Hilton Head Island is within easy driving distance of three interesting and vibrant cities worth spending a day exploring: Beaufort, Savannah and Charleston.

Beaufort

Just 33 miles north of Hilton Head is Beaufort -- a city filled with intriguing history, stunning architecture, shopping, entertainment and much more. Situated on the banks of the Beaufort River, Beaufort's historic downtown holds visitors captive with its Southern charm and gracious residents.

The streets are lined with giant oaks, lush gardens, stately mansions and outdoor cafes, and there is much to see and do. Beaufort is also a gateway to dozens of islands -- a rich Lowcountry mix of culture and ecology, history and adventure. Visitors can take in the city's historic highlights by horse-drawn carriage, van or walking tour. Enjoy lunch on the patio of one of Beaufort's stylish restaurants overlooking the Beaufort River.

Savannah

A day trip to Savannah, just an hour's drive from Hilton Head Island, offers a taste of history in its downtown and River Street districts. Founded in 1733 by British Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe as Georgia's first colonial settlement, Savannah was one of the first planned cities in America. Oglethorpe designed the city on a grid of parallel streets, joined together at intervals by 24 public squares. His plan remains intact 260 years later.

A popular feature of downtown is the four-block City Market on West Julian Street, lined with restored shops, restaurants, taverns, studios and art galleries. Many of the resident artists are happy to stop and chat with visitors while they work.

The city has a lively side too. The nine-block River Street area, a narrow, cobblestoned drive along the Savannah River where Oglethorpe stepped ashore, is the hub of shopping and entertainment. The riverfront area -- lined with brick warehouses that once held cotton from Georgia plantations -- underwent a massive renovation in 1977, and features more than 75 museums, shops, taverns and eateries.

Narrated tours of the city are offered on trolleys, buses and horse-drawn carriages, as well as on riverboats along the Savannah River. A self-guided tour on foot or bicycle is another option.

Charleston

Sometimes called by its natives "The Holy City by the Sea," Charleston is slightly more than two hours up the South Carolina coast from Hilton Head Island.

The city blends the old world and the new, with a special glimpse into its English and American heritage, and its supremely Southern lifestyle. To walk the streets of the historic district along the Ashley and Cooper Rivers is to touch a rich history. The church spires are still the tallest structures, just as they were when sailing ships used them for landmarks.

Shops are small with brick, stone and cast-iron fronts. Public buildings are elegantly classical in design. Houses stand with their narrow ends right on the street, built to take full advantage of the ocean breezes. The tiered porches, called piazzas, are strung along gardens filled with Lowcountry blossoms and the colors, smells and textures of a semi-tropical climate.