Outdoor Enthusiast's Bucket List: 10 Must-Do Activities in Hilton Head Island

If there's one outdoor activity that defines the Hilton Head experience for my family, it's kayaking through the island's extensive salt marsh ecosystem. These protected waterways serve as nature's nursery, where dolphins, herons, and countless other creatures thrive in the brackish waters.

On our last trip, Zoe and I joined a guided sunrise kayak tour through Broad Creek, and the experience was nothing short of magical. As we paddled through the glassy water, a pod of dolphins began feeding nearby, using a cooperative technique called 'strand feeding' where they herd fish onto mudbanks. Our guide explained this behavior is unique to this region of the country, making it all the more special.

For families with kids as young as 6, I recommend the guided tours from Kayak Hilton Head or Outside Hilton Head. The guides are incredibly knowledgeable about the ecosystem and know exactly where to find wildlife without disturbing their natural patterns. If your children are older and you have some paddling experience, renting kayaks for a self-guided adventure can be more economical.

Don't forget to bring a waterproof phone case for capturing those unexpected wildlife encounters. After ruining a phone on a previous water adventure (lesson painfully learned), I never kayak without one now.

Hilton Head Island isn't just bike-friendly—it's bike-obsessed, and for good reason. With over 60 miles of multi-use pathways connecting virtually every part of the island, cycling is often faster (and definitely more enjoyable) than driving during peak season.

Renting bikes should be your first order of business upon arrival. Most rental companies will deliver directly to your accommodation, and many vacation rentals include bikes as part of their package. For a family of four, expect to pay around $100-150 for a week of rentals—money well spent considering the freedom it provides.

Some of our favorite routes include the Sea Pines Forest Preserve trails, where you'll pedal through maritime forests and past ancient shell rings created by indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. The pathway along North Forest Beach Drive offers stunning ocean views and convenient access to numerous beach entry points.

The island's signature ride, however, is crossing the iconic Harbor Town Lighthouse area in Sea Pines. Just be aware that Sea Pines is a gated community requiring a day pass ($9 per vehicle) if you're not staying there, but cyclists can often enter for free at certain access points.

For families with younger children, I recommend renting bikes with attachable tagalongs or child seats. If you're bringing your own bikes from home, a quality bike rack is essential for safe transport.

While you might spot dolphins during your kayaking adventures, a dedicated dolphin cruise offers nearly guaranteed sightings and educational commentary that kids love. Hilton Head's waters are home to over 200 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, many of which are year-round residents rather than migratory visitors.

After trying several options over the years, I've found that the smaller, more nimble boats provide the best experience. They can navigate shallow areas where dolphins often feed and offer a more intimate experience than the larger tour boats.

On our most recent trip, we booked with Dolphin Seafari, which limits their tours to just six passengers. The captain knew many of the dolphins by their distinctive dorsal fins and could share their individual histories—a level of detail that transformed the experience from a simple sightseeing trip to a meaningful wildlife encounter. Zoe still talks about 'Notch,' a female dolphin with a distinctive marking who apparently has quite the reputation among local boat captains.

For the best photographs, bring a compact zoom camera rather than relying solely on your smartphone. The zoom capability makes a tremendous difference when capturing wildlife that may surface briefly at varying distances.

If you're visiting during summer months, book the earliest morning tour available. Not only is the lighting better for photos, but the water tends to be calmer, and the dolphins more active before the midday heat sets in.

Just before crossing the bridge onto Hilton Head Island proper lies a hidden gem that many visitors miss entirely: the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. This 4,053-acre preserve sits between the mainland and the island, offering over 14 miles of hiking and biking trails through diverse habitats.

Unlike the manicured landscapes of the island's resorts, Pinckney represents the untamed Lowcountry at its most authentic. The main trail forms a 3.5-mile loop around a freshwater lake, but numerous side trails lead to observation points overlooking salt marshes and tidal creeks.

During our visit last summer, we rented bikes specifically for exploring Pinckney, which I highly recommend over walking during warmer months. The flat, well-maintained dirt paths are perfect for casual cyclists, and covering more ground means spotting more wildlife. We saw everything from painted buntings (a rainbow-colored bird that delighted Zoe) to sunning alligators (viewed from a safe distance, of course).

