Shannon Tanner has been rocking Shelter Cove all summer long during HarbourFest. His show has kids and families singing and dancing and is a Hilton Head summer staple. But last week, the audience got an unexpected surprise. He was joined by a special guest: musician Edwin McCain!

Tanner’s long-time friend took the stage to perform several songs, including his smash “I’ll Be.” McCain also sang a new song he wrote for his daughter called, “I’ll Take That Long Walk with You.” “It’s so much fun for him to come play,” says Tanner, who has a close relationship with McCain and his family, and played a role in helping McCain get his music career started. Tanner booked McCain’s very first gig at Wild Wing Café on the island! 

Watch the video below to see a sample:


HarbourFest is the signature summer event at Shelter Cove Harbour, held mid-June through mid-August. The family-friendly festival offers nightly fun and entertainment, and the fireworks show every Tuesday night is extremely popular. This is Tanner’s 24^th season playing. He performs Monday-Friday with two shows at 6:30 and 8 p.m. through Labor Day. His show is filled with a variety of children’s and family songs, including lots of sing-a-longs and audience participation. 

“This is a very unique show at Hilton Head,” Tanner says. “I’ve been doing it for 24 years and it’s become an integral part of people’s summer memories. That’s not lost on me or taken lightly. I love what I do and I love that kids I played to years ago are now grown up and bringing their kids to see the show.” 

Ahoy Mateys! 
In addition to enjoying his HarbourFest shows, families can also set sail with Tanner on his Most Excellent Pirate Expedition. The pirate ship sails from Shelter Cove Wednesday and Friday mornings. The morning includes pirate stories, pirate songs and dances, and of course a search for lost pirate treasure. For more information and tickets, please visit www.piratekidzofhiltonhead.com. You can also visit (and “Like”) the Pirate Expedition Facebook page. 

Shannon Tanner App 
Just because you have to get back to reality after your vacation, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the songs of summer. You can keep up with Tanner’s live performances and new material by downloading the free Shannon Tanner App to your smart phone! 

“I get tons of emails and Facebook posts about people who enjoyed my show,” Tanner says. “With this app, they can listen to songs and watch videos. They can see where I’m performing, and even download some free music.” 

But there’s nothing like seeing Tanner live, so be sure you catch him at HarbourFest before the season ends. The last fireworks show will be Aug. 14, though Tanner and the ever popular Cappy the Clown will continue to perform at Shelter Cove Harbour through Labor Day. View the complete schedule.

10Best readers have it right: Hilton Head Island’s beaches are awesome. The travel website recently released its list of the 10Best beaches in the U.S., chosen by the readers, and Hilton Head was ranked No. 2! Vacationers ranked Hilton Head above beaches in California, Florida and Hawaii!

From sunrise yoga to bike rides at sunset and everything in between, Hilton Head beaches are the perfect place to spend a vacation. This barrier island has 12 miles of gorgeous beach, three of which are located within Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort.

If you really study the beach itself, you’ll notice Hilton Head’s beaches are uninterrupted and wide. In addition to soft sand, the lower part – closest to the water – is hard-packed and perfect for building sandcastles, a game of Frisbee, running, walking or riding a bike.

Palmetto Dunes takes great care of the 3 miles of pristine beaches located at the resort. We invigorated our beaches using tons of sand dredged from our 11-mile lagoon system and Shelter Cove Marina.

We also offer lots of “toys” for our guests to enjoy on the beach, including surfboards, boogie boards, bicycles and more. Also on the property is the Dunes House, a public access beach facility located midway down the 3-mile stretch of beach. It features a deck, resort beach restrooms and limited parking for resort guests.

At Palmetto Dunes, even golfers can still enjoy the beach while at play. Our Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course (one of three courses on the resort) is one of only two oceanfront holes on Hilton Head Island. Its signature hole, the par-five 10^th, offers an amazing view of one of the 10Best beaches in the nation.

