Travel Blog: The Wild Dunes Resort Isle of Palms South Carolina
Somehow it managed to drop from 70-degrees to 29-degrees in just two days. I’m sitting by my fireplace with a hot cup of coffee so that I won’t complain too much. I’m excited to share all about our weekend spent at Wild Dunes Resort on the blog today. Looking back at the photos brings me warmth and makes me wish I was back in the Isle of Palms, sitting on the beach with my morning cup of coffee. The Wild Dunes is just miles from the historic downtown Charleston and is located at the northern tip of the Isle of Palms. If you’re looking for that Lowcountry charm, you’ll find that there. We were surrounded by 1600 acres of barrier island paradise filled with tennis courts, golf courses, pools, restaurants, bike trails, walking trails, gorgeous beach rentals, shops, and the list goes on. The Wild Dunes is like its own little city. We are already looking forward to visiting this summer when we can soak up some rays by the beach.
Check out my latest travel blog: Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort!
Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes Resort
When there is coffee with a view, you know I’m in my element. I made my coffee in the hotel room, grabbed my camera, bundled up, and headed out the door to catch the sunrise on the beach. We stayed at the Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes Resort. There was a boardwalk that took you straight to the beach from the hotel. This is great if you want a beach vacation without the stress of parking or walking forever. The Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes had several pools. There were pools located closer to the hotel that had cabanas and was adult only, and then The Grand Pavilion pools that were right next to the ocean. The Grand Pavilion pools are family-friendly with panoramic ocean views. You can forget the stress of packing food and snacks for the family because the dining options surround you.
Activities at Wild Dunes Resort
Depending on the time of year, you can book several activities that’ll bring adventure to your vacation. You can go fishing, rent bikes, take kayaking tours, stand-up paddleboarding, and action-packed watersports. You can sign up for culinary outings, history tours, pirate tours, or visit the South Carolina aquarium with more than 5000 animals and 60 exhibits.
Our room overlooked the pools, and I loved the airy lighting shining in. The rooms were decorated with a coastal theme, and the beds made you feel like you were sleeping on a large cloud. The balcony overlooking the pool was gigantic, and you could also see the ocean. On our last night there, we watched the sunset from the balcony. It was so pretty and peaceful.
The staff was incredible and the friendliest. If you want that southern hospitality, you’ll get that here. If you needed suggestions or had any general questions, the staff were more than happy to help.
Kyle and I wanted to fit in a quick workout on Saturday morning, so we took a hotel shuttle a mile down the road to one of their gyms. They had a gym close by perfect for cardio, but Kyle wanted to hit the weights. The Wild Dunes resort is a great place for anyone who loves an active lifestyle (but also a relaxing one.) I told Kyle that the Wild Dunes would make the perfect spot for a health & wellness retreat. The wellness programs would be perfect for a reset while vacationing.
Huey’s Southern Eats
After our workout, we walked across the street to have brunch at Huey’s Southern Eats. It’s fun to sit by the window and watch the golfers. Huey’s is a casual spot, so no worries if you’re walking over after the gym! You can order southern comfort staples, but they also have healthy (& vegan) options. Their fruit plate was ginormous, and everything was so fresh. The oatmeal with brown sugar and granola on top was also a winner. It’s safe to say that we walked away very satisfied! 
Instead of taking the shuttle back to the hotel, we decided to take the walking trail back. The walking trail is lined with gorgeous palm trees, perfect beach homes, and water. I was hoping to see a gator, but no luck!
Hudson’s Market
After getting cleaned up, we headed to Hudson’s Market to grab cappuccinos and hot tea to warm up. The Hudson Market is located right next to the Boardwalk Inn. They offer baked pastries, homemade biscuit bowls, hot breakfast platters, signature sandwiches, salads, ice cream, cafe drinks, and so much more. The food looked so good that we knew we’d be back to have lunch later in the day. Oh, and their almond milk cappuccino was on point!
We took the Indigo Dying Workshop, which was so much fun! It was cool to learn how the indigo dye is made and play around with shibori techniques. We made some napkins that I plan on using for food photography this spring. See the crazy tied-up thing in the corner? That is one of my white JCrew T-shirts. It’s in the dryer right now, but I’ll post an after photo asap! This workshop made me want to look into dying as a summer hobby. I love that the resort offers unique experiences. Even Kyle had fun with the workshop, and I think he did better than me.
After we spent some time at the Indigo workshop, we were super hungry! We stopped back into the Hudson Cafe to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to the tennis courts. I ordered their garden salad and added a fresh fruit cup on top! The produce tasted so fresh, and the portion size was huge. It was a pleasant surprise and hit the spot for lunch.
Kyle ordered their chicken BLT on a gluten-free bagel and said it was incredible! There are gluten-free and vegan options available if you’re looking for some! 
Tennis Courts at Wild Dunes Resort
We were going to rent bikes but decided to play tennis instead. It was still chilly and very windy, so I decided to save the bike riding for our next trip. If you like to play tennis, Wild Dunes Resort is your spot. They have 17 Har-Tru courts and a stadium court! You can also play at night. 😃The courts are located right across from the Boardwalk Inn. You can participate in clinics, take private lessons, or put your kiddos in lessons.
