Hilton Head Neighborhoods

Which neighborhood location is right for your vacation? 

North Forest Beach & South Forest Beach 

Forest Beach on Hilton Head Island is among the most popular destinations for Island visitors and those renting on Hilton Head. Forest Beach is divided into two parts: North Forest Beach and South Forest Beach. Those two areas are divided by the iconic, Coligny Plaza, which was the island’s first “downtown” and original shopping center. 

 

Coligny Plaza is home to dozens of restaurants, ice cream parlors, coffee shops, night life, as well as dozens of retail stores. Visit the iconic Piggly Wiggly on arrival for your island needs or Haskins & Co. for affordable, trendy, boutique shopping.

 

South Forest Beach and North Forest Beach vacation rentals are busy near the central Coligny area, but you are sure to find a quieter spots as you go further north or south. Best of all?  With any of these rentals at Forest Beach, you are never far away from miles of beautiful Hilton Head Island beaches!

 

Who It’s For: Forest Beach is for those who want easy and quick access to the beach but want to be close to shopping, dining, and nightlife. It’s the hustle and bustle of the island! Also, it is for those who do not want to use a car while on the Island! You can reach everything while walking or Biking!

Sea Pines

Sea Pines boasts the crème-de-la-crème in world-renowned golf, entertainment, and beaches.  The community has been awarded with dozens of various distinctions, including Golf Digest’s Editor’s Choice Awards, “Best Golf Resorts in the Carolinas” and Sea Pines was ranked No. 6 in Continental U.S. Travel & Leisure as World’s Best Family Travel (2015).

 

Sea Pines Wildlife & Family-Friendly Fun

Sea Pines is comprised of nearly 5,000 acres from which you will find a beautifully protected tree canopy, wildlife, marshes, and even a forest preserve.

Lawton Stables is the equestrian center where tourists can view, pet, and ride horses. Their farm is also filled with goats, pigs, chickens, and other animals that you can visit year-round. People of all horseback riding experiences are welcome for trail rides at Lawton Stables! It’s a wonderful, family adventure on Hilton Head.

 

Sea Pines Golf & Tennis - Sea Pines hosts the annual RBC Heritage PGA Tour golf tournament in April.  Golf in Sea Pines offers you the opportunity to “play in the footsteps of legends” and play on a Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus course. The final hole, the 18th, is stretched along the Atlantic Ocean and is among some of the most picturesque in the country. The average par is 71 on this course. Don’t forget to make an advanced tee time!  You can also choose from a variety of tennis courts on which to play – from South Beach Racquet Club to Sea Pines, there are dozens of courts on which to play tennis in Sea Pines.

 

Sea Pines Entertainment

Sea Pines also offers the legendary, Salty Dog Café in South Beach Marina.  More than just a t-shirt and place to eat, The Salty Dog Café offers live music and over-the-top adult beverages. You’ll also find an ice cream shop!  Dozens of retail shops line the marina so it’s a great place to go to get off the beach, grab a drink or bite to eat, and experience Hilton Head.

Don’t miss Gregg Russell, the singer-songwriter that has been creating Hilton Head vacation memories for decades.  Gregg entertains families and children with funny and memorable songs and games under the Liberty Oak Tree in Harbour Town.  With the iconic red and white striped lighthouse behind the tree and stage, this setting is the foundation for an unforgettable evening and vacation memory, especially with kids.

There is more to Harbour Town than Gregg Russell, for sure. The entire Marina is worth a visit!  You can even climb to the top of the lighthouse and learn it’s history.  With dozens of gift stores, clothing retailers, restaurants, cafés, and bars, this is a popular spot for when you want to get off the beach!

 

Sea Pines Watersports & Marina - Visit the Harbour Town Yacht Basin, which is a full-service marina on HHI.  From here, you can dock your boat, take out a fishing charter, go kayaking, parasailing, rent a power boat, go sailing, try your hand at paddleboarding, go water skiing, or choose a wave runner safari. The options for watersports are endless in Sea Pines at the Marina.

 

The Sea Pines Beach Club - The Sea Pines Beach Club has more than 2,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space and offers a full bar and world-class restaurant, beach restrooms, café, and meeting space. Only residents can find parking out front during the Summer. Guests of Sea Pines may find parking in the shoulder season but otherwise will need to park in one of the lots with a trolley shuttle or ride a bike to the beach club. The beach access is second-to-none and one of the most popular beaches on the Island.  Enjoy a fruity frozen drink from the bar, as you stroll down the beautiful, expansive beach. Rent chairs and umbrellas to make your day easy!  Visit the restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Who It’s For:  The people who want it all!

Palmetto Dunes

Palmetto Dunes is a premier oceanfront resort community located mid-Island. Encompassing three miles of beach access and 2,000 acres of natural beauty, a vacation rental in Palmetto Dunes is an excellent choice for your next Hilton Head Island vacation.

