Guide to Montage Palmetto Bluff – A South Carolina Resort

**Full Disclosure: A complimentary stay at the Montage Palmetto Bluff was provided as part of a Mazda press trip. All opinions are my own. 

A driver greeted me when I arrived at the Savannah, Georgia airport before taking me to my home for the next two nights. I soaked in the landscape during the 30 minute drive to the Montage Palmetto Bluff. Having never been to South Carolina before, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was blown away when we finally pulled up to the inn.

About the Montage Palmetto Bluff – 

The Palmetto Bluff is nestled along the May River in the Lowcountry of South Carolina between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. Set within an award winning 20,000 acre development, the resort encompasses an extensive nature preserve, walking trails, a vibrant village, marina, restaurants, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Accommodations include spacious cottages, guest rooms, suites and village homes that all pay homage to the region’s rich heritage.

Guide to Montage Palmetto Bluff –

My Room:

I was escorted to my room (a lagoon view cottage!) by a bell hop on a golf cart. Before leaving, he showed me around the room and asked if I had any questions. Once I entered the room, there was a bathroom immediately to my right. Past that, there was a large open sleeping area with two queen-sized beds, an office space and the television set in the dresser. At the far end of the room, there was a wall of windows and a sliding glass door which opened to a small patio that overlooked the lagoon and back of the Inn. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

Note: there is a flashlight in every room in case you want to wander around at night. Alligators call the property home so you’ll want to keep that flashlight with you if you are out after dark.

Dining:

There are six restaurants on the property –

• River House Lounge
  The menu features a mix of timeless wines, high gravity and craft beers, remixed classic cocktails with a twist, and handcrafted locally-inspired libations.
• Jessamine
  Located in the Inn of Montage Palmetto Bluff and named after South Carolina’s state flower – this is one of newest restaurants on the property. Jessamine offers all-day dining options including breakfast classics with views of the sunrise over picturesque landscapes in the morning, bolder flavors and creative steakhouse twists for lunch, and dinner.
  
• Octagon Bar & Gathering Place
  Located between the lobby of the Inn and Jessamine. This eatery is namesake to the “Octagon House,” one of the first plantation homes that stood on the Bluff in years prior to the Wilson era. Octagon Bar features sharable bites, classic cocktails with a creative twist, locally crafted beers and our Signature barrel-aged Artillery Punch.
• Fore & Aft
  Located alongside the lagoon waterway edge and the Inn pool. This restaurant serves casual, light fare from morning until afternoon. It has a prime vantage point for viewing the avian sanctuary located just beyond the back yard of the Inn, where scenes of graceful egrets and herons gliding to and fro are everyday occurrences.
• Buffalo’s
  Located in the center of Wilson Village. Buffalo’s specializes in casual southern cuisine featuring local ingredients. The menu includes everything from the infamous Biscuit Bar, market fresh salads and sandwiches, pastries and fresh spun ice cream, to wines by the glass or bottle and a variety of signature cocktails and local craft beers.
• Canoe Club
  Canoe Club offers coastal cuisine with ingredients and inspiration drawn directly from the May River including shrimp, oysters and local seafood, and partners with area farms to source fresh vegetables, beef and poultry to create dishes that honor the bounty of the Lowcountry.

I enjoyed breakfast at Jessamine twice while I was at the resort. We were treated to dinner at the River House Lounge on the first night and Moreland Village for Lowcountry boil under the stars on the second night. Moreland Village is community designed to blend into the landscape. You can see for miles from the top of a 5-story tree house.

The Waterside Chapel:

I thought it looked like it belonged in a movie but I couldn’t get enough of this stunning chapel! While the building looks like it’s on the smaller side, it has a maximum capacity of 375. The inside of the chapel offers views of the May River through its arched windows.

Things to Do:

• Golf – Enjoy a Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole Course. Weave through 7,171 yards of the May River Forest and soak in the scenery with several holes on the banks of the river
• Swim – Relax at the gated family pool near the Inn.
• Bike – Bikes are available to explore the resort.
• Paddleboating, Boat Tours, Fishing, Tubing & Water Skiing – There are a variety of experiences on the water.
• Shop – You don’t have to leave the resort to shop! There are five stores which include plenty of souvenirs and local goodies.
• Spa Montage – Unwind at the spa with one of the many services.

Because I was on a very busy press trip, I didn’t get to experience as much of the property as I would have liked. I thought the parts of the Montage Palmetto Bluff that I saw were breathtaking, though! I can’t wait to go back to the gorgeous South Carolina resort with my family and explore even more of the Montage Palmetto Bluff.