Hilton Head, South Carolina & 3 of its Top Vacation-Rental Communities

[Beni Restea]

Hilton Head Island, off South Carolina's Low Country coast, has been a resort destination for 65 years now, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, world-class beaches, and golf courses. The island's hub is Forest Beach, dubbed its "unofficial dowtown," it includes Coligny Plaza, the best place to go shopping or dining, along with a duck pond in the middle of the plaza. On summer nights the area is especially active, with live music, magic shows, and concerts on every corner (also, head to the Coligny Theater, a movie house which also stages concerts, plays, and other live entertainment).

Forest Beach also boasts has a three-mile stretch of pristine beaches along with beautiful landscapes, inspiring ocean views, and it is a perfect destination for any Hilton Head vacation. It's also lined with luxurious vacation homes on the ocean side or a short walk to it.

An with 20 different restaurants at your disposal, you can explore different cuisines from across the world. In addition, the island is home to several summer day camps for kids, where they can engage in fun activities such as bowling, arts and crafts, swimming, and many more. Other family activities include exploring the Island’s marshlands with Kayak Discovery and the "dive-in" movie theater at the Harbor Town Pool.

Speaking of vacation homes, here are the top three communities you'll want to consider if Hilton Head sounds enticing to you:

 

 

Palmetto Dunes

This gated community was one of the original beach resorts in Hilton Head Island. In 2003 Travel & Leisure magazine ranked it as the number one family-oriented resort in the world, and the location is famous both amongst families and passionate golfers. Beautiful Palmetto Dunes offers visitors the opportunity to rent private properties instead of hotel rooms. Also, midway along the beach, you can find the Dunes House, a public-access beach facility.

Palmetto Dunes is known as well for having some of the best-golfing facilities in the USA. Courses such as the George Fazio and Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront are both award-winning, and the Arthur Hills course was regarded as one of the best courses, according to Fodor’s Golf Digest. It also offers tourists an educational experience at its learning centers, where you can learn how to kayak or swing a tennis racket. Speaking of lagoons, the natural beauty of Palmetto Dunes is reflected in its 11-mile long lagoon, which can be explored by kayak for a unique and exciting experience.

 

Sea Pines Plantation

A premiere planned community that revolutionized the modern American resort, Sea Pines is not only famous for its excellent resort amenities such as world-class golf courses and tennis courts, but also manages to deliver an incredible vacation resort while preserving the surrounding ecology. The oceanfront rentals face the beach and facilitate private beach walks, but condominiums and Sea Pine villas are also an excellent option for people who want to get a lower price but have similar proximity to the beach.

The Sea Pines resort spans about 5,000 oceanfront acres and occupies a third of the Island, with  approximately 1,300 acres devoted to parks, forests, and other natural beauties. The resort features five miles of pristine beaches, twenty miles of bike trails, and natural paths, and the area is home to two airports. Award-winning golf courses such as Harbor Town Clubhouse and Heron Point are located here along with the Sea Pines Racquet Club, one of the best tennis facilities in the country. In order to maintain the balance between residents and the surrounding environment, the area features beach walks, hayrides, kayak expeditions, bike tours, and much more.

Hilton Head Plantation

The luxury gated community of Hilton Head Plantation is a unique neighborhood that has been voted the island's favorite gated community many years in a row. It sits on about 4,000 acres of breathtaking natural views, where you can explore Bluff Beach or go into the wilderness of the Whooping Crane Pond and Cypress Nature Conservancies.

The Plantation also features 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art community swimming pool with a splash pad, a lazy river, Skull Creek Marina, a deep-water facility with more than 170 boat slips, the Fort Mitchel historic site (a Union gun battery during the Civil War), and the renowned Old Fort Pub restaurant. Overall, the private enclave is known for its security, services, programs, and recreational facilities that make it a fantastic place for locals and tourists who are looking for an unforgettable vacation.

 

So if you're looking for the perfect summer vacation destination, look no further, because Hilton Head Island has everything you need for an ideal getaway, as its luxurious communities feature some of the best coastal amenities along with excellent activities and entertainment. With the help of real estate agents in Hilton Head you can easily find a nice place for a vacation home - or a permanent dwelling to enjoy the benefits of living in such a community year round.