Top Hilton Head Island Culture

Discover Beaufort’s old southern charm on a horse-drawn carriage tour around the historic center. Join a small group for a narrated tour of Old Beaufort and pass by the area’s key landmarks. Listen to your guide retell the history of the city from its early Colonial period to the American Revolution and Civil War eras up to the present day.

Remote Daufuskie Island is accessible only by boat and remains largely undeveloped, despite its fame as the setting of Pat Conroy’s novel “The Water is Wide.” A guided tour makes the trip a cinch—this package includes round-trip boat tickets, plus transportation between island attractions such as the First African Baptist Church and Mary Fields School, all visited with the benefit of commentary from your guide.

Discover the story behind the kazoo, a popular music instrument, during this factory and museum tour. Visit Kazoobie Kazoos, a family-run manufacturer of kazoos in Beaufort, South Carolina to learn about these instruments. Explore the on-site factory and hear stories about this American-made and American-invented instrument. Bring the kids for an educational experience.

Learn about the history of Beaufort through the lens of its dark past with this ghost-themed walking tour through the town’s antebellum heart. Listen to tales of eerie hauntings and supernatural mysteries, plus try your hand at picking up on messages from beyond the veil with spirit-hunting tools. Admire landmark homes and learn about their former residents, then end at St. Helena’s Anglican Church, the oldest in town.

Discover Beaufort’s historic district without the hassle of navigating a tour that highlights the town’s Hollywood past. In addition to telling little–known stories about the town’s 300–year history, your guide brings you to landmarks often missed by visitors, from unmarked Forrest Gump film locations to the cemetery used in The Great Santini.

Over 24 Hollywood films have been shot in the historic town of Beaufort, South Carolina. Explore Beaufort without the hassle of navigating on a tour of the area’s highlights, from scenic film locations to historic homes. Your small group size ensures the full attention of your guide, who navigates for you and provides little–known stories about Beaufort’s past. Morning and afternoon departure times are available for your convenience.

Discover Hilton Head’s natural landscapes during a Segway tour through the Coastal Discovery Museum. The 70-acre (28-hectare) preserver was once a cotton plantation and features open meadows, salt marshes, and a live oak forest, perfect for exploring. This tour is strictly about the scenery and doesn’t have any narration, meaning you can enjoy your time riding around without interruptions.

This tour is the best as you get everything all in one! You will see local wildlife, beautiful stately waterfront homes, breathtaking water views and end the evening with a wonderful sunset. The local wildlife you will see are Atlantic bottlenose dolphin and a variety of shorebirds. What better way to spend the evening?

Discover the charming southern city of Beaufort on a walking tour through the historic district. Join a small group and explore the antebellum streets while listening to your guide regale you with the city’s 500-year history. Learn about Native Americans, pirates, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and more as you visit monuments, churches, and statues.

Maximize time in Hilton Head Island with a Segway Tour. Meet your guide for a basic safety tutorial on how to use a Segway and then set out to explore the historic Honey Horn property. Cover ground with ease during this efficient tour and learn about local history and culture from your guide. No prior experience is necessary and helmets are provided.

Capture memories of your trip to Hilton Head Island with a private photography experience. Meet your professional photographer at the Harbor Town Lighthouse and set out for a photo shoot with scenic backdrops. Explore Hilton Head with a local photographer leading the way. Bring home fun vacation pictures or celebrate an engagement, anniversary, or new baby with a private photo shoot.

Easily explore the highlights of Hilton Head, South Carolina aboard an easy-to-use Segway. Join a small group and get your feel for the vehicle with a brief introduction. Then, set off to explore the island including Shelter Cove Community Park and Broad Creek. No matter your age, the Segway allows everyone to explore at the same pace.

Our tour will take you through the city's National Historic Landmark District, showcasing beautiful historic homes, churches, and sites that have witnessed centuries of American history. You’ll see sites from the Filming of Forest Gump, hear stories of the civil war, Harriet Tubman, the Succession, the Jewish settlers, local history and so much more. Go at your own pace. Stop anytime and continue whenever you want. The tour is all outside, location aware, plays as you walk, and can be taken 24/7/365. It never expires.

Set sail from iconic Harbour Town aboard the Spirit of Harbour Town for an unforgettable Happy Hour Cruise like no other! This lively 90-minute cruise brings together Lowcountry charm, breathtaking water views, and the perfect mix of flavors and fun. Kick back and relax as a local guitarist sets the mood with live tunes on the upper deck, while you enjoy complimentary access to our festive Baja-style taco bar featuring shrimp, chicken, and beef tacos with all the fixings. Sip on your favorite drinks from our full-service bar offering happy hour specials throughout the trip. Whether you're looking for a fun outing with friends, a pre-dinner activity, or just want to unwind on the water, this early evening cruise is your perfect escape.

