 A gentle breeze wafts through
massive, Spanish moss–covered oak trees on the lawn in front of your cottage.
Sipping a mint julep on the screened porch, you are transported to the early
20th century, when this 20,000-acre expanse of South Carolina Lowcountry was the
winter estate of New York businessman and Thoroughbred breeder R.T. Wilson
Jr. and his family. Today, the wilderness of marsh grasses and gnarly oaks is
home to the not-very-old—but pleasantly old-fashioned—Inn at Palmetto Bluff.
Opened in 2004, the inn is bounded by the May, Cooper, and New
rivers, across the Intracoastal Waterway from Hilton Head Island. Approximately
one-third of the resort’s land has been set aside for preservation, and an
intricate trail system weaves throughout the property. Paddlers can push off
into the miles of surrounding waterways—where bottlenose dolphins come to
feed—from the resort’s Canoe and Kayak Club or from the new Wilson boat landing,
which includes a restaurant, family pool, and bar.
 The wonders of the region extend to Palmetto Bluff’s 18-hole, Jack
Nicklaus–designed golf course, which rolls alongside the waterways and through
the May River Forest. After a round of golf, you can retire to the nearby Wilson
lawn or to the resort’s racquet club for croquet or boccie. Or simply grab an
Adirondack chair—and a mint julep—and watch as dusk falls over the Lowcountry.
SETTING: Near the town of Bluffton in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, about
18 miles from Savannah, Ga. SLEEPING: The 50 cottages and cottage suites feature pine floors,
large screened porches, and water views. The resort also rents homes in a newly
built village on the grounds. DINING: Indulge on crab bisque, coffee-cured elk loin, or line-caught
grouper at the River House Restaurant. Bread and pastries are baked fresh daily at Buffalo’s. DIVERSIONS: Boating, kayaking, fishing, and yacht charters on the waterways,
and tennis, croquet, boccie, and golf on land. The resort’s spa is set on its
own island in an inland marsh. RATES: $475–$2,200
|
