Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island is located off of South Carolina's Atlantic coast, 45 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, and 90 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. This island measures 12 miles long and 5 miles wide, and encompasses a total of 42 square miles. It is known for its mild climate, relaxing atmosphere, and natural semitropical environment.

A town of nearly 35,000 residents, Hilton Head accommodates many more tourists, whose lodging options include hotels, inns, resorts, spas, and vacation homes and villas for rent.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Hilton Head's first resort community, Sea Pines Plantation was designed by Charles Fraser in 1956. This became the prototype of the modern resort community, and Fraser's plan became the standard for planned communities throughout the world.

Today, the majority of homes on Hilton Head Island are located in gated neighborhoods known as plantations. Examples of these communities include Port Royal, Palmetto Dunes, and Sea Pines, each offering both oceanfront and golf course real estate. The median home price on Hilton Head Island is considerably higher than that of the state.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Hilton Head Island's economy is driven primarily by tourism and real estate. Annually more than 2 million visitors contribute more than $1 billion to the local economy. About 43 percent of businesses are retail and service oriented, and 61 percent of employment consists of tourism-related jobs. The real estate industry employs over 600 full-time real estate professionals in Hilton Head.

Health care is another prominent sector, thanks to the presence of Hilton Head Regional Medical Center. The medical center is a 93-bed hospital campus that consists of Hilton Head Hospital, LaMotte Building, and Medical Pavilion. The hospital's services and programs include cardiac care, women's care, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and physical rehabilitation. The center is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities, the Joint Commission, the College of American Pathologists, and the American College of Radiology for the hospital's Certified Mammogram Facility.

FOR VISITORS

Hilton Head Island offers its visitors a number of attractions, making it an ideal destination for family vacationers. These attractions include:

• Beaches: Fourteen miles of sandy beaches featuring gentle waves and shallow waters have earned Hilton Head Island a spot on Sherman's Travel's Top 10 Family Beaches.
• Golf Courses: The island's 24 world-class golf courses and a year-round golfing season have earned the area the number ten spot on Golf Digest's list of best golf resort destinations. Hilton Head Island's Harbour Town Golf Links is the site of the Verizon Heritage PGA Tour.
• Shopping: More than 200 shops and outlets, including those at the Mall at Shelter Cove, provide visitors with a vast array of gift shops, antique stores, art galleries, gourmet stores, jewelry shops, and sporting goods stores.
• Dining: Hilton Head Island is home to over 250 restaurants, offering cuisines from around the world, as well as fresh local seafood.
• Water Sports and Activities: The island's coastal waters are ideal for sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and fishing.
• Nature and Wildlife: Opportunities for hiking and biking abound throughout Hilton Head Island. Nature tours and preserves allow visitors to see such wildlife as loggerhead sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and otters in the water, as well as deer, mink, boar, and bobcats on land. Bird watchers will also enjoy the many species of birds that can be seen on Hilton Head Island.
• Adventure Cove: This family fun center includes two miniature golf courses and an arcade.
• Coastal Discovery Museum: The museum offers visitors a hands-on way to experience the Carolina coast and its wildlife and heritage. Tours and cruises, in addition to indoor and outdoor exhibits and activities, are offered here.
• Spas: Those seeking pampering and relaxation can take advantage of the many spa treatments offered at a variety of day spas and resorts.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Hilton Head Island is rich in art and cultural entertainment:

• Visual arts can be enjoyed at the area's galleries, which include the Art League Gallery and the Walter Greer Gallery.
• Performing arts groups in the area include the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Dance Theatre, the Main Street Youth Theatre, the May River Theatre Company, the Savannah Theatre Project, and the South Carolina Repertory Company.
• The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina houses a 349-seat main theater, two smaller theater venues, and a visual arts gallery.

GETTING AROUND

• Car travelers can easily access Hilton Head Island via the Highway 278 Bridge, which offers direct access from mainland South Carolina to the island. Interstate 95, a major South Carolina thoroughfare, provides direct access to Highway 278.
• Hilton Head Island Airport, centrally located on the island and only minutes away from many of the area's resorts, is a regional airport providing commercial and general aviation services.
• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is located approximately 45 miles south of Hilton Head Island. Easily accessible to those coming to and traveling from Hilton Head Island, this larger airport provides service by seven commercial airlines, as well as general aviation and cargo services. Hilton Head Island is the destination of approximately 36 percent of the airport's arriving passengers.