Set the scene for us: Where is this hotel? What’d it look like? We want all the deets.
My brother-in-law advised me to “savor the drive in” as I arrived at the Montage Palmetto Bluff (formerly The Inn at Palmetto Bluff), and at first I thought he was reaching, but now I get it. Three-quarters of The Bluff, as locals call it, is a protected nature reserve. You drive a tree-lined path straight out of central casting—arching trees dripping Spanish moss, birds flying all around—before reaching the Inn, modeled after the historic mansion of Richard T. Wilson, a New York multimillionaire who loved his South Carolina getaway. Palmetto Bluff in its entirety has three villages, and Montage Palmetto Bluff is in the heart of Wilson Village, where you can still see the mansion’s ruins. As for first impressions, pictures don’t do it justice: you feel a bit as if you’ve gone back in time. The Montage’s grounds are made up of the Inn, which evokes the mansion sensibility with rooms like the library, and a covered porch for dining. It has a world-class spa and two pools, and walls of the guest rooms display historic black-and-white photos of the former Wilson mansion and Palmetto Bluff. Then, across the grounds are cottages, some facing the May River. Bike paths and golf carts are how you get around; the property has an on-site bird conservatory, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, and works closely with the surrounding villages, as well as the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, in maintaining the charm and protecting the wildlife and nature of the area.
Sounds like they incorporate a lot of interesting historical elements, which is cool. What’s the crowd like?
For a spot so happily nestled in Low Country, you’ll be surprised to know a lot of the guests aren’t just Southerners, and many hail from the Northeast (they’ve caught onto the fact that flights to Savanah and Hilton Head, both close by, are direct, inexpensive, and last an hour and a half—in many ways, it’s easier to get here than to many popular New England summer spots). In general, it’s a friendly, tanned crew sporting summer resort wear, and whether couples on a romantic getaway, groups in town for a celebration, or families taking the coveted multi-gen vacation together, they’re all here to relax and be entertained. Not one is disappointed.
That’s good to know. So, onto the good stuff: Tell us about your room.
We stayed in a river front cottage (number 44), and friends also rented a house in Wilson Village. Our cottage was spacious and bright, and featured pine floors, vaulted ceilings, and a screened-in porch, plus marble bathrooms with freestanding tubs, a separate shower with three options for shower-head (and the option for steam shower!). There was a fireplace, wet bar, and the porch—which faced the water—was almost as large as the main space. There are alligators aplenty in this area, and rumor has it that one likes to sun near the cottages in the high 20s—I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that’s a pro or a con.
Hard pass on the gator, but the rest of it sounds lovely. Anything in particular you loved about the hotel? Were there any little details that made the whole thing more comfortable?
I liked that the hotel draws on its historic and Low Country heritage as a unifying theme throughout your stay. In our cottage, the snacks were local (Lizzie’s cheese straws, something called Poppy pop corn, and the staff left chocolate-covered shortbread on our beds with turndown at night). At the Inn, there’s a regular demonstration of a local gastronomic staple (shrimp and grits, or hoppin’ john), and at the River House (formerly the main Inn), there’s daily “porching” at 3:30 p.m., where they serve lemonade and cookies on the screened-in porch as guests hang out and chat, and nightly s’mores by the fire pits. It’s a sprawling resort but manages to use these personal touches to feel like you’re staying in a lovely summer great house.
‘Porching’ might just be our new favorite activity. How about the food on-site? What’s there to eat?
You’ve got a lot of options for dining and drinks: At the Inn, the Octagon Porch and Bar serve a Southern-inflected menu inside and on the porch. Breakfast includes an eggs Benedict made with homemade cornmeal English muffins and a Southern ham. The fried chicken sandwich on the lunch menu is a crowd favorite. At the River House, make time for a cocktail: the mixologists are doing things like making their own shrubs and banana liqueur, and fashioning creative cocktails from local ingredients; by the main square in Wilson Village, Buffalo’s is popular all-day that serves a famous Biscuit Bar at breakfast; the Canoe Club is your fine-dining option, and it has breathtaking water views, ideal for dinner. If you don’t want to venture out, the room service menu is vast and accommodating, and coming from the kitchen at the main Inn.
Y had us at fried chicken sandwich. How about staff? Anyone who really impressed you?
It would have to be the canine ambassadors, the resort’s set of precious dogs who are constantly roaming the grounds and happily accepting pets from guests large and small.
That counts! Alright, any other features or services you want to shout out?
You’ve got riverfront and lagoon access, but don’t you dare try to swim: Did we mention that gators live here! Instead, opt for a pool: there are two at the Inn, an adult-only one by the River House and fitness center, and another club one by the village. Paintbox, the kids’ club, has daily activities that lean into the resort’s natural environment and wildlife, and Low Country culture. Rent bikes if you can; and tap the on-site outfitters for activities like boating on the river, visiting local islands, dock-jumping, kayaking, tubing, and paddleboarding. The spa is spacious and will set you right into vacation mode. And shopping! Along the property and in Wilson Village are various boutiques, and R.T.’s, the general store, has a fine deli and other treats, wine, classic candy, and local souvenirs. Beyond Wilson Village, take a bike ride to Moreland, the other village on The Bluff, for more modern architecture, to visit the offices of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, for more dining options, and for another boutique that features Southern crafts made in partnership with the artist-in-residence program.
We’ll definitely check out the artist-in-residence program. So, bottom line: worth it, and why?
If a real vacation—one where you can relax and the kids will be entertained—is what you’re after, you’d be hard-pressed to do better. You can do something different every day here, the pace is fun and low-key, and the people in our party kept marveling that they could let the kids run off on their bikes, or go to the Square (where there are swings and bocce courts, and a charming chapel), without worrying about their safety. The wildlife spotting is superb, and the waterfront activities ample. It’s a good old-fashioned Southern getaway.