As you enjoy the sand and surf, there are several regulations by the town of Hilton Head to keep in mind. The following are not permitted: alcohol, glass bottles/containers, littering, fires and fireworks and shark fishing.

We also want to protect these amazing beaches, so please be careful to throw your trash away in provided receptacles and please stay away from the sand dunes and sea oats, as well as other dune flora. Remember to leave any live animals and beach fauna you find alone, which includes sand dollars, starfish and conchs. Also, please turn out your beachfront lights to help make sure the baby sea turtles make their way out to sea.

We’d love to help you plan an amazing vacation at one of the 10Best beaches in the nation, so feel free to visit our website for details on Palmetto Dunes Resort’s Hilton Head vacation homes and villas, activities and amenities, or call us at (866) 744-7558.

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! 

If you’re looking for a fishing guide, lesson and just someone to talk fish with, Trent Malphrus, we like to call him “Captain Trent,” is your man! He’s been fishing since he could walk and started working as a guide when he was 12 years old.

Growing up on Hilton Head Island, Trent had some of the best fishing surrounding him and he literally knows every nook and cranny of our waterways. We’re so pleased to say he truly believes the best Hilton Head fishing is in our 11-mile lagoon system!

February is a tough month to catch inshore fish so we’re thrilled that March is only a few days away! Trent says that March is just the beginning of some of the best fishing for the year. The longer days and shorter nights lets the fish know spring is on its way and the water begins to warm up slowly but surely.

What Trent is most interested in is all the live bait still left in the creeks. Since the winter was not cold enough for the bait to migrate to warmer water, they have remained here in Hilton Head’s creeks. What he does know is that our lagoon system will start to see Black Drum, Red Fish and Speckled Trout, all for you to catch!

The lagoon system in Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort holds some of the biggest trout on the east coast and there’s a lot of them. Trent’s largest catch ever was in the lagoon, a Red Drum that weighed in more than 50 pounds!

Captain Trent has worked with people of all ages and can help anyone reel in a big one. When his son was just 3 years old, Trent helped him snag a Red Trout and Black Drum. His oldest client was a 91-year-old fly fisherman who caught three Tarpon, which Trent says was an amazing experience.

Want to know more about Trent? Head over to Hilton Head Outfitters and set up a fishing excursion with him. It’s well worth it! 

The people of Hilton Head have worked hard to preserve the beautiful beaches and landscape and it’s apparent in the amount of wildlife that inhabit our Island. From the ocean to the lagoon to the marsh, there are amazing creatures that love Hilton Head as much as we do! Let us give you a sneak peek into some of the wildlife you could come across on your next vacation.

Birds Galore

When you get off your plane or out of your car, look to the sky and you’re sure to see birds everywhere. From seagulls to the beautiful ibis, Hilton Head is full of winged friends. Shelter Cove Harbour and other piers will have brown pelicans waiting to glide above the water looking for a small fish dinner. While sun tanning or playing on the beach, you’re likely to see large birds like ospreys or even bald eagles.

Spot a Gator, But Leave Him Alone

One of the beset known reptiles on Hilton Head is the alligator. They mainly live within lagoon systems so we’ve seen quite a few here at Palmetto Dunes, but if you leave them alone, they won’t bother you. You might even see one lazing in the sun off the side of one of our golf courses.

A Rainbow of Fish

The lagoon is also full of large, beautiful fish, such as red fish, trout, bluefish, black drum, flounder and even tarpon. The smooth, calm waters of the lagoon system make fishing and crabbing excursions fun and successful at the same time.

The Friendly Dolphin

Head into the big water on one of our dolphin cruises to catch a glimpse of their majestic beauty. Many of our dolphins are very people friendly and may swim alongside the boat or come up to the boat for a bite to eat. We’ve even heard tales of dolphins coming right up to people in our marsh creeks. You could swim with dolphins without even planning it! But always remember, they are wild animals.

Turtles and More

During the spring and early summer, if you walk the beach at night you might see a loggerhead momma turtle waddling up to the dunes creating a nest for her babies. Hilton Head has laws to protect the little guys and to make sure they have a safe hatching season and can make it to the ocean.

