Hilton Head Island Parks: Coligny Beach Park & Compass Rose

Coligny Beach Park is a free oceanfront park on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It was recently redesigned and features fabulous views of the Atlantic Ocean from wooden swings, rockers and benches. Visitors enter the park at Coligny Circle where synchronized water fountains let them know they are in for a real treat. This park has many features that delight beach goers of any age regardless of how many times they visit.

The photos in this hub were taken by its author, Gail Sobotkin, in January, 2012.

Winter temperatures usually range from daytime highs in the 60's to low 70's so layered clothing is suggested during this season and it can be a great time to play volleyball, beach paddle ball, build sand castles, ride bikes on the hard packed sand, read, fly kites and enjoy special winter events such as the Marsh Tacky Horse Races in March.

Spring brings an abundance of colorful flowers and temperatures that range from the 70's to 80's. It also attracts many young adults who come to celebrate spring break on this lush sub-tropical island, as well as families who love to vacation here. A full service outdoor bar called the Tiki Hut and an outdoor snack bar at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Hotel are great places to eat and drink as they are adjacent to the park entrance and one need only walk a few hundred feet to get to them. Stunning views of the Holiday Inn oceanfront pool as well as the ocean can be seen from the hut and snack bar and live music is featured beginning in spring and continuing throughout the summer and early fall seasons. The music is loud enough to be heard while just sitting or lying down on the wide public beach that's in front of the hotel.

Summer is the most crowded time of year as throngs of tourists flock to this popular park. The weather remains hot throughout most of the fall season but the crowds begin to thin out as the kids return to school and the prices for lodging at nearby hotels and condos becomes more affordable.

Other amenities available at Coligny Beach Park include free Wi-Fi, outdoor showers and pay per view telescopes that overlook the ocean.

Shore Beach Service offers beach rentals and you can order daily or weekly chairs and umbrellas from their friendly lifeguards and even rent water-sports equipment like body boards, aqua cycles, fun cycles, banana peels, kayaks, and sailboats from March through October.

Coligny Plaza is located directly across the street from Coligny Beach Park and offers many dining and shopping options. The Plaza has ponds, fountains and statues which makes a stroll through the lovely grounds very enjoyable.

Hope you have enjoyed this pictorial tour of Coligny Beach Park and the nearby Coligny Plaza. In June 2011 the editorial staff of Parents Magazine reviewed over 1,000 different U.S. beaches to find the top 10 that are kid-friendly plus great for adults and they named Coligny Beach Park as the second best family beach in the country. This exceptional public beach offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit it if you're ever in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Bonus for those who do make it to Hilton Head: I'm adding an additional section to this hub highlighting a scenic bike ride to nearby Compass Rose Park which is the newest park on the island and has a meditative garden, waterfalls and reflecting pools.

Biking from Coligny Beach Park to Compass Rose Park is fun for the whole family as the two parks are only a few miles apart and connected by a bike path that is separate from the main road. Just follow these simple directions for the most scenic route:

• Proceed around Coligny Beach Circle to South Forest Beach Rd. (.1 mi.)
• Turn left onto S. Forest Beach Dr. bike pathway. (1.3 mi.)
• Pathway turns right at Cordillo Parkway. Proceed along Cordillo pathway. (1.4 mi.)
• Cross Pope Ave. at light, then make an immediate left onto Pope Ave. pathway. (.6 mi.)
• Turn right into Compass Rose Park.
• Enjoy the park.

To return to Coligny Beach Park via the shortest pathway:

• Turn left out of Compass Rose Park onto the Pope Ave. pathway and go straight until you reach Coligny Circle. (.9 mi.)
• Enter Coligny Circle and return to Coligny Beach Park. (.1 mi).

I took the photos shown at the right during a bike trip along the above route. As you can see, the bike path is lined with live oak and palm trees and there are wooden bridges that traverse marshy areas where it's common to see beautiful wildlife and flowers. You may even see alligators but please obey the signs that warn you not to disturb or feed them.

Hilton Head Island has more than 50 miles of biking trails, most of which are separate from the roads which makes them great for family biking activities.