Begin your journey as you envision the arrival of slave ships at the dock. Hear the story of what became of those who stayed and thrived.
Explore history and cultural heritage on this 68-acre property. Exhibits, trails, gardens, live oaks, butterfly enclosure and horses are just a few experiences you will encounter.
Hilton Head Distillery
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Vagabond Cruise / Ocean Dolphin Cruises
Heritage Library Living History Tours / Zion Cemetery Historic Site
Learn about the amazing world of hand-crafted spirits and see it in action with a fun and informative guided tour followed by a delicious tasting experience.
Experience Broadway-caliber musicals, comedies, or dramas at the award-winning Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. You can also admire the rotating exhibits at Art League of Hilton Head Island.
Vagabond Cruise is the island’s original sightseeing excursion cruise operator. Cruise vessels depart Harbour Town Yacht Basin for your group to enjoy a relaxing cruise with unforgettable views. Features Ocean Dolphin Cruise, Sunset Dolphin Cruise, Savannah Day Cruise & more.
Hear an onsite presentation from one of the “residents” of the cemetery, telling the story of the oldest existing building on the island and the plantation owner’s antebellum church, the first church that once stood on the island.
Daufuskie Island History & Artisans Tour Excursion
Old Town Bluffton Walking Tour
Cole-Heyward House Tour
Garvin-Garvey House: A Freedman’s Cottage
Experience how the Cole and Heyward families and their slaves and servants lived their daily lives on this historic property which includes an antebellum house, slave cabin, and summer kitchen.
Take a guided tour of the last existing Freedman’s cottage now preserved on the high banks of the May River in Bluffton. Built in1870 by Cyrus Garvin on the site of Joseph Baynard’s summer home; the house has been through a full architectural renovation.
Tucked between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, accessible only by boat. Discover the rustic beauty and undeveloped side of Daufuskie’s historic sites. Boat departs Shelter Cove Marina and includes a guided land tour by golf cart on arrival. 4.5 hours with light snack.
The Heyward House Museum & Welcome Center conducts walking tours in Old Town Bluffton. Stroll picturesque, oak-lined streets while learning about the Bluffton’s history, architecture, and cultural heritage.
DISCOVER, EXPLORE & ENJOY
Hilton Head Island offers natural beauty and exceptional ecology that appeals to the senses in a relaxing, laid-back and welcoming vibe, making it a perfect vacation destination. There is a wide array of accommodations to suit any lifestyle, requirement and budget: resort hotels, select service hotels and home & villa rentals.
BY THE NUMBERS • 12 miles of oceanfront beach • 8 beachfront parks • 1,307+ acres of protected land • Over 250 area restaurants • 23 golf courses • 350 tennis / pickleball courts • Over 60+ miles of bike paths • 6 public marinas • Over 60 outdoor festivals & events
ACCOMMODATIONS HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORTS & HOTELS • Beach House Resort Hilton Head Island • Courtyard by Marriott Hilton Head Island • Hampton Inn Hilton Head Island • Holiday Inn Express Hilton Head Island • Home2 Suites by Hilton, Hilton Head • Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa • Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort • Palmera Inn & Suites
EXPLORE BLUFFTON: RICH IN CULTURE, RICH IN SPIRIT
• Red Roof Inn Hilton Head
Home of character, Bluffton’s quirky side shines with its own blend of genuine hospitality and artistic eccentricity. Bluffton fills the soul of the traveler with a sense of place that not only captures the charm of a time past, but also brings it full circle into the present.
• The Sea Pines Resort
VisitBluffton.org
• Extended Stay America Premier Suites
• Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island • The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa HiltonHeadIsland.org/Stay BLUFFTON RESORTS & HOTELS • Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Head
ESCAPE TO DAUFUSKIE ISLAND: THE PARADISE BEYOND Accessible only by boat, depart from Hilton Head Island or Bluffton. Discover Daufuskie Island’s history, Gullah heritage, historic sites, tranquil life & timelessness on a guided or selfguided tour (rent a golf cart and explore) and meet artisans and locals. VisitDaufuskie.org
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites • Montage Palmetto Bluff • Old Town Bluffton Inn VisitBluffton.org/Stay GETTING HERE Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) (only 45 minutes away)
Hilton Head Airport (HHH)
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
CHART YOUR COURSE
FEBRUARY • Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration GullahCelebration.com
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• Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival HiltonHeadSeafoodFestival.com MARCH • HHI International Piano Competition HHIPC.org
Boutique & Outlet Shopping Waterfront Dining/Lowcountry Cuisine Distillery Tour & Tasting Championship Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Explore Old Town Bluffton Discover Daufuskie Island Cruise & Tour
• • • •
Dolphin Watch & Sunset Cruises Kayak & Paddleboard Nature Tours Beach and Nature Walks Sea Turtle Walks & Talks (seasonal) Biking Tours Revolutionary & Civil War History Gullah Heritage & Culture Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Visual and Performing Arts
• •
• Hilton Head Wingfest HiltonHeadWingfest.com
CLOSE PROXIMITY
TH NOR LINA O CAR
• Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival HiltonHeadWineandFood.com • Palmetto Quilt Guild/Quilt Festival (held bi-annually) PalmettoQuiltGuild.org APRIL • RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, PGA TOUR Tournament RBCHeritage.com
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• The Art Market at Historic Honey Horn CoastalDiscovery.org MAY • Bluffton MayFest BlufftonRotary.org/page/mayfest • Hilton Head Art Festival tlanta ShelterCoveHiltonHead.com/art-festival A JUNE • Juneteenth Celebration ExploreMitchelville.org (Hilton Head Island) 75 BlufftonMLK.org (Bluffton)
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#1 DOMESTIC AIRPORT
SEPTEMBER • May River Music Festival MayRiverMusicFestival.com OCTOBER • Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival BlufftonArtsandSeafoodFestival.com
SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
SAVANNAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
MEET OUR EXPERTS
• Crescendo: Celebration of Arts & Culture CultureHHI.org NOVEMBER • Crescendo: Celebration of Arts & Culture CultureHHI.org • Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival HHIConcours.com • Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade CultureHHI.org • Hilton Head Oyster Festival HiltonHeadOysterFestival.com
SETH RICHARDSON
ROBIN BRIDGERS
Director of Sales & Partnership Management srichardson@hiltonheadisland.org
Group Sales Coordinator rbridgers@hiltonheadisland.org
843-341-8360
@visithiltonhead
@hiltonheadsc
Visit Hilton Head
843-341-8361
Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau