Take a break from the cold and snow and head down south for your Thanksgiving Day festivities. Imagine, a sunrise walk before you start cooking and a post-dinner bike ride under mossy oak trees after dinner.

Palmetto Dunes offers a variety of ways to celebrate Turkey Day at the beach whether you’d like to do the cooking or leave it up to us.

Guests of Palmetto Dunes can literally have Thanksgiving at the beach at the oceanfront Dunes House. The restaurant will be offering a buffet from 11 a.m-5 p.m. featuring sides like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole; turkey , lamb and round of beef as entrees; and pumpkin pie, pecan pie, ginger snap bread pudding and double chocolate cookies for dessert. The buffet is $27.95 per person, $13.95 for children 12 and younger. Reservations are required by calling (843) 686-9623. See the complete menu.

Our new Big Jim’s restaurant at the Robert Trent Jones course, which opened earlier this year, will also be open on Thanksgiving. Reservations are not required and they’ll be offering traditional Thanksgiving plated dinners with all your favorites. The cost for Big Jim’s is $18.95 per person or $9.95 for kids 12 and younger. Those with large parties should call ahead of time to ensure there is space. Call (843) 785-1165.

If you’d prefer to hang out at your Hilton Head vacation home inside Palmetto Dunes, but would rather leave the cooking to someone else, we’ve got you covered! Let us bring you a gourmet Thanksgiving to go ready on Thanksgiving Day starting at 11 a.m. at Big Jim’s restaurant. Be sure you have your order in by Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. by calling 843-686-9623. Our to-go dinner includes roast turkey and top round of beef, stuffing, mashed potatoes; choice of three sides among collard greens, mac & cheese, green bean casserole or squash casserole; and pumpkin or pecan pie for dessert. Complete menu. $15/person, minimum 2-person order.

Be sure to rent your bikes ahead of time to ensure they’re ready to go for your Turkey Day bike ride to burn off a few calories. Call Hilton Head Outfitters at 866-380-1783 to reserve your bike rentals.

Hilton Head offers plenty of Black Friday shopping if you’re looking for some deals. Head across the street to Shelter Cove for specials all weekend. Many of the stores are offering 20% and higher sales, and restaurants will have food and drink specials, as well. See the complete list of sales and deals.

Santa will also make an appearance at the statue of Neptune Nov. 23 from Noon- 3 p.m., arriving on a firetruck no less!  The first 200 kids get a free Santa pin and there will also be a bounce house to burn off some of that holiday energy. Shelter Cove will also have live music from Target Band from 1-4 p.m. on Black Friday.

Come spend your Thanksgiving in Hilton Head at Palmetto Dunes. We promise it will be a Thanksgiving you’ll never forget! Call us at (866) 744-7558 to book your stay today.

Coming to visit us in Hilton Head for your summer vacation or a weekend getaway? Make sure you have your camera packed not only to snap pictures for future memories, but to snag yourself a Palmetto Dunes gift card.

Every week through the rest of the summer we’re going to reward our loyal guests with Palmetto Dunes gift cards when you share your vacation picture with us on our various social outlets, like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Here’s all you have to do:

• Take a picture before Tuesday at 8 p.m. the week of your vacation at a recognizable spot within Palmetto Dunes or Shelter Cove Harbour
• Tweet your pic to @PalmettoDunesSC, post it on our Facebook page or upload to Pinterest and “tag” Palmetto Dunes using the @ symbol.
• We’ll pick our favorite picture of the week (so be creative!) by Wednesday morning, notify the winner via social media and have your $25 gift card ready for pick up by Wednesday at noon at the Palmetto Dunes Welcome Center.

Where to take your pic? Here’s a few of our favorite ideas to get you inspired:

• The statue of Neptune at Shelter Cove
• The Palmetto Dunes entrance sign
• The Palmetto Dunes Welcome Center
• Any of our golf courses
• The Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center
• Buying a T-shirt or Palmetto Dunes Tervis Tumbler at Hilton Head Outfitters
• The General Store
• The new Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza at the Jones course
• Picking out sunglasses at the Ship’s Store
• HarbourFest at Shelter Cove (why not snap a photo with the kids and Shannon Tanner or Cappy the Clown?)
• Eating an Italian Ice at Frosty’s in Shelter Cove
• Dunes House
• Hopping a ride on the Dunes Buggy!
• Sipping a margarita at San Miguel’s in Shelter Cove

