Our Stay at the Sweetgrass Inn on Isle of Palms

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When the Sweetgrass Inn reached out and offered to host us for a weekend getaway it took a grand total of 1 minute to reply and say “YES!” after looking at the images of the brand new resort on their website.

We visit South Carolina often, and Justin and I even went on our honeymoon in Charleston, but I’ve never been to Isle of Palms. We landed on dates to travel and I had a few weeks to excitedly look forward to our trip!

As it turns out, one of my friends was also going on a trip there before my family and I went, and she reported back with a glowing review. And now that I’ve been, I can totally see why she loved it so much.

The Sweetgrass Inn is the newest hotel within the Wild Dunes Resort. It’s on the Isle of Palms, which is just a short drive over a bridge from Charleston, SC. We stayed in the Inn but there are a few different types of places to stay when you visit.

We arrived in the early afternoon on Thursday, even before our check-in time, just to make sure we maximized our time at the resort! After a short walk around the property, we discovered a playground that the kids played on while Justin, our nanny, and I made dinner arrangements. After our rooms were ready, we headed in to unload our luggage and change into our swimsuits.

The pools right outside of the Sweetgrass Inn were perfect for kids. None of them got very deep, and there are 2 pools, one with an attached kiddie pool, as well as a hot tub and a splash pad. Near the pools was a bar, that also served food, and there was also a large fire pit which became a nightly gathering place for the guests.

We swam and played in the water and ended up eating a pizza picnic on the turf in our suits while we dried off. Afterward we went inside to clean up and grab the cute little s’mores kits that were gifted to us at check-in.

We made s’mores with the kids that evening and then headed inside to start winding down for bed.

On Saturday morning I had an appointment at the Spa so Justin and our nanny took the kids to breakfast.

The spa was expansive! And there were so many special details that made the entire experience very relaxing and indulgent. My only regret is that I didn’t plan to go early and stay after my appointment in the spa garden. It was serene, calm, and so beautiful.

I got a salt stone massage, which was the first time I’ve ever received that kind of treatment. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the salt stones but I have to say they added a really nice touch to the already wonderful massage. An hour went by way too quickly, and after I showered off I went to meet up with the rest of my crew!

We changed into swimsuits and made a plan to head to the beach for the first part of the day. We reserved beach chairs and got to play in the sand for a while that morning. The water was a little chilly but that didn’t stop David and Luke from splashing in the waves. Emily was a bit tired from spotty sleep the night before so she was perfectly happy snuggling on our sweet nanny.

After some time in the sand, we headed up to Beachside Burgers for lunch. My sister, who was also at Sweetgrass for the weekend, came and joined us too! We ate lunch poolside and the kids got to swim a bit when we were finished. Then we migrated over to the same pool area we were at the evening before and played for a few hours.

Towards the latter part of the afternoon, we walked to the bike rental shop and rented a few bike trailers and tandem bikes so we could take a leisurely cruise around the Isle. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Luke was on the bike with me, David was on the bike with Justin, and Emily ended up taking a little snooze in the trailer with our nanny. My brother-in-law Mike and my nephew Liam rode with us too!

After our bike ride, we headed up to the room to freshen up for dinner. We had reservations at Coastal Provisions, a restaurant at The Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes Resort. They had a great menu of kid-friendly food and finer options for adults. Everything was fantastic, from the service to the food.

At that point, our nanny took the kids back to the hotel to get a little dessert treat and head up to the room for bed. Justin and I had time to wander around the property and explore, and I got a glass of wine while we sat in rocking chairs looking at the beautiful pools and fire pit that was blazing. It was relaxing and peaceful.

The next morning we needed to check out by 10:00 am so we got up and headed down to Hudson’s Market for a quick breakfast. We played outside of Hudson’s on the turf, ate muffins, and lamented about how short the trip was!

We certainly had the feeling that it was just one day too short, which is the best feeling to have when leaving a vacation with kids. It was hard to know what to expect but having been there, I would love to go back and be there for at least 2 full days. Between the beach, the pools, the bikes, the playground, and the golf, I’m certain we would have all enjoyed one more day!

