I will be driving from central NJ to Hilton Head Aug 27 and returning Sept 3 would like some travel tips:
- best route?
- a good stopping point to break up the trip on the way down and back; Busch Gardens? Wash DC?
- Hilton Head activities for 2 boys ages 8 and 5
- we will be staying in Palmetto Dunes and plan on biking, beach, mini golf, any other suggestions?
thanks

Jcv -
best route - trip Mapquest and see what they come up with
Stopping point...
DC - Spy Museum, Air and Space Museum - boys would love it
I believe there is a big water park somewhere near Williamsburg,Va - that might be worth a detour.
HHI activities...the beach, the beach, the beach ...and then maybe mini golf at nite. Maybe kayaking?

leahinsc

I heard about kayaking - any problems with alligators?
any ideas for a stopping point further south of Williamsburg/Virgina Beach?

There are 3 or 4 minigolf places on HH. My sons ages 7 and 9 (and minigolf fanatics) recommend that you play a course a day. They liked the Pirate Golf place the best. Husband and I liked one that had miniature holes of real HH golf holes. If I think of the name, I'll repost but it's on that main road through HH.

PADAMS421

My kids love mini-golf too, so we will get it in several times that week. What else did your sons like to do? Someone suggested the nature tours.

I doubt that you will have problems with alligators approaching a kayak ... now if you dangle a small dog from the front end of the kayak that may be a different story! As far as points south of Williamsburg to stop...let me pull out a map and think about it...

Here's a thought - you will be about 35-45 min from Parris Island Marine training post as well as their air station in Beaufort. You might check and see if there is anything going on that weekend. Sometimes they have fly overs - just seeing the jets or watching the Marines on parade might be thrilling for your boys. I'm not sure how it works to get on base now for civilians as I am former military and never had to worry about that.

I always recommend Williamsburg. It's less than half way but past the Balt/DC Beltway mess. With the Richmond bypass, it's about 40 minutes longer.WMB can't be beat for letting kids walk off the drive. Your time in HHI will fly by. The Mini golfs are on the main roadsa nd their tourist "magazines" are good. At that age, the only extra that I would offer is also Parris Island. Their graduations are at 9AM, 4 out of 5 Friday mornings.The public is still invited after a reasonable security check.Do a quick search on PI.Also check www.seapines.com for the times of their evening entertainment at Harbourtown-Gregg Russell concerts may be the week highlights for the kids.

Agree with the suggestion of stopping at Colonial Wiliamsburg on the way to HH. Our boys really enjoyed CW. With no car traffic allowed in the area, it's a nice place to walk around. We went with a family that had a 5 year old boy, and he loved being able to just walk down the street and march behind the "soldiers". The 7 and 9 year olds had fun too.

On the other hand, my boys would send your boys to Busch Gardens. It's a well done amusement park- much better than our local Six Flags.

On HH, we went on a boat tour to see dolphins. We only saw 1 dolphin, and our boys were disappointed, so I won't recommend the one we went on. There is a free HH guidebook at every hotel, gas station, restaurant that lists HH's activities for the week. It contained a ton of stuff to do.

I sound, well cheap, but I always recommend dolphin viewing on foot at HHI.The afternoon/nite you go to Sea Pines, start by driving to South Beach. park by the Salty Dog Cafe & stores and walk a little further south to the beach. There are usually Dolphins in sight & very close. 1-2 hours after high tide is best.It's actually the Calibogue Sound facing Daufuskie Island.

Hi - We're going to be there the same time also in Palmetto Dunes! We go every year around this time and really enjoyed a day trip to Savannah last year. Our kids are younger (3 & 4) but still enjoyed it. Have a great time, and here's to keeping our fingers crossed for good weather!!!

If you want your thread to go to the top, just add a comment (I notice you reposted this same question). Reposting the same question just adds clutter. Try www.hiltonheadisland.org for additional visitor info. There aren't a whole lot of activities on the island other than what has been mentioned (gold, beaches, biking, kayaking, boat rides).

Sorry, that's golf, not gold!

No one really answered your question about the best route. It's really easy, you will really be on only two roads - from NJ take I-95 south to the exit for US 278 east(in SC). That will take you directly onto Hilton Head. Once on the island follow the signs to Palmetto Dunes.

Gators will not bother you and will get out of your way (afraid of humans).

That is why it is against the law to feed gators. The wildlife guys want to keep them afraid of humans.

My husband family has had a house in HH since 1977, and we have taken our 19 & 18 year old since birth every year for two weeks. I also would highly recomend Harbourtown-Gregg Russell. He is very entertaining for both kids and adults.. When they were younger we'd go into harbourtown once to see him, every trip. There is also shelter cove which has firworks,and other things going on. (I think its tuesday or thursday nights) Make sure you bring bikes, or rent bikes while your there. There are great bike paths through out the plantations, this was a fovorite of our children till there teens. Pirates cove was a favorite mini golf location there is alot of other things to do there also. There is horse back riding on the island. Go to Laton stables its the one in the norther part of the island. The man who ownes it is very nice and will take you on the beach. They are cheaper then the one in sea pines, and gives you a better ride. Get an sland event book, I know they advertise in it. You can get discount coupons for pirates cove, bike rentals etc.. My son loved to fish while he was there and still does to this day. There is a SMALL water park there, we have never took our kids, but my sister inlaws take there kids every trip, and there children seem to enjoy it. There is a 10 screen movie cemima, north of Palmetto Dunes. ( I think its in Port Royal plaza) You can also rent sail boats and take the kids out on the ocean, the westin in Port Royal rents them, and reasonably priced. I hope this has given you some ideas. My personal favorite is to stay on the beach all day and soak up the sun rays, and people watch. Enjoy your trip, I wish I was back there..

to all who responded - thanks, gave me some additional ideas. Any other suggestions on the best route south? one that would avoid 95 in the high traffic areas (DC)?

I know there are ways to avoid DC but they aren't always practical. Depending on the time of day you "hit" DC it may not be an issue.