Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Hilton Head, SC

Eat your way across this South Carolina coastal town.

Most people come to Hilton Head for pristine beaches, championship golf courses, and family time, but this beach town also has a thriving culinary scene. Naturally there’s fresh seafood aplenty, but you’ll also find Southern-inspired bites, farm-to-table dining, and homemade Italian cuisine. Best of all, many places offer oceanfront dining, so you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the Atlantic while you eat (and maybe even drink a frozen cocktail or two).

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01 of 15

Hilton Head Social Bakery

Get your French pastry fix at Hilton Head Social, which is owned and operated by award-winning French chef Philippe Feret. There are two locations (the original is at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, and the newest one is near the Sea Pines Circle), both of which serve beautiful, photo-perfect pastries, decadent desserts, and buttery croissants galore. You’ll feel as if you’ve been magically transported to the streets of Paris.

hiltonheadsocialbakery.com; Harbourside Ln Building 1, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 and 1018 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-715-3349 and 843) 715-2598

02 of 15

Lulu Kitchen

The menu at Lulu is wide-ranging and delicious, offering American favorites with a Southern twist. Think butter-poached lobster, short rib grilled cheese, and house fried chicken. Come for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch and bask in the cheery, laid-back setting.

lulukitchen-hhi.com; 890 William Hilton Pkwy, Suite 1, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-648-5858

03 of 15

The Sea Shack

This no-frills, counter-serve restaurant is a gem. Check out the daily “blackboard” special, or take your pick from grilled, fried, or blackened seafood that’s fresh from the sea. Expect to wait in line during peak summer months—The Sea Shack is popular with locals and tourists alike.

seashackseafood.com; 6 Executive Park Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-785-2464

04 of 15

Chez Georges

Enjoy tasty French bistro staples like escargots de bourgogne (snails served with garlic herb butter sauce and crispy leeks), perfectly cooked cassoulet, and two kinds of moules-frites at Chez Georges. The wine list is impeccable, as well. Catch the aperitif hour from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday, when adult beverages are two dollars off and there’s a small plates menu offered. The restaurant also uses this time to host ticketed wine tastings complete with paired cheese plates.

chezgeorgeshhi.com; 37 New Orleans Rd, Ste J, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-785-3200

05 of 15

Nectar Farm Kitchen

For a fresh-off-the-farm feast, head to Nectar Farm Kitchen, where every dish is lovingly prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The breakfast and lunch menu features Southern classics like sausage biscuits and gravy, country fried steak, and creative Benedicts. Hearty “supper plates and bowls” include Lowcountry cioppino, root beer-braised short ribs, and filet mignon, alongside lighter fare like salads and soups.

nectarfarmkitchen.com; 35 Office Park Road, Hilton Head, SC 29928; 843-682-2337

06 of 15

Coast

With incredible waterfront views and a spacious, twinkly-lit outdoor patio, Coast is a picture-perfect date night spot. Located at the Sea Pines Resort, this restaurant serves all manner of seafood, sandwiches, tacos, and more; they also have a great raw bar. Wash it all down with a frozen specialty cocktail. During the summertime, there’s often live entertainment.

seapines.com; 87 N Sea Pines Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-842-1888

07 of 15

Skull Creek Boathouse

You’ll likely want to linger for some time after you finish eating at Skull Creek Boathouse. The restaurant is known for its scenic location (on the banks of Skull Creek) and fun, relaxed ambiance. Apart from multiple dining areas, there’s an indoor sushi bar with raw oysters, ceviche, and sashimi, and an outdoor bar with Adirondack chairs and fantastic sunset views. Don’t leave without trying the famed salt and vinegar crab cakes.

skullcreekboathouse.com; 397 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head, SC 29926; 843-681-3663

08 of 15

The Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar

Billed as an “American bistro with Southern soul,” Lucky Rooster has an exceptional menu that changes often based on seasonality and what chefs can find fresh. Expect refined comfort food like deviled eggs topped with smoked salmon, bacon, tomato, and parsley or scallops and shrimp finished in a cognac cream sauce and served with Charleston red risotto.

