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! 

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! 

From the golf course to where to eat and drink we’ve compiled tips and information from the staff at Palmetto Dunes to help you get the most out of your visit to our resort.

Golf

1. “Golf shots at Palmetto Dunes Resort feel different than in many parts of the country for two reasons: the grass is different and so is the soil.” – Doug Weaver, Head of Golf Instruction
2. “When putting on Bermuda grass at Palmetto Dunes Resort, you have to consider the grain of the grass, which is influenced by slope, sunset and nearby water. Lessons with the instruction staff can lead to significantly improved putting.”  – Doug Weaver, Head of Golf Instruction

Tennis

1. “Guests at the resort don’t have to travel with their racquets. Our demo racquets are available for use in all our clinics, lessons and round robins and can even be rented for personal play.” - Brian Kiggans, Head Tennis Professional
2. “Starting the first Monday in March, the Tennis Center begins their Monday Night Pro Exhibitions at 5:30 p.m. During that time, we offer a discount on retail merchandise in the Pro Shop. Starting the first Tuesday in March, the Tennis Center kicks off Demo Days at 2 p.m. and demo day discounts are offered as well.” – Jackie Reynecke, Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center

Dining

1. “It’s 5 o’clock and you’re on the beach; just walk directly up to The Dunes House and enjoy a beachy cocktail. No shoes required!” –  Chris Fleury,  Director of Food & Beverage
2.  “You have to try the fried chicken, green beans and macaroni at The General Store. They cook all items fresh each morning!” – Frank Gaston, The General Store and Hilton Head Outfitters
3. “The grill at the Arthur Hills Course makes Liz’s homemade New England clam chowder daily! It’s delicious.” – Amelia Johnston, Marketing Coordinator

Activities

1. “When the weather is warm, the best time to go fishing is in the morning; you’re bound to get more bites. Also, a great tip for fishing inshore during the colder months is that the first quarter and last quarter moon produce more fish.” – Captain Trent Malphrus , Palmetto Lagoon Charters
2. “When you book your accommodations through Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, you get the best deal on the whole island on golf, bikes, tennis, kayaks and so much more.” – Karen Morris, Director of Sales

Misc

1.  “Visit the Rotunda, also known as the Welcome Center. We have an on-site concierge available seven days a week to answer all your Hilton Head questions.” – Jennifer Carlin, Revenue Manager

If you’ve never stayed with us before, feel free to ask us any questions you have by emailing customerservice@palmettodunes.com or you can “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and we’ll answer your questions there.

Do you have a great tip for visiting Palmetto Dunes? 

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 . 

We’re gearing up to see lots of people on the Island and throughout our resort in the next several months. Between Valentine’s romantic getaways, spring break travelers and summer vacationers, we’re going to be seeing lots of you.

But you’ve got to get here first and so we’ve gathered some great tips on packing, as well as traveling with children to help you get here without a hitch.

Packing tips for the pros:

1. Ladies protect your bras by using these cleaver cases by CupCase. This way you won’t have to bend the underwire or worry about creases. They’re stylish too and can be put in the suitcase or carried alone as a bag.
2. If you don’t want the soles of your shoes to touch your clothes while in your suitcase, place them in a cheap shower cap.
3. Pack your bikinis in one of these cute bags so they’re easy to find and they’re also waterproof so you can pack wet suits at the end of your trip.
4. Pack baby powder because it’s known to get sand off your skin quickly and easily!
5. Also, don’t worry about packing your beach chairs, umbrellas or fishing rods because Hilton Head Outfitters has all of those for rent!

Here are also just a few awesome traveling with children tips:

1. Want to pack healthy strawberries as a snack but don’t want the mess with the kids biting the tops off? Go ahead hull strawberries quickly with just a plastic straw!
2. If your kids love cut apples but they brown too quickly, cut the apple and while it’s still all together place a rubber band around it to prevent browning.
3. It seems like everyone has an iPad and iPhone these days and here’s a great lists of travel game apps that will certainly keep the kids -- young and old -- busy!

Do you have any great packing tips or ideas for traveling with kids? Please share! We hope to see lots of you in the next several months! 

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! 

While most of the country is bundling up and sitting by their fireplaces, here at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort we’re out and about playing in 70-degree weather. From tennis and golf to fishing and kayaking, the activities don’t slow down here in Hilton Head when winter rolls in. To keep our winter visitors, active we’ve got some great seasonal deals for the tennis, golf or outdoors fanatic.

