30+ Family-Friendly Things to Do in Hilton Head with Kids

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We recently spent a week on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and are officially obsessed!! This family-friendly destination offers beautiful weather along with a variety of activities for kids of all ages. It was incredibly easy to make this list of 30 things to do in Hilton Head with kids because there are so many family-friendly and specifically kid-friendly activities on Hilton Head Island.  

There are playgrounds everywhere, incredible family-friendly, kid-friendly restaurants at every turn, and don’t even get me started on the bike paths. Hilton Head Island is officially our current favorite family vacation destination. We cannot wait to return next year!

Check Out the Hilton Head Beaches

Hilton Head Island has 12 miles of gorgeous beaches that are perfect for kids.  The waves aren’t very big, even at high tide and the beaches are wide offering plenty of space.  There are chair and umbrella rental companies along the beaches, and lifeguards in most areas. 

Hilton Head Island offers public access points to the beaches all along the island, with pedestrian traffic signals for safety.  If your lodging is not walkable to the beach, there are large lots with free public parking, for example near Coligny Plaza, but they do fill up quickly. Most days the Coligny lots were full by the time we biked to Lowcountry Celebration Park next door, around 9 am.  

Lowcountry Celebration Park

Lowcountry Celebration Park is truly a gem for families.  Located directly across from Coligny Plaza, the park features an expansive pirate ship playground, a Discovery Trail to learn about sea turtles and dig for fossils in the sand, walkways to explore, and events throughout the year.

We biked to Lowcountry Celebration Park several times during our stay as the kids loved it.  Of note, there are several coffee shops within walking distance of the park for parents to grab a coffee.

Sandbox Children’s Museum

Located in Lowcountry Celebration Park, right next to Adventure Playground, is the Sandbox Children’s Museum.  We love this museum! They truly have it all from a Maker Space craft room to sand tables featuring different biomes, a Lego wall to a dress-up space. The museum advertises itself as geared toward ages 1-12 years and I highly recommend stopping by if you have kids in that age range.

Some of my kids’ favorite activities at the museum were outside on their back deck, so use caution in saving it for a rainy day as you may miss out on those fun centers. Also be sure to make reservations, especially if you’re going on a rainy day, to be sure you can get in.

Dolphin Watching

If you watch closely from the beach, you will likely see bottlenose dolphins during your beach day. We were lucky enough to see dolphin pods swimming along the shore 2 different times during our vacation, both in the morning. 

There are multiple dolphin tour companies on Hilton Head Island if you want an up close and personal viewing! Additionally, Viator offers a variety of Dolphin Cruises that you can book in advance. Viator also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, which is always helpful when traveling with kids!

Miniature Golf at Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf

Hilton Head Island has several miniature golf courses for family-friendly adventures that kids will love.  We chose Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf and were very impressed. Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf was awarded the Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023 by TripAdvisor.

Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf has two 18-hole mini golf courses.  One goes over a waterfall, and the other through a cave.  When we arrived, we asked which had a shorter line and chose the cave course with the shorter line.  We could still see the waterfall and the kids thought the cave was very cool.  It seems to be a win-win, no matter which course you choose!

We went on a cloudy day, with a chance of rain, and were pleasantly surprised to learn that if our mini-golf round was interrupted by rain, we would get a rain check to return another day, or later that day once the rain stopped.  

Family Biking on Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is a great place to ride bikes as a family.  There are bike rental companies all over the island offering adult bikes, adult bikes with seats for little ones to ride, kids’ bikes with training wheels, and an attachment to make a tandem bike for 1 adult and a child to ride and pedal together.  Bike rental companies also offer helmets, bike locks, and baskets.  

There are designated bike paths all over the island, and we felt very safe riding on them.  Lady A had her own bike, and I never felt she was in danger as the bike paths were separated from the cars, except intersections.  Everywhere we went, from playgrounds to restaurants, was equipped with bike racks to safely store our bikes.

Explore the Hilton Head Beaches at Low Tide

I know I already mentioned a beach day above, but even if you aren’t a beach family, please go exploring at low tide.  The beach becomes massive, with many shallow tide pools showcasing hermit crabs and periwinkle shells. 

