So, you decided over the holidays to get your extended family together again in 2013 for a warm weather vacation? Why not come to Hilton Head and Palmetto Dunes and keep everyone busy with our multitude of activities from golf and tennis to biking and kayaking?! Not to mention three miles of peaceful, private beachfront! We’ve got the perfect spot for you to stay with us: 193 Mooring Buoy.

Go ahead, close your eyes, now picture a gorgeous southern home with a grand staircase leading up to the door, a bright blue pool in back overlooking our 11-mile inland lagoon, a lovely deck with pool view, a cook’s kitchen and five beautifully decorated bedrooms. Can you see it?!  Enjoy all of that plus the perks of staying with us on your next Hilton Head vacation! Plus, for a limited time you can rent this home at a discounted rate for spring or summer season! This lovely home gives you plenty of space to spread out and enjoy your family without being on top of one another. The living room, dining room and kitchen all offer views of the pool and lagoon, so it’s unlikely you’ll be inside very much with the outdoors beckoning.

If someone in your family loves to cook, they’ll enjoy the expansive kitchen with custom cabinets, granite counters and stainless appliances. The dining room seats six with room for four more in the breakfast nook.

There are two master suites, perfect for the parents and grandparents, or two sets of parents traveling together. Both offer king beds, sitting areas and flat screen TVs. One even offers a shower with six showerheads for scrubbing the sand off all the kids at once!

There are three other bedrooms, two of which have twin beds and one with a queen bed. Another bonus den has a queen sleeper sofa and private bath.

Sound good? You also get two hours of FREE tennis daily when you book this Hilton Head vacation home and the best rates on all Palmetto Dunes activities like Hilton Head bike rentals, golf and kayaking in the lagoon right behind your home!

Book 193 Mooring Buoy today by calling 866-744-7558 , get your family vacation planned in advance and save some $$!

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! 

Relaxing is a rare commodity these days, but a visit to Palmetto Dunes can give it to you in spades. Whether a long bike ride or canoeing through a calm lagoon brings about peace of mind or you’d rather kick back and let someone massage away the stress, we’ve got something for you.

Here at Palmetto Dunes, we offer a number of spa packages for those who are attracted to the relaxation offered by the lure of facials, salt scrubs and massages with a little activity mixed in.

If you’d like to combine romance with your relaxation try one of these two options:

Our Anniversary Celebration package lets you celebrate your years of togetherness with a getaway to the beauty that is Hilton Head Island. Enjoy 7 days and 6 nights in an ocean view villa so you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach. Take in Hilton Head’s 80 miles of paved bike trails with bike rentals and paddle through our 11-mile saltwater lagoon system by kayak. Unwind with an individual or couples massage, as well as a luxurious facial treatment or therapeutic body scrub. Then get the blood pumping and see if you can best your significant other on the tennis courts.

Or if you’re just beginning your life together, consider a Mini Moon at Palmetto Dunes. Many famous folks like Prince William and Princess Kate are opting to take an abbreviated honeymoon that consists of a long weekend right after the ceremony, saving the longer getaway for later. Our Mini Moon includes 3 nights at the resort, a $100 gift certificate for a romantic dinner, an individual or couples massage, facial treatment or body scrub, one-day bike rental (try pedaling our 3 miles of beach), double kayak rental through the lagoon and two hours of tennis court time daily. Choose to be as active or relaxed as you want with our Mini Moon!

If it’s not a romantic getaway you seek, but just a relaxed adventure, try our Sun ‘N Fun Island Escape Package. It packs in active relaxation and plenty of spa time. The package offers 4 days and 3 nights accommodations, one round of golf per person (don’t stress about your performance, just relax and enjoy the beautiful views!), one day bike rentals, single kayak rentals to explore the lagoon, two hours of tennis time daily, a signature massage at Spa Soleil, facial treatment or body scrub, and as many beautiful views as you can take in!

So however you like to de-stress and relax, we’ll find a way to make it happen here at Palmetto Dunes. Call us at 866.380.1778 to book your getaway.

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?

