Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum is one of the island's hidden gems — a 68-acre campus on Honey Horn Plantation with interactive exhibits about Lowcountry ecology, history, and wildlife. It's free to visit (donations appreciated), and it's one of the best rainy-day options on the island.

The exhibits cover everything from the island's Native American history to the ecology of the salt marsh to the life cycle of loggerhead sea turtles, which nest on Hilton Head's beaches every summer. Kids can touch horseshoe crabs, look at live marsh creatures in touch tanks, and walk through a replica Gullah village. The nature trails outside wind through old-growth live oaks that are genuinely awe-inspiring.

The museum also runs guided programs including kayak tours, birding walks, and sea turtle programs during nesting season (May–August). These fill up fast — book ahead if you want a spot. The gift shop is excellent, with locally made crafts and nature-themed books for kids.