Need HELP! Kid-centered ideas for kids around Hilton Head

My family and I (including two children 12 and 7) are visiting the Hilton Head area in April. In the past we have found that the weather can be a little ';iffy'; for the beach and we are not really that thrilled with arcades and mini-golf.

We will be visiting the grandparents and are looking for activities that we can all enjoy. We have visited Savannah and we LOVED it but we don%26#39;t want to do the same thing again.

Are there any animal preserves around?

We have heard about the dolphin cruises. Which would you recommend?

We like to do historical things - are there any fun and interesting museums, historic houses or communities to visit?

We would be interested in anything up to one hour away.

Thanks in advance for your help and insight!

Need HELP! Kid-centered ideas for kids around Hilton Head

Daufuskie Island cruise with the golf cart rental for touring the island is neat. Beaufort is a short drive north with plenty of historical homes to see. There are plenty of bike trails for the kids and grownups to ride.

Need HELP! Kid-centered ideas for kids around Hilton Head

swizzo: I second Beaufort. It%26#39;s really cute. You can also cross over to the other islands nearby there. Forest Gump was filmed in Beaufort. The historic district is very picturesque. The do horse %26amp; buggy tours there.

As for dolphin cruises, we have done 3. In March we did the Commander Zodiac out of South Beach Marina. It is recommended by BBC/Discovery/Nat%26#39;l Geographic. We loved it. They take you to where the dolphins are. If you spot them, they zoom you there. We saw loads, up close. We also did the Stars %26amp; Stripes 65%26#39; sailboat excursion. F-U-N! For the more adventurous as you have to move from side to side when the boat changes tack. What a feeling with the sail swooshing overhead. You are under full sail for 2 hrs. We had dolphins swimming alongside. Very cool. Look for coupons. If you pay cash they will discount your ticket and reimburse your $5.00 Sea Pines gate fee that you must pay to enter Sea Pines Plantation. Both Harbourtown and South Beach Marina are in Sea Pines. We also have done the dolphin Kayak tour out of South Beach Marina. Was fun, saw some dolphins, not up close though. Lawton Stables is fun. You ride through the nature reserve. Our son is 15 so our interests are different than yours, but hope this helps. Bikes are a MUST for the whole family, even for a day.

D in Muskoka.