Gullah Heritage Trail Tours

It is often challenging to know which locations to explore and what attractions to cover. We would like to simplify that issue for you by listing down some of the best places in Hilton Head. Pack your stuff and explore some of the wonders in Hilton Head with friends and family.

This place is located at Mathews Dr on US 278, and it is known as one of the most visible and dramatic cemeteries on Hilton Head Island. The place is famous because Four Hilton Head patriots are buried here. They were honored by the Sons of the American Revolution. The cemetery also has plantation owners and islanders from the past buried in this place. The cemetery was built in 1845 and it is one of the oldest remaining structures on the sea island. Most of the visitors make sure they cover this place in their Hilton head tours.

2. Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum is a huge part of spreading Lowcountry's cultural heritage and history. Visitors love to explore this place because the museum is housed in the only original plantation on the island. This 69-acre of property is filled with trails that will lead you to along the river and local flora and fauna.

3. Sea Pine Forest preserve

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is home to a plethora of maritime forests and wetland vistas. If you plan on taking a trip to the Lowcountry nature, you'll find over 2 miles of walking paths and 6 miles of multi-purpose open space to explore on your own time. One of the preserve's most notable features is an ancient Indian shell ring that dates back 4,500 years, as well as a floral meadow and freshwater fishing ponds, as well as an abundance of bird habitat.

4. Go shopping

Hilton Head is filled with amazing shopping destinations. If you plan on making a way to the marketplace, explore the handmade goods by the Gullah Geechee Community. They create amazing sweet grass baskets, clay items, and other souvenirs.

5. Parasailing

Adventure awaits you in Hilton Head, and your trip will be incomplete without parasailing. You will enjoy flying off to the sky with a safety harness.

6. Kayaking and canoeing

Discover Hilton Head Island's beautiful waterways and inlets by kayaking. If you wish to explore the island's creeks, inlets, and marshes in Calibogue Sound, you may hire canoes and kayaks and get lessons in how to use them. Year-round kayaking and overnight tours to locations such as Pritchard's and Cumberland Islands are available from experienced guides. You will also enjoy the mesmerizing aquatic life by the ocean.

7. Gullah Heritage Tour

If you are on Sea Island, do not forget to explore the Gullah Geechee Community. You can hire a guide for a pleasant narrated travel through the neighborhood. The community was established during the Civil War by the African slaves brought to the mainland.

Exploring a 200-year-old cultural heritage at Hilton Head Island will not only enhance your vacation but allow you to learn about them. The Gullah Geechee Culture has been around on the island for generations. The community has preserved their heritage by following the trade and occupation after their ancestors. We would like to list down few ways you can explore the Gullah community and the Gullah Geechee people better. 

Gullah Heritage Trail Tour on Hilton Head Island

If you go through the fourth- and fifth-generation of Gullah guides bring to life, you will come across the history of West African slaves sent to the Sea Islands to labor on cotton and rice plantations. There are a lot of stories about their liberated descendants who survived in relative isolation for decades by adopting their predecessors' basic lifestyle. The Gullah community trip will give you a glimpse of the Gullah family compound and numerous historic sites, which also include the Mitchelville.

The Penn Center on St. Helena Island

This ancient school for freed Sea Island slaves was utilized as a meeting site and retreat by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the 1960s. Cultural activities, workshops, historical lectures, walking and island tours, as well as the York W. Bailey Museum with photos and exhibits on the school's history, are presently held there.

Gullah Museum in Georgetown

The museum, which was created by a Gullah story quilt artist and a researcher who has taught extensively on the African Diaspora, offers insight on African slaves' involvement in the Lowcountry's lucrative rice and indigo industries. 

Sallie Ann Robinson Gullah Tour on Daufuskie

Take a bus tour of Daufuskie Island to explore the community better. The island, which is only accessible by ferry, is home to several historic sites, including Mary Fields Elementary School, where Conroy taught in the 1960s. Staying within the renovated Frances Jones House, which was established in 1865, will provide you with a more immersive experience. 

