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Surf's up in the middle section of Hilton Head Island, which is flanked on both sides by popular and easy-to-explore waterways.
On the island's eastern shore, you'll have your choice of public-access beaches along the Atlantic coastline: Folly Field, Islanders, Driessen, and Burkes. Thanks to the long low tide, the surf here tends to be calm — perfect for kids exploring the many tidal pools for natural treasures, such as shells, starfish, and sand dollars.
Backed by rustling marsh grass, the beaches are spacious and wide, with lots of protected dunes and sand that's so hard-packed you can even ride a bike on it. On the island's western shore, Broad Creek cuts across the center of the island from Calibogue Sound like a big watery belt. Wide enough to sail down, this oyster-filled tidal channel is a favorite among fishermen and wading birds.
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Get cracking at April's Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest at Shelter Cove Community Park, as local restaurants serve up their best lobster, crab, and crawfish dishes. Don't miss the Iron Chef competition, in which local chefs are given an hour to create an appetizer and entree out of mystery ingredients.
Want to see Flipper up close? Cruises are great, but a kayak is even better. You'll get the best view in the summer when dolphins come to the shoreline to feed on small fish and sea creatures. Bonus: If you explore the salt marshes of Broad Creek on a sunset tour, you'll also catch the nightly Shelter Cove fireworks show.
Aw, shucks! Fall means oysters are now in season. Get them grilled, steamed, and fried at the weekend-long Hilton Head Oyster Festival at Shelter Cove Community Park. A holiday craft show, silent auction, and live music are also on the menu.
A winter wildlife cruise with Island Explorer Dolphin and Nature Tours brings you up close to the wildlife — from dogfish sharks and stingrays to herons and oyster catchers — that call Calibogue Sound home.