Hilton Head Named Top Coastal Living Destination
Travel + Leisure named Hilton Head Island, South Carolina the top destination for year-round coastal living, citing its blend of beautiful beaches, premier golf and tennis, and strong community appeal. American Airlines now flies three times weekly to Bimini, a tiny Caribbean island known for diving, fishing, and pristine beaches.
- For more than eight consecutive years, Hilton Head Island has been named the #1 Island in the U.S. by readers of *Condé Nast Traveler*. - The island's history includes being named by English Captain William Hilton in 1663 and playing a significant role as a Union blockade base during the Civil War. - Tourism on the island generated $2.8 billion in revenue in 2024 from 2.8 million visitors. That same year, 160 new businesses opened on the island. - The year-round population of Hilton Head Island is just under 40,000 people, with a median age of 59.9. - Hilton Head is part of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, which preserves the unique culture and language of descendants of enslaved West Africans. - The island is known for its eco-friendly development, with a Land Management Ordinance that minimizes the environmental impact of new construction. - The RBC Heritage golf tournament, a PGA Tour event held annually on the island, generated an economic impact of $134.9 million in a single week in 2024. - The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, which serves the island, has also been recognized as the #1 Best Airport in the U.S. by *Condé Nast Traveler*.
