Hilton Head Island is a city on the island of the same name in Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA. Hilton Head Island located 153 kilometers south of Charleston, near the southern border of the state to which it belongs, which puts it at 32 kilometers north of Savannah, metropolis of neighboring Georgia whose airport it is requesting.
The island, one of the largest barrier islands off the American east coast, is named after Captain William Hilton, who discovered it in 1663. Early indigenous people had left settlement remains that can be viewed on the site of what is now the Sea Pines Resort. After the European conquest, the island initially changed its owner and name several times. In 1717 John Barnwell became the first British settler and founded the Hilton Head Plantation. The island achieved world fame when another plantation owner, William Elliott, first successfully planted the cotton Gossypium barbadense here in 1790. In 1860 there were 24 plantations on Hilton Head Island. In addition to cotton, indigo, sugar cane, rice and other products were also grown. African slaves were used for the work. The wealthy owners rarely stayed on the island during the very hot summers.
The main tourist attractions are the 19 km long sandy beach and the resort hotels located on it.Currently, the island is one of the most important tourist centers on the American east coast with more than 2 million visitors a year.
Access : Coordinates: 32.178889, -80.743056 / Hilton Head Island is connected to the mainland by a bridge – Route 278 = William Hilton Parkway. The nearest freeway is I-95, which starts in Maine and goes through Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond and Florence to Hardeeville – where you change to Route 278 to Hilton Head Island- and then on via Savannah to Miami.
/ Hilton Head Island has several marinas, but no regular ferry services /
Highlights :
- The Hilton Head Island area is home to a vast array of wildlife, including alligators, deer, loggerhead sea turtles, manatees, hundreds of species of birds, and dolphins.
- beaches : Coligny Beach Park. Coligny Circle, free parking on the edge of Pope Ave. Popular public beach.Recommended spots are South Beach, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort area.
- The city has hosted the traditional Heritage Classic golf competition for forty years since 1983 the tournament has been held in April./ The Verizon Heritage Tournament, one of the venues for the PGA Tour, has been held on one of the island’s golf courses since 1969.
- shopping : On Pembroke Drive in the northern part of the island , is the largest shopping center on the island with a Walmart, a large Publix supermarket (45 Pembroke Dr), a Walgreens drugstore and a Barnes & Noble bookstore.
- Shelter Cove. The Hilton Head’s largest deepwater marina / Jenkins Island : Located between the bridges from Bluffton to Hilton Head Island. / Harbour Town / Stoney-Baynard Plantation / The Liberty Oak in Harbour Town / The Baynard Mausoleum, built in 1846, is the oldest intact structure on the island. / Harbour Town Lighthouse /
Events : The main event of the summer cultural and tourist program was the Harborfest, which has been held since 1988 / wine festival is held in March
Activities : sightseeing / photo opportunities / Sailing Trips & Boat Tours / Dolphin & Whale Watching / shopping / Biking / Golf courses – There are almost too many to count
Go next : Savannah : at the northern end of the state’s coast / Tybee Island : a popular beach town and barrier island 18 mi east of Savannah along the Atlantic coast of Georgia.
