Off the beaten path: Here are 7 hidden gems in Beaufort County, according to our readers
When tourists visit Beaufort County, there’s no question where a crowd can be found: Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island, Old Town Bluffton or Beaufort’s Waterfront Park.
But we wanted to know some of the hidden gems that locals know about, places that might not be on most tourists’ radar.
Here are some of the suggestions we got from readers in our non-scientific survey.
Fish Haul Beach Park
Beyond the tree canopy that shades Mitchelville Road on Hilton Head, beach-goers will find Fish Haul Beach Park (formerly known as Mitchelville Beach Park) along the Port Royal Sound.
The park (124 Michelville Road) has limited amenities, though there is a public restroom. What you likely will find is serenity and solitude, and one of the best shelling spots on the island.
“Peaceful and natural,” one reader said.
“It’s just a calmer and more tranquil place,” said another.
While some beach visitors may have bird-watching on the agenda, the beach’s proximity to the airport on the north end of the island also makes it a good place to watch planes come in.
Camp St. Mary’s Fishing Pier
The Camp St. Mary’s property in Okatie was operated by the Catholic Diocese of Charleston as a children’s camp and a refuge for teen mothers until the early 1980s. Beaufort County purchased the property in the 1990s, so it has not been developed.
The county has floated the idea of creating a waterfront park or of using the property as a regional communications center for police and first responders. For now, though, the fishing pier and floating dock on the deep-water Okatie River make the site at 119 Camp St. Mary’s Road a hidden gem for fishermen.
Whitehall Park
The next hidden gem will unfortunately remain hidden for at least another year as it’s closed to the public.
Once construction is complete on infrastructure for a nearby mixed-use development, visitors to the roughly 10-acre Whitehall Park on Lady’s Island will once again be able to walk among the 200-year-old live oaks, see nesting eagles and and enjoy the scenic view across the Beaufort River toward Beaufort. This is easily among the most picturesque sites to watch the sunset in Beaufort County.
A boardwalk tying Beaufort’s downtown Waterfront Park to Whitehall Park will give pedestrians and cyclists easier access to the park once it reopens.
Food and restaurants
Readers mentioned several Beaufort County businesses when it comes to hidden food gems.
One of those nominated was Earle of Sandwich Pub in Hilton Head’s Coligny Plaza (1 North Forest Beach Drive). This restaurant may not make a splash online, but it has long been a favorite for locals and visitors alike. In fact, it came in second place, just behind its neighbor Gringo’s Diner in The Island Packet’s “Best Burger on Hilton Head” competition last fall.
Here are a few others that readers noted:
- The Lemon Island Seafood Market, 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie: “They have the best fresh and often local seafood!”
- The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head (in the Village at Wexford): “Amazing Music, Service and Food”
- Craft Kitchen, 7 Johnston Way, Bluffton: “Great food with creative twists like Bulgarian spices on their amazing hand cut French fries, extensive craft beer menu and amazing bite size desserts including house made custom chocolates.”
