This just in, Hilton Head voted #1 US Island to visit by Travel & Leisure’s readers!
And our No. 1 this year? An outpost of Southern hospitality and traditional American recreation.
No. 1: Hilton Head, South Carolina
Even as the secret about Hilton Head gets out, repeat visitors say it hasn’t lost any charm. Pristine golf courses and local wildlife (including loggerhead turtles, dolphins, and cormorants) have made it as popular for honeymoons as it is for family reunions. Other reasons to love Hilton Head? Quiet beaches, yachts bobbing offshore, and the view from Harbour Town Lighthouse. After a 114-step ascent, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree panorama of marshes and fairways. “Look forward to crossing the bridge to the island,” wrote T+L reader. “You know you are arriving at a very special place.”