You may even spot a horseshoe crab washed on shore at low tide, which is always exciting. As for seashell hunting, while there aren’t too many shells on the beach, the ones that are there are beautiful.  

Visit Salty Dog Cafe

Hilton Head, specifically South Beach Marina, is the home of the original Salty Dog Cafe.  There are other locations across South Carolina and even one in Key West,  The Salty Dog Cafe is a kid-friendly restaurant showcasing a family-friendly menu that parents will enjoy as much as the little ones. 

Salty Dog Cafe at South Beach Marina is its own destination for family fun. There are 3 different family-friendly restaurants, an ice cream shop, and multiple stores for shopping both Salty Dog gear and non-branded items.

Of course, being a marina, there are boats and a tackle shop. This is also where you board the Salty Cat Sailing boats for adventures at sea.

DJ Crush Kids’ Dance Party at South Beach Marina

On Wednesdays and Fridays in the summer months, head to South Beach Marina’s Courtyard area for a Kids’ Dance Party with DJ Crush. The dance party runs from 6-8 pm, so grab an early dinner at Salty Dog Cafe or Land’s End Tavern and get ready to party!

Check out the Many Marinas

Being an island, Hilton Head boasts several marinas for the abundance of boats docked there. Many restaurants and hot spots on Hilton Head are located at marinas.  We visited Harbour Town Yacht Basin, South Beach Marina, and Shelter Cove Harbour on our trip. All 3 sites have boats to look at, ocean life to watch out for, amazing restaurants, plenty of shopping, and family-friendly atmospheres.

Get Ice Cream

There’s nothing better than ice cream on a hot day and Hilton Head does not disappoint when it comes to offering many choices for ice cream.  Our favorites are Salty Dog Ice Cream at South Beach Marina and Frozen Moo at Coligny Plaza.

Horseback Riding at Lawton Stables

Lawton Stables in Sea Pines offers horseback riding for kids, which made Lady A’s entire trip!  Kids 7 and under ride ponies, and 8 and up are offered horses.  The ponies are quite big but very gentle. All kids are weighed, to ensure the animal’s safety and there are weight limits so be sure to check online beforehand if this is appropriate for your child, to avoid disappointment when you arrive. 

Feed Animals at Lawton Stables

Lawton Stables also allows you and your children to feed goats, alpacas, donkeys, and other animals.  Little J loved this adventure!  The animals are very gentle and the feed is reasonably priced at 50 cents for half a cup.  

Nature Walk

Take a nature walk and explore the island’s many parks and wildlife preserves. While on Hilton Head, we were lucky enough to see alligators, cranes, manatees, dolphins, and a manta ray.  My kids were blown away by all of the wild animals they were able to see and kept their eyes out at every opportunity.

We saw all of those animals between the beaches and bike paths, but Hilton Head also has several nature preserves and trails. The Hilton Head Insider has a great post detailing Where to Hike on Hilton Head Island.

Visit the Fairy Village

Along the bike path on South Forest Beach Drive, there is a fairy village that my kids both thought was so cool. Keep an eye out as you near the Marriott Grande Ocean property on the bike trail and be sure to look down. Make it a mission to find this village on your trip.

Climb Harbour Town Lighthouse

I wasn’t sure how this would go with Little J, who was 5 at the time of our visit, but both kids did great climbing the Harbour Town Lighthouse.  There are 114 stairs and it is a spiral staircase but railings are going up and down and the views from the top are worth the climb.  I think the kids did better than us on the stairs, to be honest!  

There are gift shops at the bottom and top of the stairs, and the climb is through the lighthouse museum teaching about the lighthouse and Sea Pines area.  It costs $6.25 per person, with Little J being free at 5 years of age. I believe 5 and under are free.  Both kids were also given a cool sticker from the Lighthouse.

Gregg Russell Playground

If you are visiting Harbor Town with kids, you must visit Gregg Russell Playground. This playground is amazing!! There are enormous trees built into the playground and a “treehouse” in the middle for the kids to adventure in and play.  The playground is fenced, with lots of shade from the trees. 