There are plenty more animals on the Island, like deer, frogs, toads and plenty of crustaceans. So the next time you’re here, take a minute to look around you and enjoy all the wildlife surrounding you on our beautiful island.

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?

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? 

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! 

When most people think about Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort they think about the beautiful beaches, three amazing golf courses, miles of paved bike paths and exceptional tennis. While we’re incredibly proud to be known for all of these activities, we also want you to take advantage of our many sailboat charters out of Shelter Cove Harbour just across the road. We have two exquisite sailboats and three fun filled cruises that will please the whole family.

The Schooner “Welcome”  offers a variety of options, including a relaxing sunset cocktail and hors d’oeuvres cruise ideal for catching the marsh breeze and enjoying the amazing views of Hilton Head. For those interested in the wildlife surrounding our island, the Eco Cruise is for you. Hitting the seas each afternoon allows you to encounter a wide variety of marine wildlife like sea turtles, marsh birds and majestic dolphins. Finally, the “Welcome” provides a fun-filled family experience with the Pirates Adventure Cruise. Sail the high seas with a pirate as your guide while learning to hoist the sails and steer the ship. Ahoy matey, it’s a good time indeed!

If you’re looking for a more private sailboat charter, we have the smaller 40-foot “Special-K”. Take your time sailing around Hilton Head Island with an experienced captain and crew. Whether you’re interested in learning more about how to sail or you want to surprise your spouse with a romantic private ride, the “Special-K” is a great choice.

The next time you’re in Hilton Head consider taking an adventure to the high seas and come aboard one of our fabulous sailboat charters! 

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! 

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! 

We’re kicking off 2012 with four wonderful tournaments for all our golf and tennis friends out there. While we know many of you are stuck in snow and ice, why not head to Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and spend a little time outside in milder temperatures at one of these entertaining events.

On  January 21, we’ll hold the Martin Luther King Golf Tournament at our Arthur Hills course. Locals will invade our golf course to play in honor of the great Martin Luther King Jr. Next, during the first weekend in February, the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center will host the No-Snow Tennis Classic from the 3^rd – 5^th of the month. Grab your racquet and head down to Hilton Head for some great tennis play with a guarantee of no snow!

We’ll also honor all those in the food and beverage industry in Hilton Head with our annual F&B Golf Tournament on February 16. This will be the tournament’s 8^th year at our George Fazio course and you can enter now by simply clicking here. This tournament is all about the locals and at least one person from your team needs to be in the food and beverage industry.

The 26^th Annual “Luck of the Irish” Doubles Tournament will bring us into March with tennis teams that are sure to please. We hope to see lots of men’s, women’s and mixed doubles team this year. It’s only $45 per person for one event or $55 a person for two events. You can register your doubles team by clicking here and filling out the entry form.

We feel very lucky to have such amazing events happening this winter season and to be able to engage with all the Hilton Head locals and out-of-towners through these events. Whether you “love” tennis or golf, we hope this blog post got you on “par” with some tournaments to enjoy this year! 

It might be freezing outside and you’re thinking more about wearing scarves than swimsuits but this Christmas why not get the family a present that will warm everyone’s heart? A trip to Hilton Head Island!

Here at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort you can find the perfect home or villa located near the ocean, golf course or lagoon depending on how your loved ones want to spend their vacation.

2118 Windsor Place has an oceanfront view and plenty of space for your whole family. The large open balcony is a great place to drink your coffee in the morning or wind down at night to the sound of tbhe ocean breeze. Enjoy views of the ocean from your private balcony overlooking an oceanfront pool with a spa, barbecue area and children's pool.

We know that many families love to gather in the kitchen and this unit has a spacious kitchen that’s open to the living and dining room. Another great feature is that all four bedrooms have their own private bathroom, making it easy for everyone to clean up and get ready after a day in the sand. The Arthur Hills golf course is a short walk away for all the golfers in the family, and you can enjoy two hours of free tennis court time each day you stay with us!

