As I often tell others, HHI isn't your typical Disney vacation at the World. There are no theme parks, no rides, no character greets (currently), no Disney dining beyond quick service. If that type of experience excites you, then HHI may be a disappointment.
However, the flip side to that view is what makes a vacation here so compelling and enjoyable. A trip here means r-e-l-a-x-a-t-i-o-n. There is what we call the low country vibe which means kicking back and enjoying your surroundings: the beauty of the resort and surrounding area, the beach, the food, the ability to simply breath without rushing around worrying over boarding passes, theme park tickets, waiting in lines, or trying to secure dining reservations 180 days out. Just. . .no.
A typical day might be to sleep in a bit: make coffee in your room (we prefer walking 6-8 minutes to the nearby Starbucks along the biking/walking path): sit on your balcony and watch the marsh wildlife; walk over to Tide Me Over and order fresh Mickey waffles; drive/bike/take shuttle over to the Beach House and spend time on the beach or at the pool there; come back to the main resort and make a tie-dyed t-shirt; grab lunch at any number of nearby spots or from Tide Me Over; play corn hole, horseshoes, or bocci ball by checking out the equipment from the recreation staff; relax at the pool with an adult libation (Dole whip w/rum); sit in the hot tub and talk; read a book in your pool chair or on your balcony; decide where to eat at some point in the afternoon and either make a reservation or just show up; take a final walk around the resort and sit in Adirondack chairs watching the sunset; sit on your balcony as the night sounds fill your senses and tell you it's time to sleep.
In other words, a vacation here is time to reconnect with your family, your spouse, yourself. There are places to visit in and around HHI--tours, kayaking, fishing, crabbing (the last two you can do off the pier at the resort), and miniature golf. Day trips to Savannah or even Charleston. Riding bikes is huge in HHI as it's mostly flat, paved, and the trails run throughout the entire island including going under the main thoroughfare so that it's easy to bike over to the Beach House (1.5 miles away). If you have the ability to cook in your room, plenty of places to shop. Kroger has a huge store and is a 10-minute walk or 3-minute drive, and you don't even have to get on the main drag. If you wish to venture out a little, go to Barnacle Bill's (2 miles) or Bennie Hudson's fresh seafood (8 miles) to get lots of fresh, local options such as shrimp, red snapper, et. al.
As for restaurants, you have your choice of literally hundreds of places from seafood, to BBQ, to pizza, to burgers, to upscale dining in a casual atmosphere. There is something for everyone's tastes, and you'll get dozens of recommendations if you ever ask for people's favorites. Certainly, if you have someone who loves shopping, the Tanger Outlet malls are a mere 20 minutes away in Bluffton (you drive right by them on the way to HHI). Coligney Plaza is a cute little spot, and it's a 10-15 minute drive depending on traffic.
Any way you shape it, a vacation here in HHI means kicking off your shoes, taking a deep breath, and letting the concerns and trials of every day living melt away for a few days. Enjoy your visit!