Staying at Sweetgrass Inn Wild Dunes Resort | With a Toddler!

Sweetgrass Inn – Wild Dunes Resort – Isle of Palms

Back in June, we took our very first family vacation to Wild Dunes Resort, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I was a bit nervous since our toddler had never stayed in a hotel before, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable and enjoyable trips. If you’re hesitant about traveling with a toddler—just go for it! It wasn’t nearly as stressful as I had imagined, and our little one thrived despite being out of his element and routine.

I left feeling inspired to plan even more trips! Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort is incredibly kid-friendly and a fantastic destination for family travel. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway with plenty of amenities for all ages, this is the perfect spot.

Five Loaves Cafe

We were just five minutes away from Sweet Grass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort when we got a text that our room was ready early—such a great start to our trip! Before checking in, we decided to grab a quick meal and some much-needed coffee.

We stopped at Five Loaves Cafe, a local gem known for its fresh and flavorful dishes. The sandwiches and salads were delicious! I rarely order kids’ meals since my son always prefers what’s on my plate, so we shared a turkey club sandwich—and he loved it.

Brown Fox Coffee Co

A stop at Brown Fox Coffee Co is an absolute must whenever we’re heading to Isle of Palms! If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you already know how much I love this spot. This time, I ordered an iced chai latte, and it was just as amazing as ever. Paired with my chai brittle for a post-lunch sweet treat, it was the perfect pick-me-up!I have a little coffee lover on my hands.

We checked into the Sweetgrass Inn at 3 PM! Thankfully, it’s only a three-hour drive from Charlotte, and since we timed our departure with my son’s naptime, he slept the entire way—making for a smooth and stress-free trip.
The view from our room was absolutely stunning! I love everything about this resort—it’s truly perfect for families. As soon as we settled in, we headed straight to the beach and pool to soak up the fun. With so many restaurants, sweet shops, pizza places, and activities, there’s never a dull moment. Next time, I’d love to spend an entire week here with my family to experience even more!The beach is just a short walk from the pool, making it easy to go back and forth throughout the day. Plus, the resort offers beach chair rentals, so you can relax and enjoy the ocean without having to bring your own setup!

This little guy LOVES the beach!

He kept chasing the seagulls and picking up every large seashell he could find. We spent most of our time at the splash pad, and he absolutely couldn’t get enough of it! He had a blast splashing around and even made a few little friends along the way.

Oystercatcher Restaurant – Sweetgrass Inn

For our first night, we had dinner at the Oystercatcher down near the lobby. I remember the food being amazing the last time we stayed, but it was even more amazing this time! I could eat there for every meal!
We started with house salads made with sweet baby gem lettuce, radicchio, fresh strawberries, and a delicious apple vinaigrette. It was the perfect light and refreshing way to begin our meal!
We enjoyed the best appetizers! The roasted broccoli was incredibly flavorful, and the thick bread topped with mozzarella, prosciutto, and a pesto balsamic olive oil glaze was simply delicious. As usual, we don’t typically order kids’ meals for our toddler and share everything with him. He was a huge fan of both the roasted broccoli and the bread!

We both ordered the beef coulotte with duchess potatoes and cucumber, and everything was outstanding! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and each bite was absolutely delicious.After dinner, we did bathtime, took a peaceful night walk around the resort’s charming back neighborhoods, and then headed to bed. The hotel provided a pack-and-play, but our son wasn’t having it. He ended up sleeping in the middle of our giant king-size bed—and to our surprise, he slept a solid 12 hours straight! It’s the little things, like his sleep, that had me stressing before we arrived, but we just went with the flow, and everything worked out in the end. Sometimes, you just have to roll with it!

Hudson Market

We woke up early, got dressed, and headed down to the Hudson Market to grab a quick breakfast before it got too hot outside. We shared some delicious breakfast sandwiches and enjoyed our oat milk lattes to kickstart the day! Afterward, we rented bikes to explore the area before the heat set in.

