Though South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island is known as a golf and tennis mecca—there are 24 golf courses and 350 tennis courts on the 12-by-five-mile-wide island—there is a variety of other options for groups to stay active. Water sports, adventurous teambuilding and culinary tours are all on offer for groups to get out and experience the Lowcountry.
Over the past few years the island has seen some big changes. In fall 2014, the Sea Pines Beach Club opened following renovations across the historic property that included enhancements to the Harbour Town Golf Links and the Harbour Town Conference Center as well as a new Plantation Golf Club and golf learning center.
Changes are still in the making. Beginning in April, Allegiant Air is offering new nonstop service to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport seasonally from Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Lexington, Ky., and from Baltimore/Washington year-round. Combined with direct flights from 17 other U.S. destinations, getting to Hilton Head is easier than ever.
Currently, the property that was previously the Inn at Palmetto Bluff is undergoing extensive renovations under the new management of Montage Hotels & Resorts.
“The property is very high-end, but more groups coming to Hilton Head Island are looking for that,” says Jack Reed, director of sales for the Hilton Head VCB.
Beyond the Waterways
From dolphin watching to sunset dinner cruises, being on the water is a must in the Hilton Head area. Vagabond Cruise offers four vessels for private charter: Spirit of Harbour Town, The Vagabond, Stars & Stripes and The Mystique.
Stars & Stripes, the yacht that was skippered by Dennis Connor and won the 1987 America’s Cup for the U.S. against Australia, is great for an afternoon dolphin sail or a sunset cruise, while The Vagabond, launched in 1968, is ideal for sightseeing and excursions. At 82 feet, the boat can accommodate 69 passengers. The upper deck features open-air bench seating while the lower level has a snack bar and covered seating.
For larger groups, Spirit of Harbour Town is a 74-foot yacht that can accommodate up to 74 passengers in the lower cabin and seat 44 for a banquet meal. Acting as a floating restaurant, with a full crew, waitstaff, full bar, galley, restrooms and air conditioning, the vessel is perfect for a dinner cruise or cocktail reception. A popular option for groups are themed cruises like Viva Las Vegas.
“The Spirit of Harbour Town is transformed into a real-life casino set complete with customized funny money for your big winnings on the water,” says Elise Witman, private charter sales and events manager. “Whether you’re interested in having poker tables, roulette wheels or blackjack, the sky is the limit when we bring Vegas to Hilton Head.”
For other entertaining evening Vagabond cruises, Jazz Under the Stars offers dinner and dancing alongside a jazz trio, and Comedy on the Calibogue features stand-up comedy throughout dinner.
Teambuilding with a Purpose
For over 30 years the DMC Destinations by Outside (Outside is a local outdoor outfitter) has been providing group adventures and teambuilding activities in the Hilton Head Island area. From kayaking with dolphins and historic tours to aerial adventures and even corporate social responsibility-based teambuilding, there is something for every size and type of group that comes to the area.
PageBreak
Page Island is Outside’s private island and is dedicated to teambuilding. Across the river from Daufuskie Island and a short boat ride from Palmetto Bluff, Hilton Head and other surrounding towns, the calm and remote setting allows groups to get away from the hustle and bustle and lets them explore and discover.
According to Mike Overton, the DMC’s owner and CEO, the reaction from most upon arrival to the island is, “Wow, I feel like I’ve landed at a Survivor location!”
“Page Island has two important elements for successful teambuilding built in,” Overton explains. “Distractions are completely eliminated and for many, just getting on a boat and going to the island gets people out of their comfort zone.”
The Page Island Outdoor Education Center features a nine-element challenge course, four-element peak challenge course, camping facilities and cooking facilities, making it easy to customize an adventure. There are also programs like the signature event, Teaming Up, which is led by expert facilitators. Challenges are provided with fixed-course elements, so teams just need to show up and be ready to participate. Groups can also use the island for an off-site meal, as the facilities can accommodate up to 150.
Destinations DMC can also facilitate CSR-based activities and teambuilding.
“Overall. we have seen an increase in teambuilding, and as more companies and groups are looking for meetings with more meaning, activities that give back are popular,” Overton says.
Hands of Gratitude, a program that lets groups help build prosthetic hands for children around the world, most who have been affected by land mines, and Corporate Heart, a program designed for groups to create art for a local children’s hospital or Ronald McDonald House, are just a couple of options.
Another interactive way groups can give back is the program where participants build sculptures—a Wall of China has been done—out of canned goods and then the goods are donated to a local food bank.
The Foodie Experience
For those who want to experience the food and history of the region, Savor the Lowcountry offers walking food tours. Although the island is small in size, it offers quite a culinary diversity.
Standard tours are in the Coligny Beach neighborhood, with a focus on food, wine and sweet treats, and the Village at Wexford, the shopping and dining district known for some of the island’s most unique restaurants and gourmet specialty shops, where groups taste items like farm-to-table tacos, craft brews and Italian oils. According to Alice Reid, Savor’s owner, private tours can also be customizable by location, time, number of stops and themes.
“We had one group who wanted to walk more than the usual mile our tours cover, so we extended the tour and were able to take them to restaurants further away,” says Reid. “We walked them all over the place.”
Tours of 12 to 16 people are ideal—larger groups can be divided—and include four to five stops. Guides give background on the restaurants, chefs and specialty-shop owners, as well as the history of the region while walking from stop to stop.
