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[title=Welcome to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff!]

Y’all, this post is probably going to sound like crazy hyperbole, but please trust me: it is not. In fact, I’m quite sure my description and photos will not do this magical place justice. The only solution? Visit and see for yourself!

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From the moment we passed by the entrance gate and began the four mile drive down the tree-lined avenue leading to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, John and I knew we were in for something special. The drive crosses over beautiful inland marshes and through thick stands of trees, and is just long enough to have you squirming with excitement by the time you pull up in front of the Inn. It was a gorgeous day when we arrived (I think April is the perfect month to visit!), and we were quickly checked in and escorted via golf cart to our private cottage. Most guests stay in one of fifty individual cottages that are charmingly nestled in a village-type setting, and each has either a river or lagoon view.

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Our cottage, ohhhh our cottage. The Inn’s Southern hospitality and extreme attention to detail is most evident in the design and furnishing of the guest accommodations, I think. From the complementary cruiser bikes waiting outside, to the high beamed ceilings inside, no detail is too small to go unnoticed. Keurig for morning coffee or tea? Check. Screened porch? Check. Fluffy robes and slippers? Check. Window seat for curling up and reading? Check. Fireplace for the cooler months? Check. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a peek at our cottage:

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Also, it smelled amazing in there. John and I still talk about what it smelled like!

As delightful as our cottage was, we spent most of our time outside, soaking in as much of Palmetto Bluff as we could. The full property stretches to more than 20,000 acres, and the sheer natural beauty is unparalleled. Our cruiser bikes got a work out, as we peddled through countless adorable neighborhoods, all around the village, onto numerous nature trails, and past the Palmetto Bluff tree house. Yes, this place even has a three-story tree house. And yes, we climbed to the top.

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We also saw plenty of flora and fauna, including gorgeous live oaks, dripping Spanish moss, egrets and other waterbirds, and more than a few alligators. AND we hit a few balls on Palmetto’s championship croquet course. How fancy are we?!

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Of course, we did our fair share of eating, too. We had lunch and breakfast at Buffalos, an adorable cafe in the heart of Wilson Village. We split a grilled chicken cobb salad for lunch, and enjoyed a fruit plate, “the classic” (scrambled eggs, potato hash, sausage, and toast – John), and buttermilk pancakes with vanilla berry compote (me) for breakfast.

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We also had a lovely dinner at the Canoe Club, the less-formal of the Inn’s two main restaurants. The atmosphere couldn’t be beat – we were seated on the upper porch, and watched the sun set over the gorgeous May River marshes – and the service was superb. I don’t think I did the best job ordering – I expected my poulet rouge to be fairly similar to a standard chicken, but it was a very unusual consistency – but John loved his meatballs.

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Of course, we only scratched the surface of the activities available during our short stay. From the spa, to the championship golf course, to kayaking, fishing, watersports, yoga, tennis, fitness classes, horseback riding, hiking, etc., etc., etc., you simply could not run out of things to do if you were to visit for a year. I did want to mention that we made it to the pool, and we found the view from our deck chairs so exquisitely beautiful that we didn’t want to nap for fear of missing a minute of soaking in the view! True story.

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Finally, it goes without saying that the service across the board at the Inn was second to none. Every staff member we came in contact with was gracious, friendly, attentive, and relaxed – exactly what you would hope for, and more. We also enjoyed meeting with Kelli, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff’s wedding guru. I have a hard time picturing a more scenic chapel than the one on the Palmetto village green, and after seeing it in person, I can see why so many wedding photographers list shooting a ceremony at Palmetto on their bucket list! You can find more information about holding your wedding at Palmetto at this link.

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No matter where you hold your wedding, I could not recommend the Inn at Palmetto Bluff more highly for a honeymoon destination.

Special thanks to Meredith Perdue for sharing some of her photos!  The rest are personal or from the Palmetto Bluff site.

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[title=Welcome to the Boca Beach Club!!] A few weeks ago BDK and I had the pleasure of taking a little “staycation” to the Boca Beach Club! During the offseason BDK trains about 20 minutes away from the resort, but before our trip, we never even knew this little gem was hiding right around the corner!

Since BDK and I went to college in Boca Raton, we’d been to the Boca Resort previously. The architecture is so gorgeous there, and just walking through the lobby makes me think I might run into Lilly Pulitzer herself!