Hilton Head Outfitters is offering unlimited biking, kayaking and canoeing throughout the winter.  For $49 per person you can rent a bike for the whole month or you can buy a bike for 25% off! Guests can also buy a year membership for $300 per couple or $199 per person, and enjoy unlimited kayak and canoe rentals!

Winter is actually the best time to start fishing in our lagoon system, because red fish, speckled sea trout and sheephead are bountiful. Head on over to Shelter Cove Harbour to take one of the many fishing charters with Captain Trent Malphrus. You’re sure to reel in a big one!

If tennis is more up your alley, you can purchase a monthly membership through February for only $200 per person that includes two hours of court time per day. Finally, if you’d like to play with us AND stay with us, we’ve got a 30-night resort accommodations package that includes golf, bikes, kayaks and tennis starting at only $1,200 per person. We think that’s a deal!

 Call us 866-744-7558 and find out all the ways you can save this winter season! 

If you’ve ever been to Hilton Head, then you know the most common form of transportation is bike! This 2-wheeled ride and Christmas have a long history together, as the bicycle is one of the most common items on a child’s wish list for Santa.

Hilton Head Outfitters has the new craze in bikes that’s on lots of kids’ lists this year. It’s called Zike! The Zike combines a normal bike with the workout of an elliptical machine. These super kid-friendly bikes have been featured on The View and Extra.

You can get the Zike in 4 different versions:

1. The HotShot- Great for ages 5-9 because it’s small but fast enough to keep them entertained. Adding the stepping motion increases balance and coordination while making fitness fun for children.
2. The FlyBy- This Zike is a step up from the HotShot with double chains for more speed! The handle bars are adjustable and it’s made specifically for kids 8-10.
3. The SlingShot- This hybrid scooter is more advanced and made for children older than 10. The speed on this Zike rivals a BMX bike!
4. The Saber- If your child is looking for the mack-daddy Zike, the Saber is the answer. With seven speeds and larger tires, your child will be zooming by their friends riding “normal” bikes.

All these versions come in multiple colors, including blue, green, red, yellow and more. If a bike is on your child’s Christmas list this year, why not try something different and fun with the Zike?! We guarantee they will have a speedy good time. 

We thought it would be fun to share a little bit of history about the resort that so many of you call home, home away from home or vacation heaven.

It all started for Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort back in 1967 with the first major project being the development of the lagoon system. One year later, in 1968, development began on our championship Robert Trent Jones golf course

The early 70’s brought the addition of the Inn Villas, Beach Villas, Water Oak Villas, the Chimney Cove development and the groundbreaking of the Hyatt Hotel. In 1973, the Fazio course was started and the Jones pro shop was expanded. The following year our wonderful Tennis Center was completed and the end of the 70’s allowed us to finish Ocean Cove Villas, Turnberry Village and the Fazio Tennis Courts. We ended the decade with the acquisition by Greenwood Development Corporation.

The 80’s brought more growth in our accommodation arena by adding Captain’s Walk, Captain’s Cove, St. Andrew’s Common and more. In 1980 construction began on Shelter Cove Marina, making it an exciting year for us! Three years later came the dedication of Shelter Cove Harbour and the popular King Neptune sundial, the largest working figurative sundial in the world... In 1986, the Arthur Hills Course opened, completing our acclaimed, award-winning golf trifecta.

Over the past ten years, the resort built a new Tennis Center in 2001, and in 2002, the Robert Trent Jones course was completely renovated.

Look how far we’ve come since 1967! Who knows what will be in our future, but we look forward to all the great things to come and providing our guests with more activities than ever. 

Reel in the right holiday gift this year for the fishing fanatic in your life.  The Palmetto Dunes Ships Store has the perfect fishing shirt: Bonehead by Columbia. The Bonehead collection is made of cotton poplin, creating that lived-in comfort feeling. It also features mesh-lined vents on the shoulders to help keep you cool when you’re reeling in the big one!

For those super sunny fishing days, you can always use the hook and loop on the collar to keep the sun off your neck. If all these features aren’t enough, there’s also a hook and loop closed fly pocket at the chest, a utility loop, a rod holder loop and a tool holder all on this shirt to help keep your hands free to work with your rod lines and lures.

This amazing shirt is available for men and women, short and long sleeve and in several colors.  If you order or pick up this gift before December 31, you can also take advantage of a 20% discount at The Ships Store.  

Stocking Stuffer Special: If you need a fishing stocking stuffer to go with the Bonehead shirt by Columbia, you should pick up a Tervis tumbler. We have a large selection of cups, lids and handles here in Hilton Head!