Why Stay In Shipyard Plantation?

Nestled on 800 acres between Sea Pines Resort Area and Palmetto Dunes Plantation on the south end of Hilton Head Island, Shipyard Plantation is the smallest and most serene resort area on Hilton Head. Shipyard Plantation abounds in natural beauty and offers visitors a welcoming vacation retreat away from the crowds yet within easy reach of Hilton Head’s best restaurants, shops, tourist attractions, and eco-adventures.

Shipyard Plantation has two entrance gates, one on William Hilton Parkway (278) and one on Pope Avenue near Coligny Plaza. Winding roads and scenic trails lead through towering pines, tropical palms, moss-draped oaks, and scented magnolias to award-winning golf courses, top-rated tennis facilities, and private beach access at the Shipyard Beach Club.

A vacation in Shipyard Plantation offers visitors the best of both worlds, a quiet island retreat with a relaxing coastal vibe and world-class resort amenities, and the top attractions, activities and events on Hilton Head Island just a bike ride away from your luxury Shipyard villa or vacation home.

1. Private Beach Access

Guests of Shipyard Plantation enjoy private beach access to Hilton Head’s award-winning beaches at the Shipyard Beach Club, the finest beach club on Hilton Head Island! The Shipyard Beach Club is situated next to the exclusive Sonesta Resort on the northeast corner of the plantation with an oceanfront deck and bar to end your day of coastal experiences on the best pet-friendly beaches in South Carolina!

The private beach access at Shipyard is a scenic bike ride from all Shipyard Plantation villa complexes and the beaches are seasonally lifeguarded for a safe family vacation on Hilton Head. Sunset Rentals have a wide selection of Beachwalk Villas near the Shipyard private beach access and we partner with Vayk Gear to provide our guests with complimentary beach gear on select rentals for classic beach days during your stay in Shipyard Plantation.

2. Tranquil Bike Trails

There are four miles of peaceful paved bike paths within Shipyard Plantation with a maze of lakes and lagoons for fishing, rolling fairways, and lush Lowcountry landscapes. Hilton Head Island is one of the most bike-friendly destinations in the US and the central location of Shipyard Plantation means you can literally bike anywhere!

Exploring on two wheels is a fun activity for the whole family, eliminates the traffic and parking problems in peak season, and saves on hefty gas prices! Our complimentary Vayk gear includes not only top quality beach gear rentals, but top quality bike rentals for the whole family too. Stay in a participating Shipyard vacation home or villa rental, have your Vayk bike rentals delivered to your front door, and explore Shipyard Plantation, the beautiful beaches, and beyond by bike.

3. Award-Winning Golf Courses

The Shipyard Golf Club is part of the Hilton Head Island Heritage Golf Collection and features three championship golf courses – the Clipper Course and Galleon Course by George W Cobb, and the Brigantine Course by Willard C. Byrd. These award-winning golf courses are ranked among the best and most scenic golf courses in Hilton Head and cater for all levels of play, there’s even footgolf for the kids!

Aside from legendary golf for the entire family, Shipyard Golf Club offers a family-oriented practice facility and driving range, a gorgeous outdoor patio overlooking the lagoons, and amazing pub grub with daily happy hours at the Brickyard Pub. Our Shipyard golf villas offer a tranquil retreat for the ultimate golf getaway in Shipyard Plantation.

4. Top RATED Tennis & PICKLEBALL in the USA

Hilton Head Island is ranked one of the best tennis resorts in the US and is a top destination for tennis lovers. The award-winning Van Der Meer Racquet Club offers an exceptional tennis experience with 20 championship courts (including covered courts and night courts), basic clinics for beginners, world-class drill sessions for pros, professional junior clinics, and fun summer camps for the kids.

If tennis is your game (or pickleball), Shipyard Plantation won’t disappoint! Our Tennismaster vacation villas are situated only minutes from the award-winning Van Der Meer Racquet Club, the Sonesta Resort and private beach access to miles of beaches, ocean activities, and classic beach days at Shipyard Beach Club.

5. Hilton Head’s Top Attractions at Your Doorstep

Shipyard Plantation lures vacationers seeking the seclusion and serenity of a private beach community yet easy access to the attractions and festivities that draw vacationers from around the world to Hilton Head Island. With Sea Pines Resort Area to the south, Palmetto Dunes Plantation to the north, the Village of Wexford near the Main Gate, and Coligny Plaza just a short bike ride away – you’re perfectly placed for the ultimate vacation on Hilton Head Island.

