Bluffton, South Carolina, is a quaint town in the state's famous Lowcountry region and a lovely complement to nearby beach destination Hilton Head Island. The town is a cozy feast for the eyes, with antique churches, cute boutique shops, and antebellum homes lining its streets. Bluffton is filled with Southern charm, with grand, draping oaks and a beautiful view onto the waters of the May River. Visitors love the town's many delicious mom and pop restaurants, opportunities for golfing and fishing, and cultural and historical highlights. Bluffton has a little something for everyone-it is packed with fun, yet still maintains a relaxing and welcoming small-town atmosphere.
Heyward House
Heyward House, a project of the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, was originally constructed for a local plantation lord as his summer residence. Built around 1841, Heyward House is one of only eight remaining pre-Civil War homes in Bluffton. Given its excellent condition and the exhibitions and artifacts it houses, the estate provides a wonderful platform for learning about the history of the Lowcountry region. Heyward House offers four different tours: a guided house tour; a guide-led walking tour; a "living portrait" tour in which participants use their smartphones to bring the house's paintings to life; and finally, a tour led by a virtual docent.
Heyward House, 70 Boundary Street Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-757-6293
Farmers Market of Bluffton
The Farmers Market of Bluffton is a weekly event that brings the entire community together, including both locals and tourists alike. The market was established in 2008 thanks to a local grassroots effort, and today it includes dozens of Bluffton growers and downtown vendors. These purveyors offer products like fresh fruit and vegetables, locally produced chocolates and cheeses, and artisan bakery and prepared foods.
The Bluffton Farmers Market regularly hosts area talent as well, with musical performances a common sight at the weekly events. The community gathering hosts several interesting events at the market—children can learn to become "little growers", while the adults can enjoy special dishes from the "chef at the market".
Bluffton SC Farmers Market, 40 Calhoun, Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-415-2447
May River Excursions
May River Excursions provides its passengers with several different boat charter options leaving from Bluffton's Old Town. Every trip is run by May River's own Captain Chris Shoemaker, who trained in the Coast Guard and is himself a Lowcountry native.
The boats the company owns and operates can hold up to 12 guests at a time, taking them around the beautiful waters near Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island. May River Excursions offers several types of tours—for those interested in getting their hands dirty and catching some dinner, crabbing, fishing, and shrimping trips are available. River tours and dolphin excursions, on the other hand, provide a less hands-on, more relaxing way to explore the region on the water. May River Excursions, Phone: 843-304-2878
Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve
The 977-acre Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve provides a calm and beautiful spot for visitors who need a short break from the hustle and bustle of nearby Hilton Head Island. The preserve is dominated by woodland forests and contains a well-maintained 4-mile trail where visitors can hike and do some bird watching.
Along the way you will come across several swamps and salt water creeks which are well attended by a variety of birds. The trail is considered easy and will suit most members of the family. If you are lucky you may also catch a glimpse of white-tailed deer, fox and grey squirrels.
Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve, Sawmill Creek Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910, 803 734 3886
Corner Perk Cafe, Bar, Roasters
Corner Perk Cafe, Bar, Roasters is a local Bluffton coffee shop, roaster, and brunch restaurant with an award-winning reputation. The café has been voted the Lowcountry's best coffee shop for 6 years in a row, and it delivers quality coffee to its customers each and every day. Corner Perk marries urban and country, bringing both New York style and South Carolina flair in its interior and exterior décor.
The café brews only the freshly roasted beans it has prepared on site that very day, making for an excellent cup of coffee with every order. The brunch menu includes a litany of breakfast favorites like omelets, French toast, and a large selection of breakfast sandwiches.
Corner Perk Cafe, 1297 May River Road, Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-816-5674
New River Linear Trail
The New River Linear Trail makes up part of the larger East Coast Greenway, an incredibly extensive trail that, when completed, will provide a route for non-motorized movement between Key West and the border between the United States and Canada.
The New River Linear Trail is an unpaved section of the Greenway and finds its southern endpoint at the New River. The trail includes scenic natural areas such as wetlands and historic places close to the town of Bluffton, which are marked with informative signs. The trail is open to both cyclists and hikers, and dogs are welcome along the route.
New River Linear Trail, 3809-3835 Okatie Hwy, Bluffton, Phone: SC 29910
Cyrus Garvin House
The Cyrus Garvin House is unique in that it is the only remaining example of a home built by a freed slave on the May River. The house was built around 1870, and remained the property of the Garvin family until 1960. However, it had been used as an oyster storage facility for many decades and was not in good shape. Today the Garvin House has been painstakingly restored to its original condition due to the efforts of the Town of Bluffton. You will find the house at the intersection of Bridge and Wharf Streets, in the historic Oyster Factory Park. Visitors can join a guided 30min tour of the house as part of a 90 minute tour of the Historic District.
