The Inn at Palmetto Bluff

South Carolina
United States

The Experience

Approaching The Inn at Palmetto Bluff by way of the seductive spookiness of Savannah (just 30 miles down the road) makes for a memorable arrival. Originally a cotton and rice farming region, paddle steamers plied these misty waters for centuries and many relics of the past are still evident, including the hotel’s front lawn centerpiece: The stone column remains of a mansion built by a brother-in-law of Cornelius Vanderbilt III. Set on a 20,000-acre wedge of wetland bounded by the May and Cooper rivers in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, the resort--a series of brick and white clapboard cottages bounded by picket fences and dotted around a central lagoon--may be new (its doors opened in 2004) but it still has the feel of an Antebellum southern plantation.

The Rooms

At 1,140 square feet, even the most basic cottage is big on space and luxurious appointments (the resort produces its own organic bath amenities, for instance). Vaulted ceilings, open fireplaces, whitewashed wood and wide screened-in-porches pay homage to distinctive Lowcountry architecture. The three-level boathouse penthouse located on the May River offers all of the above plus Viking appliances and a private elevator. Evoking a nostalgia for summers past, room rates include use of fishing poles, canoes and kayaks.

The Service

It’s hard to find fault with a resort whose staff will happily teach your kids to fish, deliver refreshments while you’re golfing and leave treats in your room like homemade lemonade. Thankfully the enthusiasm and famed southern hospitality never veers into unprofessionalism.

The Highlights

While luxurious, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is also family friendly, offering teen adventure tours and a kids' camp that includes fishing, shrimping, crabbing and fireside stories to excite young minds. The 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course will keep older kids happy for hours, but doesn’t ruin the mood for non-golfers by dominating the landscape. Of the three restaurants, The River House, overlooking the May River, is the most formal (men must remove hats). South Carolina’s Lowcountry is on the Atlantic migration route; it's likely you'll see bald eagles, peregrine falcons, snowy egrets, herons, loggerhead turtles and sometimes even sea cows. To keep other critters away, make liberal use of the complimentary insect repellent.

 

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