Greatest Destinations 2018 – Lowcountry
(Farm in Bluffton)
Along South Carolina’s coast, you will find the area known as the Lowcountry. Not only does the term Lowcountry define the geographic region, it also describes the culture. The coastal atmosphere is reflected in nearly everything you’ll find in these two Lowcountry cities, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, SC.
EAT
Farm – It seems everyone is doing farm-to-table these days, but no one in the Lowcountry does it better than Farm. The menu changes regularly to feature the freshest seasonal ingredients from local vendors to give you an authentic taste of Lowcountry cuisine. farmbluffton.com
(Farm in Bluffton)
Old Town Dispensary – One of the hottest spots to see and be seen in Bluffton with great food and drinks and live music by the fire pit. Hit up their daily happy hour for food and drink specials including $1 tacos and delectable parmesan and truffle fries with curry ketchup or opt for their signature dish, the life-changing OTD Grouper. . otdbluffton.com
(Old Town Dispensary)
Lucky Rooster – Chef Clayton Rollison has put in appearances at the James Beard house and has been name dropped in Garden & Gun. Bartender Paul Rabe crushed the bourbon category at the Savannah Food and Wine Festival bartender challenge with his Darjeeling 1888 Punch. That’s some serious hardware for a strip-mall restaurant built from a shuttered Longhorn steakhouse. One visit and you’ll find out how they earned it. . luckyroosterhhi.com
(Lucky Rooster)
Old Oyster Factory – There was a time before tourism came to the south when oysters were South Carolina's top industry. Hilton Head Island’s waterways were dotted with shucking houses and canneries, which all shuttered and were lost to time. Old Oyster Factory was built atop one of the last of them, but the mountains of oyster shells on all sides of the restaurant speak to its previous life as a cannery. And the exquisite seafood on display speaks to its current status as one of the island’s best. . oldoysterfactory.com
Toomer’s Family Seafood House – Nobody knows Lowcountry seafood better than the Toomer family, whose ancestors have been pulling a freshest catches out of local waters and selling them at the Bluffton Oyster Co. for generations. The restaurant serves up those same harvests right from the May River to give you the freshest local seafood around. . blufftonoyster.com
STAY
The Inn at Harbour Town – Set smack dab in the middle of all the shopping, dining and golfing of Harbour Town, the Inn at Harbour Town has truly raised the bar for luxury on the island. The only Forbes four-star resort on the island, the Inn was named No. 5 in the Top Hotels in the U.S. by Conde Nast. With 60 guest rooms redolent with high-end décor and endless amenities, they come by the accolades honestly. seapines.com
Vacation Company – Hilton Head Island may be famed for its hotels, but not every stay on the island needs to be in a resort. The exquisite homes that dot the shoreline of the island’s beaches make for some of the worlds best vacation rental properties. Check out specialists like The Vacation Company and see how you can live like the rich and famous for the week. vacationcompany.com
(37 St. George)
PLAY
(May River at sunset)
GET ON THE RIVER – May River Excursions operates not much more than a stone’s throw from the May River and offers a variety of experiences on the water, including dolphin tours, ecological excursions, and fishing, shrimping and crabbing trips. mayriverexcursions.com
Golf Harbour Town Golf Links – This is the obvious pick, but it’s the obvious pick for a reason. Hilton Head Island is famed as a golf destination, and if you’re coming here to golf why not do it where the pros play? Send one rocketing down the fairway on 18 and you can chuckle during next year’s Heritage when golfer after golfer loses theirs in the Calibogue. youngbloodboutique.com
The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina – For a small, community arts center, this place puts on some powerhouse shows. The stage here regularly pulls from the same talent pool as the big Broadway production thanks to the island’s obvious allure and the pedigree it has established as a performing venue. This season will see performances of Evita and Saturday Night Fever the Musical. artshhi.com
SHOP
(Youngblood Boutique)
SPARTINA 449 – Founded on the nearby, bridgeless Daufuskie Island, Spartina 449 creates handbags, accessories and jewelry that capture the spirit of the Lowcountry. The flagship store in Old Town Bluffton offers the company’s latest designs, or you can shop for bargains at their outlet store at the Tanger Outlets. spartina449.com
Coligny Plaza – The nickname “Hilton Head’s downtown” isn’t just a clever marketing slogan. This beachside collection of boutique shops and restaurants stands on the spot where the island had its first grocery store (as well as, among other firsts, its first post office). It’s still ground zero for summer visitors, drawn by its easy walkability, variety and plentiful al fresco dining options.colignyplaza.com
(The Store)
The Store – Not many places can pull off a name like “The Store,” but this is one of them. Built in 1904, this eclectic antique shop is the gem of the Calhoun Street shopping scene. You’ll find plenty of surprises inside, including local writer and owner Babbie Guscio, who is a character unto herself. hiltonheadisland.org
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