Last updated January 18, 2024
They say a good life is a collection of happy moments. And you can make a great life with happy moment after happy moment at the luxury hotel Sweetgrass Inn in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
I recently visited the Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort with my daughter. We wanted to see what made this Hyatt hotel, part of Destination Hotels, stand out.
What we found: numerous incredible restaurants, beautiful views, blazing-fast hotel Wi-Fi and a spa that was hard to leave.
We spent much of our visit at Sweetgrass enjoying the spa, its wellness offerings and the memorable spa garden.
There’s nothing this spa doesn’t offer that I could ever want in a luxury spa. I could talk about it all day.
But first, the big picture: Sweetgrass Inn (named after the native sweetgrass that grows in the area) is located on four acres in the charming South Carolina Lowcountry.
It’s great for special events, with a large ballroom and indoor and outdoor event spaces — even a rooftop ballroom with ocean views.
Sweetgrass Experience
The hotel also offers guests pools, jacuzzis, a poolside restaurant, retail space and beautifully appointed hotel rooms. The new, large pool deck features a zero-entry pool, hot tub and more and kids will enjoy the kiddie water features and special poolside programming.
Sweetgrass leans on its local history and ties, making it distinctly unique to the region. You can find odes to South Carolina everywhere, from the sweetgrass on the spa treatment table to the benne wafers (traditional cookies from the region made with benne seeds aka sesame seeds) in the store.
Service was impeccable, too. We even had the option to text requests to the front desk instead of having to call.
Want extra towels or more coffee? Sure, you can still call or swing by the front desk if you want to. But you can also text a number that promptly responds and handles your request.
Say you’re on the beach, by the pool or relaxing in the spa garden, and you decide you need some more Nespresso pods for an afternoon pick-me-up or towels to get ready for dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants. Just a simple text, and it’s done.
Above & Beyond
We also loved this option when we wanted our car pulled around so we could leave the hotel to explore the area, like a trip to Gwynn’s.
Gwynn’s of Mount Pleasant is a family-owned department store that has been offering the very best designer merchandise to customers since 1967.
People drive from all over the region to shop at Gwynn’s, and I can say it is my absolute favorite place to shop in the Charleston area.
Another way the hotel went above and beyond was on the beach. Beach chairs (with our names on them) were waiting for us each day on the sand.
It was amazing not to have to drag chairs down the boardwalk to the beach each day. The colorful umbrellas were great at making sure we got only the amount of sun that we wanted each day.
When out on the beach at Wild Dunes, be sure to take your SuperGoop sunscreen from the Spa at Sweetgrass Spa Boutique, your Wallaroo Hat and your 831 Minhle coverup to take care of the essentials!
The Spa
Even amid the service, beach and views, The Spa at Sweetgrass is where the hotel truly shines. The only reason I left the spa was for an amazing meal at Oystercatchers.
The 10,000-square-foot spa and salon features 14 treatment rooms, a great shop and a fitness center. Enhance your treatment with plunge pools. And make sure you set aside time to indulge in the spa’s own private, outdoor spa garden.
This is a place that really calls my name. Every spa gal will want to make sure to visit this soon-to-be iconic spa. With two spa lounges and an outdoor spa garden, there is a place to help you find your Zen.
The spa itself offers everything from massages to facials to body treatments. Some exciting options include a CBD body wrap and CBD mani-pedi; a “healing cocoon” with a sea salt and botanicals body scrub; an oxygen infusion facial; and a “facial” for your back.
For people interested in wellness travel, there’s the Immune Boost Body Scrub, designed to (you guessed it) boost your immune system with essential oils, sea minerals and electrolytes.
My facial was the most results-oriented I have ever gotten from a luxury spa facial. My skin feels tight and lifted still weeks later from this treatment.
All treatments at the Spa at Sweetgrass are inspired by nature. You can also sign up for wellness programs and fitness classes, like meditation and yoga.
The Food
The restaurants at the Sweetgrass Inn complete the full experience. We started with breakfast at Hudson’s Market: a quick breakfast and market for essentials.
For lunch, we went to the Laughing Gull, elevated poolside dining with great employees. The Laughing Gull is located adjacent to the pool. Don’t let the casual vibe lower your expectations. I loved my veggie burger and sweet potato fries.
I also ordered a tasty salad with grilled onions and pumpkin seeds. Everything was delicious and not what I expected by the pool. You can also order the likes of lump crab salad and a margarita popsicle.
For dinner one night, we experienced Coastal Provisions, which had terrific vegetarian options.
Our second dinner was at Oystercatcher Restaurant and Bar, where we had the biggest shrimp in a shrimp cocktail on the island and a ton of flavorful cocktails.
It also had an impressive wine list. Oystercatcher, located in the hotel lobby, features fresh, local food and craft drinks. The highlight here is local seafood delivered fresh daily (mmm, oysters).
I can tell you how you will feel once you visit the new Sweetgrass Inn. You won’t want to leave the Sweetgrass Inn once you are there.vNow when can I get myself back to that Spa Garden!
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