There’s so much more you can do than lounge on the beach or go for a swim! Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly activities:
Go on a scavenger hunt!
Make a list of certain beach “treasures” to find and then go on a walk and collect them/take photos of them. Explore around low tide for your best chance of finding the most “treasures.”
Make sure you don’t mess with any living creature – including sand dollars! Living sand dollars should have tiny, moving “spines” on them and will be a dark color, softer and might leave a yellow stain on you if you pick them up. Left behind sand dollar shells/skeletons should be hard and white after being bleached from the sun.
There are so many different ways you could complete this activity! You could focus on different sea creatures, and just take photos and use it as an opportunity to learn more about the different kinds of wildlife you can find in the Lowcountry. Or you could collect shells, sea glass, seaweed, etc. and later use these treasures to build a sandcastle!
Build a sandcastle
As we mentioned, you can hunt down sea “treasures” to use to decorate a sandcastle! Just make sure you knock down your sandcastle and fill in any holes before you leave for the day. (This is especially important if you’re visiting the beach during sea turtle nesting season).
Fly a kite
Another beach classic, flying a kite is always a fun idea. If you’re visiting in the summer, just know that stunt kites are prohibited on the beach in Designated Swim Areas from April through September (but normal kites are fine!).
Check out our beach playgrounds and parks
After you’ve spent your day soaking up the sun, building sand castles and swimming in the ocean, why not spend a little time on one of our beach parks? The kids can play on the playground while the adults relax in covered areas – and a few of the parks even have grills so you can BBQ!
Driessen Beach Park has all of these amenities, including a covered picnic area. Islanders Beach Park also has a playground, grill and picnic area, but most of the parking is limited to permit only, so this is a good one to ride your bikes to if you’re staying mid-island or obtain a permit if you’re a Hilton Head Island resident.
Spending the day at Coligny Beach? Visit the nearby Lowcountry Celebration Park!
Go on a bike ride
Want to see the entire stretch of Hilton Head Island’s white sand beaches? Go on a bike ride!
You can rent a beach cruiser from one of several rental agencies on the island. If you’re taking kiddos, most of the rental places also have bike accessories for small children.
Whether you spend the full day biking or just take an hour long ride, you’re sure to soak in some beautiful views and have a blast while doing so!
