Outside Hilton Head

Outside Hilton Head is Hilton Head Island's highest-rated and most comprehensive outdoor adventure company — a 4.9-star rating across over 1,100 reviews representing a spectrum of activities from dolphin tours to kayak expeditions to fishing charters to paddleboard rentals. For families who want water and nature experiences that go beyond beach time, this is the company to book.

The dolphin tour is Outside Hilton Head's signature family offering. Operating on the waters of Calibogue Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway, these guided tours regularly encounter wild bottle-nose dolphins in their natural habitat — not performing tricks, but swimming, feeding, and porpoising alongside the boat. Kids who have never seen wild dolphins in open water remember the experience permanently.

Kayak tours through the tidal creek systems around Hilton Head offer a different but equally impressive experience. Paddling at eye level with the marsh grass, watching herons take flight from their roosts, and navigating the winding waterways with an experienced guide introduces children to a coastal ecosystem from the inside rather than the outside.

For teenagers with some waterman ambition, standup paddleboard rentals and kayak rentals provide independent exploration opportunities. Fishing charters are available for families with older kids who want an all-morning fishing experience.

Book through outsidehiltonhead.com well in advance — summer availability fills quickly, and weather-dependent activities benefit from having multiple potential dates. Morning sessions consistently receive the best reviews for wildlife sightings and water conditions.