The Ibis Pond area is particularly spectacular for bird watching, especially in the early morning hours. Bring a compact birding guide to help identify the diverse species you'll encounter. My daughter started a 'Hilton Head bird list' that quickly grew to over 25 species just from our morning at Pinckney.

There are no facilities once you're on the trails, so pack plenty of water, snacks, bug spray, and sunscreen. The refuge opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, with the best wildlife viewing opportunities occurring in the first few hours after dawn.

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) has exploded in popularity over the past decade, and Hilton Head offers ideal conditions for both beginners and experienced paddlers. The protected waters of Broad Creek and Shelter Cove provide a stable environment to learn the basics while enjoying spectacular views of the island from a unique perspective.

For families with older children (typically 10+), SUP offers a perfect blend of physical activity and peaceful exploration. My daughter initially approached paddleboarding with trepidation but was standing confidently within 30 minutes of patient instruction from our guide at Outside Hilton Head.

The area around Shelter Cove Marina offers particularly scenic paddling, with routes that take you past luxury yachts, through quiet residential canals, and alongside salt marshes teeming with wildlife. Early morning sessions often reward paddlers with sightings of herons fishing or ospreys diving for their breakfast.

If you're new to paddleboarding, I strongly recommend booking a guided lesson for your first outing. The techniques for standing, balancing, and efficient paddling aren't intuitive for most people, and a good instructor can significantly accelerate your learning curve. Most outfitters offer 90-minute introductory sessions that provide ample time to get comfortable on the board.

For sun protection during longer paddling sessions, I've found that a rash guard provides better protection than sunscreen alone, which tends to wash off with the inevitable splashes and falls into the water. Don't forget a hat with a chin strap and polarized sunglasses with a floating retainer.

Hilton Head's 12 miles of pristine beaches offer more than just sunbathing and swimming—they're living classrooms where kids can discover the fascinating ecology of coastal environments. While you can certainly explore independently, joining a guided beach ecology walk elevates the experience from casual beachcombing to meaningful science education.

The Coastal Discovery Museum offers excellent programs led by naturalists who know exactly where to find the most interesting creatures and formations along the shoreline. During low tide, tidal pools form around the rock jetties at certain beaches, creating temporary habitats filled with crabs, starfish, and other marine creatures.

On our most recent visit, we joined a dawn patrol walk at Mitchelville Beach, one of the island's less developed stretches of sand. Our guide showed us how to spot ghost crab burrows, identify different shell species, and recognize sea turtle nesting sites. The highlight for Zoe was finding a perfectly preserved sand dollar—a souvenir that now holds a place of honor on her bookshelf back home.

For independent exploration, I recommend picking up a tidal pool guidebook to help identify your discoveries. The best beaches for nature exploration are Mitchelville Beach and the northern end of Forest Beach, where development is less intensive and natural processes more evident.

If you're visiting between May and October, ask about sea turtle nesting activities. Hilton Head hosts hundreds of loggerhead sea turtle nests each summer, and the island's Sea Turtle Protection Project often conducts educational programs about these endangered visitors.

When my daughter declared she wanted to try something 'scary but safe' on our Hilton Head vacation, ZipLine Hilton Head fit the bill perfectly. Located just off the island in Broad Creek Marina, this aerial adventure park offers a two-hour canopy tour that provides both adrenaline and education.

Unlike some zip-line experiences that focus solely on speed and thrills, this course is designed to be accessible for families while still delivering genuine excitement. The course features eight zip-lines of increasing length and height, with the longest spanning over 900 feet through the maritime forest canopy. Between zips, participants cross aerial bridges and platforms that offer unique perspectives of the Lowcountry ecosystem below.

What impressed me most was the educational component. Our guides weren't just there for safety—they provided fascinating commentary about the local ecosystem, pointing out native plants and wildlife visible from our elevated vantage points. They also shared the history of the area, including how these forests were once working plantations before becoming the nature preserves and recreation areas we enjoy today.

The minimum age is 10, and participants need to weigh between 80 and 250 pounds. While no specific athletic ability is required, you should be comfortable climbing stairs and standing for the duration of the tour. For capturing the experience, a action camera mounted to your helmet (mounts provided by the company) offers the best way to document your family's adventure without risking dropping a phone from 75 feet up.