So call us now at 866-744-7558 and get the whole family a gift they will truly enjoy. Also, when you book early, you’re eligible for some really amazing deals!

Here at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort we love our guests! Whether you stay with us year-round, visit for a week or come for the day to enjoy our activities we value you all. One special guest, Austin, touched our hearts when he came for a fishing excursion with Captain Trent Malphrus.

For more than six years, Austin has been battling acute lymphocyte leukemia, which he was diagnosed with at 8 years old. After three years of treatments, his love of basketball was taken from him but a newfound passion for hunting, fishing and music was awakened inside him. The Make-A-Wish foundation granted his wish and sent the DeGroot family to Hawaii on a deep-sea fishing adventure. Due to strong winds and intense waves, they were unable to go on the fishing trip.

Since then the family has found their outdoor retreat a little closer to home, here in Hilton Head Island. They’ve been coming to the island for the past five years and Austin has gone after the “big catch” each year. On the last visit they came to visit us at Hilton Head Outfitters and we set them up with fishing extraordinaire, Captain Trent.  Finally, Austin was able to reel in the big one: a redfish!

After a great day on the Palmetto Dunes lagoon fishing, Austin said “Mom, my life is fulfilled I've done everything I've ever wanted to do!” We’re very thankful to have been a part of Austin’s big day and great catch and hope to see the DeGroot family on the island for many more years to come!

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”.

Are your kids dreaming of their spring or summer spent at Palmetto Dunes? Reading a book about the beach is a great way to bring those memories to mind, while encouraging a love of reading at the same time.

Head to the library or the bookstore and turn it into a fun outing as you look for your “beach book.” Here are a few children’s books set at the beach that we highly recommend.

• Great for younger children, Seashells by the Seashore by Marianne Berkes, tells the tale of a little girl collecting seashells at the beach. Filled with colorful illustrations, the book teaches children to count the shells the girl collects.

• At the Beach is another great beach-inspired read. Written by Anne and Harlow Rockwell, this book is a fun way to excite your child for an upcoming vacation to the beach. It’s full of images explaining all the many activities you’ll enjoy by the sea.

• Perhaps our favorite pick takes place not exactly at the beach, but in the ocean itself.  The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is a classic for children of all ages. The spectacular illustrations combined with a great moral about sharing make this a must-read!

So cozy up with your little ones this fall and dream of days at beach. Happy reading!

Halloween is in just two short weeks, which leaves little time to find a costume. For those who are super busy and don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on a cool get-up for Halloween, we’ve got you covered with some Palmetto Dunes-inspired costumes for the whole family!

1. Dad as a golfer:

-polo shirt

-khaki shorts/pants

-golf shoes

-sweater to tie around your neck

-golf glove

2. Mom as a tennis player:

-tennis skirt/dress

- visor

-tennis shoes

-racket

3. Child as a Surfer:

-bathing suit

-cover up

-surfboard: can be made out of cardboard and painted by your child

-shell necklace or a lei

4. Toddler as a Sea Turtle:

- green hooded sweatshirt

- green sweatpants

- 2 large sheets of dark green felt

- light green and tan felt

- 2 large googly eyes

- pillow stuffing or newspaper

- fabric glue

This costume requires a little more work than the other three but is still very easy and super inexpensive to create. Follow these simple steps from HGTV and don’t be afraid to get a little creative with it!

These are just a couple ideas that are fun and can be pulled together with items in your closet. Got more cheap and easy costume ideas? Tweet us an idea or a picture @PalmettoDunesSC or post to our Facebook page!

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!

Our Robert Trent Jones Course was the first golf course built at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, and it’s a favorite of many. In fact readers of Golfweek magazine voted it among their favorite courses in the Southeast.  The course offers 18 holes, 11 of which wind alongside an 11-mile lagoon system.  The Jones course is most famous for its par-five 10^th oceanfront hole, one of only two on the Island.

