There are 24 golf courses and 12 miles of soft-sand beaches spread over Hilton Head Island’s 25,000 acres. Add scenic walking trails, breezy, tropical weather, and an obsession with tennis and there’s a good chance you’re here to recreate and relax. This is an island of swaying palms, easy resort-style living, and the Southern flare for hospitality for which this neck of the woods is known. Hilton Head Island is also steeped in history, with a prominent Gullah-Geechee influence that infuses this little corner of the lowcountry with a cultural richness. There are also restaurants serving traditional Southern fare, oyster shucking stalls, and folk music and artisan wares steeped in West African tradition. With so much layered history everywhere you look, you may have come here to play, but you’ll likely leave having learned a lot too.

If you want to visit Hilton Head Island at its busiest and most lively time of year, come during the high summer months of June, July, and August. A golf tournament every spring draws throngs of visitors, but otherwise April and May tend to be quieter times to enjoy the calmer side of island life. Visiting in September or October will also mean mild weather and few crowds, though be careful to check the hurricane forecast as tropical storms can hit in late-autumn. The Island quiets down throughout the winter, and if you choose to come at this time of year, you may just find yourself with a 25,000 acre private island resort at your fingertips — though know that it won’t be the best time for swimming in the ocean.

Learn about Gullah culture

The Gullah-Geechee people of Hilton Head and the surrounding lowcountry are the descendants of enslaved West Africans who, due to the remoteness of their island plantations, managed to preserve their heritage and cultural identity throughout the centuries. Take a boat tour along the waterways that link these island communities, go on a trail walk led by a Gullah elder, or savor Gullah culture in one of the best ways possible — by tasting its influence on so much of Southern cuisine.

Golf

With two dozen golf courses on Hilton Head Island, you can rest assured that this is an excellent place to putt. The island is something of a pilgrimage site for golf aficionados, with the pros and fans alike coming down every year for the regular pro tours and annual tournaments. Note that some of the island’s golf clubs are private or membership only, but fear not, there are still more than 15 public courses that anybody can enjoy.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve

Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a haven of natural beauty, wildlife, and history. Wander along wetland boardwalks, hike through forest trails, and watch alligators bask in the marshes. While here, don’t miss the 4,000-year-old Sea Pines Shell Ring, an important indigenous archeological site, and leave some time to get lost in the secret forest, past a vanishing swamp.