Travel/Tourism
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Each year nearly 2.5 million
visitors select this unique world class resort destination for relaxation,
golf, tennis, boating and much more. With more than 9 miles of white
sandy beaches, 25 miles of bike trails, nearly 30 lush golf courses,
hundreds of tennis courts, and over 250 restaurants. Visitors never find themselves at a
loss for things to do on land.
If you are more the seafaring type then explore
the vast coastal waterways via kayak, jet ski, or boat. The waters are
alive with frolicking pods of dolphins,
graceful loggerhead sea turtles, otters and a wide variety of feathered
friends including herons, egrets, pelicans and more.
Approximately 35,000 people live on Hilton Head Island year round. In the peak season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the population can climb to over 150,000. Yet even with a “full house” there is plenty of room for everybody and always something to do.
Hilton Head Island was developed to co-exist with nature. The result is a protective tree cover extending across the Island comprised of beautiful magnolias, perky palmettos, skyscraper pines and stately live oaks dripping with Spanish Moss. Plantations, the Island’s numerous gated residential communities, are also very eco-friendly, with lots of undeveloped areas, bike trails, golf courses and lagoons for plenty of relaxing recreation.
The Town of Hilton Head Island strictly enforces its land management ordinances and limits commercial development, artificial outdoor lighting and retail signage. In fact, at night, unless you know where you are going it could be difficult to find the store or restaurant you are looking for. However, the preservation of nature, to the extent as seen on in this island community, is unmatched and well worth a U-turn or two.
People from all over the United States have made Hilton Head their home, typically after years of vacationing here with their families. There are certainly a good portion of retirees, but you will find that the average age for Hilton Head residents to be a young 46 years. While 80% of the population is white, cultural diversity may still be found in the rich heritage of the “Gullah” or “Ogeechee” (descendants of sea island slaves) who have preserved their African linguistics and cultures more than any other African community. Additionally, the growing Hispanic community provides yet another exciting level of cultural diversity for the area.
Hilton Head is an easy drive for a large population of travelers who live in the Southeast, Midwest and
Northeast, and this adds to this resort island‘s popularity. Here are some of the primary origination states for tourism to
Hilton Head Island, and from where many visitors drive.
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Massachusetts
New Jersey
North Carolina
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Virginia