  • Palmetto Dunes Pickleball & Tennis - Tennis Magazine ranks Palmetto Dunes in the Top 50 Greatest Tennis Resorts in the U.S. With a whopping 24 dedicated Pickleball courts (the most in our area) with all of them lit for night-time play, Palmetto Dunes is quickly becoming a top destination for avid Pickleball Players. In fact, one of the biggest Pickleball events of the year, The APP Hilton Head Open, will be hosted there in October 2022. You can still enjoy traditional tennis with the numerous tennis courts available for booking. 
  • Palmetto Dunes Golf - If golf is your thing, there are three world-class golf courses to choose from. Choose from Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills, and George Fazio that all offer something for every golfer.
  • Palmetto Dunes Biking & Activities - Consider bike rentals when staying in Palmetto Dunes and enjoy the miles of bike paths that the community has to offer.  Ride through the pedestrian tunnel, under highway 278, and be transported to Shelter Cove Marina and Towne Center at Shelter Cove. You will find Starbucks, Kroger, Belk, and dozens of shops and restaurants.  Plus, choose from watersports at Shelter Cove Marina like kayaking, fishing, charter fishing, power boat, sailboat, and dolphin cruises.
  • Palmetto Dunes Restaurants - From the Dunes House where you can grab a casual bite to eat with a view of the ocean, to Big Jim’s BBQ where you can get a taste of the south, to Alexander’s, where you can get fine dining – Palmetto Dunes has several restaurant options from which to choose that meets your needs! There are also several golf grills in Palmetto Dunes and easy access to Shelter Cove Marina, just across the street, that is loaded with restaurants.

Who it is for: The vacationers who want easy access to everything with an active vacation lifestyle! 

Shipyard 

Shipyard is a gated community on Hilton Head, situated on the South End of the Island. There are two gated access points, which make getting around easy, no matter what you are doing!

 

Shipyard has miles of biking and walking trails within the community, and easy access to the beach. The private Shipyard Beach access is on the north end of Shipyard, and has restrooms and outdoor showers for easy beach cleanup. There is plenty of parking at the beach access, including overflow parking with a shuttle during the summer. A resort near the beach access offers some dining and night life options, as well!

 

Regardless of where you stay in Shipyard, you are also a quick bike ride to Coligny Plaza and Coligny Beach! Coligny Plaza is home to dozens of restaurants and retail stores, as well as ice cream parlors, coffee shops, and night life. 

 

Shipyard offers top-rated Championship golf on three interconnecting 9-hole golf courses. Combine two courses for 18 beautiful holes of golf! The Shipyard Golf Club has a wonderful pro shop, and the Brickyard Pub offers golfers and other visitors great food with a beautiful view. 

 

Tennis, anyone? Head to one of over 20 courts at the world-renowned Van der Meer Shipyard Tennis Resort, once rated by Tennis Magazine as a top tennis facility in the US! Sign up for a morning clinic or round robin, or book yourself a court for fun or match play!

 

Who It’s For: The active types! Beach-goers, tennis players, and golfers. A quick bike ride to Coligny and Coligny Beach as well! No need to get back in a car, can bike anywhere.

 

Folly Field 

The Folly Field area of Hilton Head is the most northeastern beach park area of Hilton Head and offers some wonderful advantages. Access the beach easily when you rent at Folly Field in our Beachside Getaway rentals.  The beach amenities include restrooms, vending machine, water fountains, beach sand showers, and a wooden boardwalk bridge that is wheelchair accessible.

 

Just on the corner, you will find put-put (mini-golf) and a family-friendly arcade that is great to take the kids to on a break from the beach!  Also, a short drive away, you will find the Island’s newest shopping center, Town Center at Shelter Cove. There are dozens of retail stores and delicious Island Restaurants.

 

Located on the peripheral of the largest Island resorts, staying in Folly Field will give guests a bit more privacy and less traffic. You are still close enough to drive to the action, but far enough away to enjoy the “north end.” Folly field boarders the Island communities that do not allow for short term rentals making it the home to most the Island’s full-time residents. Folly Field is a taste of what it is like to be a local!

 

Who It’s For:  Folly Field offers affordable, authentic Hilton Head Island options. Removed from the South end of the island but close enough to access everything, this area is great for vacationers driving into town. A car is a must. 

 

 
marshland

Singleton Beach

The Singleton Beach area offers vacationers a mid-island vantage point on Hilton Head Island. Singleton Beach is home to Chaplin Community Park which has a dog park, playground, baseball, basketball, and soccer fields. Plus, easy access to the beach from Burkes Beach Road or Driessen Beach Park. This mid-island location is ideal for families.  

 

The long-standing Harold’s Diner is just up the road, providing a quick place to grab breakfast to-go and bring back to the family! When renting a home or villa in Singleton Beach on Hilton Head, you are also not far away from Shelter Cove. Just a short drive and you’re able to watch the Tuesday night fireworks during the summer, eat at world-class restaurants, and enjoy marine life and wildlife adventures from Shelter Cove Marina. 

 

Who It’s For: Singleton Beach is a sought-after destination for families and those who want a bit more quiet and off-the-beaten path, away from the hustle and bustle of Coligny and South/North Forest Beach area.