Bike Rentals Wild Dunes Resort
After playing tennis, we got changed and then took a little walk down by the beach. The sun was about to set, and it was a beautiful time of day. Everything was picture-perfect.
The resort is the perfect place to get away and relax. It’s only about three hours away from Charlotte but feels like a whole new world. Wild Dunes Resort would be the perfect place to escape with your girlfriends or for a mother-daughter giveaway. The hotel has a spa with a large variety of services to choose from. They offer bare therapy, nail therapy, spa packages, skin care treatments, massage therapy, body treatments, and also packages for the kiddos. 
Coastal Provisions
We headed downstairs to Coastal Provisions for dinner. We were so ready for some good food, and a glass of wine with all the running around we did during the day. Coastal Provisions, an upscale seafood and chophouse restaurant, is located in the Boardwalk Inn. The menu looked incredible and fresh. I ordered the mean green salad without cheese and a big bowl of maple brussels sprouts. THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD! If you’re visiting the area, I highly recommend making a reservation there for dinner. Kyle ordered the filet and potatoes and said it was incredible. 
After dinner, we played a quick game of checkers. Of course, he won. I was two glasses of wine deep, and he plays checkers on his phone like it’s Candy Crush.
I made my cup of coffee in the hotel room early Sunday morning and snuck out to go for a walk through the neighborhoods. The streets looked like Hollywood sets because everything was “white picket fence perfect!” I have about 1000 more photos on my phone from the early morning walk, but I didn’t want to drown you in perfection too much.
On our way home, we stopped at Vintage Coffee & Cafe in Sullivans Island for some breakfast. I had been here a few years ago with Becca, so it was cool to visit once again. This cafe is the cutest spot and has great food!
Sullivans Island Coffee Shop
How adorable is the interior? 
We split the gluten-free avocado toast, and I loved that it had jelly underneath. I would never have thought to do that, but it tasted so good! I also ordered the acai bowl without honey. That was also really good! Oh, and the cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso was perfection! 
Our little getaway was so relaxing and the perfect escape! We look forward to visiting again when the weather is a bit warmer. 😊
A big thank you to Wild Dunes for inviting Kyle and me to your gorgeous resort! 💜
Questions for you!
- Have you ever been to the Isle of Palms?
- What’s your favorite part about weekend getaways?
- Are you a beach or pool kind of person?
(ps this post was not sponsored, but our stay was courtesy of the hotel)
Check out my newest travel guide from Sweetgrass Inn at the Wild Dunes Resort!
What a fantastic getaway, Taralynn! So jealous of you… I hope I get to visit Isle of Palms one day too! 🙂 I’m definitely a pool person over a beach person… I hate the beach, actually, haha! I hate how messy sand is (and I hate the sun too LOL)!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Hi, Charmaine!! ❤️ Thanks for stopping by to read! I think a lot of people could agree with you there! I like both 😃 (but drink by the pool does sound better)
Oh my GOSH I’m DYING of jealousy! I have family in Mt. Pleasant and we grew up going to Isle of Palms, every single summer! My grandpa even used to rent some of those giant beach homes for our big family to come and stay on the island. It was amazing! I’ve always been curious about Wild Dunes so thank you for sharing! We now vacation on Folly, but this totally makes me want to go stay at IOP! Glad you had a great time!
What an amazing place to grow up in!! Definitely make a trip back there!!! ♥️
Wow, Wild Dunes looks like the perfect mix for a fun and active yet relaxing vacation. And so pretty! I’ve always wanted to visit North Carolina (I blame Nicholas Sparks) and this spot definitely makes the list when I finally do.
I like the beach during the day and the pool at night, especially the hot tub – ahhh!
Have you craved animal protein yet? I gotta say that Kyle’s chicken BLT looked pretty dang good!
Hi, Susie!
Hahaha I think all of the Nicholas Sparks books/movies made me fall in love with the south when I was younger! 😊 I think that’s a good strategy! 🏊♀️
I’ve definitely craved seafood! I’ve been wanting whitefish/salmon a lot.
The photography in this post is fantastic, Taralynn! I’d love to visit there one day. Did you get ice cream?
Hi, Angelina! Thank you so much!!
The ice cream shop was closed for the season 😞
Great pictures!
Thank you 😊
I have never been to the Isle of Palms, but now I really want to go!
My favorite part about weekend getaways are I don’t have to stress or worry about anything usually.
I’m definitely a pool person. I live 10 minutes from the beach and used to swim in the ocean every weekend, even during hurricanes when I was in high-school but now I prefer the pool.
P.S. I always look for gators too! If you take the back roads to NASA, sometimes you will see dozens of gators sunbathing! It’s so awesome!!
Hi, Jenna!
You’d love it! Such a great spot and close to Charleston! 🙂
You’re so right about that. It’s nice to just unwind.
