Harbour Town Lighthouse

Very easy stairs to the top. The view is amazing! However, the gift shop has the coolest things ever in it! But overpriced. The are a couple of restaurants around the lighthouse and an ice cream shop.

The walk up isn’t bad. The view is great! However, the gift shop has the coolest things ever in it! I bought a 50 year calendar… and it is the coolest thing. The area all closes down early, so plan ahead.

The scenery around the lighthouse is beautiful. The admission price is Adult $ 4.00. We went in November and the interior was warm as you went up the steps to top. I cannot imagine the heat in the summer months. The historical plaques were very interesting. To get the Lighthouse you must be on Sea Pines which has a entry fee of $ 6.00 per car. But it gives you access to the Harbour area. You have to be interested in the history of the region otherwise you might think it is a waste. When you get to the top, you have a circular view of the famous 18^th green, harbor and private island accessible by ferry. You may depart for fishing trips, shark trips, evening dinner trips. Presently now there is music under the big oak trees by Harbour for Christmas. From the docks, you can see porpoises swimming and rolling in the water within 10 feet of the opening. Really cool for kids and adults.

Worth the $ 4 for the trip to the top. It’s also a bit of a museum, as there are little exhibits on each floor on the way up. It’s 50 feet to the top, so be ready for the stairs. We went on a rainy day, but the view was still beautiful and you can clearly see dolphins near the beach below. We actually came back a few days later, and they let us up for free since we got rained on the first time around. I thought that was really awesome. There’s also a small gift shop on the first level and the top for souvenirs.

I loved the view from the top of the lighthouse! It was definitely worth the $ 4 per person and the $ 6 to get into sea pines. The only bad thing about the lighthouse is that it was very hot inside. All the shops around the lighthouse are also very great. We loved walking around. If you are a fan of lighthouses then this is definitely for you!

After hearing all about this lighthouse and seeing it on postcards and bumper stickers, I made it a point to visit while I was in Hilton Head. I expected so much more, especially after paying $ 6 to enter Sea Pines, and then $ 4 to climb up the lighthouse steps.
There are gift shops at both the bottom and the top of the lighthouse. Between these two points, there is very limited air circulation (no a/​c) in the lighthouse. There are fans at the top of each set of steps, but that doesn’t do a whole lot. If you’re going to check out the lighthouse, avoid the hottest part of the day at all costs if you want to make it to the top.
The nice breeze and the view at the top were pretty cool. On one side of the lighthouse all you can see is water. On the other side you can see part of the golf course, and then, of course, all of the overpriced, touristy shops.
The only reason I would ever considering visiting the lighthouse again would be for a sunset photo-​op. Once really is enough.

Loved walking up the lighthouse with my family a few days ago. Admission price was reasonable (adults $ 4) and although inside the lighthouse was very hot and humid, reading the historical plaques on the way up and down was interesting. There is so much going on in that lighthouse I am sure that even if you have been before there is something else to learn that might catch your eye.
Try going on an off time though to avoid crowds and droves of excited children in a confined space. We went on a day it looked like rain (but never rained!) and it was very pleasant.

I’m sorry to say but I’m actually quite disappointed in this place. It’s nothing like I expected and it fell below my expectations. The light house in pictures looks sooo much larger than it actually is and than you have to pay $ 4.00 just to climb to the top. The flight of stairs is actually not that high and goes pretty quick. It was hot in the light house but they had fans at the top of each stairs. If you really wanted to read and look at the history about it you can they had all types of articles and fun facts about it. So getting to the top its nice but it wasn’t all that especially from what I’ve seen on post cards they had an amazing shots. So you get to the top walk around take pictures and that’s about it. Once your done you can check out the gift shop and look at all the overpriced items they were selling mind you nothing caught my eye here.
All in all I have to say I’m a little dissapointed the pictures I saw online were kinda different than what I expected. I definitely wouldn’t go back.

I like that on your way up there’s lots of artifacts and pictures and stuff to look at and read about. Makes the trek up less tiring if you stop and look. And although the steps are narrow (about two-​person wide), they are broken up into lots of landings (I think all of them had at least one of those penny smashing machines) that make it easy to wait and let others pass. It is a beautiful view from the top with viewers and even a live cam.

