Prepare to be wooed by the sprawling beauty and fascinating eco adventures offered by South Carolina’s Wild Dunes Resort, located on the Isle of Palms. Cruising through the salt marches and tidal creeks of Charleston, groups can spot bottlenose dolphins, herons and other wildlife under the guidance of a naturalist on their way to historic shrimping villages or Capers Island’s Boneyard Beach, a barrier island that has been eroding a staggering 15 feet per year since 1875.
A marvel in itself, the beach’s bleached out tree skeletons and stumps, made apparent by erosion, form a natural sculpture garden that groups can peruse for miles. After roaming through this natural museum, the resort can arrange a traditional Lowcountry boil on the shore before hopping aboard the covered pontoon for another adventure. Or perhaps a teambuilding session, where developing self-sustaining oyster reefs with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is on the agenda. During oyster reef restoration, groups will plant recycled oyster shells in the intertidal environment to form new, self-sustaining reefs.
In Charleston there’s a tour for just about everything—from ghosts and graveyards to culinary and carriage. Four new photography tours, which range from discovering the city’s historic downtown to soaking up breathtaking seascapes, were also recently added to the mix, offering groups immediate access to the beauty of the Lowcountry. After a day of exploring, have a sit down in an ironworking class at Wild Dunes—iron being an iconic element to Charleston’s homes, churches and gardens—to allow the day’s inspiration to take form in personal symbolic pieces. Or take to the sky for craft cocktails and spectacular views of Charleston’s French Quarter at The Rooftop, a rooftop bar in the newly renovated art hotel, The Vendue.
The Vendue is housed with a collection of 18th century warehouses that are telltale of the property’s artistic urge. It’s the only hotel in Charleston that caters to the arts with rotating local art spread through, art docent tours and an artist in residence program.
Golfing in the Lowcountry
With over 19 championship courses and 60 miles of scenic coastline as a backdrop, South Carolina seems made for golf incentives. Patriot’s Point Links and Dunes West rank among the best for burgeoning golfers—a Par 5 birdie morale booster is only part of the equation. Be sure to also drop by the Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center on Kiawah Island. Aside from its picturesque views, the burgeoning golfers in your group gain access to seven covered hitting bays, practice bunkers and state-of-the-art video swing analysis software. The center also offers V1 Video and Explanar Teaching Systems for private group lessons and clinics. FYI: it’s the same system used by the center’s three PGA/LPGA professionals.