The Boca Beach club has a different, but equally as fabulous, feel! To start off, the valet greeted me with “Hello, Mrs. Kloess,” and pronounced my last name correctly on the first try! (For you lovely readers wondering, it’s pronounced “close,” like “close to you!”) Yes, this made a very large impression on me.

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After my lovely greeting, I entered through the big glass doors and was immediately greeted by a pool! A pool in the lobby – how sleek! Then the nicest (nicest!) front desk staff, who all called me “Mrs. Kloess” pronounced correctly, checked me in, and I headed up to our room.

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The view was gorgeous, and the room was filled with pops of lime green! It was so fresh and fun looking. I then headed down to the SeaGrille to meet with Carole (the Director of Public Relations) and Sean (the General Manager). Meeting people with those titles, you’d think I was important.

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After meeting with Carole and Sean for a few minutes about the resort and the property, BDK met me for dinner at SeaGrille. Between the pretzel bread and fresh catch-of-the-day fish dip, we were in heaven! I could live off that pretzel bread – no joke. They even had “Southern red velvet cake” for desert! You cannot beat that!

When we arrived back to our room, there was a lovely basket full of fruit and cheese and a card wishing me “happy birthday.” It was so sweet, and really impressed me from a client relations perspective!

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The next day we headed over to the main resort for a treatment at Spa Palazzo. Spoiled? I know, right?! But, itwas my birthday! We even got to take a little boat through the intercoastal waterway over to the other side. It was so fun!

BDK and I both received deep tissue massages in the couple’s room, and y’all! If you’re planning a vacay to South Florida, you need to stop at Spa Palazzo! I was even impressed with the citrus-infused water. It really is the small things!

After our massage, we took the super fun little boat back to the Beach Club to enjoy some time by the pool. Unfortunately the weather refused to cooperate, as the wind was so bad we ended up heading back up to our room. That’s okay though, as it was about time to get all gussied up for dinner at 501 East.

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[title=Howdy from the South Carolina Upstate!]

In February, my boyfriend Michael and I were so lucky to get away for the weekend to the Red Horse Inn, a AAA Four Diamond bed and breakfast sitting on nearly 200 acres in Landrum, SC. To give you an idea of where that is (since we are located four hours away in Chapel Hill and were unfamiliar with the area!), Landrum is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the South Carolina Upstate. The Red Horse Inn is less than an hour south of Asheville, NC, and less than an hour north of Greenville and Spartanburg, SC. I don’t know about y’all, but for me, there is a point in the winter when a getaway is absolutely necessary. We were fortunate enough to go around Valentine’s Day, knocking two birds out with one stone!

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The estate is tucked away on a long gravel drive surrounded by trees and ponds. When we pulled up to the front of the picturesque main inn and started to get out of the car, we were immediately greeted by Mary and Roger, the owners. They were so friendly that it was like visiting old friends or relatives! They gave us a little information and handed over the key to our private cottage, The Grainary. They also explained that they wouldn’t be bothering us unless we needed something. Housekeeping was optional, and breakfast was already in the cottage. Their goal is to give you the maximum amount of privacy, and facilitate a romantic, relaxing stay.

In addition to the main inn, there are also six Victorian cottages (charming white houses with green tin roofs), that are located about half a mile away, and this is where we stayed. Each cottage has a kitchen, bedroom, bath, living room with a fireplace, and front porch complete with rocking chairs. Our cottage even had a private outdoor hot tub! The cottages have high ceilings and large windows which fill the rooms with blissful natural light.

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One thing we couldn’t help but notice right away was how well thought out the details in the cottage were. For example, there was a little basket of washcloths that said something along the lines of, “Use these to wipe the dew off your rockers in the morning.” Isn’t that adorable? As we put our luggage down, we looked out the window to see the sun setting behind the mountains in the distance. It was so peaceful and romantic!

Overall, we had such a wonderful visit. If the Red Horse Inn was this enjoyable in the winter, I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the summer or fall! It was obvious that Mary and Roger developed their property with couples in mind, and we think they succeeded. Judging from the countless comments we read in their guest books (dating back to 1995!), I’d say we aren’t the only ones!

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[title=Hello from the Southernmost Point!!] In December, my husband BDK and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary! Three years sounds so long and so short all at the same time, you know? It’s been a crazy and super fun three years, and I am still so in love with my handsome husband. In celebration of our anniversary, we took a trip down to the Florida Keys for the weekend.

