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10 Apr 2023
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Trip Planning

Experience Hilton Head Landmarks and Exciting Activities at Sea Pines Resort

If you're looking to visit Hilton Head Island this spring or summer, then consider booking a vacation rental at Sea Pines Resort. Along with hosting some of the best Hilton Head vacation rentals, Sea Pines is a wonderful area with plenty of exciting activities to try and cool places to visit. Whether you're traveling with the family, a couple friends, or just on your own, Sea Pines Resort promises to give one of the best Hilton Head Island experiences.

Here are the top five things to do and see at Sea Pines during your Hilton Head vacation.

1) Play a Championship Golf Course

Sea Pines is home to not one, but three championship golf courses that each offer unique challenges to players. Hilton Head as a whole is known for it's incredible golfing scene, and Sea Pines is among the top places on the island to take a swing at the sport.

Undoubtedly, the most famous course is the Harbour Town Golf Links course. Designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus, Harbour Town Links has hosted the iconic RBC Heritage golf tournament since 1969. Today, the course is among the most celebrated on the PGA Tour for it's beautiful, yet challenging course features.

The other two golf courses at Sea Pines are Heron Point, also designed by Pete Dye, and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III. The latter course is actually a top-to-bottom redesign of Hilton Head's first golf course, the Ocean Course. Although they may not be as iconic as Harbour Town Links, both of these other courses are just as fun, challenging and scenic to play.

2) Harbour Town Shopping & Dining Scene

Harbour Town is the premier shopping area in Sea Pines, and it's one of the most fun town areas to explore in all of Hilton Head Island. The area is home to 10 delicious restaurants and 20 wonderful local shops.

As far as Harbour Town restaurants are concerned, the two that we'd most recommend checking out are Quarterdeck and Harbourside. Quarterdeck is a two-story restaurant with a bar and dining area on the bottom floor, and a classy rooftop oyster bar with incredible views of the Calibogue Sound on the top story. Harbourside is a more laid-back and casual eatery that offers up tasty lunch and dinner options with views of the Harbour Town Yacht Basin.

On the shopping front, you can find everything from handcrafted souvenirs and candy shops to elegant jewely and fashionable clothing boutiques. Bailey's Ltd. is one of the more unique shops in Harbour Town, and they've been delighting shoppers for over 40 years. They provide exciting fine gifts, decorative accessories, and plenty of fun collectible items. Those shopping with a sweet tooth have to pay a visit to the Cinnamon Bear Country Store. There are 24 flavors of premium ice cream to choose from as well as a vast array of candies, nuts, and other treats.

3) Play at World-Class Tennis & Pickleball Facilities

The Sea Pines Racquet Club is home to 25 tennis courts (21 clay and 4 hard) and six clay pickleball courts. Both tennis and pickleball are great ways to exercise during your Hilton Head vacation, and you're likely to meet plenty of friendly people out on the courts.

This racquet club is home to the famous Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, one of the top tennis-coaching facilities in the country. It is led by Stan Smith, a former world number one tennis player, and B.J. Stearns, another top nationally and internationally ranked player. Both adult and junior players have the opportunity to improve their game with tennic clinics or private coaching here, or you can just reserve a court and play at your leisure.

As for the pickleball courts, there is morning round-robin play from 10 - 11:30 AM every week on Monday through Friday. It costs $20/person to play, and anyone aged 16+ is welcome to join the round-robin play.

4) Private Beach Access & Natural Scenery to Explore

When you stay in a Sea Pines vacation rental, you are able to use the private beach access point at Sea Pines Beach Club. In addition to being far less crowded than Hilton Head's public beach access points, you'll have access to nice amenities such as the oceanfront restaurant, beach bar with walk-up service, picnic tables, and more.

More pleasant beachgoing experiences aren't all, however, as the resort also hosts its own little wilderness area you can explore. A protected area since 1970, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve spans 605 acres of wildlife habitat. Here you'll find walking paths, wetland boardwalks, bridges, and fishing docks set amongst some of the grandest scenery on Hilton Head Island.

5) Idyllic Lowcountry Landmarks & Historic Sites

Sea Pines is home to several iconic Hilton Head landmarks and historic sites. Each of these spots are great places to snap photos or just hang out at for a while. Some even host fun events from time to time.

The most famous of Hilton Head's landmarks is the red and white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse. Constructed in 1969 as part of the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament (then called the Heritage Classic), the lighthouse is 90 feet tall and has 114 steps to get to the top. From the top of the lighthouse you'll have fantastic panoramic views of Harbour Town and the Calibogue Sound. Also, just past the lighthouse is the Harbour Town Pier, another great spot to admire Calibogue Sound and watch sail boats go by.

Right by the Harbour Town Yacht Basin sits one of the coolest historic landmarks on the island: the Liberty Oak Tree. The Liberty Oak Tree is a massive tree that's 50 feet tall and 90 feet wide that's estimated to be around 325 years old. Beside the tree is a memorial to Charles Fraser, the founder of Sea Pines Resort. During construction of the Yacht Basin, Fraser elected to protect the centuries-old Liberty Oak despite the great additional costs. Today, the Liberty Oak lives on and inspires awe to countless Hilton Head visitors. Throughout the spring, summer and holiday seasons, you can also catch live music concerts at the Liberty Oak by the renowned performer, Gregg Russell.

Ready to Book Your Stay at Sea Pines?

Make sure to reserve an Island Getaway Sea Pines vacation rental to ensure you get the best accommodation for your Hilton Head vacation. Click the button to browse our catalog of Sea Pines vacation rentals.

Vacation Rentals in Sea Pines