Eat at The Crazy Crab

While in Harbourtown, I highly recommend eating at The Crazy Crab. The decor is fun, as well as the ambiance, with huge windows.  The restaurant manages to be kid-friendly while maintaining a menu that entices parents as well. There is no outside seating, but we didn’t even miss it with the huge windows and honestly enjoyed the air conditioning on a hot day! 

Shout out to my picky eaters, The Crazy Crab is the only restaurant we ate at that offers Kraft Mac and cheese.  It is Little J’s favorite kid-friendly restaurant on Hilton Head for that very reason!

Shelter Cove Harbour

There is so much to do at Shelter Cover Harbour, it makes up 5 of my 30 Things to Do on Hilton Head with Kids, six if you count shopping, of which there is plenty. Shelter Cove is another beautiful marina filled with shops, restaurants, and beautiful water views. 

The Harbour offers a nice waterfront walk along its docks. We had to cut our visit to Shelter Cove short after a couple of hours due to thunderstorms but it is at the top of my list to explore on our return trip.

The shopping at Shelter Cove is expansive and ranges from Southern Tide Signature Store and Coastal Bliss for gorgeous clothing items, to specialty shops like Christmas on the Harbour and Palmetto Running Company.

Want to know more? Check out my post on Exploring Shelter Cove, Hilton Head Island with Kids.

Golf Cart Train at Shelter Cove Harbour

When you arrive at Shelter Cove, you may hear some wild music and train horns, my kids sure did.  It’s the golf cart train!

You may be thinking, what?!  There is a train, pulled by a golf cart that looks like a locomotive, and it takes you around the Marina.  It costs $5 per person and lasts about 5-7 minutes.  The train plays fun music and the kids truly loved it.  The ride also allows you to get your bearings on the area.

HarbourFest at Shelter Cove Harbour

If you are visiting Hilton Head between June to August, be sure to check out HarbourFest at Shelter Cove Harbour. Dates vary year to year, but this summer festival is celebrating its 34th year in 2023.

HarbourFest offers fireworks every Tuesday evening (and on the 4th of July), along with live music, arts & crafts, and kids’ activities.  My kids enjoyed the bounce house and hair wrap stations.  There was also make-your-own slime, face painting, and other arts and crafts available.  

Eat at San Miguel’s in Shelter Cove Harbour

If you are heading to Shelter Cove, I highly recommend eating at San Miguel’s while you are there. San Miguel’s is a bustling, family-friendly Mexican restaurant in Shelter Cove. Fun fact, they claim to have the best margaritas on the island.

With their vibrant decor, indoor and outdoor seating on the water, and live music on the patio, San Miguel’s was a favorite with my family. Our food was delicious and came out fast (Chili Con Queso Dip, Fajitas, and Taocs). The kids’ menu had a variety of choices ranging from hamburgers and chicken fingers to enchiladas and tacos.

Shannon Tanner Show at Shelter Cove

During the summer months, Shannon Tanner plays family-friendly live acoustic music twice each evening multiple days per week.  Be sure to check out Shannon Tanner’s schedule on his website.

During his show, Shannon mentions that some of the parents in attendance probably attended his shows as kids, so he has been a Hilton Head staple for many years. My kids knew all of the songs he played while we were there and had a blast dancing.  

Movie Nights in the Park

Watch a movie under the stars in Shelter Cove Towne Center. On Thursdays from June to August, bring your beach chairs, blankets, and snacks for a fun family evening watching a movie outside on their giant 24-foot screen.

Movies start at 8:30 pm and the 2023 lineup includes Frozen 2, Shrek, and the original Willy Wonka. Admission to Movie Nights in the Park is free.

Eat at Skull Creek Dockside

Skull Creek Dockside is a must-see destination. No, it is not just a restaurant, it is a destination.  The restaurant is amazing, with lots of outdoor seating on Skull Creek. 

Be sure to get there early, as it gets very crowded. There is a dock to walk out on, with beautiful views.  We were able to see manatees swim right under the dock!!!

