I visited Hilton Head Island, SC with family over Thanksgiving week in November 2021. This charming island, nestled off the coast of South Carolina and just an hour's drive from Savannah, GA, is a perfect getaway with lots of activities that are all within a 10 minute drive from anywhere on the island.

Hilton Head Island is known for its 12 miles of coastline beaches and emphasis on nature, with tree canopies covering a majority of the island. It has a famous red-white candy cane striped lighthouse (Harbour Town Lighthouse) that overlooks onto the 18th hole of a PGA golf course. The island is very bike friendly, with bike trails covering the entire island, making it accessible to get anywhere on a bike.

The part I enjoyed the most of Hilton Head Island was Sea Pines, a private community on the West side of the island ($9 fee per vehicle, or free if you stay in Sea Pines). Sea Pines is the quintessential Hilton Head Island setting — oak trees hanging with Spanish moss dotting the roads and multiple harbors with cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Sea Pines include two famous areas, Harbour Town and South Beach. Harbour Town is known for the Harbour Town Lighthouse, a marina, and the Harbour Town Golf Links. South Beach is also known for its marina as well as the Salty Dog Cafe.

Disclaimer: Hilton Head Island is not associated with Hilton Hotels - a question you will often get after telling someone you just visited Hilton Head Island

Lodging: We stayed at the Bluewater Resort and Marina on the Northern part of the island as part of my family's timeshare program. The resort is right on the sound with perfect sunset views and lots of water activities (we had an hour led kayak tour as part of the resort's activities).

Places Visited:

• Harbour Town (Sea Pines)
• Harbour Town Lighthouse
• Harbour Town Golf Links
• South Beach (Sea Pines)
• Shelter Cove
• Coligny Beach