Huge thank you to The Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort for offering to host us for this visit! We cannot wait to return!

A few quick bits of info:

One. Why did you bring your nanny? We brought our nanny for a handful of reasons. First, this was a media trip on which I required to capture various content, and Justin and I needed assistance with childcare in order to do so. We also love our nanny and thought she would enjoy the trip as well. It ended up working out beautifully that we were together for the majority of the time but the times that Justin and I needed childcare, she was right there to assist!

Two. How was going at this time of year? We had stunning weather the entire time we were there. The sun shined brightly and there was a bit of a breeze as well. I think May is the earliest I would recommend going if you plan to swim and play in the water.

Three. Favorite food or drink spots? Get the Charleston Margarita from Beachside Burgers. It’s important that you get it from that location because the Charleston Margarita from the Laughing Gull was very, very different. We also were hoping to check out the ice cream shop but it closed before we made it there! Also, order the Fried Green Tomatoes from Coastal Provisions. There is a blackberry sauce that is drizzled on top of the tomatoes, which are seated in pesto and it’s unforgettably delicious.

Four. Other important things to know? We found a lot of the restaurants or bars to close early. I believe this is because their busy season hasn’t started yet (kicks off Memorial Day Weekend). It took a bit of planning to make sure the kids got their dinner before 5:00 pm when some of the restaurants closed. We, of course, could have driven off the property to go eat elsewhere but the point was to experience as much of the Sweetgrass Inn as we could!

Five. Do you feel like you had an organic experience even though it was a sponsored trip? Absolutely yes. We had a media pass to show at bars and restaurants but it’s not as if we wore it on a lanyard around our necks. Every single staff person throughout the entire resort went above and beyond to be helpful and deliver excellent service. They engaged with my kids and made each one of us feel taken care of. That aspect stood out to me dramatically and I’m so happy to be able to share about that.

 

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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says · 05.11.21

Looks like you had an amazing time! Thanks for sharing! ❤️✨

Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com

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Stephanie says · 05.11.21

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. And, what a gorgeous place to visit.

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Kate says · 05.11.21

It was so beautiful!

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Catherine says · 05.11.21

Must be nice Free Trips and a Nanny.!! Too bad that is not typical situation for everyday normal people!

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Kate says · 05.11.21

Your comment is coming across quite snarky, I’m not sure if that was intended or not. I’ve expressed repeatedly how much we enjoyed this trip, and it certainly is a great of my job. If for some reason you think I’m not grateful, you’ve surely misinterpreted me.

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Laura Krohne says · 05.11.21

I even hate to say anything because online is just filled with so much agression. I do think the words in the comment were harsh or unexplained, I do think it speaks to some of the reasons why “influencing” has gotten a little annoying. I think Covid-19 brought to light so much of the inequity in our country today. When I read your post, I did think, “man, I can think of so many people so deserving of this trip who will probably never be able to afford it and will never be offered it. ” The culture of “influencing” often gives so generously to the people willing to market the item, but how amazing would it be if the free trip was given to people who have served on the front-lines this year, or people who have been grieving so much loss, etc. I def don’t think you did anything wrong, the trip was offered to your family for the purpose of marketing the place and you did what you were supposed to do, and the company knew you would do a good job, but somewhere it can just feel a little off or maybe a little self serving. But that doesn’t mean you are self-serving, just the nature of how influencing works and it is a lot of work.

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Kate says · 05.11.21

I completely understand this thought, and really appreciate you taking the time to share it. There certainly are so many people deserving of a trip like this, no question! And you’re right, this was a marketing expense for the resort that utilized my internet presence and reach to share about the hotel.

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Amy says · 05.13.21

Influencing is a business. The argument that some people are more deserving than others really doesn’t apply. This property could hire a PR firm or an influencer. Their money is well spent since Kate has many trusted followers. If they hired a PR firm would you argue that they should have donated that money to a “deserving” individual?
There will always be people who are suffering, etc. A successful resort like this one will provide jobs and impact the local community positively.

