Like its island neighbor to the east, Bluffton offers a fantastic selection of golf courses where you can test your skills while enjoying stunning Lowcountry views. Among the best are:
• Hilton Head National Golf Club
• Old South Golf Links
• May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff
• Crescent Pointe Golf Club
• Eagle’s Pointe Golf Club
• Pinecrest Golf Course
Not into golf? No worries. There are lots of other ways to get outdoors and experience the natural beauty of the area’s tidal creeks, salt marshes and maritime forests. Here are just a few:
New River Trail – Hike or bike this flat, 3.4-mile dirt and grass trail running along an old railroad bed through a historic area once used for rice cultivation. Along the way, you’ll pass a grid of channels from a long-abandoned rice field, the Great Swamp and the New River.
May River Excursions – With an eight-boat fleet and a crew of experienced and knowledgeable boat captains, this company offers a wide array of guided tours to introduce you the pristine May River and its unique ecosystem. For those who enjoy adventure, try one of the fishing, crabbing or shrimping excursions.
Paddles and Poles Kayak Fishing Tours – Set off from Buckingham Landing near the Hilton Head Island bridges for a fun day of fishing on the May River.
Stand and Paddle – Explore the saltwater creeks and estuaries of the May River from a stand-up paddleboard. The local outfitter also offers tours on the Colleton and Chechessee rivers and other backwater creeks.
Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve – This 977-acre preserve is the perfect place to escape the summer beach crowds and enjoy nature. The 4 miles of peaceful walking trails offer opportunities to observe migratory bird species and a diversity of plant life, including the rare pondspice.
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge – Located between Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, the refuge is a must-see destination for birdwatchers, especially in the spring when great flocks of white ibis, egrets and herons come to roost on an island in a large pond not far from the entrance to the preserve. The 4,053-acre refuge also is popular with cyclists who want to get off paved pathways and get closer to nature. A flat gravel road runs the length of the island. There are also grassy trails that take you to beaches overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Port Royal Sound.
