Go Boating And ‘Porching’ In South Carolina Lowcountry

09.05.2024 - 15:57 / forbes.com

One of the most beloved children’s book series from our youth is Choose Your Own Adventure. Kids would flip through the interactive tales of pirates or astronauts, eagerly awaiting the moment when the author would write something like, “If you want to scale the wall, go to page 14” or “To make a left in the jeep, jump to page 32.” The scenarios seemed endless.

Montage Palmetto Bluff, a Spanish moss-draped, heron-filled escape tucked along the South Carolina coast between Hilton Head and Savannah, is that concept personified in a postcard-ready vacation destination. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort is a family getaway for some. For others, it’s an outdoorsy paradise, with clay shooting, bike riding and bird watching in abundance. And there’s another group who loves the place for its food and libation fun. Everyone’s right. Montage Palmetto Bluff is all those things — sometimes even on the same trip. Come for a few days and let the spectacular property help you write your own memorable story.

Your first choice happens even before you arrive at the property. Sure, you could reserve a room in the hardwood-floored, column-anchored Main Inn and you’d be happy as a northern quahog clam. But you’d be missing all that the resort’s cottages bring: high ceilings, a full wet bar and at least 1,100 square feet to stretch out in. The spaces are coastal cool, from wall to wall. And beyond the impressive interior, some of these units also come with great lagoon views. Wait, is that a gator? Yes, probably so.

After settling in, make the short walk over to Octagon for lunch. A comfortable spot for all-day dining, Octagon specializes in Southern standouts (pimento cheese-topped fried chicken sandwich) and seafood (fried fish battered with local River Dog IPA). Go with the smoked turkey and truffle panino, if you’re in the mood for something light. Looking to laze away the afternoon? Try the heftier smash burger with sweet bacon jelly and pickle aioli.

Your next move depends on how full you are and when you’re visiting. Because the resort is a bike lover’s paradise — amenities aren’t terribly far from each other, car drivers aren’t in a hurry and there’s plenty of visible signage — an afternoon ride on any clear day makes great sense. But so too does a round at May River Golf Course. The Jack Nicklaus-designed beauty embraces its natural surroundings, creating 18 memorable holes that are dotted with century-old oaks and show-stopping water hazards.

If you’re in town this spring and summer, there’s a good chance a Well Living activation will be going on. This May, for example, Mother’s Day (trunk shows) and Asian heritage (taste-and-tell culinary events) are the focus. Come June, the spotlight will shift to Pride