Unravel the gripping tale of Robert Smalls on this immersive outdoor escape room adventure in Beaufort. Navigate the historic streets where Smalls orchestrated his daring escape from slavery, piecing together clues and overcoming challenges inspired by his incredible journey. With an interactive app guiding you, real landmarks transform into your puzzle-solving playground, allowing you to delve into history while exploring the historic sites. This self-guided experience invites participants to walk in the footsteps of a hero, showcasing how one night on the water altered the course of history.

Step back in time as you stroll the streets of Beaufort, exploring its 300 years of history with a local guide. Walk through the historic district and admire the city’s ancient oaks draped with Spanish moss. Along the way, your guide identifies points of interest including the residences where Hollywood stars lived during the filming of movies such as *Forrest Gump*, *G.I. Jane*, and *The Prince of Tides*.

Tucked between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, and accessible only by boat, Daufuskie Island is a real gem. This private 4.5 hour Daufuskie Island trip provides a glimpse into a fascinating chapter of Lowcountry history on the undeveloped side of the island. Visit local artisans and learn the rich history of the Native Americans, European settlers, the cotton trade, and the Gullah culture. We encourage you to wear weather-appropriate clothing and bring water, snacks, and sunscreen.

Perfect for groups 12 or less (including all infants and children)! This 90 minute narrated Dolphin and Nature Tour is on a comfortable pontoon boat with cushioned seats, a full top for shade and restroom on board. You will not only get to enjoy and see our local wildlife, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, other marine life and a variety of shorebirds; you will also see beautiful stately waterfront homes and enjoy marsh views best enjoyed directly from the majestic waterways of Broad Creek.

Combine Costal Expedition's 90-minute Dolphin & History Boat Cruise with a Historic Bus Tour of the City of Beaufort. Departing, from the downtown Beaufort Marina at the Waterfront Park (1006 Bay St), this Land & Sea tour is a fun and family-friendly escape. Take our air-conditioned bus on a Historic Tour of the City of Beaufort at either 10 am or 12:30 pm. Then take a break for lunch or to walk around the park before your 3 pm Boat Cruise along the waterway. You will get another perspective of Beaufort's incredible history and abundant wildlife. Learn stories about Native Americans, Spanish exploration, French settlement, and English colonization - all while seeing playful dolphins, bald eagles, and ospreys. This 90-minute cruise is a relaxing–and cool–break from land that will entertain the whole family! **The boat only goes out on certain days of the week, so please expect a call from a Kelly associate to clarify scheduling.

Pat Conroy fans can’t miss this tour of Pat Conroy’s Beaufort. Travel aboard an air-conditioned bus to the places where the famous author lived, prayed, and ate. Along the way, you see locations that inspired some of his most popular works, such as The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, and get a better sense of Beaufort’s rich culture.

This experience is built around a simple idea: the moments you’re living right now will never exist in quite the same way again. I often describe my camera as a kind of time machine. Each press of the shutter preserves a fleeting arrangement of light, tide, sky, and season — a moment the universe will never assemble in exactly the same way twice. And when you’re on vacation, those moments carry even more meaning. Rather than rushing from one viewpoint to the next, we slow down and pay attention — to the glow on the marsh at sunset, the rhythm of the ocean, the quiet beauty that so many visitors pass by. In an intimate, unhurried setting, I guide you in capturing not just scenery, but time itself — so long after you’ve left Hilton Head Island, you can step back into this place, this light, this exact moment.

Step into the eerie past of Beaufort with our Haunted Beaufort Walking Tour, where history and the supernatural converge. Begin your journey at the iconic Beaufort Castle, a Gothic Revival masterpiece rumored to be haunted by restless spirits from its storied past. Feel the chill of the castle’s ghostly tales as you marvel at its medieval charm. Next, venture to the Beaufort Courthouse, the critical headquarters for relief efforts during the Great Sea Island Storm of 1893. Hear haunting stories of the tragedy and the spectral presences that linger from that devastating hurricane, leaving an indelible mark on the courthouse’s history. Finally, explore the somber tranquility of St. Helena Anglican Church and its ancient graveyard. Established in 1712, this historic church is rumored to be a site of ghostly apparitions and eerie encounters among the timeworn gravestones.

Explore Hilton Head Island by Segway with this small-group tour. Meet your guide for a quick safety tutorial and then head out to cruise through Shelter Cove and the Veteran’s Memorial. Learn about local history as you cover ground quickly on the Segway. Stop for photographs and to admire the landscape during the tour.