luckyroosterhhi.com; 841 William Hilton Pkwy Unit A, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-681-3663

09 of 15

Black Marlin Bayside Grill

Whatever you do, you must try a cup of the Bayside Chowder at Black Marlin Bayside Grill; it’s what they’re known for. The fish tacos are a great choice, too, although you may have a hard time picking just a couple items off their broad menu that also includes seafood entrees, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and various pastas. There’s ample indoor and outdoor seating.

blackmarlinhhi.com; 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-785-4950

10 of 15

Burnt Church Distillery

Pair a charcuterie board or brick-oven pizza with creative cocktails made from authentic Lowcountry spirits. In addition to great food and drinks, Burnt Church also offers a 7,000 square-foot tasting room, gift shop, humidor, history room, and on-site manufacturing facility—it’s a whole experience unto itself. P.S. Burnt Church is technically located in Bluffton, but the 10-minute drive down the road is a must for any visitors of the island.

burntchurchdistillery.com; 120 Bluffton Road, Bluffton, SC 29910; 843-872-0158

11 of 15

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar

Get your fill of homemade Italian fare at Nunzio. Traditional dishes run the gamut from Pugliese-style meatballs to homemade ravioli to tagliatelle alla bolognese. Round out your meal with a mouthwatering dessert like lemon sorbet or hot chocolate soufflé cake served with vanilla gelato.

nunziohhi.com; 18 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-715-2172

12 of 15

Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks

Boasting beautiful views of Port Royal Sound, this iconic seafood joint has been around for more than 50 years. Seafood doesn’t come fresher than this—Hudson’s sources its fish and shrimp directly from one of only two remaining local fishing fleets on Hilton Head. Always order the specials, which can change multiple times a day depending on what’s being unloaded from the boats.

hudsonsonthedocks.com; 1 Hudson Road Hilton Head Island, SC 29926; 843-681-2772

13 of 15

One Hot Mama's

Food Network Star and barbecue pitmistress Orchid Paulmeier blesses the community with her award-winning baby-back ribs and chicken wings at One Hot Mama's. Part of the official South Carolina Barbecue Trail, you won't want to miss an opportunity to try some of South Carolina's best pit-smoked meats and specials straight from Paulmeier's creative mind. Dishes like the Stack A Mac (fried mac and cheese bites topped with queso, chopped brisket, Perfect 10 barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and scallions) are sure to stick in your mind for years to come.

onehotmamas.com; 7A-1 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-682-6262

14 of 15

Fishcamp on Broad Creek

This waterfront restaurant pays homage to the fish camp that was erected on its grounds in 1955. Housed in the camp's original building, you'll find fried shrimp and blue crab cakes served with a side of history and nostalgia at Fishcamp. Lunch and dinner are served daily, but brunch comes only on Sundays. Come by on a Friday evening for live music and relax with a view of the Broad Creek River and some of the best seafood dishes you'll find anywhere.

fishcamphhi.com; 11 Simmons Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926; 843-842-2267

15 of 15

Marleys Shrimp and Burger Shack

This casual, walk-up or dine-in eatery is a popular spot for Hilton Head Island lunches. Handhelds are the focus at Marleys, with lunch specials like shrimp tacos and double cheeseburgers served with hand-cut fries and a soda offered for around $15. Other popular options include fried seafood po'boys, shrimp burgers, and flounder sandwiches. For best results, finish your meal with a milkshake or frozen drink.

hiltonheadshack.com; 35 Office Park Road Suite B, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-686-5800

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Expected to reach Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday, the predicted incoming impacts for Hurricane Helene triggered a tropical storm watch for the Lowcountry.

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Although a beach trip isn’t recommended, Hilton Head Island’s public parks and beaches remained open Thursday as the aggressive Hurricane Helene marched its way toward Florida, bringing a tornado watch to Beaufort County and a “likely” twister touchdown in the Bluffton area.

