Briefly Hilton Head - A Quick Overall Look at the Island

Since the mid 1970's Hilton Head Island has been a vacation destination for an average of 2.5 million people per year. Located at the southern most point of South Carolina's Atlantic Coast, the island gives the impression of having been totally planned for vacationers, not only by man, but by nature as well. The natural landscape and flora of this 42 square mile Shangri La is some of the most beautiful on the entire eastern seaboard. If you've never been to Hilton Head just imagine; mile after mile of white sand beach, outlined on one side by the blue waters of the ocean and on the other by wild Sea Oats, Palmetto Trees, Pines and stately Live Oaks; draped with flowing Spanish Moss.

Not unlike any other beach or resort town, Hilton Head has been developed with condominiums, sub-divisions, hotels of all sizes, shapes, and quality, shopping centers, restaurants, marinas and even a mall. The one thing, however, that sets this island apart from all the others is the readily apparent fact that, for at least once, man has included forethought for nature in his development. The main road through the island is, as one might expect, lined with all the conveniences we as humans cannot live without, (including; stores, shops, restaurants, and office buildings of every type conceivable) but you would never know it, as almost all of the development on this tiny patch of land is both shielded from view of the traveler and incorporated into the natural landscape of the island.

Between nearly every road, and the buildings that line it, there is a well maintained buffer strip of natural foliage. Signage has been kept to an absolute minimum; there are practically no lighted signs, nor or there any billboards or advertisements and neon is taboo. By necessity, there must be some signage to mark roadways and entrances to shopping areas, hotels, resorts and the like, but those signs must adhere to strict guidelines; they can only be so tall, or wide or long, they must be of a color that compliments their natural surroundings, and the few that are allowed illumination are indiscreet, to say the least. Most first timers find themselves passing a particular store, restaurant, or other feature, several times before they actually find it. How many places have you been where you didn't see the "Wal-Mart" sign until the third time you drove past?

Hidden behind the same camouflage as the shopping, restaurants, hotels and resorts, and on nearly every public road, is some sort of opportunity to play, or an avenue for adventure. Snow Skiing and Casinos aside, there is hardly any activity or attraction not available on Hilton Head. Anyone can find something fun or exiting to do; there are over 50 miles of paved, flat, pathways constructed solely for the purpose ob easy bicycling and walking, or you can kayak, canoe, jet ski, swim, sunbath, sail, dolphin watch, beach comb, dance, water ski, "para-sail", play golf on over forty-miles of fairway or tennis on one of over 300 courts. If all that's not enough there are plays, dinner cruises, haunted cruises, pirate cruises and lounges with every type of live entertainment you can imagine, there are pools and pool tables, dart boards and surf boards, and almost all of it is family oriented. You can, of course, decide as many other visitors do; that the best thing to do on Hilton Head Island is to simply do nothing at all.