Hilton Head With Kids: Where Our Family Stayed, Ate, and Played
We recently took our four kids to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for a family beach vacation. Although it had been several years since our last trip in 2022, this was our third visit, and it reminded us exactly why Hilton Head with kids makes for such an easy, fun getaway.
Hilton Head is a relatively quick flight from New York, the beaches are beautiful, and there is plenty to do with kids—from mini golf and family-friendly restaurants to boat rides, dolphin tours, and I can’t forget ice cream shops. We knew we wanted a beach vacation, and Hilton Head felt like an easy choice. So we decided to go for it.
Here is our Hilton Head family vacation guide, including where we stayed, what we did, where we ate, and a few practical tips I would recommend if you are planning a trip to Hilton Head with kids.
Where to Stay in Hilton Head With Kids: Marriott’s Grande Ocean
On our first two trips to Hilton Head, we rented a house in the Sea Pines area. This time, we decided to try something different and stayed at Marriott’s Grande Ocean, a Marriott Vacation Club resort located just outside Sea Pines. If you are considering Marriott’s Grande Ocean with kids, the combination of villa-style accommodations, pools, activities, and easy beach access is a major plus.
It ended up being perfect for what we needed.
We stayed in a two-bedroom, two-bath villa. Three of the kids shared one bedroom, while our three-year-old stayed in our room with us. The setup gave our family of six enough room and the amenities we needed, especially a washer and dryer!
The resort had several pools—some large, some small and there was even a small lazy river and splash pad for the kids. The resort had a full calendar with organized activities for kids, including tie-dyeing, bingo, and a sandcastle contest. Best of all, it was only steps from the beach.
The beach itself is public, so the resort does not have a dedicated beach setup. We rented chairs, an umbrella, boogie boards, and a cooler for the week, then brought everything down and set ourselves up each day. Because the beach and pools were so close together, it was easy to spend a few hours by the ocean and then switch to the pool without turning it into a major production.
For a family traveling with four kids, that convenience mattered.
Our Favorite Things to Do in Hilton Head With Kids
We spent plenty of time at the beach and pool, but we also planned a few activities that the whole family could enjoy.
Pirates of Hilton Head
One of the highlights was Pirates of Hilton Head, a 90-minute pirate boat adventure designed for kids.
Even my oldest daughter, who is nine, got a kick out of it. She remembered doing the same activity when she was younger, which made the experience especially fun for us.
One practical note: pack sunscreen, bring water and wear hats. It can get very hot out on the water, especially in the middle of the day.
A Private Dolphin Tour
We also took a private dolphin tour one late afternoon with Outside Hilton Head. The six of us went out on a small speedboat and saw at least 10 to 12 dolphins, several of which came surprisingly close to the boat.
The kids loved seeing the dolphins, but the tour was also a great way to learn more about Hilton Head’s geography and wildlife. They were completely engaged and asked our guide question after question.
Family Golf at Shipyard
One day, Chris took our three older children to play nine holes at Shipyard Golf Club. The course offers a family-friendly evening golf experience and was a good fit for the kids.
It was definitely hot, but they had a great time playing together. If you have children who enjoy golf—or who are ready to try it—this is a fun way to break up the beach and pool time.
Where We Ate in Hilton Head With Kids
We found a nice balance between eating in and trying some of the kid-friendly restaurants in Hilton Head. We placed a large Instacart order when we arrived and ate almost every breakfast and lunch in the villa. On beach days, we often packed lunch and brought it with us.
This worked really well for our family. It saved us from having to get six people out the door for every meal and made our days feel much more relaxed. Then, most evenings, going out to dinner became our main outing. We tried a mix of casual waterfront spots and slightly nicer restaurants.
Nunzio’s is an Italian restaurant away from the beach, and the food was excellent. I also had a great Aperol Spritz—and if you know me, you know I love my Aperol Spritzes.
Coast, an outdoor waterfront restaurant in Sea Pines. Afterward, we spent time on the beach and took some beautiful pictures of the kids. I may have even gotten our Christmas card photo, which always feels like a vacation victory.
Links, the clubhouse restaurant at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines. We had a really delicious steak dinner there and their spicy margarita was top notch. It was perhaps a step above the type of restaurant we would normally choose with four kids, but they were generally well behaved, and the restaurant does offer a children’s menu.
Quarterdeck is in Harbour Town and we had lunch there on the day we did the pirate ship. Its location made it an easy addition to that day’s plans and the views are pretty incredible
Pizza on the beach-One of my favorite meals of the entire trip was also the simplest. We had spent the afternoon at the beach and decided to stay through dusk, so we ordered pizzas and ate dinner right there on the sand. The kids had the best time and later said it was one of their favorite parts of the vacation. It was a good reminder that the moments children remember most are not always the ones that require the most planning.