The Town of Hilton Head Island cannot technically shut down its beaches, but it can close down access points at its seven “beach parks” at Fish Haul Beach, Islander’s Beach, Folly Field Beach, Driessen Beach, Burke’s Beach, Coligny Beach and Alder Lane Beach. During Tropical Storm Debby last month, officials shuttered these access points and all other public facilities on the island for a two-and-a-half day period.

As of Thursday morning, Hilton Head emergency manager Thomas Dunn said there were “no plans” to close the town’s beach parks and other public parks.

“Obviously, if there’s a mandatory evacuation by the governor, we’ll definitely close everything down,” Dunn said. “We just take each storm individually.”

Any hurricane-related road closures, including that of the Hilton Head bridges, are decided by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

As Helene’s high winds made their way to the Lowcountry, Dunn said the town was taking “extra precautions” in public areas, such as rolling up mats at beach access points and relocating trash bins that weren’t secured to the ground. In the Beaufort County area, wind speeds are expected to reach between 30 and 40 mph Thursday night with possible gusts up to 60 mph, according to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service’s Charleston office.

Lifeguards at all Hilton Head beaches were flying red flags Thursday due to a high risk of rip currents making swimming “extremely dangerous,” according to Shore Beach Service. Beach patrol anticipates “rapidly deteriorating surf conditions” throughout the day and will limit swimmers to wading only.

Despite the dark-gray skies and choppy surf, live webcams near Singleton Beach captured errant visitors walking the coastline and groups of bicyclists around noon Thursday. As conditions worsen, officials are urging islanders to stay home if possible.

“The biggest thing is once this storm starts to ramp up later (Thursday), is just stay put; let it pass,” Dunn said. “It’s a pretty fast-moving storm. Later on Friday, everything should move on out — then we can have a great weekend.”

This story was originally published September 26, 2024, 12:42 PM.

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Expected to reach Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday, the predicted incoming impacts for Hurricane Helene triggered a tropical storm watch for the Lowcountry.

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As Hurricane Helene churned at 10 mph in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday morning, forecasters predicted the system would become stronger and larger as it marched northward, setting off a series of warnings and watches across the Southeast.

Helene was expected to rapidly intensify over the Gulf of Mexico, growing into a major hurricane before hitting Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center early Wednesday.

Before the chaos, predicted to spike storm surge up to 15 feet and whip up damaging winds in some areas of Florida, several Florida counties were issued evacuation orders, nearly all were under a state of emergency and a series of storm watches and warnings were triggered for a handful of Southeast states.

In South Carolina and Georgia, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning Wednesday for all of the coast north of Altamaha Sound to the South Santee River.

While some unknowns remain about Helene, here’s what to know about the hurricane’s path, size, predicted impacts and preparation.

Helene could strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall, with computer models showing the storm will reach land near Florida’s Big Bend Coast late Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 7 a.m. Wednesday advisory.

The Big Bend region was rattled by Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 and Hurricane Debby in August.

Forecasters said Helene is a large system — its wind field is expected to span 400 miles — and will have impacts reaching “well outside/east of the tracking cone.” When Helene is nearest Tampa Bay on Thursday morning, the storm’s wind field was predicted to be nearly 430 miles wide, with the vast majority of it on the east side.

Helene’s wind field “is forecast to be larger than 90% of hurricanes,” said John Morales, a hurricane specialist for NBC5.

As of Wednesday mid-morning, the system was packing sustained 80 mph winds, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane.

Rapid intensification happens when there is an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period, the National Hurricane Center said.

A 2022 study published by Advancing Space and Earth Sciences reported most major hurricanes – Category 3 or higher – rapidly intensify at some point when the system moves into warm surface waters and low wind shear.

Storm surge between 1 and 3 feet above ground is possible starting Wednesday, with the greatest impacts Thursday.

The surge alongside predicted rainfall along the Lowcountry coast — between 1 and 3 inches — could cause localized flooding in low-lying areas, washing of streets and roads near the coast minor-to-moderate beach erosion, according to the National Weather Service’s Charleston Office.