Gullah Cuisine

Restaurants steeped in the culinary traditions introduced to the United States by West African slaves may be found throughout the Gullah Geechee Corridor, serving farm-to-table cuisine. Buckshot's Restaurant in McClellanville and The Gullah Grub on St. Helena Island are two of the most popular places for tourists. 

Apart from these brilliant places to explore the Gullah Geechee Culture closely, you can connect with the Gullah Heritage Trail Tours to get more details, visit http://gullaheritage.com/   or dial (843)681-7066 to talk to a guide. The cultural heritage of the Gullah community will help you see things that are not available with other service providers.

Hilton Head is one of the most recommended destinations for summer and winter vacations. People from all parts of the country select this location to take their families and spend some time around the beauty of nature and attractive water sports. However, people often find it challenging to settle with the best things to do in Hilton Head. We would like to give you some rare and interesting places to visit and things to explore on Sea Island. 

Fly Into One of T+L Readers' Favorite Airports

You can find small airports in Hilton Head with a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of the easiest routes to travel and it flies through Savannah/Hilton Head International airport which has been ranked as T+L World's Best Awards top 10 domestic airports list. The place is calm and relaxing and very well organized. The place has a serene seating area that will remind you of Savannah’s historic squares. The airport has an outpost ice-cream shop where you can find your favourite flavour of shortcake, butter pecan, and more. 

To explore the wildlife, the visitors must plan their visits around mid-week. Once you are completely drained from soaking the sun and exploring beaches, you can visit the wildlife in the Coastal Discovery Museum. It’s a great place to start when it comes to exploring Flora and Fauna. The museum has a discovery lab for the kids to explore the local animals like horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, turtles, and different habitats of butterflies. Exploring new species and wildlife around the vacation spot will add up to a fun visit to Hilton Head.

Explore the Gullah Culture

Coming to Hilton Head and not exploring the Gullah Geechee Culture will just leave your vacation incomplete. The community represents a rich history of their natives, delicious food recipes, and craftsmanship passed down from their ancestors. There are many places to get a closer look at the Gullah culture and Mitchelville is one of the best places to start. It is a town where escaped slaves took shelter in the Civil war and it’s open to visitors today. There are still various things to explore about this community because they choose their traditions and still follow some of the native celebrations reflecting their dedication to community food, music, and trade. 

Ride the bike across

Taking a bike trail is the most exciting thing if you are looking to explore nature. The Sea Island has 60 miles of bike paths, which makes it easy to find your navigation on wheels. You can take your bike anywhere you want to go, whether it is a lunch spot or the beach. You will come across people of various ages paddling their way around Hilton Head. It is considered one of the best and cheapest ways to look around. Most resorts have a bike rental available, or even if they don’t you can always find a rental service close by to rent a bike for an affordable price.
 

These beautiful locations and the best things to do in Hilton head will make you feel at home.

Where did Gullah Geechee come from?

The Gullah Geechee community is a descendant of the enslaved Africans from the west and central Africa. They were forced to work on the plantations of North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.

What are the best Gullah cuisines?

The key difference is that Gullah cuisine emphasizes slow cooking, one-pot cooking, living off the land, and the usage of benne seed and groundnuts. Gullah food has a lot more African Diaspora influences, with a lot more Caribbean ingredients and flavors.

What are the important vegetables for Gullah people?

Yams, peanuts, rice, okra, sesame, hot peppers, sorghum, watermelon, and some of the ingredients brought across the sea by the enslaved ancestors.

What is the main method of cooking for Gullah people?

The Gullah food is slow-cooked one-pot cooking, living off the land, and more. Some of the main ingredients used are benne seed, groundnuts, and hot pepper, the flavors of the dishes are more African with some Caribbean touch.

These facts about Gullah Geechee Culture and their traditional food are heartwarming. They have preserved the ingredients and flavors for centuries, which is now a major part of their culture. To know more about their traditions, contact Gullah Heritage Trail Tours, just visit http://gullaheritage.com/ or dial (843)681-7066 to talk to a guide.