The great thing about visiting the Southern United States’ Lowcountry, aside from endless historical charm and beauty, is that there is a lot to see within just an hour’s drive. During a recent trip to the area we managed to visit Savannah, GA, Beaufort, SC and Hilton Head, SC all during our short stay.
The latter was our home base for the adventure and we spent a wonderful week in a condo at Sea Pines Resort. Hilton Head is a popular vacation destination and is a great location for families. The island is organized by little communities which are referred to as plantations. Sea Pines—with its picturesque lighthouse and water surrounding all sides—is really the most charming plantation community of them all.
Though Hilton Head has plenty of beach action, it lacks the historical charm that many small Lowcountry towns boast. There’s more than enough charm to go around in Beaufort, South Carolina, however, which is only 45 minutes away from Hilton Head. Beaufort has countless classically antebellum mansions, many with historical relevance. It’s a stunningly beautiful town and is small enough to allow for self-guided walking tours of the neighborhoods, all of which are under a canopy of moss-covered oak trees.
And if you head an hour south of Hilton Head, you’ll end up in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is one of the best-known Lowcountry stops and for good reason! Once again, spend a day (or three!) eating some Lowcountry cuisine and walking the semi-touristy riverfront. If you aren’t sick of antebellum mansions yet (and you shouldn’t be), Savannah’s many high-end neighborhoods offer some of the very best we’ve ever seen.
Stay
Sea Pines Resort
32 Greenwood Drive
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
1-866-561-8802
Danielle Aquiline is a constant state of wanderlust. Between travels, she is a college professor and a part-time lifestyle photographer in Chicago, IL. She is always searching for the next adventure.