The forecast predicted between 5 and 10 inches of rain in the western part of South Carolina, with isolated amounts up to 15 inches possible in the Upstate, according to the National Weather Service. In the Lowcountry, up to 3 inches of rain could fall between Wednesday and Friday evenings.

The majority of rainfall is expected Thursday but will persist into Friday morning. The onslaught could cause localized flooding in low-lying areas, washing of streets and roads near the coast minor-to-moderate beach erosion.

On Thursday, when the majority of rain was predicted to fall, Hilton Head Island’s high tide Thursday will reach 7.2 feet at 4:21 a.m. and its evening high tide will spike to 8.6 feet at 2:50 p.m., according to the U.S. Harbors’ site. In Beaufort, Thursday’s high tide will climb to 6.8 feet at 4:37 a.m. and the evening high tide will reach 7.6 feet at 5:18 p.m.

Tornadoes are a concern for Thursday night, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said. The Storm Prediction Center had identified a slight risk of severe weather for areas south and east of Interstate 20, and an enhanced risk — level 3 of 5 — for the far southern part of the state.

Morales said the service was becoming more concerned about tornadoes, because the current environment is a “very good setup” for tornadoes to form. The highest threat for tornadoes is within stronger rain bands.

“We expect the radar to get a lot busier a lot busier later tonight and certainly tomorrow, as we start getting into the actual rain bands of circulation,” Morales said.

Frank Strait, the state’s severe weather liaison, said a tornado outbreak at night is “never a good thing,” as people are usually sleeping and miss warnings.

“It’s important to have tornado preparations in place ahead of Helene,” Strait said. “Decide on your best shelter area in advance, as you might not get much lead time. Tropical tornadoes often hit fast without much lead time on warnings.”

Beaufort County does not have tornado sirens, so ensure you have a way to get alerts for tornado watches and warnings.

There is a potential for tropical-storm-force wind and wind gusts, with the highest threat along and south of a line from Allendale to Beaufort. Strong winds can lead to downed and/or uprooted trees, isolated-to-scattered power outages and impassable roads covered in debris.

Over coastal waters, Thursday and into Friday morning, seas could build 6 to 15 feet, with 9 to 17 feet as the, highest, and winds and wind gusts of up to 55 knots are possible.

Along South Carolina’s southeast coast, there will be a threat of high surf and deadly rip currents Thursday and Friday, the NWS said.

According to the state’s Emergency Management Division, there are several ways to prepare before Tropical Storm Helene rattles the Southeast.

As of Wednesday mid-morning, Beaufort County schools, and city and county offices had not announced closures due to Hurricane Helene.

On Tuesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene and several counties were under a tropical storm watch.

Savannah, Tybee Island and Ossabaw Island were expected to get similar rain, wind and storm surge conditions as the South Carolina Lowcountry.

This story was originally published September 25, 2024, 11:03 AM.

The Island Packet

-843-593-7313

Sarah Haselhorst, a St. Louis native, writes about climate issues along South Carolina’s coast. Her work is produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. Previously, Sarah spent time reporting in Jackson, Mississippi; Cincinnati, Ohio; and mid-Missouri.

Hilton Head Island lifeguards spotted a venomous rattlesnake slinking quietly across a Sea Pines beach Monday morning. The sandy serpent was relocated and no beachgoers were hurt, according to Shore Beach Service.

The snake was seen around 9 a.m. near the Sea Pines Beach Club as it wriggled its way upshore, according to beach patrol director Mike Wagner. Wildlife management officers from the gated community were called to remove the animal, which the state’s Department of Natural Resources confirmed to be an eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

Easily identified by its pattern of diamond-shaped blotches with a border of yellowish scales, the eastern diamondback is the largest type of rattlesnake in the world and the most venomous snake in North America. They’re common in the coastal lowlands of South Carolina — especially in sand dunes — but their numbers are on the decline across the southeastern United States due to habitat loss.

