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.

We understand that planning a wedding is stressful, especially if it’s a destination wedding far away from where you live. No worries. Our wedding services staff can help. 

Palmetto Dunes is a popular place for Hilton Head weddings and earlier this year the users of WeddingWire.com voted Palmetto Dunes tops in Hilton Head for both catering and as a wedding/reception venue. Here’s what some of our recent brides have had to say: 

• “The wedding day went off without a hitch… Literally there was nothing that went wrong on our entire day (besides one of the groomsmen realizing he left his suit at home!).”
• “We fell in love with Palmetto Dunes the minute we saw it! We got married barefoot on the beach and had the reception at the Dunes House following the ceremony. Everything was outside on the beach! What a beautiful location to get married … We would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for that perfect beach wedding!”
• “Our wedding in Palmetto Dunes … was as magical a day as we had dreamed. We had a very personal sunset ceremony with one of the most scenic views imaginable. We highly recommend the staff at Palmetto Dunes Resort.” 

Here at Palmetto Dunes, we have any wedding venue you might desire: indoor, outdoor or overlooking the ocean. We built our Dunes House specifically for weddings and other special events, though our resort guests also enjoy it as a beach-side dining destination. You can also choose from the Shelter Cove Pavilion, Center Court Conference Center or even a courtside ceremony at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. 

We’ve planned more weddings than we can count. We know where to find the potential snags and how to deftly skirt them and can connect you with any kind of vendor you might need from getting your marriage certificate to finding a minister. We also have the catering facilities to accommodate any number of guests.

Finally, our goal is make sure you’re relaxed. After all, we’re a resort. It’s what we do. Enjoy some tennis or golf with your bridal party or out of town guests while you’re here, too. With our help, even as the bride, all you’ll have to do is arrive on time. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort will sweat all of the details and then some.

For us, planning weddings at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island is a piece of cake …wedding cake! Contact us for more information about planning a Hilton Head wedding at Palmetto Dunes.

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?

January is the month where many Americans are gung-ho with their list of New Year’s resolutions. Lots of people are hitting the gym and checking out the health food isles at the grocery store, but we’ve also heard many people say they also resolve to spend more time with family. If you’ve been trying to get your immediate, or extended, family together for a while or want to plan a family reunion, why get the gang together at Palmetto Dunes?

Between our beautiful homes and villas, three world-renowned golf courses, tennis, bikes, fishing, shopping and the beach, every person in your family will be happy and entertained. What many people don’t realize when deciding where to stay Hilton Head is that when you stay with Palmetto Dunes, you get the best deals available on all the activities at the resort, as well as lagoon activities and boat charters out of Shelter Cove Harbour. You also get two free hours of tennis time each day!

Shelter Cove Harbour, just across the road from the resort, is also a great place to take the fam, because there are plentiful restaurants to enjoy each night and a variety of shops to peruse. Our group planners can even help create a special dinner at The Dunes House or a more formal party to celebrate your family reunion.

So, ring up your family, start matching up calendars and settle on a date. Then give us a ring at 866-744-7558 or click here and we’ll handle the rest.

We hope to see your whole gang here soon! 

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 . 

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! 

There are so many things to be thankful for here in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The gorgeous weather, the beach, fishing, biking, great golf and tennis and all the amazing people! If you’re looking to skip the early snow this year and have a warm Thanksgiving, come celebrate with us at Palmetto Dunes. The average temperature here in November is upper 60’s to mid 70’s, making it great weather to hit one of our three golf courses, walk the beach or to play tennis all day!

Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated in a big way at our beach front restaurant, The Dunes House! On Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, from 11 am - 5 pm you can enjoy a huge Thanksgiving buffet your grandmother would be proud of. You can also pre-order a meal for carry-out. Just call us at 843-686-9623 or email us at carryout@palmettodunes.com.  The best part is you don’t have to cook or clean up when you’re done!

The buffet is $27.95 per person plus tax and gratuity and $13.95 for kids 12 and younger. Here is the menu for Turkey Day:

Thanksgiving Menu at The Dunes House:

Mix Greens Salad with House Dressings
New England Clam Chowder
Citrus Brined Deep Fried Tom Turkey
Oven Roasted Organic Free Range Turkey
Corn Bread Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Honey Glazed Baked Bone in Spiral Ham
Miss Liz's Three Cheese Mac and Cheese
Candied Yams
Garlic Mash Yukon Gold Potatoes
Fennel and Rosemary Crusted Prime Rib
Desserts include: Frankie Mae's Famous Pumpkin Pie, Keylime Pie,
Southern Bourban Pecan Pie, Sweet Potatoe Pie and Cookies.
Regular menu will not be served at this time.

We’ll also be hosting a holiday kick-off celebration the day after Thanksgiving and we’ll be sharing information soon with all the details. Whether you join us or celebrate at home, happy Turkey Day!

There’s no doubt that kids of all ages (including adults!) love Shannon Tanner, a longtime fixture at Harbourfest in Shelter Cove Harbour, our hallmark event of the year. Tourists and locals come from near and far to do the “crazy hair dance” and see Shannon don his trademark beanie each summer night while singing song after family-friendly song. But one recent visitor had an even more memorable experience than most: bonding with his daughter in a moment that he’ll never forget. This father wrote us to tell us how his 8-year-old daughter was upset that she was missing her school’s father/daughter dance because of their recent Hilton Head vacation. A little sad, she and her family headed out to Harbourfest and found themselves along with many families enjoying the fun that is Shannon Tanner. He writes: “It was about that time in the show where you asked the little girls to grab their dads for a song you were about to do. For the first time in the day she got excited and grabbed my hand and dragged me up to dance with her. You then sang a song I had never heard before and it was a moment in my life that I will never forget. It was Cinderella. As I listened to the words, I related to the song and couldn't hold back my emotions as I held my little girl while we danced together.” Later that night, she told him she was so happy because she got to dance with her dad after all. “I melted right then and there,” said the dad. “I have since downloaded the song from iTunes and can't listen to [it] without remembering that night and getting emotional.” We’re so glad that this family will have happy memories of Shelter Cove, Palmetto Dunes and Hilton Head forever, and we hope you’ll come make your own memories, as well.

When you vacation at Palmetto Dunes, you’ll be hard pressed to find yourself bored. But just in case there’s a moment that finds you wondering what to do next, we have 5 great don’t-miss activities that are part of the ultimate Palmetto Dunes experience. Stay tuned for future posts on more top activities at the resort!