Now, how can you use your gift card? Lots of ways! The gift card is accepted at any Palmetto Dunes-owned point of purchase locations. Note, it is not redeemable at the General Store. Here’s just a few of the ways you can splurge:

• Tennis court time at the Tennis Center
• Round of golf or golf club rentals at our golf courses
• Breakfast, lunch or dinner at Big Jim’s at the Jones course
• Apparel at any of our pro shops
• Kayak, canoe or bike rentals at Hilton Head Outfitters
• Goods at the Ship’s Store in Shelter Cove
• Charters from Outside Hilton Head at Shelter Cove
• Lunch or dinner at the Dunes House

How would you use your gift certificate? Let us know and start thinking now of the perfect Palmetto Dunes shot! 

What does Palmetto Dunes have that other resorts don’t? Three miles of sandy Hilton Head Island beach on the Atlantic Ocean and great weather that lets you take advantage of it nearly year round. We also give you plenty of ways to enjoy the beach, whether it’s views from your Hilton Head vacation home or rental, dining options on the beach or activities from biking to surfing to keep you busy throughout your Hilton Head getaway.

There are plenty of access points to reach the beach, either from the residential areas as you pedal around or from our resort facilities. One of our favorite ways to enjoy—and access--the beach is the Dunes House, which is centrally located Palmetto Dunes and open to guests of the resort. In addition to casual food and drinks with one of the best dining views on the island, you’ll also find restrooms and limited parking. We suggest you call the Dunes Buggy for a free ride to the Dunes House! 

Biking is also another great way to enjoy the beach at Palmetto Dunes. Get some exercise and enjoy beautiful views of the ocean at the same time. Try going for a ride at sunrise or sunset for a particularly inspiring experience. If you don’t want to lug your bikes with you down to Hilton Head, you can rent them from Hilton Head Outfitters within the resort. They’ll have them delivered direct to your home and villa so they’re ready to ride as soon as you arrive. Hilton Head Outfitters offers a range of bikes and options, and we’d suggest trying their fat tire bikes which are designed for easier beach riding. 

At Palmetto Dunes, you can also surf and fish at the beach. We offer surfing classes at our Hilton Head Surf School and surf board rentals from Hilton Head Outfitters. We also have everything a fisherman needs for a great day of fishing. Rent your rod and reel online and head into the Outfitters store just inside the resort to pick up bait or anything else you might need before you head out. 

Or go for a more relaxed approach. Kick back, enjoy the sounds of the ocean and send the kids out to build a sand castle, but keeping a close eye on them, of course. Check out a few tips for a safe trip to the beach. Beach games are also lots of fun and we have some great beach game suggestions to keep the whole family entertained.

Whether you’d rather dash into the waves, laze in the sand or cruise along the shore on a beach bike, when it comes to the beach at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort we think it’s pretty much perfect.

There’s some great shopping throughout Hilton Head but within Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort there are some must see shops.

Shelter Cove Harbour doesn’t just host HarbourFest, Shannon Tanner and summertime fireworks; it’s also the home of a variety of interesting shopping. Located on beautiful Broad Creek, the waterfront shopping at Shelter Cove Harbour makes for a fun day! Here are some of the stores you need to peruse the next time you’re in town.

Clothing and Accessories

Camp Hilton Head- This cute store has great Hilton Head hats, tees and beach bags. If you’re looking for a vacation souvenir, this is the place.

Neptune’s Kids- Carries a wide variety of clothing, games and gifts for kids of all ages. Your children will surely fall in love with this store.

Taffeta- If you’re looking for a beautiful outfit for a special night out or want to check out the latest fashions from Europe, come on in.

Home and Garden

Christmas on the Harbour- Get in the holiday spirit year round with some of the best Christmas decorations like ornaments, nativities and holiday stem wear.

Neptune’s Niche- Unique home and garden accessories as well as a selection of glassware, artwork, jewelry, woodwork, ironwork, pottery and textiles by Lowcountry artists.

Art and Photography

The Golf & Boat Club/ Bolton Smith Gallery- Original artwork by R. Bolton Smith and resort wear.

LaBelle Image Fine Art Gallery- A popular art gallery featuring original work by artist Richard Riverin and unique art to complement the existing décor of your home.

Legacy Design Photographers- Looking to capture your family vacation memories? The team at Legacy can create beautiful images of your children, engagement photos or family reunions!

Nash Gallery- This gallery showcases some beautiful wood, metal, glass, ceramic and handmade jewelry from North American artists.

