We stayed at the Ocean Oak Resort by Hilton Grand when visiting Hilton Head Island. The resort was perfect for our stay as it is located right on the main beach (Coligny beach) and is close to most places on the island. All rooms at the resort come with a full kitchen, which came in handy for having snacks and making lunch for beach days! We decided to stop by the grocery store before checking in to buy some fresh bread and cold cuts for some sandwiches to make for lunch, which was definitely a money saver!
Additionally, the resort was exceptionally clean and the staff was very friendly! One pretty cool amenity that the hotel has is a movie rental machine that is completely free with the card they give you at check in. The movies available were fairly new and they had some pretty good options to pick from.
Bike Rentals:
The first full day on the island we decided to rent bikes. Some hotels offer their guests bike rentals, however there are plenty of bike rental companies on the island to use if your hotel does not. We rented our bikes from Island Life Bike Rentals at $25 per bike for 3 days. This was a great deal and within a couple of hours our bikes were delivered to our hotel! Every morning we decided to get up early and ride our bikes to a different part of the island, sometimes racking in more than 15 miles a day! I would definitely recommend riding your bike on the beach as there is a breeze to help cool you off and it is truly a weird feeling being able to cycle on sand!
Bike Trails:
Our first big bike ride started at Coligny Beach near Shipyard Plantation and went west toward Palmetto Dunes.Once we reached Palmetto Dunes, we exited the beach through another resort and biked across the road to Shelter Cove where we had a delicious breakfast at The French Bakery. We then cycled back to our resort, sat the bikes down on the beach and hopped into the water to cool off!
Our second big bike ride started again at our resort; Coligny Beach near Shipyard Plantation but this time we went east toward Sea Pines Plantation. Once we reached Sea Pines, we exited the beach through a beach access pathway and biked toward Harbour Town. We decided to lock our bikes up and take a walk through Harbour Town to gander at all the little shops and cafes! After our walk, we were feeling a bit too ambitious and decided to visit Salty Dog Cafe which was another 3.2 miles out. Again, we walked through the little shops and souvenir boutiques at Salty Dog and then cycled back to our resort.
I have attached a map of the island bike trails for your convenience! Click here!
Kayak Tour:
We took a 2 hour guided kayak tour of the island and learned about the oyster bays, different birds and some island history! The tour was $40 per person and the tour was done by Outside Hilton Head company. I would recommend this tour because it is for all fitness levels and I found that I had a lot of fun even though I live in Florida and kayak very often. If you are lucky you may even see dolphins!
Shelter Cove:
This is a newer area across the road from Palmetto Dunes filled with shopping and restaurants. I recommend making a dinner reservation at Poseidon restaurant around sunset, as the sunset is beautiful from here.
Sea Pines Plantation:
This is a gated off community with private villas, hotels, restaurants and many many golf courses. There is a $9 daily fee to enter into the community, unless you bike on the beach and enter through a beach access entrance. Within Sea Pines you will find Harbour Town, which is another area with boutiques, restaurants and activities. At Harbour Town you will find the iconic red and white striped Harbor Town lighthouse, which offers an amazing view of the entire marina as well as a museum that you can tour daily.
Relax:
The island is very laid back and has some beautiful beaches. It would be a shame if you came all the way to Hilton Head and didn't enjoy it. Get a drink, take a seat on the sand and enjoy the view! Coligny Beach is the main beach on the island and is the most crowded beach due to the proximity of all the resorts.
Read more about where to eat on Hilton Head Island!
Breakfast:
This french bakery is located in Shelter Cove and is open for breakfast and lunch. I would recommend the Mixed Berry Crepe or the spinach, ham and mushroom quiche! Don't forget to get a few of the delicious pastries, definitely cannot miss!
Lunch:
Coast $$$
This lunch spot is located in the Sea Pines Beach Club and has the most breathtaking views of the ocean. I would recommend the yummy shrimp tacos!
Dinner:
This restaurant can get very busy and is one of the most popular restaurants on the island. It provides customers with a beautiful view of the marshland landscape that is truly a beautiful sight when the sun is setting. I would recommend the seafood platter or the flounder dish.
This popular dinner spot is known for its seafood broils. I would recommend the original crab broil and the complimentary hush puppies are definitely a must- try!
Poseidon $$
This restaurant is known for its stunning sunset views of the marshland. For dinner, I would recommend the broiled lobster tail or the shrimp and grits. After dinner, Poseidon's roof top bar turns into the islands biggest dance party with live music and happy hour deals!
This restaurant is considered a landmark on the island and is highly recommended. We decided to make a reservation and head over to this award winning landmark known for its fantastic views, delicious food and great vibes. However, our experience was unfortunately not what we were expecting. When we arrived it was raining and we were not able to be seated at the iconic outdoor patio. We ended up getting a table at the covered outdoor area that seemed like an extension to the restaurant. We then ordered drinks and food and were disappointed that it was not as good as people had said. In my opinion, there are other restaurants with better food and entertainment.
Ice Cream:
Located in the Coligny Plaza, this yummy ice cream parlor is family- owned and serves more than 90 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt and sherbet. I recommend the mint choc chip or the strawberry cheesecake flavor. However, i'm 100% sure whichever flavor you choose will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Drinks:
Tiki Hut $$
The Tiki Hut is an affordable beach bar located on Coligny Beach. The drinks are more affordable than any of the resort bars and there is live entertainment all day. I would recommend the Miami Vice which is a frozen pina colada with strawberry puree mixed. Another delicious and refreshing choice is the Lava Flow which is a frozen mango daiquiri layered with strawberry puree.
