Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Imagine a white, windswept beach gently warmed by the sun. Imagine palm-lined fairways, lush as velvet, green as emeralds. Imagine enjoying dinner under the stars, golf among friends, tennis in the afternoon. Welcome to Hilton Head Island, a holiday kingdom bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west. You'll find that while Hilton Head Island is famous for its 12-mile stretch of glistening sands, a visit here is more than a day at the beach.
The Island is as well known for its sports activities and beaches as for its varied arts features and cultural events. The Island's vibrant arts community will dazzle you with choices like the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Its big name Broadway theatre offers numerous venues for both local and traveling exhibitions and shows. The Hilton Head Orchestra offers a 10-program season that runs from October to May. For those interested in the visual arts, you'll discover art galleries from one end of the Island to the other. The island boasts a ballet and dance company, a Repertory Theater, numerous galleries, a heritage library, a youth orchestra, youth theatre, and an International Piano Competition. The Island was recently ranked 22nd among the top 100 Small Arts Towns in America.
Some of South Carolina's first residents, the Gullah/Geechee people, havemade outstanding contributions to the culture of the area, which is showcased in month-long Native Islander Gullah Celebration. There are also a number of interesting historical sites in the area, including Baynard Ruins, the tattered remains of an antebellum plantation house; Fort Mitchel, a Civil War fortification overlooking Skull Creek; the Zion Cemetery; and Baynard Mausoleum, the final resting place of Rev olutionary War soldiers. Sprinkled across the Island, in settings that range from beachside to harborfront to slightly off the beaten path, there are more than 30 different shopping areas as well as more than 300 stores and boutiques.
