Hilton Head Island, SC, is a great place to visit with kids. There are so many fun things to do here! Hilton Head Island is one of the best places in the world to take your kids. With so many activities, it’s easy to get them excited about visiting the island.
Here are the top 15 picks for what to do with your family in Hilton Head:
- Shelter Cove Harbour — Palmetto Dunes
Shelter Cove Harbour is a great place to take the kids for some fishing, crabbing, and boating. Located in Shelter Cove Towne Centre on Hutchinson Island, this historic spot has ample parking and space for everyone to spread out.
You can rent boats at the harbor or buy them there; they also have bait shops that sell everything you need for your day at sea!
This attraction is an excellent place for a one-day trip or weekend getaway, from scenic views to fishing boats bobbing in the water. If you’re looking for something different than just another beach trip, head to Melbourne Beach and spend some time at this local gem!
- Sandbox Children’s Museum — Shipyard
If your kids love playing in sandboxes, they will love this museum. The Sandbox Children’s Museum Shipyard is on the waterfront in Shipyard Village, where children can explore exhibits that teach them the importance of protecting our environment. The interactive nature of this museum makes it fun for kids of all ages!
The museum has exhibits that teach children about the water cycle, how to save energy, and more. They will also be able to play in an indoor sandbox filled with their favorite toys, including trucks and cars.
- Adventure Cove — Folly Field
Adventure Cove Folly Field is a family-friendly park that is fun for the whole family. It’s also a highly recommendable place for kids of all ages, so even your grandparents can enjoy themselves! This park has excellent value for money and offers some great activities. The staff is amiable and helpful, making it easy to enjoy yourself while simultaneously feeling like you are investing in your children’s future. If you’re expecting a relaxing day out in the sun, then this should be one of your first stops!
The park is well-kept, clean, and well-maintained. It has various activities for all ages, including inflatable slides, obstacle courses for younger children, and more advanced options for older kids. Plenty of food options are available if you get hungry during your visit.
- ZipLine & Aerial Adventures — Marshland
If you’re planning for a fun activity that is also family-friendly, then check out the ZipLine & Aerial Adventures Marshland. This location has the longest zip line in the southeast and features many other activities. The course is challenging but safe, so even younger kids can participate in this high-adrenaline adventure!
If your kids are up for something more athletic and physical, check out their Aerial Adventure Course — it’s great for all ages (although we recommend taking a helmet). It includes climbing walls and an archery range with targets set up at different heights so you can practice shooting from different angles without worrying about hitting anything else!
- Lawton Stables — Sea Pines
Lawton Stables Sea Pines is the place to go if your kids love horses. They offer horse riding lessons for kids and adults, alongside other options, including trail riding, bareback riding, and clinics. The Lawton Stables Sea Pines also has a petting zoo where you can get close to animals while being fed by their owners!
This family-owned business has been operating for over 30 years on Hilton Head Island and was named “Best Place To Take Kids” by Southern Living magazine in 2015.
- Station 300 Bowling Lanes — Bluffton
- Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Hours: Open daily from 1 p.m. to midnight
- Prices: $5 per person (ages 3-12) or $10 per person (13 and older) for unlimited bowling and shoe rental; other activities include laser tag, skee ball, bumper cars, arcade games, live entertainment, and more!
- Specials: For every 20 paid visits, you receive one free visit! So, you can use your 20th visit as an occasion to bring a friend in too! How awesome is that? Special pricing deals are also offered on weekends when they have special events at their bowling alley, such as trivia nights where kids bowl. At the same time, parents play video games in the lounge area next door or on Mondays when everyone gets $2 off each lane game during opening hours which lasts until 2 pm–4 pm only!
- The Gregg Russell Family Concerts — Sea Pines
The Gregg Russell Family Concerts, held at the Island Music Hall on Hilton Head’s Main Street, are a family-friendly event that offers free concerts every Friday evening in June and July. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m., except for the 8th of July concert, which starts at 5:30 p.m.
The Gregg Russell Family Concerts are a collaboration between Island Music Hall, The Children’s Museum of South Carolina, and Hilton Head Arts Council; they take place from June through early August each year on Friday evenings starting at 6:30 pm (except for the 8th of July).
- Coastal Discovery Museum — Honey Horn
The Coastal Discovery Museum is a fun and educational place for kids to explore. At Honey Horn, you can learn about the environment and discover all kinds of astonishing facts.
Kids will love this museum because it has an area where they can play in the sand, build castles, climb trees or observe their surroundings from inside one of its many exhibits. There’s also a gift shop for you to buy toys inspired by nature!
