From a soothing spa to activities galore, Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, has perks to please all ages.
by Cathy Martin
Traveling with extended family is fun — at least for a day or two. But a big beach house filled with grandparents and cousins can start to feel a little crowded after a while — unless you have plenty of diversions.
That’s where Wild Dunes shines. There’s the beach, of course — Wild Dunes sits on 2.5 miles of coastline at the northern tip of Isle of Palms, South Carolina — and the resort’s four on-site pools. But there’s also a highly ranked tennis and pickleball center, two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses (with one undergoing renovations), a serene and spacious spa, bike paths, boutiques and more.
The oceanfront resort just 17 miles from Charleston has been a perennial favorite among families since it opened in the 1970s. Recent additions like the Sweetgrass Inn and Spa (opened in 2021) and Nest rooftop bar (2022) only add to the appeal.
STAY
Nestled in the heart of a gated residential community, Wild Dunes is a paradise for families, with four distinct lodging options for groups of all sizes
The Hyatt-owned Sweetgrass Inn is the resort’s newest accommodation, with 153 modern, comfortable rooms and a subtle coastal motif. Overlooking a bustling pool and adjacent to a plaza filled with shops, a market-café and an art gallery, the hotel buzzes from morning to night. For a quieter stay, the 93-room Boardwalk Inn offers a more tranquil vibe, overlooking the resort’s adults-only pool lined with private cabanas.
Other options include the Residences at Sweetgrass — one- to three-bedroom condominiums in the heart of the resort — and 175 rental properties, including oceanfront homes.
Boardwalk Inn Pool
EXPLORE THE RESORT
Oysters are a lowcountry staple, and Oystercatcher restaurant in the Sweetgrass Inn lobby serves them three ways: grilled, fried or on the half shell with a seasonal mignonette. If you’re not sure which one is for you, Shuck & Savor is a weekly experience for guests to learn more about the history and varieties of oysters in a casual setting. Guests gather around the bar for a chef-led tasting of the briny bivalves, from raw to fried to baked with caramelized shallots and lemon butter. It’s one of a slew of recurring and seasonal activities here, from shopping pop-ups to holiday-themed events.
With 12 clay courts and five pickleball courts, the tennis center is a hive of activity. Wild Dunes is consistently lauded as one of the top tennis resorts in the United States. Even if you’re new to the game, the pros here will get you on the court in no time. I didn’t know a dink from a drive until pickleball pro Mike Delaney enthusiastically — and patiently — guided our group of mostly novice players through a fun and fast-paced lesson that had me hooked from the start.
The Spa at Sweetgrass
The Spa at Sweetgrass
Given the resort’s focus on families, the Spa at Sweetgrass is pleasantly peaceful. It’s easy to make a day of it here, relaxing in the large outdoor “garden” with a plunge pool and shady cabanas, or in the bright and airy indoor lounge. Beyond traditional treatments like massages, facials and salt scrubs, the spa also offers floating sound baths and reiki sessions for energy healing and stress relief. Bliss out after your treatment in a zero-gravity lounger or heat things up in the infrared sauna, and finish your spa day with a vitamin C-infused shower.
With so many amenities, it’s easy to stay put within the comfortable confines of the resort. But the coastal ecology surrounding barrier islands like Isle of Palms is what makes the Carolina coast so special. To explore the local waters, the concierge at Wild Dunes can arrange for a fishing or kayaking excursion or an eco-tour for an up-close look at seabirds and bottlenose dolphins. You might even make a stop at Boneyard Beach, a haunting but striking stretch of sand lined with driftwood and dead trees that’s a not-so-subtle reminder of the effects of beach erosion.
Sweetgrass Inn Pool
Sweetgrass Plaza
EAT+DRINK
There are more than a dozen dining outlets at Wild Dunes to satisfy your cravings, from Hudson’s Market & Café for breakfast or lunch on-the-go to Tacos & Tequila, a food truck in a colorful Airstream trailer near the pool deck.
You can enjoy a leisurely breakfast al fresco at Coastal Provisions, a restaurant in the Boardwalk Inn highlighting regional fare like Geechie Boy grits and Charleston’s Own Marsh Fire hot sauce.
Dine inside or on the patio at Oystercatcher, a tapas-style restaurant with an emphasis on fresh local seafood. Resort chef Rob Frederick has a secret that gives the menu a hyperlocal twist — a rooftop garden where he grows his own okra, cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs — and hosts the resort’s own apiary with five busy bee hives. Honey from the hives infuses everything from dishes to desserts to the “Healthy Buzz” cocktail, a refreshing citrusy concoction made with your choice of gin or bourbon. SP
GETTING THERE: Wild Dunes Resort at Isle of Palms, South Carolina, is a 3.5-hour drive from Charlotte. Learn more at wilddunesresort.com.
Photographs courtesy Wild Dunes Resort