Many of our guest simply stay close soaking up the serenity of Shipyard Plantation! When you’re not basking on Hilton Head’s best beaches, staying active with sports and wildlife viewing on the trails, you’ll find shopping, oceanfront dining, and luxury spa treatments at Sonesta Resort or settle in to your Lowcountry vacation home for quality family time, leisurely pool days, Lowcountry boils on the grill, and wildlife viewing or birdwatching from your own backyard.

6. Luxury Lowcountry Vacation Rentals

The quiet neighborhoods of Shipyard Plantation are home to luxury low-rise villa complexes and spacious family homes nestled in large old oaks with a choice of golf views, wooded view, or lagoon views. Whether you’re planning a tennis or golf getaway to Hilton Head Island, a family vacation with the kids, or a romantic escape for two in quiet seclusion (with bustling waterfront restaurants and bars a bike ride away!), Sunset Rentals has a luxury Lowcountry vacation rental in Shipyard to suit your style.

Take a tour of our exclusive selection of Shipyard Plantation vacation homes and villas, book online for the best rates and exceptional guest services from our local team and experience the beauty of Hilton Head Island from the serenity of the Shipyard Plantation Resort Area.

Sunset Rentals have been welcoming visitors to Hilton Head Island since 1993. Our exclusive Sunset Package offers a 48-hour worry-free guarantee and flexible cancellation policy, express check-in, a starter pack of vacation essentials, and bike and beach gear credit valued up to $350!

You can book your vacation to Shipyard Plantation on Hilton Head Island with confidence and ease when you vacation with Sunset Rentals.

July 7, 2022July 17, 2023

7 Best Dog-Friendly Restaurants On Hilton Head Island

One of the top questions on our guests’ minds when planning a vacation with their furry family members is where to find cafés, restaurants, and bars on Hilton Head Island that allow dogs.

Hilton Head Island is one of the best dog-friendly vacation destinations on the East Coast with wide beaches that welcome your pup, off-leash dog parks, endless trails, and even eco-tours and water activities for Fido to tag along. When it comes to dining out with your doggo – nearly every outdoor café and patio on Hilton Head is pet-friendly (for well-behaved pups!) and some even go as far as to offer exclusive dog menus, water bowls, and tasty treats.

Our team at Sunset Rentals has put together the ultimate guide to dog-friendly restaurants on Hilton Head Island. We’ve even taken it a step further so you can discover the best places to take your dog to dinner near your Hilton Head Island vacation rental. This month, we highlight the best dog-friendly waterfront restaurants on Hilton Head’s Lowcountry Creeks.

DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS ON SKULL CREEK & BROAD CREEK

Enjoy waterfront dining with fresh seafood straight from the docks, tranquil marsh views, and the most spectacular sunset views on Hilton Head Island. Our dog-friendly waterfront restaurants on Skull Creek and Broad Creek have it all – watch the boats cruise in, listen to live music, socialize over a cold craft beer or cocktail with friends (old, new, and furry!), and indulge in the most delectable Lowcountry cuisine you’ve ever tasted!

1. Black Marlin Bayside Grill

Palmetto Bay Marina, 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 785-4950

Monday – Friday | 11 AM to 10 PM
Saturday & Sunday | 10 AM to 10 PM
Daily Happy Hour | 4 PM to 7 PM
*First Come, First Serve for Outdoor Dining

Food & Drink Menu | Happy Hour Menu | Online Ordering

Situated at Palmetto Bay Marina on the south end of the island, Black Marlin Bayside Grill is home to “the best shrimp and grits on Hilton Head”, “the best shrimp burger ever” and signature sushi nachos sure to satisfy your seafood cravings. Stop by for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch on the outdoor patio, or hit happy hour with friends at the waterside Hurricane bar with seasonal live music, summertime parties, and Lowcountry oyster roasts on the pet-friendly patio.

2. Fishcamp on Broad Creek

11 Simmons Road, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 842-2267

Open Daily | 11 AM PM to 10 PM
Daily Happy Hour | 4 PM to 6 PM
Sunday Brunch | 11 AM to 3 PM
*First Come, First Serve for Outdoor Dining

Fishcamp Food & Drink Menus

Fishcamp on Broad Creek is located across the Coligny Beach Bridge in a scenic waterfront setting at Broad Creek Marina. The expansive waterfront outdoor area is perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner with the kiddos and furbabies – indulge in craft cocktails, local beers, southern-style seafood and hand-cut steaks, play bocce and cornhole on the lawn, listen to live local music around the firepit, and savor the lifestyle you’ll soon come to love on Hilton Head Island.