Built in 1967 by Robert Trent Jones and significantly reconstructed in 2002 by longtime protégé Roger Rulewich, this course aims to please. After reshaping tees, elevating fairways and improving the drainage system, the course re-opened and was named the 2003 Golf Course of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association and is ranked four stars by Golf Digest. The Jones course plays 7,005 yards from the championship tees.

And that’s not all! The course also claims the largest pro-shop at Palmetto Dunes, and one of the largest on the Island. From Nike and Adidas to Burberry and Travis Mathew, we have it all. After you purchase those new clubs make sure you hit our free custom club fitting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! We hope to “tee” you soon.

Got a hankering for a Louisiana PoBoy or some authentic Cajun gumbo? Hilton Head Island may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of these down-home delicacies; however, this month, The Island Recreation Association will be bringing the Bayou to us!

Starting at 11 a.m. on October 15, Shelter Cove Community Park will turn into Bourbon Street for the annual Cajun Food Festival. The fest is chock full of fun for the whole family. There will be Cajun cuisine sure to please everyone from fried oysters to red beans and rice.

Keep your children happy by letting them hit the “Kid’s Zone”, complete with moon bounces, arts and crafts. While the kids are having a blast, don’t forget to visit the Outdoor Business Expo, which is new to this year’s festival. During the Expo, businesses from around the area will be showcasing new products and services throughout the day.

Proceeds from the Cajun Food Festival will benefit the Island Recreation Association’s Scholarship Fund, which assures that every child, regardless of financial hardship, will be able to participate in recreation. Good food, good people and a good cause? What more reason is there to check out this year’s Cajun Food Festival? For more information visit www.islandreccenter.org or call (843) 681-7273. We hope to see you at our version of the Bayou!

Hilton Head is full of events, activities and wonderful restaurants, but we’re also only a short drive from historic Bluffton, S.C. The week of October 16-23 will bring the perfect opportunity to visit Hilton Head and check out the Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival too! In its seventh year, this festival celebrates local seafood, history, art and, most importantly, Southern hospitality.

The 15-minute drive to downtown Bluffton is a great day trip and you can participate in events such as kayak tours, Iron Chef competitions or oyster roasts. Make sure you take your children too, because the Palmetto Animal League will have pets to adopt or play with. If you’re more of the workout junkie, this festival has you covered with a 5K on Saturday, October 22.

The days and evenings will be filled with tons of entertainment from jazz musicians and singers to best selling authors. Your children will be amazed by the juggling work of Ben Matthews and the Carolina Clowns from Charlotte, N.C. Don’t miss Saturday nights’ fireworks spectacular that will be the perfect end to a great event.

Let us know if you go and what you enjoyed the most!

The weather is starting to cool down which means it’s a great time to get a group of friends or bring your loved one on a golf getaway here at Palmetto Dunes. There’s no better time to play golf than in the fall here in South Carolina. We have tons of beautiful Hilton Head rental homes and villas that overlook one of our three award winning golf courses but 951 Inverness is a must-see villa!

Remodeled in 2009 and situated on the 12^th hole of the George Fazio course, this three-bedroom, three- bath villa is perfect for a group or a family. After a morning on the fairways you can cool off in the community pool that’s only a short walk from your villa or chill out by watching TV on the flat screen in the living room!

Make sure to take advantage of our other activities, such as the two hours of free tennis court time and discounted bike rentals, that you receive when you book your villa through Palmetto Dunes. Another great bonus of renting with Palmetto Dunes is that you can enjoy lunch, dinner or mid-afternoon cocktails at The Dunes House!

951 Inverness is ready to make your fall golf outing perfect, so check out its availability, gather up your gang of guys or group of gals and call us at 866.380.1778. Fore!

If you’ve been to see us for a summer vacation, spring break or quick getaway in the last year and a half then you’ve probably seen the famous Charles Fraser statue. The life-sized bronze statue of Charles Fraser and his alligator, located at Compass Rose Park, is part of the public art fund created by The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry in 2010. The goal of the fund is to install public art and sculptures to beautify our Island.

