Things to Do in Sea Pines Resort and Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island

Holding the title as the largest plantation on Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines Resort and Harbour Town offers the most number of rental properties on the island. It is located at the southern tip of the island and has a total area of 5,200 acres. With its huge land area, it holds more than 3,000 homes and more than 2,000 villas. Through the years, Sea Pines Resort has also become home to a large number of permanent residents.

Sea Pines Resort holds the title as the first private plantation on Hilton Head Island. It was first developed by Charles Fraser, who is sometimes known as the inventor of the modern American resort.  

 Access

Sea Pines is gated, so you will either have to pay a gate fee to get in daily unless your vacation rental is in Sea Pines, the fee is covered in your rental agreement. It is open to the public even if there are private residences here … so everyone is welcome to visit.

Activities

If you’re looking for activities in Sea Pines, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re looking to do some simple activities such as walking and biking, there are miles and miles of bike trails stretching all overy the plantation. Want to go golfing or play some tennis, you won’t be disappointed. Not into physical activites, you also have tons of options for shopping, dining. If water sports are your go-to for fun, Harbour Town and South Beach have you covered.

Harbour Town

If you’re looking forward to seeing Hilton Head’s famous white-and-red-striped lighthouse, this is where you will find it. Get your exercise for the day by climbing to the top. Don’t forget your camera … and there will be a chance to buy some souveniers in the gift shop. Harbour Town Yacht Basin, is well-known as one of the best yachting destinations along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. If you have a yacht, this place offers docking services starting from one day to a lifetime. If you’re going out on the open water, you will find everything that you need in this marina, including marine supplies, food, and apparel.

If you have kids with you, Gregg Russell’s nightly concerts is something that you need to watch out for. Gregg is a writer for children’s songs and is best known for his evening concets under the old Liberty tree in Harbour Town.

South Beach Marina

South Beach is a significant part of Sea Pines. If you are staying around this area, you will get to enjoy the magnificient view of Braddock Cove, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Calibogue Sound from your balcony. The South Beach Marina Village offers a lot of amenities and activities that you and the whole gang will get to enjoy.

The Beach

If going to the beach is your thing, you will be amazed at the vast expanse of sandy beaches you can explore. Sea Pines has the longest stretch of beach in the whole of Hilton Head. Of the 14 miles of beach in the whole of Hilton Head Island, 5 miles belong to Sea Pines alone. 

If you’re planning to have some adventures in the Sea Pines beach, it actually starts on one side of Harbour Town and then wraps all the way around the Sea Pines Resort. It would then end at what is known as South Forest Beach in the Coligny area.

Now, Coligny Plaza is the older main shopping area on Hilton Head. If you’re with your family, this is a good place to have fun. You will have public beach access here as well as public beach parking. There’s also a fountain for the kids to play in. So if you’re coming to visit the beach and you want a lot of services around, Coligny is the best place to go.

After Coligny, the beach continues to what is known as North Forest Beach, and then finally ends at Shipyard, which is the next plantation from Sea Pines.

As a reminder, if you’re planning to get to Shipyard from North Forest Beach, unfortunately, you won’t be able to because there is no access from there. You will have to get to Pope Avenue or Highway 278 first to get to Shipyard.  

Golf and Tennis

One of the many highlights of Sea Pines is its award-winning championship golf courses. It houses at least five of them, including the popular Harbour Town Golf Links where the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage is being held every year. Other golf courses of note include the Sea Pines Country Club, the Plantation Golf Club, Heron Point, and the Atlantic Dunes.

Tennis is also big in Sea Pines. The community has access to more than 100 tennis courts around the island so it’s also perfect for those who would like to hold tennis events. Among the popular tennis courts here include the South Beach Racquet Club and the Sea Pines Racquet Club.

Other Activities

Just like in the other communities, Sea Pines exhibits magnificent surroundings where you can be one with nature. It has a rich 605-acre forest preserve where you can just go around walking, running, biking, and horseback riding. If you are into horses, the Lawton Stables in Greenwood Drive offers a good place for visitors to bond with horses. Kids and adults alike will surely love their pony rides along the trails.

Shopping and Dining

Sea Pines has good access to shopping centers in Hilton Head Island. The main shopping center is The Shops at Sea Pines Center. It is located at the heart of Sea Pines so it is very easy to find. Here, you will find jewelry stores boutiques, and ample dining from upscale to pizza.

South Beach Marina is definitely a must-see for anyone visiting Sea Pines. Dining at any of the Salty Dog eateries, shopping along the marina village, don’t forget to buy that Salty Dog t-shrit or chartering a boat to catch some red fish. It will be a day worth remembering.

Harbour Town is home to PGA’s RBC Heritage Golf tournament yearly but there’s always something to do year round. Grab lunch at the Crazy Crab, try out parasailing, shop to your hearts content and don’t forget to take the kids to see Gregg Russell. He’s been putting on a fantastic show for over twenty years and the kids come back every year hoping to be the next big star.

Hotels and Resorts

Just like in other developments in Hilton Head, Sea Pines has all sorts of sub-developments. Basically, it’s a huge resort with lots of short-term rentals, condos, private homes and timeshares.

If you’re looking for hotels in Sea Pines, The Inn & Club at Harbour Town will definitely hit all the marks you’re looking for in a great hotel.

In South Beach, you will be able to find a lot of vacation rentals that are just steps away from the beach. You will have a wide selection of villas with balconies overlooking the beach.

Here is an awesome video about Sea Pines:

Whatever adventure you’re looking for during your Hilton Head vacation, staying at Sea Pines is guaranteed to make it worth your while. Lodging on the island’s largest developments promises more activities to do and more areas to explore.

If you are visiting the Sea Pines Resort and Harbour Town in the near future, we hope that you will find the perfect accommodation that will suit the type of vacation you are imagining. If you’re wondering how to get here the easiest way, our Hilton Head airports post should guide you in coming here without any hassles.