Close your eyes and imagine yourself waking up to no alarm clock, throwing on your flip flops and sitting on your porch to enjoy your morning with a hot cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound pretty amazing? We know that even on vacation many enjoy starting their morning off with a great cup of “joe” and we want to help you find the perfect coffee shop on Hilton Head.

For those of you who don’t want to leave Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, we totally understand and that’s why our homes and villas come with a coffee pot in them. You bring your favorite brand of beans and let the coffee pot do the rest. If you’d like to take a little morning walk or bike ride, The General Store serves up a great cup of coffee, and if you’re the first to check-in on Foursquare in the morning, you could get your cup for free! Both hotels located in Palmetto Dunes also have wonderful breakfast buffets and plenty of coffee.

If you’d like to get out and about in Hilton Head, here are some great local coffee shops to try:

1. Frosty’s in Shelter Cove Harbour doesn’t just serve Italian Ice and fudge, they also pour a great cup of coffee.
2. If you’re a Starbucks addict, you can get your fix on Hilton Head! There’s one in the Piggly Wiggly on Shelter Cove Lane, as well as bigger stores with seating and WiFi on either end of the island, including one at 430 Highway 278 and the other at 11 Palmetto Bay Road.
3. Pino Gelato won Hilton Head’s Small Business of the Year award in 2010 and they’re still going strong! Beyond amazing gelato, crepes and cannolis, they serve espresso and coffee drinks!
4. If you’re headed to Coligny Plaza, try Java Joe’s, Sweet Carolina Cupcakes or Ronnie’s Bakery at Coligny! All three locations serve up a mean cup of joe.

We hope to help you wake up each morning of your Hilton Head vacation with the best jolt possible. Do you have a favorite coffee shop here in Hilton Head that we didn’t mention? We’d love to hear! 

We’ve heard from so many of you who are already counting down the days, weeks or months until you hit the beaches here in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Spring break is right around the corner for most and summer will be right behind! We’re getting just as pumped as y’all about the beach season and to get you even more in the mood, we’ve come up with a list of must-do activities while you’re visiting us at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort.

One of the most beloved Palmetto Dunes locations, The Dunes House, plans to re-open in late February, just in time to feed the spring breakers and summer vacationers the best fish tacos and drinks around with an unbeatable oceanfront view.

March not only brings us the spring breakers but also the Tennis Welcome Exhibition and Happy Hour and Demo Days.  Every Monday night at 5:30 p.m., we get our employees and guests together to enjoy cocktails and lemonade while watching our tennis pros play on Centre Court. If you really enjoy tennis, then our Tuesday 2 p.m. Demo Days is the perfect way to test the newest equipment and ask our pros any technical questions you may have.

Summertime brings lots of activities unique to Palmetto Dunes like stand up paddle boarding and our amazing surf school. Learning to paddle board can be tough in the ocean waves so we provide lessons on our calm 11-mile lagoon system!

Our surf school has taught tons of people to hang-10 over the past few years and it’s back this year to teach a whole new crew. Even if you’ve never even attempted to stand on a board, our instructors will have you surfing before you know it. Just check out these young surfers.

Summer wouldn’t be complete without HarbourFest at Shelter Cove Harbour and nightly performances by Shannon Tanner, a Hilton Head summer tradition that families return to enjoy year after year.

We can’t wait to see you all this year and hope you’ll enjoy all the Palmetto Dunes classics, while also trying a new activity or event! Oh, and you might have so much fun that you see fireworks! 

So you’ve set the date, picked the location and asked your friends to be in your wedding party but you just can’t ask the boss for an extra week off for your honeymoon quite yet.

The honeymoon is the icing on your wedded bliss cake but for many it’s extremely challenging to plan more time off after the wedding planning week amidst work or school schedules. That’s why we’ve created the Mini Moon Package.

This mini vacation after your nuptials will give you the much needed breather you need but will allow you to go back to work or school without taking too many extra PTO days! This package is also ideal for those looking for a long weekend getaway to rekindle the flames for Valentine’s Day with all the spa, food and romance you could want.

