Hilton Head Island is home to several environmentally planned resort and residential communities, supporting more than 30,000 full-time residents. Most of these communities have been named "Plantations," many of which feature lush green golf courses, tennis courts, shimmering lakes and lagoons, beautifully designed resort hotels and residential homes. Despite this development, much of the Island remains as it was when sighted from William Hilton's ship more than 300 years ago. Hilton Head Island's natural beauty, spectacular seascapes and exceptional ecology now beckon a new generation of explorers.