Frozen Moo-Hilton Head also has so many great ice cream spots, and honestly, I think the ice cream stops were what my kids looked forward to most. We especially loved Frozen Moo and we also tried local spots in Harbour Town and Shelter Cove. Ending the day with ice cream quickly became part of the vacation for all of us.
Getting to Hilton Head from New York
You can fly directly into Hilton Head Island Airport, but the flight times were not convenient for us. Instead, we flew into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, rented a car, and drove to Hilton Head.
Travel days with four kids are always long, no matter how quick the flight looks on paper, but overall the trip went smoothly and we did not run into any major issues.
Our Day-by-Day Hilton Head Itinerary
Friday: Travel and Settling In
We left our house around 9 a.m., flew into Savannah, rented a car, and drove to Hilton Head. By about 5 p.m., we were settled at the resort. We went out for a quick dinner, got ice cream, and then came back to unpack and settle in for the night.
Saturday: A Resort Day—and an Unexpected Urgent Care Visit
We used Saturday as our first full resort day. We handled our grocery shopping via instacart and picked up all of our beach equipment for the week. I also made a quick trip to urgent care with Declan, who had an ear infection. The staff was amazing, and I would absolutely recommend it to any parent who unexpectedly needs medical care while visiting Hilton Head.
Thankfully, we were still able to spend most of the day at the resort. We hit the beach, did some boogie boarding, spent time at the pool, and then went to Nunzio’s for dinner.
Sunday: Rain, Resort Activities, and Coast
We woke up to a lot of rain on Sunday, which was a bit of a downer. We went to church together as a family, and by the time we returned, the sun was shining. We spent the rest of the day swimming and enjoying resort activities like bingo. That evening, we went to Coast in Sea Pines for dinner and then spent some time on the beach taking pictures of the kids.
Monday: Pirates, Mom Time, and Pizza on the Beach
Monday morning, we did the Pirates of Hilton Head boat tour and then had lunch at Quarterdeck in Harbour Town. We spent the afternoon back at the resort, and I even managed to get about an hour of time on the beach by myself with a cold cocktail and my book—a true vacation highlight.
That evening, we stayed on the beach through dusk, ordered pizza, and let the kids play and play. We played paddle ball and soccer, built sandcastles, and had one of the simplest and most fun nights of the entire trip.
Tuesday: Tennis, Family Golf, and Harbour Town
I started Tuesday with a tennis lesson, which was such a fun way to begin the day. That afternoon, Chris took our three older kids to play nine holes at Shipyard. We all met afterward for dinner at Links and finished the evening with ice cream in Harbour Town.
Wednesday: Sandcastles, Dolphins, and Shelter Cove
On our last full day, we spent the morning by the pool and participated in the resort’s sandcastle contest. That afternoon, we took our private dolphin cruise and saw at least 10 to 12 dolphins. We ended the day with dinner at Ela’s in Shelter Cove and, of course, one more ice cream stop nearby.
Thursday: One Last Swim and the Trip Home
Because we did not have to check out until noon, we still had time for one last morning at the pool. We played a little bocce ball, packed up, grabbed sandwiches for the road, and headed back to Savannah for our flight. We were back in New York by about 7 p.m. that night.
A Few Hilton Head Family Vacation FAQs
Is Hilton Head good for families with kids?
Yes. The beaches, pools, boat excursions, golf, restaurants, and family-friendly activities make it easy to plan a trip that works for different ages. Our children ranged from three to nine on this visit, and everyone had something they genuinely enjoyed.
Where should a family stay in Hilton Head?
We have enjoyed both renting a home in Sea Pines and staying at Marriott’s Grande Ocean. A rental home can provide more privacy and space, while Grande Ocean gave us resort amenities and made it incredibly easy to move between the beach, pools, and our villa.
Should you fly into Hilton Head or Savannah?
Both are options. We chose Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport because the flight times worked better for our family, then rented a car and drove to the island. I would compare both airports before booking and choose based on the most manageable schedule and price for your family.
Would We Take Another Hilton Head Family Vacation?
Absolutely.
Hilton Head gave us exactly the kind of family vacation we were hoping for: beautiful beaches, plenty of Hilton Head family activities, good restaurants, and enough convenience that the adults could actually enjoy themselves, too.
Staying at Marriott’s Grande Ocean made it especially easy to move between the beach, pools, meals in the villa, and dinners out. We loved having a few memorable activities planned, but some of our best moments—especially pizza on the beach at dusk—were the simplest ones.
After three family trips to Hilton Head, it remains a destination we would happily choose again—and one I would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxed Hilton Head vacation with kids.
Meg O'Leary is an Infant and Child Sleep Expert and the founder of A Restful Night. Based in Westchester County, NY, she leads a team of certified sleep coaches to provide virtual support to families across the US and around the world.
