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Palmetto Bluff is a very special, dreamy piece of the American South. Upon arrival, the long winding five-mile long drive immediately reveals a sense of the vastness of this property, and as you travel deeper under the shady canopy of oak trees, a feeling of calm washes over you. Finally, the water appears in the distance. A series of streams and tributaries snake through South Carolina, joining together to create the May River that gathers momentum as it flows toward the Atlantic Ocean.

The property was formerly an estate home in the early 1900s where Southern belles mingled with New Yorkers on holiday. Development of Palmetto Bluff broke ground in 2004. Now, the 20,000 acres still boast mostly untouched forest, along with an award-winning golf course, two hundred homes, thoughtfully planned public spaces with a few restaurants and shops and an award-winning spa. The Inn is managed by Auberge Resorts (the company behind the Napa Valley’s dreamy Auberge du Soleil) and consists of 50 cottages along the water and lagoon, as well as a main house with reception, a formal dining room and a bar. The cottages consist of a large bedroom, screened-in porch for morning coffee and lazy naps and luxurious bathrooms.

The vast lawn comes alive after dark, when bonfires and s’mores attract homeowners and hotel guests in an old-fashioned meeting place. Guests explore the trails of the property on bicycles and golf carts, traveling from their cottages to the tennis courts, and on to a lazy lunch at the pool. Time slows down, and guests acclimate to the pace by waking up to the birds singing, watching the dolphins play in the river, and appreciating the constant scent of honeysuckle.

Who Should Stay: Families, couples, groups of friends, family reunions.

Who Should Not Stay: If you prefer a South Beach buzz over a friendly country club, this is not the place for you.

Indagare Tip: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff offers a long list of activities, and it’s best to plan in advance, especially when arranging tee times on the weekends.

Read Brooke Pearson’s Just Back From: The Long Weekend