Hilton Head Island

W E L C O M E

T O

Hilton Head

Island

Reprinted from Leisure Group Travel

Hilton Head A Refreshing Area Worth Discovering

L

ocated in the “Lowcountry” of South Carolina, Hilton Head Island is nestled centrally between

Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina.

With plentiful beaches, abundant natural beauty and a rich palette of daily excursions, the Hilton Head Island area is a refreshing destination worth discovering.

While here, glimpse playful dolphins while dining on a sunset dinner cruise. Together, catch a Broadway musical at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; learn more about the area’s rich native culture on the Gullah Heritage Trail Tour; or take a trip to Old Town Bluffton, Hilton Head Island’s charming neighbor just over the bridge. Whatever your group chooses, they are sure to be inspired and rejuvenated at every turn.

The Beaches Beckon Perhaps the nicest place to unwind on Hilton Head Island is the beach.

Lush coastal forests line beautiful stretches of sand and surf, where the Atlantic Ocean sparkles in the sun.

The most popular activity is strolling along the incoming tides, feeling the waves and sand between your toes, and collecting seashells. There are five public beach parking areas to deliver your group right to the ocean – stop by the official Hilton Head Island Welcome Center as you arrive on the Island for directions. The Island’s beaches are also the nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles, which hatch annually in the soft sand. To learn more about these precious inhabitants, your group can join the summertime “Turtle Talks & 14 June 2009

There are over 12 miles of beaches with hard-packed sand, perfect for biking and walking.

Walks.” Contact the Coastal Discovery Museum of Hilton Head Island, http://www.coastaldiscovery.org/, to arrange for a trip.

Quaint Marinas Completely surrounded by water, Hilton Head Island is replete with numerous marinas, each with its own distinct ambiance and flair. The most notable, the Sea Pines Resort’s Harbour Town yacht basin, is the home of the iconic candy-striped lighthouse (tours to the top for a panoramic view are available for just $3.) In Harbour Town, your group will enjoy soft walking paths that lead to quaint shops and small outdoor cafes. While wandering, impressive yachts, sturdy fishing boats, and colorful kayaks attract the eye, special advertising section

and views over the Calibogue Sound prove peaceful and relaxing. In the summer, evenings are marked by lively folk tunes sung by local minstrel Gregg Russell, who has entertained children and adults in Harbour Town for more than 30 years.

Seafood for Everyone There are more than 250 restaurants in the Hilton Head Island area.

Local chefs work diligently everyday to prepare fresh seafood and delicious experiences wherever you go. While here, local dishes such as shrimp & grits, oysters-on-the-half-shell, or Lowcountry boil (shrimp, corn, sausage, potatoes) are sure to impress.

Try Island favorite establishments including The Crazy Crab (north and south-end locations) and Marley’s IsLeisureGroupTravel.com

Island

Enjoy fresh Lowcountry oysters September through April.

Harbour Town is one of six public marinas where groups can dine, shop and enjoy Hilton Head Island’s waterfront vistas.

land Grille, which offer great cuisine, friendly service and comfortable seating for groups. Myrtle’s Bar & Grille in Old Town Bluffton is another popular choice and can best be described as “Southern with a kick,” with creative dishes, an extensive wine list and live music nightly.

Lowcountry Gifts… and Tours Bring a perfect “Lowcountry gift” home to your loved ones by visiting one of the many shopping villages and plazas in the Hilton Head Island area, ranging from one-of-a-kind boutiques to brand-name outlet centers. At Coligny Plaza, select souvenirs such as Hilton Head Island T-shirts, beach towels, nautical décor, and beach-inspired jewelry. In Old Town Bluffton, LeisureGroupTravel.com

visit the historic Heyward House, and afterward bring home a “piece of Bluffton” from a Calhoun Street art gallery. Or, after embarking on a Gullah Heritage Trail Tour, purchase an indigenous “sweetgrass basket,” perfect for any kitchen back home.

your stay, take advantage of complimentary breakfasts and refreshing outdoor pools. Or, for a bit of fun, try tropically-inspired cocktails, such as you will find at the TIKI HUT lounge, an Island favorite at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront.

Relax and Rejuvenate Whether you stay for a day or for a week, the Hilton Head Island area offers groups numerous accommodation choices. Relax in comfort and style in one of the Island’s many select service properties that offer excellent customer service and classic Southern hospitality. Several properties have been recently renovated, with newly installed kitchenettes and refrigerators that will make your group feel right at home. During

In the Hilton Head Island area, your group will be relaxed and rejuvenated with pleasurable experiences wherever they go. For more information, or to book your group’s next tour, visit the Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau’s website, www.hiltonheadisland.org, or call 1-800-523-3373 and speak directly with sales and marketing manager Brenda Ciapanna (bciapanna@hilton headisland.org) who will gladly help arrange your tour.

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Discover Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Harbour Town Lighthouse in Sea Pines Resort • Heyward House Historic Center in Old Town Bluffton • Lowcountry Garden Tour • The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina • Nature Tours: Dolphin Cruise and Loggerhead Turtle Beach Walk

➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Hilton Head Island Morning: The Chamber of Commerce Official Welcome Center & Coastal Discovery Museum is the perfect place to begin our introduction to Hilton Head Island.

Afternoon: Discover Hilton Head Island with one of many tours departing from the Welcome Center. Professionally trained guides will trace the Island's antebellum roots, the role the Island played in the Civil War, the Island’s unique Gullah culture and conclude with the Island's modern day development.

Evening: Enjoy a sunset cruise aboard the Vagabond out of Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort. Then dine marina side at The Crazy Crab restaurant under our famous lighthouse.

DAY 2: Old Town Bluffton

DAY 3: Hilton Head Island Morning: The Coastal Discovery Museum’s Beach/Turtle Walk offers a one-and-a-half-hour tour of the Island's magnificent dune-lined beaches with a trained naturalist.

Morning: Lowcountry Garden Tour.

Afternoon: Spend the day in Old Town Bluffton, starting at the Heyward House Historic Welcome Center, and then stroll along Calhoun Street and experience the art galleries and eclectic boutiques along the way. Visit the historic Church of the Cross which overlooks the May River. Enjoy a Lowcountry lunch at Myrtle’s Restaurant located in Old Town Bluffton.

Afternoon: Lunch at any one of our indoor/outdoor Palmetto Bay Marina restaurants and then set out on a Dolphin Watch Cruise of local waters. This tour offers an opportunity to view playful bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat.

Evening: Enjoy dinner at Marley’s Restaurant, then head over to The Jazz Corner for a night of blues.

Evening: Dine at any one of our Shelter Cove Harbour restaurants and then enjoy a Broadway musical at the nearby Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Enjoy a delightful performance by one of South Carolina's largest theater production companies.

CONTACT: Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau

OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:

➤ Brenda Ciapanna • www.hiltonheadisland.org PO Box 5647, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 Phone: 843-341-8368 • Email: grouptour@hiltonheadisland.org

➤ Discover Gullah Heritage

46 June 2009

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