Looking for the perfect spring or summer vacation that your entire fam will enjoy? We have just the spot for you. Head down to Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island!
Hilton Head Island is hands down our favorite escape from Charlotte whether its for a quick weekend or for an entire week. With miles of beautiful beaches, bike paths all over the island, amazing restaurants, golf/tennis galore and so much more, we never run out of fun things to do for the entire fam. We recently took the kiddos down for a weekend getaway and explored everything Palmetto Dunes has to offer. One thing we quickly realized – you don’t ever have to leave the resort, it’s full of endless fun!
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is located at the heart of Hilton Head Island, named as the #1 Beach Town in the US by Parents Magazine. Its three miles of sun-kissed Atlantic Ocean beachfront provide the perfect venue for three world-class golf courses, various condo and vacation home rentals, a full service marina, an award-winning tennis center, and an 11-mile lagoon. Guests may kayak or canoe the lagoon, sharing the pristine, natural environment with 40 species of birds and fish.
Our family stayed in a house which was absolutely perfect. When we arrived, we had 6 bikes ready and waiting for us {thank you, Hilton Head Outfitters} to cruise all over the property. We rode our bikes EVERYWHERE, it was so much fun!
Here are some of our highlights of things to do at Palmetto Dunes:
Hit the beach. And on bikes for sure. We spent all day at the beach, which is my kind of vacay. Mom and girls grabbed our favorite books and beach chairs while the boys played beach golf. It was picture perfect.
Rent kayaks at Hilton Head Outfitters. You’ll head out on an 11-mile inland lagoon system and it’s perfect for fishing or just casually enjoying the wildlife. Hilton Head Outfitters also provides bike rentals, fishing charters, and surf lessons for your entire stay. The shop has loads of cute tee-shirts, sweatshirts, gear and toys!
Eat at Big Jim’s. It’s very casual and delish. Big Jim’s is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving signature Southern dishes, including BBQ, gourmet burgers and grilled pizza plus homemade soups, salads, seafood, steaks and fall-off-the-bone ribs. Big Jim’s offers a kid’s menu, wine and beer menu, take-out orders and catering. I highly encourage the catering if you have a big family to entertain, so you can take advantage of the beautiful outdoors.
Grab a cocktail & dinner at the Dunes House for sunset. Best backdrop at the resort. Nature at its finest.
Enjoy breakfast at the General Store. Their provisions are delish. We highly recommend the cinnamon rolls and bacon/egg/cheese biscuits. Best breakfast in Palmetto Dunes!
Pick up Pickleball. So fun! Pickleball is a cross between tennis and ping pong and it’s addicting. Our kids loved it because it’s really easy to get started and is fun for all ages.
Hit Shelter Cove Towne Centre. This shopping center gets better and better every time we visit. Located right across the street from Palmetto Dunes, it has everything you need for your stay. You can bring your Charlotte barre workout with you and lift/tone/burn at Pure Barre. You know I love, love, love Pure Barre and I was THRILLED to find it while on vacation. Shelter Cove also boasts the most beautiful Kroger store I’ve ever been in, great shopping at places like fab’rik and Copper Penny to name a few, and Kilwins, my kids can sniff this out from miles away!
Schedule a Dolphin Tour. Smarty shoutout to Captain Tim with Dolphin Seafari! This 2-hour cruise can be scheduled however you like – a dolphin day cruise or a sunset happy hour cruise. You won’t be disappointed with all the critters and wildlife you’ll see. Team Smarty had a blast! Here’s our outing at a glance:
Our other favorite spots include Santa Fe Cafe, right outside the Palmetto Dunes property. We eat here every single time we go to HHI. It’s absolutely the best! Duck Donuts is also a hit with the kids and it’s also very convenient to the resort. As an alternative to Salty Dog Cafe (a Smarty MUST when visiting HHI), try Dockside/Hudson’s/Skull Creek Boathouse spots with excellent dining and entertainment right on the water. Best part, it’s right down the street from Palmetto Dunes. You basically don’t ever have to leave this side of the island – so many amazing choices so close to Palmetto Dunes!
The Plym fam gives Palmetto Dunes Resort a HUGE thumbs up and we plan to be back and often! It was so easy to relax, get outside and enjoy the outdoors.
For more information on Palmetto Dunes:
Palmetto Dunes is running a special that will be perfect for spring and summer!
The Outdoor Adventure Package – 4 days, 3 nights – kayaking, bikes, dolphin cruise, and more! While you’re at Palmetto Dunes, don’t forget to check out their inshore and offshore fishing specials. Make sure you sign up for the adventure email club at Hilton Head Outfitters, you’ll get 15% off your next rental.
You can always go to www.palmettodunes.com and click on vacation rentals. You can customize your stay from here. Happy travel planning – the best kind of planning to do in my opinion:-)