3. Up the Creek Pub & Grill

Broad Creek Marina, 18 Simmons Road, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 681-3625

Sunday – Wednesday | 11 AM to 9 PM
Thursday – Saturday | 11 AM to 9:30 PM
Daily Happy Hour | 4 PM to 7 PM
*First Come, First Serve

UP! Menu | Happy Hour Menu | Kids Menu

Located next door to Fishcamp and Adventure Hilton Head, Up the Creek Pub & Grill is Hilton Head’s favorite hideaway for casual and affordable waterfront dining, with a full bar and buckets of beer! The waterfront deck and pet-friendly patio offer breathtaking Lowcountry views and they’re rumored to have the island’s best burgers and smoked wings! It’s a great spot to relax after aerial adventures, dolphin tours, or water activities from Broad Creek Marina.

4. Old Oyster Factory

101 Marshland Road, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 681-6040

Open Daily | 11 AM to 9 PM
Sunday Brunch | 11 AM to 2 PM
Daily Happy Hour | 4 PM to 6 PM
*First Come, First Serve for Outdoor Dining

Old Oyster Factory Menus

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Oyster Factory dates back to the early 1800s and is an iconic Hilton Head landmark and popular island destination for seafood with a view! The Old Oyster Factory is voted one of the “Top 100 Scenic View Restaurants” and “Top 50 Kid-Friendly Restaurants in America” and will gladly welcome your pup to join you for wine, beer, bonfires, and waterfront dining on the outside deck over Broad Creek.

5. The Crazy Crab on Jarvis Creek

104 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 681-5021

Open Daily | 11 AM to 9 PM
Daily Happy Hour | 4 PM to 6 PM
Sunday Brunch | 11 AM to 2 PM
*Reservations Recommended

Jarvis Creek Menu | Online Ordering

The Crazy Crab has two dog friendly waterfront restaurants on Hilton Head – one at Harbour Town Marina in Sea Pines (open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM) and one on the banks of beautiful Jarvis Creek. The Lowcountry setting is sublime with a pet-friendly waterfront deck to snack on award-winning Snow Crab, sip Lowcountry Long Islands, and listen to local live music while the kids stay entertained with the largest saltwater fish tank on Hilton Head, crab races, and an onsite playground. A spectacular waterfront dining experience for you and your pup!

6. Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 681-2772

Open Daily | 11 AM to 9 PM
Sunday Brunch | 10 AM to 4 PM
*First Come, First Serve

Brunch | Lunch | Dinner | Kids | Drinks

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks has been a Hilton Head Island tradition for over 50 years! Built as an oyster factory in 1912 and then converted from a seafood processing plant in 1967, Hudson’s seafood comes fresh from the local boats to Hudson’s world-famous docks daily, served with traditional southern hospitality as you relax, watch the boats cruise along Skull Creek, and savor the freshest seafood and best Lowcountry views on Hilton Head, with Fido by your side.

7. Skull Creek Boathouse

397 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island, SC

Phone: (843) 681-3663

Open Daily | 11 AM to 10 PM
Sunday Brunch | 10 AM
Daily Happy Hour | 4 PM to 6 PM
*First Come, First Serve

Skull Creek Boathouse Menu

Featured in National Geographic’s “The Dog Lover’s Guide to Travel”, Skull Creek Boathouse is Hilton Head’s landmark waterfront restaurant and a must-do for dining with your dog. The Boathouse overlooks the creek and marina with a stunning pet-friendly patio beneath the live oaks, a waterfront pavilion, and the open-air Buoy Bar, named one of the Top 30 Outdoor Bars in America. Be sure to check out their events schedule for seasonal nightly music, starting April 1st!

Spend your Vacation in the Top Pet-Friendly Rentals on Hilton Head Island

If you’re still on the hunt for the pawfect dog friendly vacation home on Hilton Head Island, you’re in the right place! Our collection of Hilton Head Island vacation rentals includes a wide selection of pet friendly rentals in the top neighborhoods of Hilton Head Island. Start browsing online or call our team at (843) 785-6767 to find a private paradise for you and your pet on Hilton Head.

The days of leaving your furry friend behind while you vacation are long gone – our team at Sunset Rentals love and treat our four-legged travelers as well as our human guests, with exceptional guest service!

Sunset Rentals represent Hilton Head Island’s largest collection of pet-friendly rentals offering pet owners a wide range of condos, golf villas, and luxury vacation villas that welcome well-behaved pets. Our dog-friendly vacation rentals feature all the comforts and perks of a private home, dog-friendly amenities for your pup, and a locally based team to guide you through your vacation planning.

Take a tour of the top resort areas of Hilton Head Island, browse our selection of dog-friendly vacation rentals, and start planning your dog-friendly vacation on Hilton Head Island with Sunset Rentals.

