Best Moving Company in Hilton Head Island, SC

The winter months are always a slow time for the Lowcountry.

Fewer travelers, colder temperatures and holidays all contribute to the slowdown of tourism. But for some businesses, this off-season has felt particularly bad.

February has historically been the slowest time for the island, with travelers and business often picking back up in March.

But why has this off-season felt particularly bad and is it actually worse than others?

Could there be a few reasons why this year’s off-season may be feeling slower than usual to some? And when can you expect business to start picking up again?

Cost is the most important factor when considering travel, from food, to entertainment and even when finding a place to stay.

Hilton Head is home to many short-term rental properties that fluctuate in price depending on the travel season. This year, the off-season prices are climbing to higher rates, which in turn is resulting in fewer visitors.

When looking at available rental properties on three popular sites, Vacasa, Sunset Rentals and Airbnb, here are the lowest and highest-priced rentals for locations that can host two to four people during the month of February.

Vacasa:

Lowest rental price: $80 a night

Highest rental price: $199 a night

Sunset Rentals:

Lowest rental price: $785 weekly rent

Highest rental price: $2,815 weekly rent

Airbnb:

Lowest rental price: $71 a night

Highest rental price: $289 a night

When the Lowcountry experienced snowfall in January, businesses, retail shops, government offices and even the airport shut down for days.

This alone put a damper on tourism and general activity from locals in the area as the ice created hazardous driving conditions days after the initial snow had fallen.

With this wacky weather, many flights and travel plans were delayed or completely canceled and restaurants and businesses that were forced to close lost thousands of dollars.

However, despite the possible rain this week, the sun is still shining and the forecast seems to show that warmer temperatures are on the way.

Both the flu and stomach viruses have been running rampant this year.

In the latest available flu data from the South Carolina Department of Public Health, there are 10,231 lab-confirmed flu tests reported the week of Jan. 26 - Feb. 1.

Flu season usually lasts from October through March but according to the SCDPH, both Beaufort and Jasper counties have seen an increase in cases.

Other illnesses like norovirus (stomach bug) have been a concern too.

But as temperatures begin to warm up, these viruses will weaken, according to the National Institutes of Health.

According to Charlie Clark, spokesperson for the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, “Tourism is the number one driver of our economy, with an annual economic impact of over $3 billion.”

Hilton Head Island alone sees over 2 million visitors each year and has an $8 million budget in tourism marketing and promotions for 2025. During last year’s peak travel season, hotels, condos and villas were 80% occupied at all times.

But January and February are packed full of activities too, from Restaurant Week, Gullah Celebration, the Seafood Festival and more, there is still plenty to do and explore even if the travel season is slow.

“The off-season is always slower, but we do our best and are lucky to have a good flow of customers even when tourism is down,” said Nicole with Captain Woody’s.

Even though this off-season hasn’t been significantly worse than previous years, with these combined setbacks from the weather, costs and sickness during the slower months, some local businesses have felt the hit.

“This season has definitely been a bit worse than normal for us,” said Paige Shanks with Agave. “We moved restaurant locations too, so we felt the dip.”

However, with the warmer months upon us and the peak season right around the corner, this slump shouldn’t last much longer.

“Post-COVID, visitor patterns have returned to a more traditional seasonal cadence,” Clark said. “Tourism and business traditionally ramp up in March as families choose Hilton Head Island for their spring break getaways, and the RBC Heritage in April often serves as the unofficial kickoff to our peak season.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

The Island Packet

(843) 626-0211

Anna Claire Miller is the Service Journalism Reporter for The Island Packet. Originally from Georgia, she has experience in magazine writing, non-profit communications and city government. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, legal studies and English from High Point University.

Gracie and George, the stars of the Hilton Head Island Land Trust’s eagle cam, eagerly await the ‘pip,’ or first break on the eggshell, as their two eggs start to hatch. Starting Feb. 7, fans will be on “pip watch” as they tune in for the first sign of a hatching eaglet.

Gracie laid her two eggs on Jan. 3 and 7. Since then, she’s been taking turns sitting on the eggs with her mate George. This is Gracie and George’s first season on the land trust’s eagle cam, though they’ve been nesting at the undisclosed location for about 13 years. Last year, the pair had three eggs, with two of the eaglets surviving to fledge, or fly away from the nest.

It typically takes about 35 days for eagle eggs to hatch, according to the land trust. After the first pip appears within the next week, it will take the eaglets about a day to break out of their egg. In the meantime, Gracie and George will start building a stock of food for when their eaglets arrive.

“Before they’re even totally out, the food pantry starts to build,” Robin Storey, the president of the land trust, said. “So the male will start bringing fish into the nest so there is food ready when that little one is ready to eat, and they eat pretty soon.”

From there, the eaglets will grow about half a pound each week until they’re 9 weeks old. When they’re five weeks old, they can begin standing and tearing up their own food. As their parents work almost non-stop to feed their hungry, eight-week-old teenagers, the eaglets will then start stepping out onto branches on their home tree and eventually fledge.

While the eagle cam was added this season, the land trust’s original raptor camera is still running, though the nest is empty. The nest has housed eagles, osprey and a pair of Great Horned Owls in the past, but after sustaining damage from Hurricane Helene it’s remained empty. It’s possible that ospreys will begin restoring the nest when they begin nesting in February.