 The Mini Moon package includes:

• 4 days /3 nights in a resort view villa at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
• One $100 Dinner certificate to your choice of Bistro 17, Conroy's, HH Prime or Ela’s
• A 50-minute couples massage (includes 20% gratuity) 
• Luxurious Facial Treatment or Therapeutic Body Scrub for 2  (includes 20% gratuity)
• One-day bike rental for two to explore miles of paved pathways beneath towering live oak trees and to ride on three miles of pristine beach
• Two hour double kayak rental to paddle along a peaceful 11-mile lagoon waterway
• Two hours of tennis court time per day per villa or home at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center
• Preferred rates and priority access to all resort activities and amenities

Be bold and follow in the footsteps of William and Kate and Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries (except try to stay married longer than 72 days) and try our new Mini Moon. Call us at 866-744-7558 for more information and make sure to visit us at www.palmettodunes.com . 

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so why not get your love something different this year? Forget the extravagant floral arrangements, the chocolate and stuffed animals and think about a romantic retreat to Hilton Head, South Carolina. We’ve worked out an amazing package for all the love birds out there and it’s the perfect getaway for Valentine’s Day.

This package includes:

• 4 days /3 nights in a resort view villa at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
• One $100 dinner certificate to one of our wonder restaurants
• The Omni’s Ocean Tides Spa Massage- choose a Calming Currents 50-minute massage, a Couples 50-minute massage, or a Coastal Cabana Massage
• Luxurious Facial Treatment or Therapeutic Body Scrub for 2  (includes 20% gratuity)
• One-day bike rental for two to explore miles of paved pathways beneath towering live oak trees and to experience riding on three miles of pristine beaches
• Two hour double kayak rental to paddle along a peaceful 11-mile lagoon waterway
• Two hours of court time per day per villa or home at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center
• Preferred rates and priority access to all resort activities and amenities.

You and your honey will be relaxed, rejuvenated and in love with the fact that you can do all these activities without ever leaving our resort. This romantic package provides relaxation, adventure and wonderful accommodations. We look forward to making your Valentine’s Day the best it’s ever been! 

You work hard to stay in shape when you’re at home, and you certainly don’t want to let all that hard work go to waste by stopping on vacation. No worries. When you come to Palmetto Dunes, we’ve got you covered. Hilton Head Island is the perfect place to run, bike or even try something new, like beachfront yoga! Here are some options to help you return with the same, or better, beach bod that you arrived with:

Hilton Head Outfitters offers a wide variety of bicycles to rent. Guests can bike through the smooth streets, which are perfect for a calm, breezy ride. If you’re up for more of a challenge, try a vigorous ride on the beach, which can burn up to 500 calories an hour! Another Palmetto Dunes activity that really gets the blood flowing is Cardio Tennis!

If you are a yoga enthusiast, you’ve got plenty to choose from. With many yoga studios around the island, you’re sure to find the right fit!  Our favorite is oceanfront yoga. What could be a better workout than practicing poses with the waves crashing serenely in the background? Beach Yoga is available in front of the Dunes House on Palmetto Dunes taught by Pamela Eaton.

If you’re interested in visiting a more traditional gym, there are several on the island to try.  We have an Anytime Fitness, Beach City Health and Fitness and Players Club Fitness Center to name a few. But, if you’re looking for an awesome challenge we suggest trying CrossFit. Our own tennis maven, Jackie, attends each morning and highly recommends it!

So whether you’re into tennis, biking, running or lifting here in Hilton Head Island, we’ve got all you need to get your sweat on! Let us know if you try any of our suggestions and how they “work out”.

Vacation is all about relaxation. Wondering where to wind down on Hilton Head? We’ve got all the info you need on spas in the area and the best packages and treatments!

At Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, you can choose from many vacation packages that include relaxing massages, facials or manicures. If your main goal is playing golf in the morning and chilling out all afternoon, then our “Tee for Two” package is a great choice. We also have all the spa treatments you could dream of in our “Silver Celebration” and “Romantic Retreat” packages.

If you’re staying with us and looking for a quick fix, there are many options within the resort or close by. Try the Spa Soleil at the Marriot Hilton Head right here in Palmetto Dunes. They even have a teen spa, which makes for a perfect mother-daughter getaway. The Hilton Hotel also has a phenomenal spa in house that’s worth the walk or bike ride.

So the next time you’re staying at Palmetto Dunes, take a little time for yourself and escape to the spa.