Bike Rentals – Wild Dunes Resort

The bike shop is just steps away from the resort—a must-do for anyone staying here! Kyle and I biked for hours the last time we visited, and we ended up doing the same this time with our little guy. He was absolutely loving it—giggling and enjoying every moment of the ride. We spent over an hour biking before it got too hot, but luckily, the Wild Dunes Resort area has plenty of shaded pathways to keep us cool. It was such a fun memory, and we’re already looking forward to doing it again!

There are so many charming nooks and crannies that lead to the beach, making it easy to ride and explore all day on the bikes if you wanted to. It’s the perfect way to discover hidden spots and enjoy the beauty of the area!

The Laughing Gull

After riding bikes, we got cleaned up and headed down to the pool, just in time for lunch and some splash pad fun! We grabbedlunch at The Laughing Gull, a bar and restaurant conveniently located next to the pool. They offer the most delicious poolside bites, including fresh salads, burgers, seafood, and the best sweet potato fries you’ll ever have! It was the perfect meal to enjoy while relaxing by the pool.

We ordered the wedge salad with grilled chicken, a burger, and sweet potato fries with a mango surfer mocktail! We also stopped into the Hudson Market for sparkling water and a few snack bars to bring to the pool with us.

We decided not to stress about getting our little guy to nap in the hotel room and instead opted for a long two-hour walk while he slept. It worked out perfectly—after a fun afternoon at the pool, he fell right asleep in the stroller. This gave us the chance to enjoy a peaceful two-hour stroll through the stunning neighborhoods of Isle of Palms. It was the perfect way to unwind and take in the beauty of the area.

Tacos & Tequila Airstream

It was back to the pool as soon as he woke up! We could tell he was hungry, and since our dinner reservation wasn’t for a few more hours, we stopped by the Tacos & Tequila Airstream by the pool. He had beef tacos, rice, corn, and guacamole—and everything was delicious! I couldn’t resist sneaking a few bites myself. It was the perfect snack to fuel us before the evening activities.
It was back to the splash pad for two hours straight.

The Sweet Shoppe

My boy had his very first ice cream cone after playing at the pool! There’s a cute dessert, candy, and ice cream shop right next to the pool called The Sweet Shoppe, and the ice cream was absolutely delicious. He loved every minute of it! This is what summer dreams are made of!

Coastal Provisions

After getting cleaned off from the pool, ice cream, and sandy beach, we headed to dinner at Coastal Provisions, located in the Boardwalk Hotel at Wild Dunes Resort. I was so excited because this was my third time eating there, and the food has always been spectacular! It’s one of those places that never disappoints.

We ordered a variety of veggie sides, including roasted carrots, asparagus, and fresh salads. I went with the “fresh from the boat,” which was snapper with corn crème fraîche, English & field peas, heirloom cherry tomatoes, pearl onion, butter beans, and vinaigrette. Kyle had the filet mignon, and he said it was one of the best steaks he’s ever had.

Wow, everything was so fresh and flavorful—there weren’t many bites left over! It was the perfect end to an amazing day.Getting all the night zoomies out on the boardwalk!

We were up at 5 am for the sunrise views! We grabbed complimentary coffee from the lobby and took a peaceful walk down to the beach to play in the water and watch the sunrise. It was the perfect way to start the day!There’s nothing more beautiful than a morning sunrise on the beach. It’s my favorite part about visiting the ocean—there’s something so peaceful and refreshing about watching the day begin by the water.

The skies did not disappoint. 

Once the sun was up, we headed back to our room to pack up—so bittersweet because we really didn’t want to leave! We had such a wonderful time, and it felt like the perfect getaway.

Woody’s Eatery

We made one last stop to have breakfast at Woody’s Eatery before leaving Wild Dunes Resort. It was the perfect way to wrap up our stay, with a delicious meal to fuel us for the drive home.

We ordered eggs, grits, French toast, hashbrowns, and oatmeal! Someone was definitely a big fan of the French toast—he couldn’t get enough! It was the perfect breakfast to enjoy before heading out.

I highly recommend booking your stay at the Sweetgrass Inn in Wilddunes Resort! We enjoyed this vacation before having our son, and it was just as fun enjoying it with him! We cannot wait to go back!