Ahhh you’re so lucky to live so close to the beach. I’d want to go every day just to walk! I hope to live close one day.
I’ll keep that in mind! I’m so scared of them, but secretly LOVE seeing them lol
I used to love the beach, my skin was soooo tan. But lately we have red tide and it smells terrible. I couldn’t tell you the last time I went to the beach…. and about the gators me too!! So many people around here walk their dogs near these ponds where I always see huge gators and I’m just like… WHY???
Yup, I’d be like NOPE!!!!! Especially with all those stories you hear 🙁
Sorry, you’re dealing with Red Tide!! 🙁 Kyle’s mom told us how horrible it was when it hit the Venice/Sarasota area!
I’ve never been there but got so close this past Summer when we traveled through beautiful Charleston!! I’m adding it to my list though for my next trip to the East Coast this Spring! It looks like the most perfect getaway!!
I’m such a total beach lover! We live in Arkansas but make our way to the beach whether on the Gulf Coast or East Coast at least twice a year! It’s my happy place, for sure! 🙂
Have a great Thursday!!
Hi, Chelsea!
Charleston is one of our FAVORITE spots! Definitely, spend some time on the coast! 😊 I love the beach too! 😃
Have a great weekend! ♥️
Oh my gosh it looks so beautiful!!! All of your pictures look amazing and the colors are so pretty!! I’d love to go there!!
Xo Katie | http://www.meshkomoments.com
Thanks so much, Katie!!!!
Maple brussels sprouts? yum!
They were so good!!!
Enjoyed your take on IOP and Wild Dunes. Been vacationing there with extended family for 20 years.
Yes, we love it!
Seen a lot of growth on the island and around Charleston.
In Wild Dunes, though, it seems far removed and you can really shed the stress!
Please return in summer for the beach!
Hi, Daniel!
That is so amazing you’ve been going there for the past 20 years. We can’t wait to go back in the summer!!
My family and I took a trip to Isle of Palm a couple summers ago and stayed at the same hotel! We LOVED it! Glad to see you had such a good time. I cant wait to go back and try some of the places you suggested
So awesome that you’ve been there!! We are excited to go back in the summer! 😃 xo
What is your small camera? Your photos are lovely.
Thanks, Amanda!
I used the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II 😃
Wild dunes is one of my favorite places. Simply beautiful. Excellent restaurants too.
Agree ♥️
My grandma owns a rental there! so cool you were there.
How lucky!!! ❤️
Do they do weddings there? My fiance and I are exploring our options for next year! Sullivans island area is high on the list.
Yes! They do so many. If you explore the hashtag on their Instagram, you’ll see a ton of weddings that have been celebrated there.
Oh my gosh this just made me want to go on a vacation sooooo bad haha. Love it 🙂 And no, I haven’t been there before.. but I am now adding it to my “places to explore” list! Hope you have a nice weekend!
Thanks for stopping by to read, Brittany! You’d LOVE this place. Glad you’re adding it to the list!! xo xo xo
Oh my – this place looks beautiful! Definitely adding this one to my travel bucket list. The Carolinas are so wonderful – I would love to live their one day!!
I think my favorite part about weekend getaways is taking a step back from your everyday life to take a deep breath and remember all the beautiful adventures out there!
Don’t hate me…but I am not a beach or a pool person really! I am definitely a mountain person!!! Although, these pictures make the beach look wonderful! I am definitely not a summer beach person, but I think I could do winter at the beach – chilly and windy is my favorite!!
Can’t wait for all your travel posts in 2019! 🙂
xoxo
It’s so gorgeous. It’s why I love living in the Carolinas!!
You are right about thank 😉
I honestly don’t blame you. I get super bored on the beach or by the pool unless there’s activity going on! I can’t just sit there, and it’s usually too bright to read.
xoxoxoxo
The Isle of Palms looks amazing! Especially this time of year when we could all use some sunshine.
You may want to change your summer hobby to dyeing, not dying, lol!
Have a great Saturday 🙂
Hahahaha! That may be a better idea 😂
If the stay was paid for by the resort, doesn’t that mean this is sponsored content?
I was invited to stay at the resort without any expectations to blog about our stay. I disclosed that our stay was comped, but I was not sponsored by them in any way. Sponsored content is when I’m paid to blog about a product/experience.
Wow Isle of Palms looks incredible! Such an awesome getaway. Weekend getaways can be a great recharge for the mind, body and sole! I love them, I try to plan one every two months. If there is water Involved i am there beach, lake or pool.
Hi, Harriet! Thanks for stopping by to read! I love that you always plan out the coolest adventures! 💜
fun!
I absolutely love your blog/IG! Your pictures always turn out beautiful. Can you share a post about your photography skills? How do you get your pictures to be so vibrant and beautiful? You inspire me to get my Canon out and travel more, but I don’t know how to adjust colors/light after I take the pictures!
Thank you, April!!! I can do that 😃
When were you there? Trying to plan a wedding there. We live in Michigan. Just trying to pick the right month. Love your blog!!!!
Go during May-September!
You’re going to LOVE it!