As you can see from the title, I finally got to spend some time in the city I was named after 31 years later! Back in high school I was able to drive through Savannah on my way to a Fine Arts competition, but have never spent any amount of time in the city. This trip was mainly to go to a wedding in Bluffton/Hilton Head, but Savannah is so close by that I was able to go back and forth a few times to maximize the sightseeing.
If you have never been to Hilton Head, SC or Savannah, GA you are really missing out. There are airports in both cities and they are not that far apart so I would just check to see which one is cheaper to fly into and make your choice based on that since they are really easy to get to. For this trip I did spend the majority of my time in Hilton Head, but I am really interested in going back to the area to spend more time in Savannah as well as Charleston. I had some issues with my rental car so I didn’t want to drive two hours away to Charleston just in case something else went wrong.
Word of caution, if you are staying in Bluffton (suburb of Hilton Head) there are not very many Ubers/Lyfts so I would highly suggest having a rental car or only staying in a walkable area. I was in town specifically for a wedding and the day of the wedding was when I had the rental car issues. Trying to get an Uber/Lyft was very nerve wracking, but fortunately I got to the wedding on time and then was able to snag a ride back to my AirBnb from the Bride and Groom! (shoutout Lindsay and John!)
After spending most of my beach years in California and Florida, I was pleasantly surprised to see how nice the beaches in Hilton Head were in comparison. The sand is packed really well so it’s easy to walk long distances without sinking in and struggling. The beaches are very clean and have little baskets available to help pick up trash. Parking is either free or very cheap which is amazing. There are plenty of chairs and umbrellas available for rental or obviously you can bring your own. Overall I had a very positive beach-going experience even though the water was slightly colder than I would have liked for May.
The only thing really holding me back from selling everything and moving to Hilton Head is just how sleepy the town is. I was told that this is really due to Covid, but you’ll find that things close VERY early. My flight got in really late to the Savannah airport and I was hungry. Literally nothing was open after 10pm between Savannah and Bluffton…. had to stop for a very sad gas station sandwich and hope for the best in the morning. It is also mainly older adults/retirees who live here either year round or have vacation homes. It is very family friendly, just does not have a lot for 20-30-40 somethings in the way of nightlight other than bars/restaurants. If that’s your vibe though then you’d be in Heaven.
I am told that Charleston is much more lively, so looking forward to visiting there hopefully in the near future. My hope is that is it a nice in-between from Dallas (where I currently live) and Hilton Head. Living near the beach and being back on the east coast have been goals of mine for a long time. I really miss being on the coast and the ease of being near other states/cities.
If you are looking for an AirBnb in Bluffton/Hilton Head, mine was AMAZING. One of the best places I’ve ever stayed! Great wifi, comfy bed, brand new kitchen, washer/dryer, everything you could ever want. Click the link and book your stay!
Here are some restaurant recommendations around Bluffton/Hilton Head/Savannah that I was either given or actually visited:
- Java Burrito Company (for coffee) – Hilton Head
- Salty Dog Cafe – Sea Pines in Hilton Head (you will need to buy a $9 day pass to get into this section of the island. There is another section with a historical lighthouse, but no public beaches so plan accordingly)
- Captain Woody’s – Bluffton/Hilton Head
- The Sea Shack – Hilton Head (be prepared to stand in line, but it’s worth it)
- Fishcamp on Broad Creek – Hilton Head
- Skull Creek Boathouse – Hilton Head
- Calhoun Street Tavern – Bluffton – get the salad!
- Nectar Farm Kitchen – Bluffton – brunch/patio drinks
- Corner Perk – Bluffton – coffee/breakfast
- The Sugarree – Bluffton – coffee/donuts – they apparently have the best Lobster roll, but sadly didn’t get a chance to come back and try it.
- Joe’s Ice Cream and Beverage Company – Bluffton – ice cream and coffee
- – The Downtown Deli – Bluffton – sandwiches/salads
I am sure I forgot some places, but these were the top of the list. Definitely went a few places that were meh so those aren’t listed,(let’s just say avoid any seemingly Mexican restaurants…) BUT Hilton Head and Savannah both have Cook Out as well, which is essentially the Southern East Coast version of Whataburger/InNOut/White Castle. I only got to go once this trip, but I was so happy. Totally worth all of those extra calories!
I have several other posts that I’ve been meaning to write about some of the trips I’ve gone on the past few months that I just never finished so be on the lookout for those!
Happy Reading!
-Savvy