Cyrus Garvin House, Oyster Factory Park, Bluffton, SC 29910, 843 757 6293
Old South Golf Links
Old South Golf Links is a Hilton Head-area golf course that allows golfers to play the links in a gorgeous Lowcountry setting. The course is planted squarely in the beautiful natural marshland setting of McKay's Creek and was designed by famous course architect Clyde Johnston. Surrounded by lush marshes, rolling hills, and arching treetops, golfers at Old South can even expect an encounter with local wildlife, which includes hawks, deer, and storks, to name just a few. Because it is a public course, the location is accessible to visitors. Nonetheless, it features country club amenities like a restaurant and has a strong reputation, having been named one of America's best new public courses by Golf Digest when it was opened.
Old South Golf Links, 50 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-785-5353
Station 300
Station 300 is a family entertainment center located in the heart of Bluffton. The center has a very popular bowling alley as well as a full bar, restaurant and other entertainment. As such, it is the ideal venue for a birthday party or other fun celebration. To ensure that children can also have fun at the bowling alley, all the lanes are provided with bumpers and there are lightweight balls and smaller size shoes for kids. The bar provides a selection of beers and mixed drinks and the restaurant menu has all your bowling-night favorites like burgers, pizza, sharing plates and sandwiches.
Station 300, 25 Innovation Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910, 843 815 2695
Rose Hill Mansion
Rose Hill Mansion is an astoundingly beautiful plantation home that holds an important place in the Lowcountry, and the entire South more broadly. Initially, Dr. John Kirk built the structure to be his family home in the 1850s, though construction was paused during the Civil War. Today, the house has been fully restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of its highlights are its grand entry staircase, original furniture, and portraits and artifacts owned by its original proprietors. Rose Hill is designed in a Gothic style and is surrounded by sprawling gardens. The venue is open for guided tours, weddings, and other special events.
Rose Hill Mansion, 199 Rose Hill Way, Bluffton, SC 29910
Hilton Head National Golf Club
Top-notch golfing is one of the most attractive features of the South Carolina Lowcountry, and Scratch Golf's Hilton Head National Golf Club is a strong contributor to the area's reputation as a golf destination. This course is a fan favorite, winning three back-to-back local awards in 2012. Golf legend Gary Player and award-winning golf architect Bobby Weed teamed up to design the 18 holes at Hilton Head National, which are accessible to casual golfers but can provide a challenge for those more seasoned at the links. The course is open to the public and has daily rates for visiting golfers. Amenities include a pro shop and the Player's Pub restaurant.
Hilton Head National Golf Club, 60 Hilton Head National Dr., Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-842-5900
Society of Bluffton Artists
The Society of Bluffton Artists, known more fondly as SOBA, is a Bluffton community non-profit that brings together local artists to help them enhance their skills and share their talents with aspiring creators. Founded in 1994, the society is and has always been run by the artists themselves, who host demonstrations by distinguished members of the art world and hold art classes throughout the year. SOBA owns two spaces, a gallery in Old Town Bluffton, and the Center for Creative Arts. The gallery displays works in different media by artists from in and around the Lowcountry, while the center provides a space for classes and workshops.
Society of Bluffton Artists, 6 Church St., Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-757-6586
Southern Barrel Brewery
Southern Barrel Brewery is a beer connoisseur's heaven. This young craft brewery serves up a unique assortment of homemade beers, which include lagers, stouts, ales and pale ales, and even a raspberry-flavored concoction. In addition to its year-round sorts, Southern Barrel also produces seasonal selections that tap into the flavors of each particular time of year. The facility has a rustic feel highlighted by reclaimed wood accents, and it includes the brewery itself as well as a tavern with a full food menu. Guests are welcome to tour the production areas, try a flight of Southern Barrel's best beers, grab some nosh, or take a growler to go.
Southern Barrel Brewery, 375 Buckwalter Pl Blvd, Bluffton, SC 29910, Phone: 843-837-2337
Lockstar Escape
Lockstar Escape offers visitors to Bluffton and Hilton Head a great family entertainment option. The escape rooms at Lockstar have been very carefully constructed with great attention to detail, to ensure that each and every escape room experience will totally immerse players in the situation. All games are private - you and your group will never have to share your great escape with strangers. The Rat Trap and Lost Souls games can accommodate 3 to 8 players and are rated 8/10 for difficulty. The more people in your team, the easier it becomes, so while it is possible for just 2 people to play, it is very unlikely that 2 players would unravel the clues in the allotted time.
Lockstar Escape, 70 Pennington Dr Suite 17, Bluffton, SC 29910, 843 757 8727
Local Pie
Local Pie wood-fired pizza restaurant is about as local as you can get. Local Pie was the first Neapolitan-style pizza restaurant to be established on Hilton Head, all the staff are local, many of the customers are locals and the restaurant endeavors to use only the best locally-sourced produce to produce their delicious pizza pies. With venues on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, Local Pie is the place to go when a pizza craving strikes. Besides all your favorite pizzas, Local Pie also serves delicious salads and freshly-baked subs. The Bluffton Branch also serves a Sunday Brunch menu from 11am to 3pm.
Local Pie, 15 State of Mind Street, Bluffton, SC 29910, 843 837 7437