- Coligny Plaza
Coligny Plaza is a shopping center in Bluffton, South Carolina. It was built in the late 1960s, has been expanded several times, and is home to over 30 stores and restaurants.
The Plaza is located at 1801 East Pinckney Street, just off Hwy 278. If you’re looking for something fun to do with kids that don’t require leaving Hilton Head, this may be your best bet!
The plaza is home to a children’s indoor carousel, arcade, and play area. It’s also a small movie theater that shows family-friendly films during the day. The Plaza has been voted Best Place for Kids on Hilton Head Island by readers of the Savannah Morning News for several years, so it’s worth checking out if you’re traveling with children!
- Bristol Sports Arena — Wexford
The Bristol Sports Arena is great for playing basketball, volleyball, and dodgeball. It’s also great to hang out with friends and have fun!
If you’re looking for an activity that can be done indoors or outside (it depends on the weather), this sports complex has everything you need. Multiple courts are available, including tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, and indoor gyms!
Another cool thing about this facility is that they host events throughout the year, so there will always be something new happening at BSA every weekend! You can expect concerts from local bands as well as professional sporting events such as football games or soccer matches between teams like Atlanta Braves Baseball Franchise
- Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Birdwatching: Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places to see birds. This refuge is home to over 200 birds, including bald eagles, osprey, and songbirds.
- Hiking: You can hike through Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge on foot or by canoe or kayak (which is what we did). You can choose several trails depending on your child’s interest; they range from strolls through marshy areas where you might spot some wildlife like turtles or snakes to more challenging hikes with a steep climb up waterfalls.
- Kayaking: If you’re excited about a fun activity that will keep your kids busy for hours while giving them exercise and fresh air, then kayaking may be right up their alley! There are plenty of places around Hilton Head where people rent boats, so if none exist nearby, check out any local marinas instead—they’ll usually have some kind of program available too!
- Shelter Cove Towne Centre — Palmetto Dunes
Shelter Cove Towne Centre Palmetto Dunes is a shopping center on Hilton Head Island. The center has a variety of shops and restaurants, including a grocery store, pharmacy, movie theater, and more!
It’s also home to many attractions on Hilton Head Island, including popular ones: the Shelter Cove Towne Centre and Palmetto Dunes Children’s Museum! This museum is fun for kids under five and their parents because it includes interactive exhibits that teach kids about animals (like sharks), arts and crafts (including face painting), and even dancing! Check out their playground area if you don’t want to spend all day preparing your child for playtime at this museum! You’ll find plenty of things for children, such as swing sets or slides, but there will never be enough hours in a day, so make sure you stop by early before they close so everyone can get some exercise while they’re still fresh minds before bedtime tonight.”
- Driessen Beach Park
If you’re looking for a beach park with a playground and picnic area, Driessen Beach Park is the place to go. It’s open year-round (there’s even an ice skating rink in the winter), so your kids can enjoy playing on the sand all year!
The park also has lifeguards on duty and restrooms available for use. It’s also dog friendly—so if your family likes bringing their dogs along when they’re out at the beach, this is one stop that should be on your list of places to visit!
- Commander Zodiac — Sea Pines
If you’re looking for a place to go swimming and snorkeling, then Commander Zodiac Sea Pines is a great option. The resort features two swimming pools, two outdoor hot tubs, two adult-only pools (one reserved for active adults), three kids’ splash pools, and one adult-only pool with zero-depth entry. A lazy river is also available for guests who want to relax while swimming or paddleboard!
The resort also has several water activities available, including canoeing/kayaking on nearby Lake Murray; kayak rentals at nearby Hunter’s Pointe Resort & Marina; jet skiing or parasailing off Hilton Head Island’s White Bluff Beach Park; catamaran rides out of the marina; fishing excursions from nearby marinas such as Savannah River Fishing Club & Captains Cove Marina on Tybee Island
- Duck Donuts — Long Cove
Duck Donuts Long Cove is a family-friendly restaurant that sells donuts, pastries, and coffee. You can buy your favorite donut in the shape of a duck! The shop also offers a variety of toppings for their treats. They have options like chocolate frosting or sprinkles on each bite-size dessert treat.
They also have flavors like strawberry jellybean, coconut cream cheese icing, and milk chocolate ganache for you to try out if you’re into those types of things!
The donuts at Long Cove are fresh and delicious. They have various flavors, so the whole family can find something they like. The shop also sells other pastries, such as croissants and muffins, for you to try out if you’re not in the mood for donuts.