If you do have to wait, no worries, there is a playground at the restaurant for the kids, complete with Gaga ball pits. There is a bar outside while you wait, fire pits, cornhole boards, and a very nice gift shop. 

Coligny Plaza

Coligny Plaza is a collection of restaurants and stores. There is a splash pad there, and a mini pirate ship playground for kids to enjoy.  With 30 stores including everything from apparel and accessories to gifts and specialty shops, there is something for everyone on your souvenir list.

Coligny Plaza is located directly across the street from Lowcountry Celebration Park. Our favorite stops at the plaza were Hilton Head Toys, Frozen Moo ice cream, and The Shell Shop.

Fireworks 

During the summer, at Shelter Cove Marina, there are fireworks on Tuesdays as part of HarbourFest. Fireworks begin at about 9 pm, and run from June through August, with a special show on the 4th of July.   This looks to be the only large public fireworks show on the island.

There are plenty of places to sit and watch the fireworks. We ended up sitting near San Miguel’s and had a great view. The kids loved the fireworks and the accompanying music played by San Miguel’s was perfect.

Coastal Discovery Museum

We have visited the Coastal Discovery Museum twice now and I highly recommend it for families with kids. The museum is located soon after crossing onto Hilton Head Island and offers 68 acres of trails, gardens, horse stables, and the Discovery House which houses exhibits. 

I recommend visiting on a nice day, as the Honey Horn Nature Trail is my kids’ favorite part of the museum. There is even a scavenger hunt for the trail with a prize at the end!

Butterfly Habitat

Located on the campus of the Coastal Discovery Museum, is the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat. While we did not make it to the Butterfly Habitat on this trip, we hope to check it out in the future.  Guided tours are offered during peak butterfly season from May through October.

Visit Daufuskie Island

A small Island (only 5 miles by 2.5 miles) off of Hilton Head, Daufuskie Island is accessible only by boat or passenger ferry from Hilton Head Island or Bluffton.

With few paved roads, a couple of restaurants, and only 300 permanent residents, the island is largely undeveloped. Once on the island, golf carts are the primary mode of transportation and they are available to rent.

As a result of its natural state, Daufuskie Island is home to many animals including alligators, loggerhead sea turtles, snowy egrets, and wood storks. This is a must-do for our next Hilton Head Island trip, so stay tuned!

Daufuskie Island Ferry

The Daufuskie Island Ferry runs 4 times per day (5 on Fridays) and tickets can be purchased online. As per the Dukuskie Ferry website, children 7 and under are free on the ferry.

Viator also sells round-trip Daufuskie Ferry tickets offering their free cancellation feature up to 24 hours in advance (be sure to read and confirm Viator’s policies regarding cancellation before booking).

Shopping

Hilton Head Island is filled with stores. From souvenirs and island-style clothing to toys and home decor, there is something for everyone.  The biggest number of touristy shops I saw was at Coligny Plaza. There are about 30 stores with a large variety of gift and specialty shops.

Hilton Head Toys was a big hit for my kids. Lady A had a blast perusing the shops for dolphin necklaces and of course, a new stuffed animal, while Little J brought home a snake that grows in water and building blocks.  My goal on every vacation is to find a Christmas ornament for our tree and there were many to choose from in the local shops.

Take a Day Trip to Savannah

I had to add this to the list as so many people we met in Hilton Head were taking day trips to Savannah. We flew in and out of Savannah and spent a day there before heading to Hilton Head, so I can confirm it is worth the 1 hour-ish ride.

If you visit Savannah, be sure to check out Forsyth Park. It’s a fun area to visit with kids and has playgrounds as well as a delicious kid-friendly restaurant right in the park. I have an entire post dedicated to Exploring Forsyth Park with Kids because we loved it so much!

30 Things to Do on Hilton Head with Kids

After only 6 days on Hilton Head Island, I was easily able to come up with 30 Things to Do on Hilton Head with Kids. And with so many kid-friendly activities to choose from, you’re sure to find something that everyone will enjoy. There is so much to do on Hilton Head Island with kids, it truly is a perfect family vacation destination.