February 17, 2022December 6, 2023

When Is The Best Time To Visit Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island is a destination for all seasons! Our beautiful barrier island is nestled on the southern tip of the South Carolina coastline with a balmy sub-tropical climate, an average of 215 sunny days a year, and mild temps to enjoy our pristine beaches, serene waterways, untouched nature preserves and award-winning golf and tennis facilities year round. Every season brings new experiences, unique adventures, seasonal events and laid-back Lowcountry living on Hilton Head.

Winter: December, January & February

Average Temperatures: 40-70^o F

The winter season is the quietest time of year for tourists on Hilton Head Island and makes for an idyllic low season beach vacation, romantic winter getaway or warm weather snowbird escape. January is the coldest month of the year with highs in the mid-60s and lows down to 40^oF, but rarely dipping below.

The water is too icy for swimming but it’s the perfect season for sightseeing Hilton Head, easy golf tee times, sunrise beach strolls, sunset cruises, fishing charters for exceptional sports fishing, horse riding and wildlife spotting in Sea Pines Forest Preserve, and hanging out at Hilton Head’s winter festivals.

Be sure to book your stay with Sunset Rentals to enjoy the top winter events on Hilton Head Island. Experience a warm coastal Christmas with family festivities, New Year’s Eve in Harbour Town, a sub-tropical Snow Day in January, or end the winter seafood season indulging in all you can eat oysters at the Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival in February.

Spring: March, April & May

Average Temperatures: March 60-70^o F | April 60-70^o F | May 70-80^o F

A glimpse of spring weather has arrived, the flowers are blooming, and the weather is fine! Spring is a wonderful time of year to get a taste of summer of Hilton Head Island without the crowds, and with temperatures warming up for the beach, shoulder season rental rates, and vacation discounts.

You’ll need a coat for morning beach walks or patio dining on the waterfront, but the temps are warm during the day and shorts and tees are all you need to hike or bike the trails, tee off on a championship golf course or visit the top sights on Hilton Head Island. Be sure to pack your swimwear (and sunscreen) for beach picnics or a chilly dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

Kick off the spring season at the weeklong Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival , join golf pros and champions from around the world at the RBC Heritage PGA Golf Tournament in Sea Pines Resort or if you’re keen to get on the water, plan a trip later in May when Hilton Head’s seasonal attractions and water sports outfitters start to open up for the summer season.

Summer: June, July & August

Average Temperatures: 80-90^o F

Hilton Head Island is a pristine, warm and sunny coastal town so expect summer crowds! This is the most popular season to visit Hilton Head so be sure to book your vacation rental, beach gear, attraction tickets, and outdoor activities in advance to avoid disappointment and start planning your summer vacation activities with Sunset Rentals Ultimate Guide to Summer on Hilton Head Island.

In the summer months the temperatures reach the high-80s and often the 90s (with water temps in the mid-80s) so be prepared for hot, sunny days and wonderful tropical thunderstorms that bring refreshing and quick summer showers, a welcome reprieve from the heat and humidity!

For the ultimate summer vacation and island style living on Hilton Head, stay with Sunset Rentals. Our vacation homes and villas are located in the top resort areas of Hilton Head near world-class golf and tennis, shopping & dining, live entertainment and Hilton Head’s HarbourFest, a family-friendly celebration and weekly fireworks all summer long at Shelter Cove.

Fall: September, October & November

Average Temperatures: September 70-80^o F | October 60-70^o F | November 50-60^o F

After schools go back, the crowds start to thin and cooler temperatures cruise in – but the warm, sunny beach days continue well into October with highs occasionally in the 80s. We’re back to shoulder season on Hilton Head – seasonal water activities have closed, summer traffic has disappeared, the beaches are quieter, and it’s the best season to get a great deal on your dream vacation home!

October and November have the lowest rainfall and are the best months for getting outdoors on Hilton Head Island. Book a tee time or hit the tennis courts at our world-class facilities, hike or bike the trails with prime birdwatching, beachcomb and build sandcastles along the shoreline, or brave the cooler waters for a tranquil SUP sunset.

If you’re planning a Hilton Head vacation with your pooch, the pet-friendly beaches are open all day during low season from October to February (unlike the summer months) and there are plenty of pet-friendly rentals, restaurants and activities on Hilton Head.

October marks the start of seafood season and our favorite Lowcountry tradition, Oyster Roasts! Harvest and host your own oyster roast to shuck & slurp with friends and family at home or plan your vacation around the family-friendly Hilton Head Oyster Festival at Shelter Cove in November, a celebration of Lowcountry tradition, local music and the freshest, flavorful oysters you’ll ever feast on! End the fall season at the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance in November, a 3-day classic car experience with over 500 classic cars, motorcycles, boats and aircraft on display.