Otter Expedition: Montage Palmetto Bluff
I find my favorite trips include two things: luxury hotels and the outdoors.
Just an hour and a half flight away from New York, is an insanely beautiful Lowcountry oasis called Palmetto Bluff. It's nestled right in between Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head, South Carolina. The Bluff itself is 22,000 acres of lush nature preserve and throughout the property, you will find winding forest trails, rivers, golf courses, horse stables and quaint town centers.
It's considered a 'planned community', but I mean that in the best sense of the word. Million dollar houses and cottages are being build to coexist with the natural ecosystem rather than destroy it. The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy monitors all of the plant and wildlife to ensure the natural environment is flourishing. It feels like walking through a movie set with how well it's thought out.
Right in the middle of this midsummer dream is a luxury resort called Montage Palmetto Bluff. It has a main hotel Inn, but there are a series of winding paths that connect you to small suite cottages and guest houses. You can ride your complimentary bike or take a golf cart in between the town centers, restaurants and guest pools.
SHOP THE LOOK:
I'm a sucker for a great spa, and Montage has an incredible one. The massages include foot scrubs and aromatic oils, and the facials have mud masks modeled after the nutrient-rich mud in the surrounding marshes. After you cold plunge and unwind in the spa sauna, you can lay out by the adult-only pool or secure a cabana next to the family pool. Both have their perks. ;)
SHOP THE LOOK:
![OB Lifeguard[5].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52f02bc3e4b001d22eec3311/1530283321323-P3W4COLTYD1OWMPO2ATQ/OB+Lifeguard%5B5%5D.jpg)
After a morning by the pool though, you have to get out and EXPLORE!
Montage has a massive golf course, but I jumped at the opportunity to make friends with Bravo, one of the resident horses at Longfield Stables. They offer small guided trail rides through the woods and a "paint the pony" experience for children. Again, the animals are incredibly well cared for and the stables have room for you to bring your own horse, if you happen to vacation with a horse.
After horseback riding, take a boat tour down the May River! You can dolphin watch, stop at one of the sandy islands for a glass of rosé or dive off one of their docks. Montage also offers sunrise kayak tours, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, crabbing, canoeing and inner tubing! Basically, any outdoor activity you can think of in Lowcountry!
SHOP THE LOOK:
^^ This was shot in front of Bird Island, which is a tiny sanctuary right behind the main Inn. It's a perfect place to sit in the morning with your coffee.
My other favorite parts of the Montage Palmetto Bluff?
-The TWO tree houses on property (one of them is five stories tall) and has a perfect spot for a wedding underneath it
-The s'mores cart they wheel out next to the Inn fire pit every night
-The live music at their seven different resort restaurants
-The on-property bowling alley, pool hall, bocce courts and arcade
-The Bourbon Milk Jam and cookies they give you when you check in (it'sSO good!)
-And the proximity to Bluffton and Savannah!
Hopefully you're convinced now that you need to plan a trip to South Carolina, cuz I'm already planning my next visit for sometime next year. This resort is truly a gem and SO close to New York. It can be a perfect family getaway, a romantic weekend away, or you can rent one of the cottages with a few friends and make it a summertime adventure!