Advance reservations are essential, especially during summer months when tours frequently sell out days in advance. The first tour of the day (typically 9 AM) offers the best wildlife viewing opportunities and cooler temperatures.

Even if you've never baited a hook in your life, a fishing charter in Hilton Head waters can be one of the most rewarding family activities of your vacation. The island offers an impressive variety of fishing environments—from deep sea excursions to calm inshore waters—making it possible to find an option appropriate for any age or experience level.

For families with younger children or those new to fishing, I strongly recommend inshore fishing in the creeks and sounds. These half-day trips focus on catching redfish, speckled trout, and flounder in protected waters where seasickness isn't a concern. The captains are typically patient teachers who prioritize ensuring kids have successful catches rather than pursuing trophy fish.

On our first Hilton Head fishing adventure, Zoe was just seven years old. Our captain from Hilton Head Fishing Adventures took us to a quiet creek where she caught her first-ever fish—a respectable redfish that she still talks about years later. The look of pride on her face when she reeled it in was worth every penny of the charter fee.

For families with teens or more experienced anglers, nearshore reef fishing offers the chance to catch larger species like cobia, mackerel, and even sharks without venturing too far from land. These trips typically last 4-6 hours and provide a good middle ground between inshore and deep sea experiences.

Most charters provide all necessary equipment, but you'll want to bring a waterproof sunscreen that won't wash off with spray and sweat. Also pack a light jacket even in summer (boats get chilly when moving), non-marking shoes, and a small cooler for drinks and snacks.

Just a short ferry ride from Hilton Head lies Daufuskie Island, a car-free paradise that seems frozen in time. While the island itself deserves its own dedicated visit, one particular activity stands out for outdoor enthusiasts: beachfront horseback riding with Daufuskie Trail Rides.

Unlike many beach destinations that prohibit horses on their shores, Daufuskie's less developed status allows for this magical experience. The guided rides take you through maritime forests before emerging onto pristine beaches where you can (depending on your riding experience) enjoy everything from a gentle walk to an exhilarating canter along the water's edge.

What makes this experience particularly special is the cultural context provided by the guides. Daufuskie is home to one of the last intact Gullah communities—descendants of enslaved Africans who maintained many of their ancestral traditions due to the island's isolation. The trail rides often include commentary about this unique cultural heritage and how it shaped the island's development.

When planning this excursion, remember that it's a full-day commitment from Hilton Head. You'll need to catch a morning ferry (typically from Broad Creek Marina), enjoy your ride, and then have time to explore more of Daufuskie before returning. Many visitors combine the horseback experience with lunch at one of the island's few restaurants and a historical tour.

The minimum age for riding is usually 10 years old, and riders must weigh under 230 pounds. Absolute beginners are welcome, as the horses are well-trained and accustomed to novice riders. Wear long pants to prevent chafing and closed-toe shoes with a small heel if possible.

If you're looking for a truly magical experience that will leave both kids and adults wide-eyed with wonder, book a bioluminescent kayak tour during the summer months. This phenomenon—where microscopic organisms in the water emit light when disturbed—creates an otherworldly experience as your paddle strokes leave glowing blue trails in the dark water.

The bioluminescence in Hilton Head's waters comes primarily from dinoflagellates, tiny marine organisms that light up as a defense mechanism. While not as intense as some famous bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico or Jamaica, Hilton Head's display is still impressive enough to elicit gasps of amazement, especially on moonless nights.

Outside Hilton Head offers guided night kayaking tours specifically timed around new moons and astronomical conditions when bioluminescence is most visible. The tours typically begin just before sunset, allowing you to paddle out while there's still light before experiencing the transition to darkness and the emergence of the glowing waters.

Beyond the bioluminescence, night kayaking offers other unique experiences: the sounds of nocturnal marsh creatures, spectacular stargazing away from light pollution, and the peaceful sensation of gliding through water in near darkness. Our guide pointed out constellations and planets while we drifted quietly in a salt creek, creating one of those rare moments of natural connection that no digital experience can replicate.

For this adventure, a headlamp with a red light setting is invaluable. The red light preserves your night vision while providing enough illumination for safety. The tour operators provide standard safety lights for the kayaks, but having your own controllable light source adds an extra layer of comfort when paddling in darkness.