My friends and I took a trip to Hilton Head Island. Julie Peck
A friend and I booked a last minute trip to the beach town of Hilton Head Island. South Carolina.
The area is full of natural beauty and reminded me of a nature preserve.
The beaches on Hilton Head Island were clean and beautiful, and the food was delicious.
Last July, my best friend and I suddenly had some free time on our hands and a yearning for sun and sand, so we started planning a trip.
As a South Carolina resident, I considered many places to visit, from Myrtle Beach to Charleston, but in the end we settled on Hilton Head Island.
South Carolina's beautiful towns are home to white sand beaches and world-class golf courses. Named the best island in the USA for 2023 by Condé Nast Traveler, the region is also known for its nature and small-town feel.
I had visited Hilton Head Island many years ago and was keen to see how the island had changed over the years. Here is my experience on the island.
The whole area reminded me of a nature preserve.
Our home had a gorgeous view of one of the many lagoons on Hilton Head Island. Julie Peck
We rented a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with pool access and lagoon views through Whimstay, a vacation rental website for last-minute travel.
Our home had plenty of space for my friends and I to relax, but the real beauty of this home was the beautiful lagoon in the backyard. We could have easily spent the rest of our vacation gazing at that water even if we didn't go to the beach.
It was so peaceful surrounded by beautiful greenery and trees.
I loved hearing the frogs and other animals at night.
One night a frog landed on my window. Julie Peck
We quickly learned that our backyard lagoon was teeming with wildlife, including birds of all kinds, turtles of all sizes, and a wide variety of frogs.
At night, the frogs surrounding the house started singing loudly, and it felt like camping, but without the hassle of sleeping outside.
Once dark, I opened the sliding glass doors connecting the main bedroom to the spacious back deck and did some stargazing. Known for its low light pollution, Hilton Head Island was the perfect location for this activity.
Sea Pines Beach was beautiful, clean and easy to access.
I relaxed on the beach reading a book. Julie Peck
One Saturday during our trip, my friend and I left our car at the shopping center and took the trolley to Sea Pines Beach Club where we reserved chairs from Shore Beach Services.
Our first day at the beach was pretty quiet, I think because it was changeover day for most of the rental properties.
Still, there was a diverse crowd, with families, singles, couples and people of all ages scattered across the sand. There was plenty of space to lounge around, but we rarely had to get up from our chairs.
The next day there were a lot more people at the beach, but even with the extra people the beach didn't feel too crowded and had a totally relaxed atmosphere.
The variety of food was also unparalleled.
We enjoyed dishes like mussels frites. Julie Peck
I enjoyed everything I ate on the island, from the delicious pizza at Giuseppi's on the first night when I was too tired to go outside, to the pastries and freshly squeezed juices I picked up at Harbour Town Bakery and Cafe before heading to the beach.
But a meal at Chez Georges Bistro and Bar blew my taste buds away. Known for its “Lowcountry French cuisine,” this family-owned restaurant serves up a traditional French bistro menu without being intimidating.
Upon entering, we were greeted like regular customers, and the menu was full of traditional French dishes like escargot, bouillabaisse, and cassoulet.
I was excited when I saw mussels frites (served with French fries) on the menu. I chose them prepared traditionally Provencal with white wine butter sauce, tomatoes, capers, olives and Provencal herbs. The dish did not disappoint and I soaked up every last drop of sauce with my fries.
We also ordered the steak frites and my friend tried the boeuf bourguignon (short rib) which was so tender it easily fell off the bone.
Hilton Head is a great place for a quick getaway and I would recommend it to anyone.
Hilton Head Island has beautiful beaches and nature. Julie Peck
When I first visited Hilton Head Island decades ago, I found it somewhat stuffy, and I subsequently dismissed it as a place for golfers and bachelor parties.
But during my recent last-minute getaway, Hilton Head Island proved to be the perfect low-key vacation retreat for beach lovers, nature lovers, foodies, and everyone in between.
We had a great time, from the beach to the delicious restaurants, and would definitely recommend this island to anyone wanting a beach getaway.
