Ditch Hilton Head Crowds At This Underrated South Carolina Island
By Matt A. Claiborne
VACATIONS
To avoid the crowds at Hilton Head, visit Hunting Island in South Carolina. It is home to pristine sandy beaches, thousands of acres of saltwater marsh, and maritime forests.
This island is situated in the state's Lowcountry, an expanse of flat saltwater marshes. Here, dolphins fish and play in the winding saltwater creeks while ospreys soar overhead.
Hunting Island State Park features a historic 1859 lighthouse. You can climb to the top to see views of the Atlantic shoreline and surrounding barrier islands.
On the island’s beaches, you can catch the sunrise, lounge in the sand, or go shelling. The Marsh Boardwalk is the best place to view the sunset over the Lowcountry.
St. Phillips Island is also a part of Hunting Island State Park. It is completely undeveloped and has no land access — you can only get there by boat.
Hunting Island is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, and admission is $8. You can stay in the nearby town of Beaufort, book a campsite, or rent a beach retreat in St. Phillips.