Summer is in full swing in the Southeast. As the temperatures crest the triple digit markers throughout the United States, throngs of beach goers are flocking to vacation rentals along the refreshing waters and breezy white sand dunes of the Atlantic coast.
One demographic often gets left out of these opportunities for escaping – pet owners. There is a noticeable lack of pet friendly rentals and beaches for those toting their four-legged companions along on family vacations, relegating them to cheap interstate motels and designated pet areas miles from the coast.
Alas, Hilton Head Island is a haven for pet owners looking to enjoy a vacation with the whole family. This resort-style island is replete with award winning restaurants such as the Dunes House, ocean front rental properties like Palmetto Dunes Rentals and Resort, pro level golf courses such as Author Hills, and miles and miles of white sand beaches that slope gently into a tranquil sea. And best of all these beaches are pet friendly!
All of Hilton Head’s beaches allow well-behaved pets with well-behaved owners. During the busy summer months, from the Friday before Memorial Day until the Monday after Labor Day, leashed animals are allowed on the beach before 10A.M. and after 5P.M. From April to May, animals are allowed off-leash in the mornings and evening and must be leashed from 10A.M-5P.M. And from October through March, your pets are allowed to roam freely at all hours of the day and night!
To boot, there are some fantastic Hilton Head pet friendly rentals available, catering to vacationers with their furry companions in toe. The island offers rentals ranging from five bedroom estates up private drives to cozy cabanas only a couple steps from the water’s edge.
These properties are definitely a step up from your average roadside motel, offering such amenities as oversized master suites and secluded in-law cottages, private patio pools and hot tubs, and covered verandas and gourmet kitchens. Whether you are looking for a 6000 square foot manor sitting atop the sand dunes, or a sheltered hamlet tucked back among the Palmetto groves, Hilton Head has hundreds of accommodations and rental properties for your entire family, both human and k-9.
In an effort to ensure that Hilton Head remains pet friendly, animal owners are encouraged to follow a few basic rules while visiting the island. Be sure to follow all city and beach ordinances, and have your animals leashed in all public areas and parks. Be sure to pick up after your pet both around town and down by the water’s edge; this ensures both clean beaches and sidewalks and cuts down on a lot of complaints from local residents and neighbors.
Remember, not everyone on the island loves your pet as much as you do. Be sure to have your animal under positive voice control while enjoying off-leash time on the beach and in nearby dog parks. These simple rules will ensure that Hilton Head remains a pet friendly place for years to come.