Samantha Connors

Surrounded by gorgeous marshland and stretches of beach, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina rewards diners with some of the freshest seafood in the South. Oysters in particular are the region’s specialty, given the area’s excellent conditions for harvesting the salty molluscs. Though they can be eaten raw, Southerners typically steam the clustered shells before dumping them on a community table during a traditional oyster roast. If, for whatever reason, you aren’t able to attend a roast while visiting (here are other awesome things to do, just in case), worry not! The best restaurants in Hilton Head serve delicious oysters cooked every which way. Foodies who aren’t crazy about the local specialty will rejoice at the myriad of other culinary options available here: from barbeque to shrimp and grits, from fried green tomatoes to collard greens, the eateries we highlight here are bound to satisfy any sort of craving.

Lounging on the beach, teeing off on a world-class golf course and indulging in Southern cuisine at delicious restaurants are all essential parts of Lowcountry living. A visit to Hilton Head Island—a secluded community off the coast of South Carolina, just 45 minutes north of Savannah, Georgia—is the ultimate coastal escape with an atmosphere that exudes relaxation and excitement simultaneously. Avid golfers flock here to test their skills on one of the 24 championship courses on the island plus an additional 40 courses in the surrounding area. And, although this is clearly a golfer’s paradise, there are plenty of other things to do in Hilton Head that everyone will enjoy, including walking trails with unique marine wildlife, a handful of stunning beaches and more. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.