We stayed at the gorgeous Ocean Key Resort & Spa, and let me tell y’all, we were so thrilled with our stay. Upon checking in, we were walked by the kindest concierge to our colorful suite, and this was the view.

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Need I go on? Yes, I must! Our room was amazing! Brightly-colored eclectic decor filled the wide open breezy room with the loveliest balcony with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. BDK was especially fond of the exposed beams on the super high ceilings.

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The first night we were there, we decided to stay in and enjoy room service (one of my favorite hotel perks ever!). Mahi Mahi sandwich and sweet potato fries, yes please!! Everything tastes better when eaten in these lovely surroundings:

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With the central location of the resort, we were able to walk down to the Southernmost point, and see all the adorable little shops on Duval Street on the way there. We grabbed a bite to eat on our way back to the resort, then headed for the pool, only to realize that I had left my swim suit at home! Gah!

We were more than happy to skip some pool time, though, to have a treatment at the adorable Spa Terre! Again, we were greeted by the friendliest hostess and escorted back to a couple’s room. BDK thoroughly enjoyed his “sports massage,” while I chose something totally different, the Volcanic Earth Clay Ritual. It was so cool! They paint on clay that is used to detoxify your skin, and then after washing that off, the therapist does a traditional Balinese massage. I’m feeling more relaxed just writing about it!

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After our treatments, we headed back to our room to get gussied up for dinner. We headed down to Hot Tin Roof where we were seated on the gorgeous balcony. Our waiter was the loveliest man, and the chef even sent out a few yummy samples for us to try before we made our selections. We chose a delicious meal for two with steak, prawn, and the most divine mac and cheese with crab meat. We topped off our meal with – of course – key lime pie! You know, when in Rome, y’all!

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[title=Hello from the Georgia coast!] I had the pleasure of driving down to Georgia to spend a few glorious days at Cabin Bluff Retreat with my boyfriend, Scott. Cabin Bluff is nestled on the Georgia/Florida border with a direct view of gorgeous Cumberland Island. The resort is situated on 24,000 acres of land (imagine 100 average-sized golf courses pushed together… it has even more space then that!) so it is about as private and peaceful as can be. As we drove down the gated two mile road to the resort, I could feel any tension from the real world melt away.

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Our luxury cabin was pure heaven, y’all! Each cabin has a grand fireplace, a kitchen (with a fridge already stocked with any beverage you could desire), and plush, comfortable beds. Fun fact: Cabin Bluff used to be President Coolidge’s favorite hunting retreat, and each room is fit for a presidential getaway. After checking into our gorgeous cabin, we went to an oyster roast where we had the opportunity to meet and mingle with the other guests. We were also invited to sign up for the next day’s activities, which included fishing trips and clay shooting excursions. Talk about fun! We signed up for a boat tour of the surrounding inter-coastal waterway as well as clay shooting.

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On our inter-coastal waterway boat trip the next morning, we were truly immersed in all of the fabulous wildlife that Georgia has to offer. We glimpsed a few wild ponies on Cumberland Island, and watched as dolphins played alongside our boat. After returning from our boat trip, we immediately set off to shoot clay pigeons. It was my first time shooting a shot gun, and I have to say, I’m not a bad shot, y’all! I highly suggest scheduling some clay shooting time. It was an absolute delight!

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[title=Hello from the Georgia Mountains!]

Seeing the lights at Callaway Gardens has been a tradition that BDK and I have been enjoying the past few years. We absolutely love it! This year, we were thrilled to be able to stay at The Lodge & Spa at Callway Gardens, too. It was the perfect break from the (wonderful) craziness of Christmas with our families!

We headed from Alabama to Pine Mountain, Georgia and let me tell you, the drive was gorgeous! Winding roads and lots (and lots) of rolling mountains. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with possibly my favorite hotel lobby ever!

I pretty much fell in love right then and there! The rustic country details mixed with the warm wood and crackling fireplace made my heart happy. When we visited, the lobby was even complete with a gorgeous (and tall) fully-decorated Christmas tree and hot apple cider. Can I just mention how much I love hot apple cider? Yummy! The whole effect was so welcoming, and full of warm Southern hospitality.

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After checking into our room, we headed to dinner at The Piedmont. BDK was thoroughly pleased with his peach-infused chicken and scalloped sweet potatoes, while I enjoyed my spinach ravioli. We both loved gawking at the beautiful view of the mountains out the restaurant windows.

