Our family has been spending a week on Hilton Head Island annually since 2014. We brought infants who are now boys, and this island is filled with memories for us. We love Hilton Head Island for so many reasons, but the main one is that it is such a hub for family activities. Keep reading to learn all about the playgrounds, coffee shops, dolphin tours, and bike companies we frequent year after year.
Hilton Head Island is for bikes.
Every morning I watch the sunrise on HHI. I quietly get up and pedal or walk down to see the first beams of light dazzle like pink diamonds on the water. Afterwards, I pick up one of my boys, or maybe the whole family and ride to a breakfast spot or to comb the beach for shells and ocean life. Beyond that, we ride on and off all day looking for alligators, visiting little museums, and just enjoying one another's company. Below are our two favorite bike shops.
Avocado Bikes
If you want a new adventure, this is it. Avocado Bikes specializes in electric bikes. They have tandem bikes, helmets, and even carts attached to ride multiple small children at one time. Avocado bikes is so confident in their gear, that they will let you take a bike for a spin - that's how they sold my hubby! You really can't go wrong with Avocado Bikes, we highly recommend checking them out and enjoy the amazing pedal assist.
Mike's Bikes
If a traditional cruiser is your style, Mike's Bikes is such a cool family owned and operated company. We always choose a one week rental, which they bring over to our condo and pick up at our condo when we are through. These cruisers are comfortable and leisurely. The entire family will enjoy seeing the island on them.
Go see the dolphins.
You really don't want to skip out on a dolphin boat tour. We have done this three times now and it is such a phenomenal way to enjoy an afternoon or evening with your family. Our boys remember it year after year and ask to go back again every time.
Hilton Head Dolphin & Nature Tours
This company took us on sunset tours for two years and then we went on a chartered tour. Every trip was something special and well worth doing. On our chartered tour, our captain shared so many special details about the island's history, as well as amazing wildlife details we would have never known otherwise. The boys got to drive the boat and we saw so many beautiful dolphins as well as amazing native birds.
Visit the Adventure playground.
Right off Pope Avenue (94 Pope Avenue) and only a block and a half from the beach, is an epic playground. This spot is nothing to skip if you have kiddos 10 and under. It boasts a huge ship with nets and water canon blasters, amazing swings, and even a small "river" to play in.
Eat something wonderful.
Okay, I would be remiss not to talk about the best places to eat. For us, this boils down to who is going, so I am going to break it down just like that!
Best place for a snack goes to Sweet Frog.
We love biking the couple miles from our condo on the beach over to Sweet Frog. The boys enjoy all the samples prior to actually making a choice, and even us parents have fun grabbing a treat.
Favorite date night spot.
The hubby and I spent several evenings biking 8 plus miles looking for the best food on the island. We are adventurous eaters who skip pork and seafood, but love international items. Hands down, our favorite place is Casablanca Mediterranean. It is small and doesn't look like much, but inside it is a hubub of authentic Greek food made by a Greek family. We wound up eating there twice it was so good.
Family friendly crowd pleasing restaurants
Java Burrito tops our list as the place to be sure and hit up when we get to Hilton Head Island. Our entire crew loves their food AND mama loves the coffee. This spot has both indoor and outdoor seating, allergy friendly options, and just so many delicious burrito and taco choices.
New York City Pizza is a new family friendly eatery we found this past summer. The pizza is New York style or Sicilian and super delicious as are the salads (so big). However, the primary thing we cannot stop talking about is their cheesecake. Friends, this is the BEST cheesecake. Just trust us and head over there to try it yourself.
Museums, lighthouses, and nature spots, oh my!
Hilton Head Island has such great museums. We have one standout favorite we will share with you.
The Coastal Discovery Museum
This is our children's favorite museum on Hilton Head Island. They have scheduled events for holding some amazing native species (like alligators and snakes) as well as really cool indigenous garden area to explore. Inside, there is an entire area for children that includes neat exhibits about sea turtles as well as a dress up area.
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Visit this spot! Grab your bikes and load them up (if you brought a vehicle that can manage it) and bike this refuge. Or walk it. Just go. The boys explored and explored, they observed fiddler crabs, watched the tide come in, and saw so many amazing birds. You really cannot beat this location for nature exploration!
Harbourtown Lighthouse
This sweet historic lighthouse has a gift shop in the bottom and a wonderful viewing deck up top. Children 5 and under are FREE and others pay $5.75 to go up. Along the way, you can view historic pictures in a museum style display of the history of Harbourtown and the lighthouse. There is a fee to enter Sea Pines, as it is a private community, so plan to make a day of it and visit the pier, hunt shells, and enjoy the Forest Preserve (we constantly see gators and amazing birds here).
Coffee!
Above I mentioned Java Burrito, which does have amazing coffee. That said, we stay off South Forest Drive and our go to spot is a quick bike ride away.
Caroline Coffee and Crumbs
Pope Avenue just off Coligny Plaza has our favorite coffee spot. I bike there most mornings and usually take one of the boys for a one on one date. We have made the very best memories there. I especially enjoy their nitro with a splash of heavy cream. The boys like their pastries. Be aware that this place is so good, there are nearly ALWAYS lines. Enjoy chatting while you wait!
Now you know what's up!
Now you know where to do fun things and enjoy time together as a family on Hilton Head Island. Be sure and mention us if you visit these amazing spots with your family so they know we sent you their way.