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Laura Krohne says · 05.13.21

Amy, I understand what you are saying and think you are correct, and I’m the Laura who wrote the initial post. I think many of us are still adjusting to “bloggers” becoming “influencers” and the direction of it all. I don’t think Kate did anything wrong going on a vacation that was pitched to her, so she could advertise it on her blog and I believe I said that in the post. I’m 37 years old and am just reflecting on the changes that have happened in online culture. It used to be that people would book a vacation, go on it and report back. Now people are given a vacation and then asked to ‘market’ it to their followers. It really is a mindset change that has to come when I come visit blogs. The culture of influencing is different than what blogging was a decade ago and it requires me to put on different lens when I come to these websites.

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Anne says · 05.11.21

What a lovely resort! Enjoyed reading your experience. Makes me excited for summer travels.

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Anna says · 05.12.21

So glad you and your family got to experience this. We’re headed there next month and you gave me some great ideas for things to do. Definitely visiting the spa and leaving the kids with my husband!

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Kate says · 05.12.21

Enjoy!

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Allyson says · 05.12.21

Their website isn’t very clear… is the beach within walking distance or do you need to drive? It looks really far away in their photos. I’m bummed to see people in these comments giving you a hard time, it’s no different than someone receiving a complementary work trip for their performance!

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Kate says · 05.12.21

I’m glad you asked this, I forgot to mention this point! The beach is right next to the hotel! Just a short walk on a bridge to get to it, so definitely walkable! I looked at a satellite view of the property before we went to gauge where the beach was 🙂

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Marah Leinbaugh says · 05.12.21

Looks like a beautiful place! I am anxiously awaiting your post about Dazzle Dry!

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Laura Krohne says · 05.13.21

Amy, I understand what you are saying and think you are correct, and I’m the Laura who wrote the initial post. I think many of us are still adjusting to “bloggers” becoming “influencers” and the direction of it all. I don’t think Kate did anything wrong going on a vacation that was pitched to her, so she could advertise it on her blog and I believe I said that in the post. I’m 37 years old and am just reflecting on the changes that have happened in online culture. It used to be that people would book a vacation, go on it and report back. Now people are given a vacation and then asked to ‘market’ it to their followers. It really is a mindset change that has to come when I come visit blogs. The culture of influencing is different than what blogging was a decade ago and it requires me to put on different lens when I come to these websites.

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Gwen Older says · 05.16.21

I’m pushing to go there (from Maine) end November after seeing your post! We don’t swim but love sun..is it warmish that time of year. We are in health care and are ready for a break 😬

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Ashley says · 05.16.21

Great write up and photos. It looks so beautiful there! Great family getaway.

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Amanda says · 05.16.21

Looks amazing! I am from Texas but love the east coast. My company’s corporate HQ is in Davidson,NC and want to bring my family with me sometime, extend my trip and drive to a few other places to explore, so I am definitely adding this to my list! 🙂

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Becky says · 05.20.21

My family & I just returned from the Sweetgrass Inn on Isle of Palm and had a very similar trip to what you had, Kate. I agree with everything you said, especially the kindness of the resort employees and staff. We did not have media pass, of course, but we were treated with so much kindness and helpfulness throughout our stay. Nicest staff and so accommodating, it sure makes for an even more amazing getaway. Highly recommend this resort. I found it to be extremely conducive for babies all the way up to seniors, as well. For those who may need handicap access, I also noticed how wheelchair friendly the whole resort was. I love that they make it easy and fun for everyone. You could easily spend a week or more and still miss some things! Amazing place.

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Cindee Oakes says · 05.22.21

I work in Raleigh but live in Youngsville. I’m also from the Midwest. I really enjoy your posts.

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Sarah Michael says · 06.11.21

How fun! Loved reading your story!!! Would love to do this with my family. Thank you for sharing!

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Christine Nunn says · 06.12.21

What an amazing trip! I have always wanted to go to Charleston. 🤗💕

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