Salon

Salon Shelter Cove- If you’re looking for a new do, a blow out or even a Keratin treatment while in town, this salon will help you out. Walk-ins welcome!

Shelter Cove has something for everyone and we hope you spend a day walking in the sun from store to store enjoying the day. Don’t forget that there are also 7 wonderful restaurants for you to sit and have lunch and dinner! What’s your favorite store in Hilton Head?

In just a few weeks, Hilton Head Island will be sipping some of the best wines around. March 5-10 is the 27^th Annual Hilton Head Island Wine and Food Festival and it’s now one the largest tented wine events on the East Coast. For six days winos and foodies will invade the island to sample amazing Lowcountry dishes and outstanding wines.

The Festival kicks off March 5 with a “Great Chefs of the South Wine Dinner.” There will be a few of these throughout the week with time and location coming soon. Can you imagine anything better than talented local chefs pairing each course with a different glass of wine?!

If you’re interested in expanding your wine knowledge, then Friday night’s Grand Tasting and Silent Auction is perfect for your palate. Proceeds from the silent auction benefits educational opportunities for students in the hospitality programs of study at the University South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry through the John T. and Valerie Curry Educational scholarship fund.

Saturday, March 10 wraps up the fun with the big Wine and Food Festival from Noon to 3 p.m. The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn will turn into a wine lover’s dream with the opportunity to mingle with winemakers, sample hundreds of wines, listen to live music and snack on some amazing hors d’oeuvres. Admission is $45 and includes access to all tastings and a souvenir wine glass.

Start planning your Hilton Head trip to Palmetto Dunes for this awesome event. We’d love to see  you here to enjoy spring-like weather, fine wine and delicious food! 

The Gullah culture is all around us here in Hilton Head but it’s in full bloom each February when we celebrate Gullah Heritage month. Gullah is more than a language or the name of the people; it’s a way to preserve the traditions and struggles of those West Africans who were brought to South Carolina and Georgia as slaves.

Since 1996, The Gullah Celebration has been celebrating and honoring all things Gullah on our Island by holding daily events from February 1- 25. The overall goal of the Celebration is to raise awareness and funds to support minority-owned businesses and to bring this historic culture to tourists.

Each event showcases an aspect of the Gullah culture, such as food, music, arts and history. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful voices of Gospel singers, the intricate weavings of sweetgrass to make a basket and the amazing tales coming from a group of storytellers.

Put on by the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association, Inc. and Native Islanders Property Owners Association, these events are sure to provide entertainment for your whole family. Saturday, February 4 will bring one of the most popular events, The Taste of Gullah, which gives you the opportunity to taste classic Gullah dishes for only $10.

Many events are free and open to the public, and we hope you’ll check out the complete list of all the happenings during Gullah Celebration Month. If you’ll be with us in February, be sure to make time taking in a little bit of the history that truly makes Hilton Head something special! 

Visiting Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and need to stock up on groceries for the week? Look no further than the Resort’s own Palmetto Dunes General Store! Palmetto Dunes General Store, located at 1 Trent Jones Lane, is a great place to pick up anything you need for your Hilton Head vacation.

Open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., Palmetto Dunes General Store has everything you need from groceries to a fine selection of cigars. It’s the island’s one-stop-shop with something for everyone. The store offers a large selection of ice cream and candy for those young at heart. And for those with more discerning tastes, Palmetto Dunes General Store has a great wine and beer section. The store is even the perfect place to pick up a few gifts! It’s always stocked with T-shirts and hats that make great souvenirs.

The Palmetto Dunes General Store is not just your average market. It also offers some delicious meals. Breakfast and lunch are served every day starting at 6 am. The store has a large menu full of Southern classics and unique specialties. Stop by for a homemade cinnamon roll or have a plate of the “Best Fried Chicken” on the island.

The Palmetto Dunes General Store is the best place on the island to pick up anything you may need for your stay. We hope to see y’all there!

One of the benefits of staying at Palmetto Dunes is having everything right at your fingertips. The beach, bikes, golf and fishing are all within walking or biking distance from your villa. The same goes for food. Whether you’re craving burgers, burritos or a seafood diner paired with wine, it’s available at Palmetto Dunes or across the street at Shelter Cove Harbour.

We’ve hired a new executive chef here at Palmetto Dunes and we’re very excited to introduce him. Meet Curtis Lincoln!