A Perfect September Weekend in Bluffton & Hilton Head Island

There are certain times of year when I think we're reminded just how fortunate we are to live where we do.

September is one of them.

Summer isn't exactly over in the Lowcountry. There are still plenty of beach days ahead, the water is warm, boats are still out on the river and you can absolutely spend an afternoon by the pool.

But things start to feel a little different.

The summer vacation season begins winding down, the calendar starts filling up with local events, and we get into one of my favorite stretches of the year to simply get outside and enjoy where we live.

So if you're coming to Bluffton or Hilton Head Island for a weekend this September, here's how I'd spend it.

Start in Old Town Bluffton

If you get into town on a Friday afternoon, I'd start the weekend in Old Town Bluffton.

Don't make too much of a plan.

Walk around. Stop in some of the shops and galleries. Have a drink somewhere. Find a place for dinner. Wander down toward the May River.

That's part of what I like about Old Town. You don't really need an itinerary.

And if you happen to arrive a day early, Thursday afternoons are when you'll find the Farmers Market of Bluffton at Martin Family Park.

We've talked about the Farmers Market before because it's one of those places where you get a pretty good glimpse of what Bluffton is actually like — local food, local businesses and people running into people they know.

If you want to know a little more about why we think it's such a great part of Bluffton, take a look at More Than a Farmers Market: Why Thursdays in Bluffton Feel Like Home.

And you can check the Town of Bluffton calendar for what's happening while you're in town.

Saturday Morning: Get Outside

I'd get up Saturday morning, grab some coffee and go outside.

What you do next depends on what you like.

Maybe it's a morning on the beach.

Maybe it's a bike ride on Hilton Head.

Maybe you rent a kayak, get out on the May River or Broad Creek, play golf, take the boat out or simply go for a walk.

That's one of the things people don't always understand until they spend some time here.

The water and the outdoors aren't something we save for vacation.

They're just part of life.

Spend Some Time on Hilton Head Island

Eventually, I'd make my way onto Hilton Head.

Go to the beach. Ride bikes. Walk around Harbour Town. Stop at Shelter Cove. Find somewhere overlooking the water and stay longer than you intended.

And September gives you some extra reasons to do it.

Beginning September 10, Fall Music & Taste at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina returns on Thursday evenings with live music along with food and drinks from Shelter Cove restaurants.

Later in the month, Hilton Head Island Jam runs September 17–20, bringing songwriters and live music to venues around the Island.

And on September 19, Harbour Town hosts the Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival.

That's a pretty good Saturday.

Don't Forget Bluffton

You don't have to cross the bridge to find something happening either.

September 12 brings the Roots & Rivers Festival to Oyster Factory Park, with music, food, vendors and cultural programming right along the May River.

And that's something I think people sometimes miss when they're first getting to know this area.

Bluffton and Hilton Head are very close to one another, but they don't feel exactly the same.

That's part of the fun.

You can spend Saturday afternoon at the beach on Hilton Head and Saturday evening along the May River in Bluffton and have two completely different experiences.

Sunday: Faith, Family & Time on the Water

For our family, Sunday often starts with church.

We enjoy the fellowship of one of the many local churches in the area. There are churches and congregations throughout Bluffton and Hilton Head, and you'll even find sunrise services from time to time — which can be a pretty special way to start a Sunday in the Lowcountry.

Church has also been a great way for our family to connect with people and be part of the community.

After that, if the weather cooperates, there's a pretty good chance you'll find us on the water.

We love boating, skiing, tubing, packing a picnic and spending a few hours at one of the sandbars. Some of my favorite days are the ones where there really isn't much of a plan beyond getting everybody on the boat and seeing where the day takes us.

And you certainly don't need to own a boat to experience the Lowcountry from the water.

There are plenty of local charters and dolphin tours around Hilton Head Island that will get you out on the creeks, rivers and sounds. It's a completely different way to see this area — and there's nothing quite like seeing a dolphin come up alongside the boat.

Explore Hilton Head Island Dolphin Tours & Water Activities

You can spend Saturday at the beach and Sunday on the river and feel like you've had two completely different vacations.

Except when you live here, it's just the weekend.

And Then Something Funny Usually Happens...

I've had more than a few people come here for a weekend and somewhere between Friday night and Sunday afternoon start asking:

"Okay...what would it actually cost us to live here?"

And I understand it.

Sometimes you need to spend a few days here before you understand why so many people decide they don't just want to visit the Lowcountry.

They want to be part of it.

That's usually when the conversation changes from where we're having dinner to whether they'd rather live closer to Old Town Bluffton, closer to the beach on Hilton Head, on the water, on a golf course or somewhere completely different.

And those are conversations we have every day.

If you're curious, you can explore homes for sale throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry.

Or, if Bluffton is what caught your attention during the weekend, you can take a closer look at Bluffton real estate and communities.

September Is a Pretty Good Time to Be Here

There's really no bad month to spend a weekend in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

But September is special.

You still have summer. You start getting a little taste of fall. There are things happening all over Bluffton and Hilton Head, and you can spend as much — or as little — time doing something as you want.

That's a pretty good weekend in my book.

And if you're coming down for a visit and somewhere along the way start wondering what it would be like to actually live here, give us a call.

We're always happy to show you around.