Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum is Hilton Head Island's center for nature education and Lowcountry cultural heritage, located on the beautiful 68-acre Honey Horn historic site on the island's north end. Unlike conventional museums, the Coastal Discovery Museum focuses on getting families into the natural environment through guided programs, nature walks, and eco-tours that transform the island's ecosystems into interactive classrooms.

The museum's guided nature programs are its greatest strength. Seasonal turtle-tagging expeditions let families observe conservation researchers at work, capturing and measuring diamondback terrapins as part of a long-term population study. Kayak eco-tours paddle through the salt marshes and tidal creeks that surround the island, with naturalist guides pointing out dolphins, wading birds, crabs, and the complex ecology of the marsh.

Birding walks introduce families to the island's impressive avian diversity — over 200 species have been recorded on Hilton Head.

The museum campus at Honey Horn is a destination in itself. The 68-acre property features ancient live oaks (some over 300 years old), a butterfly and pollinator garden, a discovery trail through maritime forest and marsh, and the historic buildings of a former Sea Island cotton plantation. The grounds are free to explore and provide a peaceful contrast to the island's busier tourist areas.

Indoor galleries at the museum cover Hilton Head's natural history, Gullah Geechee cultural heritage, and the island's ecological systems. The exhibits are designed for accessibility and engagement, with interactive elements that hold young visitors' attention. The combination of indoor and outdoor experiences makes the museum a flexible attraction that works in any weather.

The Coastal Discovery Museum also operates a robust calendar of family programs, summer camps, and community events. The summer nature camps for children are particularly popular, offering multi-day immersions in marine biology, coastal ecology, and Lowcountry culture. For families seeking education and nature alongside their beach vacation, the museum is an essential Hilton Head experience.