It’s not the first time rattlers have been seen on the sands of Hilton Head. Beachgoers in August 2017 were shocked after one of the snakes “just rolled out of a wave” in Port Royal Plantation. Matt Kraycar, owner of the Bluffton-based K&K Wildlife Services, said he removed a diamondback from a Hilton Head beach as recently as last month.

The snakes are also skilled swimmers. With the help of a microchip planted under one diamondback’s skin, researchers at Parris Island discovered last year that the snake swam more than five miles across the salty waters of the Port Royal Sound — the farthest migration ever observed in the species.

All Hilton Head beaches flew yellow flags Wednesday afternoon due to a rip current advisory as the island began seeing the wide-reaching effects of Hurricane Helene. The rapidly intensifying storm is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region late Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane, meteorologists say.

Beach patrol director Mike Wagner advised against swimming on Thursday and Friday due to the rough water and “uncertainty” in conditions through the end of the week.

Tropical Storm Helene, which forecasters expected to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching the far northwestern Caribbean Sea early Wednesday, is likely to bring strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas to the Lowcountry, according to the National Weather Service’s Charleston Office.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the storm system was 180 miles east-southeast of Cozumel Mexico, moving 12 mph and packing sustained wind speeds of 45 mph, National Hurricane Center forecasters said. The center of Helene will move across the far northwestern Caribbean Sea through Tuesday evening, and then churn across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, potentially reaching the Gulf coast of Florida late Thursday, according to the NHC.

“Continued strengthening is anticipated after that time, and Helene could become a major hurricane on Thursday,” the center said, adding that the storm would rapidly intensify starting Wednesday.

Local meteorologists said the storm is expected to be large and affect areas reaching “well outside” of the Track Cone of uncertainty, including the Lowcountry. The bulk of impacts will be Thursday.

“At this early stage in the game, we have to talk in terms of ‘most likely’ rather than details because there is more uncertainty in dealing with tropical features that haven’t developed yet,” said Frank Strait, the state’s severe weather liaison. “However, we have enough consensus among computer model forecasts to say that South Carolina will see effects and that they have the potential to be significant.”

NWS Charleston Meteorologist Ron Morales said models showing Helene’s track are “quite locked in.”

Between Wednesday afternoon and Friday evening, tropical-storm-force winds, elevated tides, storm surge, isolated tornadoes, periods of heavy rainfall and high surf are listed as potential impacts, according to the NWS’ Tuesday morning briefing.

Storm-related wind, storm surge and rain show moderate impacts Thursday through Friday. The earliest effects could be seen as early as later Wednesday, with minor impacts from wind, storm surge, rain and dangerous surf conditions.

As of Tuesday morning, Beaufort County was expected to get up to 3 inches of rain between Wednesday evening and through Friday evening, with the majority of rainfall happening Thursday into Thursday night. However, local meteorologists said that amount is subject to change.

“These amounts if they occur in a few hours, which is possible, there could be some flash flooding going on,” Morales said.

While there wasn’t a probability for hurricane-force winds in the Lowcountry on Tuesday, meteorologists said to watch trends. They anticipate tropical-storm-force winds were likely and could whip through starting as early as Thursday afternoon.

The system could bring high surf, “significant” beach erosion and deadly rip currents to Beaufort County on Thursday and Friday, the service said. Thursday and into the evening, seas could build between 8 and 16 feet marine conditions, and wind or wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph are possible into Friday morning. Storm surge inundation will be between 1 and 2 feet above normally dry ground in the tidal areas, which could lead to flooding.

Tornadoes are possible Thursday afternoon through the evening.

“It’s time to prepare for a big storm, and you have until Thursday afternoon to prepare,” Strait said.

This story was originally published September 24, 2024, 9:16 AM.

The Island Packet

-843-593-7313

Sarah Haselhorst, a St. Louis native, writes about climate issues along South Carolina’s coast. Her work is produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. Previously, Sarah spent time reporting in Jackson, Mississippi; Cincinnati, Ohio; and mid-Missouri.