The red and white candy-​striped lighthouse at Harbour Town is a symbol of both the Sea Pines Resort and of Hilton Head Island as a whole. For golfers, the Harbour Town Lighthouse is recognizable because it prominently sits behind the 18^th green at Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the PGA Tour’s annual spring Heritage tournament.
The private lighthouse is «medium» sized at 90 feet tall. The tallest lighthouses in the country are 150+ feet tall. It takes 114 steps to get to the top. They’ve managed to fit a small museum and gift shop inside. The gift shop is located at the top. The whole lighthouse itself is a museum. As you make your way up, you can look at historic photographs and artifacts, some from the Civil War era and earlier. There are informational placards aplenty, chock full of text explaining Harbour Town’s surprisingly rich history. There’s also golf memorabilia pertaining to the Heritage golf tournament that golf fans will find interesting.
The top of the lighthouse has scenic views of Harbour Town’s boutique shops and restaurants below, the yacht basin (marina), the 18^th hole of the golf links, and the beautiful Calibogue Sound. One of the best and most popular times to visit the lighthouse is at sunset. Note you can’t visit at sunrise since the lighthouse doesn’t open until 10 in the morning.
I grew up vacationing with my family in Hilton Head beginning in the 1980s. I remember when access to this lighthouse used to be free. Over the last several years, they’ve instituted a fee and it’s increased. At the time of writing this review, the cost of admission to the lighthouse is $ 4 per person. After payment, they’ll give you a wristband and allow you to proceed. Unless you’re a property owner or guest of Sea Pines, there’s a $ 6 fee to enter the resort.
The shop at the top of the lighthouse has great gift items such as crystal pieces, jewelry (e.g. Harbour Town Lighthouse earrings), compasses, clocks, books, artwork, and lighthouse trinkets. The lighthouse hosts events such as a New Year’s ball drop and weddings. Several couples have gotten engaged at the lighthouse.
If you’ve ever visited a lighthouse along the east coast US, particularly in the south (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia), then you’ll know what to expect. Harbour Town’s lighthouse is charming and should be considered an essential stop when touring Harbour Town and the greater Sea Pines Resort.

When you see this red and white striped lighthouse, you know you have reached Harbour Town. My boyfriend used to go up the lighthouse when he was a kid but he was a bit miffed when he realized that we now have to pay $ 4 entrance fee to go up. Back then, it was free. It has a cool gift shop at the bottom of the lighthouse. I suppose it’s good to check out the top of the lighthouse at least once, but multiple times? I will pass.

Lately I have enjoyed touring lighthouses… and this one was a great find!
Pay the $ 6 entrance fee into Harbour Town and $ 3.75 fee to walk to the top and you have yourself a great workout and view of the area. I think there are 114 steps to the top and throughout the way there are historical facts about the area and the game of golf. I think if it is lovely weather, I would have taken my time and read the info. However, if it is hot (like the day I went), you may pass out before even getting up the first flight of stairs because there is no AC in the lighthouse.
When you’re in the area, make a stop here. You’ll have fun and if you’re lucky, you may be spotted on the live cam at the top.

My family and I visited this place a few times during our visit and really enjoyed ourselves. The cost to enter the Sea Pines Plantation is just $ 6 dollars. This is probably due to this area being a 5,200 acre private gated community that houses many residential properties that average at least $ 1.6M in value. This area also houses one of the most well-​known golf courses, Harbour Town Golf Links, which was designed by world golf hall of famer Jack Nicklaus and golf course designer Pete Dye.
The Harbour Town Lighthouse offers a niche of fine stores, these stores appear to have been here for decades and have warmness about them. These are high end shops and not something for the average person. Then again, if you are visiting Hilton Head Island, this should be expected, HHI is not for people who live off minimum wage.
The lighthouse charges a $ 3.75 (Update as of 2015 it is now $ 4), kids 5 and under are free. The lighthouse only has about 114 steps and after walking up to each flight, there is a collection of artifacts that talk about the history of Hilton Head Island. For all those who previously complained about the stairs, my wife was born with a rare disease (less than 100 cases documented in medical literature) which required her to have a total hip replacement, she wanted to visit the top and never complained. If someone who has screws, pins and a titanium rod implanted between the shaft of their femur and has a replaced acetabulum can manage to walkup this little lighthouse, what is their excuse?
This lighthouse is fairly new considering that it was only built in 1970, but that doesn’t take away from the awesome view when visiting the top and from taking beautiful pictures. For those who complain about the gift shop. Yes, the gift shop is in business to sell items and to make as much money as possible, but that is a business, to maximize their profits and this is taught in any business course. They do have a few cool items in the shop and it is worth at least checking out.
My family and I really enjoyed our time at the Harbour Town Marina, the playground is excellent for kids, the cool yachts are nice to look at, the pier is worth walking up early in the day and as the sunsets, visitors can see dolphins jumping in the water and many beautiful pictures can be taken here. I highly recommend visiting this area, everyone who visits this place takes away something different from the next, it is what you get out of it. My wife and two boys enjoyed ourselves, my two year old kept crying when we left, because he loved being on the beach, he always left by waving and saying goodbye; hopefully, you will too will enjoy this place as much as we did.
[Review #193]

