Hilton Head Island Real Estate Blog

My wife Barb and I absolutely love summer here. There’s just something about this time of year that seems to bring everybody together.

Hilton Head Island has always had a way of doing that. Families come in from all over, and before long you have moms and dads, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all spending time together. That’s pretty much what summer looks like for our family too.

Every year, our kids come in and spend a couple of weeks with us. We’ll rent a house near the beach, and from there the days tend to take care of themselves. We spend time at the beach and the pool, ride bikes, go out to dinner, and let the cousins have as much fun together as possible. We have an absolute ball.

Hilton Head Makes It Easy to Be Outside

One of the things I think people love about Hilton Head is how easy it is to spend the day outside. You can start the morning on the beach, ride bikes in the afternoon and find somewhere outside for dinner without ever feeling like you need much of a plan.

Hilton Head Island has more than 60 miles of public leisure pathways, which is one of the reasons biking has become such a normal part of life and vacationing here. Explore biking on Hilton Head Island!

As much as we love the beach, though, some of our favorite summer days happen away from it.

The Water Is a Big Part of Our Summers

Our kids love the rivers and waterways. We go tubing, skiing and wakeboarding. We pack picnics and head out to sandbars, and sometimes we’ll spend the day exploring little islands and creeks without much of a plan beyond being on the water.

That’s one of the things that makes this part of the Lowcountry so special. Whether you’re on Hilton Head, in Bluffton or somewhere in between, water is never very far away.

A Morning on the May River

I recently recorded this video from one of my favorite spots in Old Town Bluffton, near the historic Church of the Cross, overlooking the May River. The church has stood above the river since the 1850s and remains one of Bluffton’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Learn more about Bluffton’s history and the Church of the Cross

Standing there, though, what really gets your attention is the river itself. The May River winds through Bluffton with tidal creeks and marshes branching off in every direction. You can fish it, kayak it, paddleboard it, take a boat out or simply sit somewhere along the bank and enjoy the view.

The official Bluffton tourism site highlights fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin cruises and other water activities as some of the best ways to experience the river. Explore the May River and Bluffton water activities!

Fishing, Tubing and Whatever the Day Brings

Fishing is a big one for our family too. Our kids love getting out there and seeing what they can catch. Redfish, sheepshead, even shark fishing from time to time.

Other days, nobody cares much about fishing. We’re tubing, skiing, wakeboarding, paddling around or simply finding a quiet place to stop and have lunch.

That flexibility is probably one of my favorite things about being on the water here. There’s always something to do, but there doesn’t have to be.

The Best Part Is Who You’re With

When I think about summer here, the beach and the river really aren’t the first things I remember. It’s everybody being together.

It’s the cousins, the kids, the grandkids, meals around a big table, people coming and going from the beach, somebody always looking for a towel, and a boat full of people heading down the river.

That’s what makes these summers special for Barb and me. Hilton Head and Bluffton provide the setting, but family is what makes it memorable.

A Wonderful Place to Visit — and to Live

People often discover this area first as a vacation destination. They come for the beach, golf, biking, restaurants or the water. Then, after spending enough time here, a different question starts coming up:

What would it be like to actually live here?

We hear that all the time, and I understand it.

There’s a big difference between coming here for a week and building your everyday life here, but many of the same things that make this such a wonderful place to vacation are also the things we enjoy as residents.

If you want a little more of what that everyday Lowcountry lifestyle can look like, take a look at A Perfect September Weekend in Bluffton & Hilton Head Island.

Explore homes throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry!

After all these years, Barb and I still feel fortunate to call this place home. Summer is one of the times we’re reminded of it most.