Hilton Head falls to No. 3 best US island after years on top. Which islands beat us?
It was good while it lasted.
After three years in the top spot, Hilton Head Island was named the No. 3 best island in the continental United States by readers of Travel + Leisure, a national travel magazine.
The Golden Isles in Georgia, including Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island and St. Simons Island, were named the best in the continental U.S. The second spot went to the San Juan Islands in Washington.
A popular vacation spot for Hilton Head Islanders themselves, the Golden Isles were described by Travel + Leisure as “four barrier islands (that) draw wildlife fans keen to spot migrating North Atlantic right whales, swim with loggerhead turtles, and enjoy some of the country’s best bird-watching.”
Hilton Head’s listing does not include information about why it was chosen, and features a photo that appears to be of the May River taken in Bluffton.
The island is followed on the list by Mount Desert Island, Maine; Kiawah Island, South Carolina; Amelia Island, Florida; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Florida Keys, Florida; Captiva Island, Florida; and Block Island, Rhode Island.
Hilton Head was named the No. 1 island in the continental U.S. by Travel + Leisure in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce encourages social media followers to vote for the island each year, and spent over $50,000 on advertising the island in the magazine last year.
Travel + Leisure reports that readers voted on their favorite spots prior to the coronavirus pandemic. They ranked islands based on natural attractions, beaches, activities, restaurants and food, local people and their friendliness and value.
“The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be,” the story says.
However, the balance of mitigating the pandemic and keeping Hilton Head’s economy humming has been difficult to strike for local leaders. While some residents call for a ban on visitors, others lament mask requirements for commercial spaces. Short-term rental owners threatened to sue Hilton Head’s Town Council after the council passed an ordinance in April that encouraged all rentals to close. The council reversed its decision two days later.
Since then, visitors to the island have streamed in for holiday weekends. Indoor and outdoor dining is open on the island, and staffs and customers are required to wear face masks.
Other honors for South Carolina
Outside of Hilton Head’s high ranking in this year’s list of best islands, Lowcountry destinations and businesses held their own in the 2020 “World’s Best” awards by Travel + Leisure:
Kiawah Island, South Carolina — No. 5 best island in the continental U.S.
Charleston — Best city in the U.S. ; No. 18 city in the world.
Montage Palmetto Bluff — No. 2 best resort hotel in the South.
