Neil Arlett (author) has lived on Hilton Head Island for the past 19 years. Neil is a partner and seasoned Captain with Hilton Head Boat Charters (www.hhiboatcharters.com) – a private boat charter company that runs private dolphin tours in Hilton Head and Hilton Head Sunset Cruise out of Skull Creek from Hilton Head Harbor.
So, let me set the stage first. It has been a long day. You woke up at the crack of dawn yesterday and loaded your car full of everything you could need for your week-long vacation in Hilton Head Island. You survived the 10+ hour car ride with the family and managed to locate and get into your weekly rental. After several well-deserved cocktails, you throw yourself into bed for a solid night’s sleep. Dawn arrives, and you shake the cobwebs off from your drive and head to the window to see what the weather looks like – and much to your surprise – it is raining outside. You quickly check your weather app and figure out that it will be like this for most of the day – and it is telling you rain. You check other weather apps to see if you can find the result you want – but to no avail – it will be a rainy day, and you won’t be making it to the beach with the kids. That’s when the panic sets in, and the question hits you – what are the best things to do in Hilton Head for a rainy day?
This is one of the most common questions I get from friends, family, and strangers. What the heck are the fun things to do in Hilton Head Island on a rainy day? The answer to that question is – there are tons of fun and unusual things to do in Hilton Head when the weather has taken a turn for the worse; you just have to get the inside scoop from a tuned-in local. By the way, if you are here during the summer, it happens much more than you think! In this post, I will share some of the insights I have learned over the past twenty years living on the island in the hope I can help you take that frown and turn it upside down.
Hilton Head Family Activities Rainy Day Solution #1 – Shopping
Even though you are on a small island, there are still tons of places to shop and fun little nooks and crannies that you can discover all over the island. Two of the best places to go shopping when you are here are Harbour Town and Coligny Plaza.
Harbour Town – Let’s start with the obvious slam dunk of a choice. When people think of Hilton Head, one of the most popular things to see in Hilton Head is the Harbour Town Lighthouse. And that’s where we’re going to start as well. For a few dollars per head, the whole family can trek up the 114 stairs of the red and white striped Lighthouse and get a history lesson up to the top. There are many artifacts and information about the local area and its history to engage the whole family. When you get to the viewing deck, there’s also a gift shop where your kids will find something to drain you of your hard-earned cash. When you get out on the viewing deck – the views of the Calibogue Sound and Daufuskie Island are tremendous. It’s still worth it if it is raining – just be sure to bring (or purchase) an umbrella or raincoat.
There are also a ton of shops in Harbour Town for when you leave the Lighthouse. We’re talking – about T-shirt shops, gift, and toy shops, shops, boutiques for him and her, a surf shop, cafes, bars, bakeries, and the newly remodeled Quarter Deck Restaurant. Harbour Town will keep you entertained for hours on end. For a complete list of stores, click this link – Harbour Town | Hilton Head Island, SC (experienceharbourtown.com)
Coligny Plaza Hilton Head – Located right next to the beach on the island’s south end – Coligny Plaza is the heart of Hilton Island. And if you like shopping and entertainment, you will love Coligny Plaza. Coligny has been around since the mid-1950s, and it feels like a time warp back to when our parents and maybe even their parents were kids. There are actually over 60 shops in Coligny! There are too many stores to list, but some of my favorites include – (POPS of Hilton Head), The Frozen Moo Ice Cream Shop, Rita’s Water Ice, The Frosty Frog and Big Bamboo restaurants, and the Quiet Storm Surf Shop. Trust me; this is the best rainy-day activity around. Here’s a link if you want to check it before heading over https://colignyplaza.com/
Rainy Day Attractions in Hilton Head SC – Solution #2 – Island Playground
If you have a little one under the age of 8 or 9 – this is the place for you! We’re talking indoor bouncy castle, slide, climbing walls, ropes, you name it. I can’t tell you the countless hours I have spent here watching my kids corkscrew themselves into the ground. If there’s an inflatable heaven for parents, this is it. All you need is your cell phone – and a watchful eye on the door, so your kids don’t escape on your watch, and you are all set. They sell ice cream and drinks of the non-adult variety so that when your kids need to be wound up even more, they have you more than covered. Located just off the island bridges on business 278 – The Island Playground is your go-to spot for sweet rainy-day relief. You can find out more about the Island Playground here – Island Playground (Hilton Head) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (tripadvisor.com)
Hilton Head Rainy Day Activities Solution #3 – For the Adults
When we got our Axe Throwing venue, I knew Hilton Head hit the big time. Axe throwing has been all the rage recently, and I had never been until we ran into a rainy day of our own not too long ago. Located just a short drive off Hilton Head in Bluffton is – Palmetto Axes (https://palmettoaxes.com). Can you have more fun than throwing sharp blades of weighted steel at wooden targets? When we were there, our instructor took us through things and showed us a few trick shots, much to our group’s amusement. We played a few ultra-competitive games and had an absolute blast. Oh, and did I mention that they have adult beverages? What could be better than tossing back a White Claw or two and hurling axes (insert responsible drinking message here)? Not only is this great for groups, but it is also one of the best things to do in Hilton Head for couples.
Rainy Day Hilton Head Solution #4 – The Need for Speed!
When my sister and I used to visit my father on summer vacation – he would always find a way to get us to a go-kart track. It was always the highlight of our trip, and now it can be yours as well. For years Hilton Head and the surrounding area had zero-point zero go-kart tracks. Now, we have two! One is outdoors (unsuitable for a rainy day), and the other is K1 Speed (indoors) out in Bluffton (www.k1speed). This place is no joke! We’re talking fast go-karts (slower ones for the smaller kids) and timed laps. This is so much fun, and the best thing is that they give you printouts with your times and national rankings for bragging rights post-race. There’s also a perfect arcade there that will keep the kids and your wallet busy. K1 Speed also has food and a bar where you can find beer – and more White Claws! Take advantage of this one – if it’s raining, go straight to K1 Speed! When we go with our kids, we always leave with absolutely massive smiles on our faces.
That’s it for this edition of our fun things to do in Hilton Head when it rains. We’ll be back soon with more local insider tips on how to keep your whole family entertained. Until then – stay safe and have fun! And in the words of my father, “rain or shine – things will work out just fine” 🙂 See you soon!