This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 11:59 AM.

If you see big machines on Hilton Head beaches this summer, don’t be alarmed. It’s all a part of the 2025 beach restoration project.

Hilton Head’s 2025 beach renourishment is the fourth major project Hilton Head has undergone since its initial restoration 34 years ago.

The project is sponsored and funded by the Town of Hilton Head Island and will be engineered by Olsen Associates, which has served as the town’s coastal engineering consultant and executed the first restoration of the island’s beaches in 1990.

The upcoming beach renourishment project has an estimated price of $16.5 million.

Here is what you should know about this upcoming project.

The locations of these sand placement projects are:

1. South Beach & South Island: 750,000 cubic yards of sand will be added along the southern Atlantic Ocean shoreline.

2. Central Island: 700,000 cubic yards of sand will be added along 28,860 feet of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.

3. The Heel: 500,000 cubic yards of sand will be added along the northeast point of the island at the intersecting point of the Atlantic Ocean and Port Royal Sound shoreline.

4. Fish Haul Creek: 50,000 cubic yards of sand will be added along the Port Royal Sound shoreline.

5. Pine Island: 180,000 cubic yards of beach-compatible sand will be added and construction of six rock breakwaters on the Port Royal Sound shoreline of Hilton Head Plantation between Dolphin Head and Pine Island will be installed.

The project report states that this will begin in the summer of 2025 and is broken up into three phases.

Here is a timeline outlined by the Town of Hilton Head:

Phase 1: June 2025 to October 2025: Includes The Heel, Fish Haul Creek, Port Royal Plantation and Pine Island

Phase 2: September 2025 to May 2026: Includes Central Island, South Island and South Beach.

Phase 3: Timing not yet determined: This phase of the project includes the Pine Island structures.

Preparation for this project begins this spring and all timelines are subject to change as the project progresses.

The beaches along both the central and southern shoreline are to remain unaffected until the fall of 2025.

The Town of Hilton Head says that only 1,000 feet of beach access will be restricted each day throughout the duration of the project, meaning that only 2% of beaches will be unavailable every day. The project is designed to be as non-disruptive as possible.

The entire project construction is expected to last approximately six months, operating around the clock.

Beach renourishment is the process of placing additional sediment on a beach or in the nearshore.

Due to natural erosion, the daily ebb and flow of water continually shapes the shoreline. Beach renourishment is necessary to restore and replace sand to keep beaches safe and healthy.

Sand placement offers a better environment for endangered species such as sea turtles and birds and provides added storm protection to oceanfront homes, businesses and other structures. It also provides more space on the shore for activity.

This story was originally published January 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

The Island Packet

(843) 626-0211

Anna Claire Miller is the Service Journalism Reporter for The Island Packet. Originally from Georgia, she has experience in magazine writing, non-profit communications and city government. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, legal studies and English from High Point University.

Christmas is right around the corner.

If you still haven’t figured out dinner plans, here are some locations throughout Beaufort County to visit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Community Christmas Day Dinner at Panini’s and Hemingway’s:

Panini’s and Hemingway’s Bistro is hosting their annual Orphans & Strays Christmas Dinner all afternoon on Christmas Day. The Community Christmas Dinner is available to everyone starting at 2 p.m. on Christmas Day and the full bar will be available until 1:30 a.m.

The annual Orphans & Strays free Christmas Dinner is a potluck where Panini’s and Hemingway’s Bistro donate their time and money to prepare main courses and sides, including ham, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, salads and veggies. These dishes are added to the food that guests bring to share at the event. Hemingway’s Bistro is located at 920 Bay Street and Panini’s is located at 926 Bay Street, just next door.

For more information, visit their website.

Frankie Bones Restaurant and Lounge - 26 Discovery Drive, Bluffton

You can also place an order to pick up Christmas entrees at Frankie Bones Bluffton locations. These meals include your choice of turkey, prime rib or ham and include sides like potatoes, green beans, asparagus, cornbread and cranberry sauce. These meals also come with a soup or salad option and dessert. Orders must be placed by December 20 and picked up on December 24 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information, visit their holiday dining page.

Crazy Crab Harbour Town - 149 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island

Fishcamp on Broad Creek - 11 Simmons Road, Hilton Head Island

The Old Oyster Factory - 101 Marshland Road, Hilton Head Island

Poseidon - 38 Shelter Cove Lane Suite 121, Hilton Head Island

Skull Creek Dockside - 2 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island

WiseGuys - 1513 Main Street, Hilton Head Island

Nick’s Steak & Seafood - 9 Park Lane, Hilton Head Island

Nectar - 207 Bluffton Road, Bluffton

Road House Ribs - 7 Topper Lane, Port Royal

The Hilton Head Diner - 6 Marina Side Drive, Hilton Head Island

OKKO Hilton Head - 95 Matthews Drive, Hilton Head Island

Sea Pines Resort Christmas Prix Fixe Dinner at Links - 11 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head Island

Beach House Hilton Head Island - 1 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island

Chin Dynasty - 108 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar - 30 Plantation Business Park Suite 208, Bluffton

Waffle House - various locations