Summer is finally here and there’s nothing better than leaving the city and jetting off for the perfect weekend getaway. Bring on the days of poolside lounging, ice cream indulging, bike riding, s’mores making, and all the other things that epitomize summer break.
I recently had the pleasure of having such a weekend at Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. I left Toronto Thursday afternoon; a quick 2 hour flight to Savanna and a 30 minute drive later, I arrived at the most idyllic setting I could have imagined.
Thursday
Upon arrival I checked into my room at the Inn. There are several types of accommodation available including private cottages, guest houses, and entire village homes. My room was on the second floor of the Inn with a huge balcony overlooking the front lawn, and it pretty much had the bed and bathroom of my dreams.
After getting settled in, we took a Conservancy Tour around the grounds of the 20,000 acre property. We saw an incredible variety of flora and wildlife including baby birds, turtles, alligators, saw palmetto plants, and lush oak trees. Montage’s focus on researching and conserving its natural surroundings is pretty amazing and I learned more about birds and plants over the weekend than I ever expected.
After our tour we stopped for dinner at Cole’s and feasted on delicious southern style food. There’s also a bowling alley and games room at the restaurant, perfect for working off all the biscuits and banana pudding you just ate.
Friday
We got up early to go sunrise kayaking along the May River. I’m usually not a morning person but this was so worth the early wake up call. Watching the sky turn pink as the sun rose beyond the trees, while gliding along the stillest water, was a magical experience.
After this we definitely earned ourselves a hearty breakfast. We enjoyed a delicious spread of avocado toast, omelettes, açai bowls, and smoothies at Octagon Porch. This was probably my favourite space in the entire resort and I wish I could enjoy all my morning coffees here.
After breakfast we headed over to the Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club to try sporting clays for the first time. I had never held or shot a gun before so I was a little unsure of what to expect. It ended up being a really fun experience and thanks to the guidance of the instructors I was even able to hit a few targets!
In the afternoon we took a boat out to Page Island where we enjoyed some wine and hammock time. The water of the May River is incredibly warm and we had fun jumping off a dock and taking a dip. Oh did I mention the boat also came with a tube and we got to go tubing? Seriously so much fun.
For dinner we hopped on another boat and rode to the town of Bluffton, where we took a bike taxi tour around the picturesque streets. We had an amazing meal at Farm where much of the produce and ingredients are locally sourced. Some of the highlights included marinated octopus, white shrimp rice, and a delicious chai doughnut for dessert. Just go look at their menu and you will see why it was one of the best meals we had.
Saturday
After an activity packed Friday, it was time for a day of relaxing and pampering. I started with a morning dip in the gorgeous inn pool followed by breakfast at Buffalo’s Biscuit Bar. After breakfast we hopped on the historic yacht Grace and enjoyed cruising along the May River with some mimosas in hand.
After that it was finally spa time at Spa Montage! I enjoyed an Ultimate Oxygen Facial and it was pretty much the most relaxing 90 minutes of my life. There’s also a hot tub, cold plunge pool, and a sauna that all guests can enjoy.
Before dinner we got to sample a few different types of bourbon from the cutest Bourbon cart. It also came with a delicious spread of cheese. Yum! Can I bring this cart home with me?
This was our last night and we had a farewell feast at Octagon Porch with wine pairings. Like all meals this weekend it was absolutely delicious. We ended our night sitting outside by the fire pit and roasting s’mores. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Sunday
Before checking out we took our bikes and went for one last ride through the grounds of the property. My favourite spot was on River Road where the majestic live oak trees form an amazing tunnel.
It really was the perfect summer weekend and I could not think of a better place to spend it at. Thank you Montage Palmetto Bluff for having us! If you want to enjoy a stay here they have kindly given me a booking code that you can use for a THIRD NIGHT FREE: Reserve two nights in a guest house suite or cottage accommodation and receive a third night complimentary for select dates in Summer.
To reserve with my booking code “JessicaL” click here.
Thank you to Montage Palmetto Bluff for hosting my trip. All opinions are my own.
Like this post? Pin it below!
You captured the experience perfectly!