The Harbour Town Lighthouse is a symbol of this beautiful island. Those of us that have been coming to the Island for years and years see it as a symbol of being home. This is my 25^th summer in Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island and once I see those red and white stripes I smile from ear to ear.
The best photo spot to get the lighthouse in it’s full glory is under the old liberty oak tree. Stand near the dock under the old oak tree in Harbour Town and click away. Another cool pic is to head around the harbour to the 18^th Green after the last golfer has been through. You can score sunset pictures from this direction also.
I would recommend you come to the Lighthouse in the evening and stay and stroll around Harbour Town. You can make a night of it by stopping under the Old Liberty Oak Tree to hear Greg Russell perform. There is also a playground for children and a dock to walk out over the water.
Do you need to go up in the Lighthouse to see it’s beauty– no. It is worth the journey up the stairs for epic HHI pics, to keep the kids busy for a hour, or to propose — absolutely!!! When I am at the top of the lighthouse, I am flooded with family memories of the past 25 summers in HHI, and for that, I cannot put a price.

This is a neat little lighthouse that I recommend checking out if you are in the Hilton Head Island area. It is a MUST if you want to watch the sunset, and I think it’s great for both couples and families alike. Last time I was here I believe it was $ 3.75 per person and there is a cute little gift shop at the top of the lighthouse. Photo ops are great and overall it’s just a fun and charming place to spend time.

My husband’s family and I were in Hilton Head for a week in April, and a few of us decided to check out the Harbour Town Lighthouse while in town. I was actually underwhelmed by the lighthouse itself but surprised by how much I liked the surrounding area.
The lighthouse is essentially a long staircase with landings every 10 – 30 steps telling about the local history of Hilton Head Island and, more specifically Sea Pines. Not much information is provided about the lighthouse… because there really isn’t much information to tell! It was just built around 1970, so there aren’t any fantastic old stores to share, such as spooky ghost stories.
When you get to the top of the lighthouse, there is a little gift shop and area to walk around outside and take photos. I got a couple cute shots and headed back downstairs. Really, the entire experience took probably no more than 20 minutes. It’s not something I’d be interested in doing again.

we took the tour. it was like $ 3.75 per person. my wife was struggling to climb the 15 flight of stairs. It definitely was lot taller than it seemed from the outside.
The strong cool sea breeze I got at the top of the lighthouse was worth the money and climbing the stairs. it is supposed to be a small museum so there are lots are stuff to look at on the wall as you go up.
The view was pretty nice overlooking the harbour and the bay.
take the tour, take some pics… hug and kiss high up if you’re with someone.
I do have to note that this place was a part of sea pines resort which cost $ 6 to get a 1 day parking pass for.

Silly me, I thought that were we coming here for the history and the beautiful view. We actually came here because it’s a well known sight to anyone interested in professional golf. This lighthouse is located near the 18^th hole at the Harbour Golf Links and is well known by the golf community as the most recognizable final hole in golf. BJ was very excited to visit.
A lot has been said about the lighthouse. It’s actually not all that old, it was started in 1969 and completed in 1970. It is now a tourist and wedding destination for Hilton Head Island. It is privately owned lighthouse and located in a small shopping center. If you have any interest in sight-​seeing, taking a bit of a hike, I would recommend a stop.

Stopped by here with the hubs on a leisure afternoon. Do not try to go in if you can not handle about 15 flights of stairs.
The museum twists and turns upwards along with the numerous stair cases. The top view is what is truly worth the climb. The view is beautiful, and there are markers along the perch describing the views.
There is a live webcam you can step into the line of — smile and wave!
They also have a lot of penny press machines — $ 0.50 plus a penny.
This was a great little stop during our explorations of Harbour Town.

I give 3stars because the lighthouse itself is nothing special, however…
Tip: If you are not staying in the Sea Pines or Harbour Town area, you are requires to pay a $ 5 daily fee for all visitors entering the preserve area. To make the most out of your $ 5 I would do the following things:
1. Climb up to the top of the lighthouse learning about the area on the way up.
2. Walk the hour or two our self guided walking tour through the peaceful and pleasant preserves. Free parking and entry… open sunrise to sunset. There are biking paths too. Parking will be on your left hand side look for the «Sea Pine Preserves» sign.
3. While visiting the light house, take a stroll through the shops of Harbour Town. There is another section near the beach for more shops. There are a few souvenir shops next to the lighthouse too.
4. Review any restaurants in these areas to see if there are any you would like to try before making another trip and paying $ 5 for another entry.
5. Drive around this portion of the island and head to the beach for a stroll or dip in the water.
It costs 3 or 4 dollars to climb the lighthouse.
There are 114 steps to climb. It seems like a lot but if you pause to read the plaques and history on the way up, you will forget you are burning calories.