This year the public art fund is bringing 20 pieces of outdoor sculpture to the Coastal Discovery Museum from September 25 through December 31. There will be works of art from local, national and international artists, and by the end of the year one piece will be selected to remain in Hilton Head and become a permanent part of our public art collection.

If you’re planning a visit between now and the end of the year, this is a free, must-see walking tour of some fantastic art. So whether you’re into modern, classic or contemporary, come to Hilton Head this fall and winter and get artsy with us!

We are always looking for new and creative ways to reward our guests and residents. This summer we decided to take to our smart phones and jump on the popular trend of “checking in” on Foursquare. We saw that lots of people were already using their phones to check in at many of our locations, so we created some specials to make checking in even more fun.

Whether you’re a golfer, tennis enthusiast, outdoorsman (or woman) or water lover we have a Foursquare deal tailored for you. It’s super easy to unlock these specials with just a simple download of the mobile app for any smart phone or you can sign up online at Foursquare.com!

Take a look at our current check-in deals and feel free to Facebook or tweet us what specials you’d like to see next!

Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center: “Get an extra hour of court time every 3^rd check-in!

Arthur Hills Course: “Get a free bag of range balls on your first check-in”

The Dunes House: Mayor Special (for the person who frequents the location the most often) “Thanks for being our Mayor! If you check-in during happy hour you receive one free frozen drink off the drink menu. Enjoy!”

Robert Trent Jones Course: “If 10 people check in at once, get 10% off one item at the pro shop!”

Hilton Head Outfitters: “Congrats! For checking in with us, you get a 20% discount on kayak rentals. Hope you have a great time!”

George Fazio Golf Course: “The Mayor can get 20% off his greens fee for the day.”

The General Store: “The first person to check in between 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. gets a free large coffee with their breakfast purchase!”

Shelter Cove Marina Ship’s Store: “Get 20% off the anything in the store with the exception of convenience items for checking in!”

So go be our friend on Foursquare and start checking in!

What does Labor Day mean to you? Is it the official end of summer, a day off work, the last day to wear white or the beginning of college and NFL football season? Well, here at Palmetto Dunes it means one last chance at a summer getaway for the family. Labor Day weekend is full of fun activities here at the resort, specially crafted with your entire family in mind.

This Labor Day treat your loved ones to learning a new skill or polishing up an existing one. How about three days of our Family Golf School? Golf is a timeless skill to learn, and one of your kids will thank you for sooner or later. The program was designed by our resident golf pro and former PGA tour professional Doug Weaver. We also have great opportunities to practice your tennis skills with our junior and adult clinics.

After all that practice, it might just be nice to spend this last weekend of fun and summer biking or kayaking our 11-mile lagoon system. Sometimes just telling you how fun our activities are just isn’t enough, you have to see it yourself! Check out this video highlighting the adventurous family fun here at Palmetto Dunes!

Don’t you just want to hop in the car now and head our way? We understand… Come on down!

If your kids are looking to try something new and exciting this summer then head down to Hilton Head Outfitters and sign up for our surf camp! The classes are 90 minutes long and available for all ages. Captain Byron Sewell gives private attention to all attendees and brings his radical experience to the class!

Captain Byron was born on Hilton Head Island and has been a competitive surfer for 12 years. He has 5 State Championship titles and has even won an East Coast Championship. When he’s not in Hilton Head helping your child catch a wave, you can find him either in Hawaii or in Costa Rica from November through May running a surfing adventure guide.

Every class starts with a 10-minute yoga stretch to get everyone loose and in the right frame of mind. All classes are full of laughter and he ends each session with a watermelon seed spitting contest! So get your children out there for fun in the surf so they can tell everyone they’ve been surfing in Hilton Head. Cowabunga dudes!

If you’re headed down to Hilton Head in May, we hope you’re here in time to catch a local favorite annual event, the Rib Burnoff and Barbeque Fest. This year’s event will be Saturday, May 14 from Noon-4 p.m. at the Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive.