Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was named by US Harbors as the publication’s “Best Harbor in the Southeast” for 2024. Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina was also named as the No. 5 Best Harbor in the U.S.
In the heart of Hilton Head Island Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort serves as a spectacular waterside shopping, dining and entertainment destination. Designed in a Mediterranean village style and offering a picturesque, 178-slip setting — where yachts, power boats and sailboats come to dock year-round — the recently dredged port is Hilton Head’s largest deep-water cove.
US Harbors tapped Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina as its Southeast regional winner in 2022 and 2021, as well.
“We are excited to once again receive this prestigious recognition,” said Brad Marra, chief operating officer of Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. “Shelter Cove Marina on Hilton Head Island has stood proudly as an ideal location for the boating community due to exceptional customer service and high-quality amenities including recently renovated restrooms and showers, complimentary laundry, Wi-Fi and cable, a seasonal resort shuttle and more.”
A popular port of call (Latitude 32* 10’ 52” N Longitude 80* 43’ 56” W) along the Intracoastal Waterway — between northern destinations, and the warm waters of Florida and the Caribbean — Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina is enhanced by a collection of shops, galleries, restaurants and service boutiques.
The Harbour comes alive during the season, with outdoor activities and entertainment. Charter boats depart daily for inshore or offshore fishing, while ships set out for dolphin encounters and nature experiences off the South Carolina coast. Kayakers on guided nature tours silently paddle out to the salt marshes, where birds, crabs, and other island creatures make their home.
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina features premium waterfront shopping and dining with everything from upscale clothing boutiques to gifts and art galleries. There are also elegant restaurants and casual pubs overlooking the marina and waterfront, ranging from a local ice cream shop to fine dining.
The Best Harbor contest is an annual crowd-sourced, online competition to find the “Best Harbor” in the United States. It was started by US Harbors in 2019, allowing users to vote on their favorite of the over 1,500+ coastal and Great Lakes harbors on usharbors.com. Now in its fifth year, the contest runs from mid-May to June.
Each year millions of people around the country have a chance to vote, submit photos and stories, and let the world know what makes their harbor the best. US Harbors makes it a fun event, providing hidden facts about harbors and surprise giveaways on its social channels throughout the voting period.
The race to the win has traditionally been a nail-biter: the contest truly reflects the pride and passion people feel for their local coastal communities. US Harbors provides commemorative plaques to the winning harbors, and celebrates the grand winner with a special event and gifts.