Isn’t that room inviting? I have to confess that we didn’t make it to breakfast one time. We just couldn’t resist ordering room service in and staying in that cozy bed.

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I had the pleasure of experiencing a completly relaxing treatment at Spa Prunifolia and let me tell you, I did not want my massage to end. If you have the chance to head to The Lodge, I highly suggest you schedule a treatment at Spa Prunifolia.

After I was completly relaxed at the spa, BDK and I bundled up and headed into the town for a little shopping at the adorable downtown area of Pine Mountain. Antiques and Christmas shops galore – I was in heaven. BDK’s “favorite purchase award” definitely goes to the handmade sweet potato pie candle in a mason jar we scored half price!

One thing missing from this lovely trip was a dip in the fabulous pool! This just happened to be the view from our room, and the gorgeous outdoor scene just seemed to be taunting me the whole time! I’m thinking a summer trip is in order to make up for it.

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[title=Hello from the Seven Mile Beach!] Looking for a luxury home away from home? You’ll find it in Grand Cayman’s newest, most exclusive condominium hotel, the Caribbean Club. My husband and I celebrated our five year anniversary and were completely blown away by the property, accommodations and most of all Danielle’s (owner and manager) attention to service and detail!  Our condo was immaculate – perfectly comfortable and decorated beautifully – and the beach at the CC cannot be beat.

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Full kitchens with modern updates create the home away from home vibe for honeymooners. Housekeepers, concierge and personal assistants see that everything runs smoothly. The location of the Club itself is ideal.  Shopping at Caymana Bay is a quick walk and Seven Mile Beach is, of course, right there. The views and clear blue water in Cayman are completely unmatched.

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Relaxing private balconies with stunning views of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach.  I’m not one to just want to lounge on a beach or balcony, but I could have relaxed there for an eternity. I cannot say enough great things about The Caribbean Club. My husband and I have already deemed it our perfect vacation spot for many years to come! Divine!

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Inviting interiors feature a range of décor to suit the most discriminating tastes. All are luxuriously appointed, with spacious baths, the latest technology, and the softest of pillows and linens.

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[title=Aloha, y'all!]

Turtle Bay Resort is located on the lands of Kuilima. From the stirring big-wave surf to extraordinary cultural history, Oahu’s North Shore is rich in many opportunities for sightseeing, adventure, exploration, rest and relaxation.

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My stay here was divine! A luxury beach haven, these Beach Cottages even come with an exclusive concierge! The service is top-notch and the atmosphere is relaxed and warm – perfect for the Southern bride!

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No matter which Turtle Bay Resort accommodation you choose, you will be surrounded by the beauty and majesty of Oahu’s North Shore and relaxing pools!

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[title=Stay, Dine, Celebrate + Relax!]

Northwest Florida’s WaterColor Inn & Resort is a Four Diamond AAA-rated “Gold List” beachfront property with an enviable location and every imaginable luxury. This 499-acre resort is nestled between the majestic Gulf of Mexico and a rare coastal dune lake framed by a longleaf pine forest. Thoughtfully designed by famed architect David Rockwell, WaterColor seamlessly marries modern conveniences with the nostalgia of an unassuming beach town from days gone by.

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It’s no secret around here that Watercolor is one of my favorite places on earth! Just steps away from inviting emerald waters, first floor rooms feature a private patio furnished with Adirondack chairs and an outdoor cabana shower covered in brightly striped canvas – beach access and pools are only a short walk away. From incredible food to beach-front bliss, Watercolor has it all!

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This ultimate beach retreat, Watercolor Inn features a cozy boutique inn as well as lavish beach houses and charming cottages. Pebbled footpaths lead the way to picturesque parks and gardens, a boathouse, tennis, spa, shops, restaurants, a fitness center and, of course, a private sugar-sand beach.

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[title=Howdy from St Lucia!]

Boasting a drive-through volcano, as well as its own National Rain Forest Reserve with over 19,000 color-splashed acres of natural wonders, St. Lucia’s exotic beauty truly captures the luxuriant allure of the Caribbean. Experience romantic vistas when you travel to Sandals’ couples-only resorts in St. Lucia.

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My visit to Sandal’s St. Lucia was by far one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! The exotic beachfront suites at the Grande St. Lucien offer personal butler service or a swim-up lagoon. These romantic suites are a step beyond your most extravagant imaginings. From perfected staff service to the amazing amenities and festive atmosphere, this is my top choice for all-inclusive honeymoon bliss!

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