A couple of weeks ago Lou and I had the crazy-fun opportunity to spend two days adventuring with Cadillac and their 2015 Escalade in South Carolina. We stayed at The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, a luxurious, peaceful retreat that I couldn’t recommend more. It was a whirlwind adventure with a kayak trip, a boat ride, an oyster grill out and a three-hour test drive up the coast. Of course Lou and I took a million photos, as usual, so I have lots to share right after the jump! So happy to be able to bring you along on these adventures with us!
“This post is in Partnership with Cadillac. The next generation Escalade is coming. Check it out here.”
The cottage we stayed in was so charming and had two bikes available for us to make traveling around the property a breeze. I was most enamored with the soaking tub in the bathroom and the sunporch that made lounging with a book the thing to do. It was easy to forget that a world outside of the property existed- we felt like we were tucked away in another world!
I haven’t been in a kayak since I was a teenager and I had no idea what to wear (Sporty Spice, I am not). Luckily this romper ended up being the perfect choice. And, as it turns out, I LOVE kayaking! Especially in a two-person boat (even more especially when the other person in the two-person boat is Lou Mora and he’s happy to do the paddling when my arms get tired). It was so fun to be out on the water seeing everything from a new perspective, and such a nice treat for us desert dwellers. Isn’t the South Carolina landscape just so amazing? I’m completely in love with it!
We pulled our boats up to a beach that was made entirely of oyster and clam shells! I couldn’t get over how clean the waters were, and if I hadn’t seen a couple of alligators around the property I would have been tempted to sneak in a swim!
After our kayaking adventures we jumped on another boat for a quick ride to a magical place in Palmetto Bluff that has a four- story treehouse, hammocks and giant grills for steaming oysters. We’d never had steamed oysters and now I feel a little jilted that we’ve lived this long without them! I’m sure these oysters tasted especially wonderful because they’re pulled right from the May River and couldn’t have been fresher. Dining on steamed oysters in such a dreamy setting was definitely the highlight of our trip.
The next day we were off for an adventure in the Escalade! It was great to spend some time on the road to get a feel for it. I was so happy to realize that it’s easy to drive- I can get a bit nervous about driving larger SUV’s but after just a minute on the road I felt completely at home. I’m now obsessed with the idea of piling up the dogs and going for a road trip up the coast of California. I can only imagine the crazy amounts of photos of Bean, Nugget and the California landscape we’d come home with!
I’ll be sharing part II to this adventure, our roadtrip from South Carolina to Florida, in another post soon! I should probably title it SARAH IS OBSESSED WITH SPANISH MOSS, FRIED PICKLES AND ALL THINGS SOUTHERN. Hip Hip! Thanks so much for coming along with us! xx- Sarah
I’m not used to seeing Escalades look so normal. Usually they seem so high off the ground and distinctly in the “auto swag” category. Stoked for any future pickle posts! The south does know how to do em’ right!
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Liz- the 2015 has some incredible new design features- I’m a fan! I kind of geeked out on them while we were there learning so much about them! 🙂 And OMG yes, pickles!!!!!!!
Where are your sandals from?
Sara they’re Matt Bernson, I think about two years old. Longtime favorites! 🙂
oh my gosh this seems SO fun! 🙂
ladies in navy
Thanks Kelsey, it definitely was!! 🙂
Gorgeous!! Makes me want to consider a Caddy!!
Tiffany- me too! After two days riding around in them I was 100% sold!
swanky as hell.
the south is pretty wonderful.
It is! I’ll never be tired of the spanish moss!
oh my gosh what an amazing getaway!
the oysters…swoon!
Yes Molly- the oysters were totally a highlight! I want to time travel back just to eat them all over again. ha!
Looks too good to be true! Those hammocks! Wow. Looks like something out of a movie.
It felt like a dream- that spot on the river was really incredible.
No pics of those hysterically awful tail lights? No sure I’ll be trading my Escalade in for this incantation….
Kerry I’m surprised you don’t like them?! I like them! I’m not a car buff by any stretch but they seemed to fit the car to me. You might change your mind about trading in when you see the way the rear seats fold down with a push of a button and all of the other new bells and whistles- it’s pretty amazing what these cars can do these days! 🙂
and the mileage?
I’ve seen this car in person and believe the new look is a very clean design. It seems like this design will age very gracefully.
These are amazing. You are both amazing. <3
no YOU’RE AMAZING!!!! (thank you) <3
what a gorgeous landscape, and i would loooove to have fresh steamed oysters like that right… about… now. glad you had a fun trip!
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ME TOO!!!! Thanks Valerie! 🙂
What a magic place, so intimate, and you look so happy even in the photo when are not smiling!! wow
Thank you Rosaura!
What lovely subdued colors throughout this post! You guys put the South in a completely different light than it is usually portrayed…and now I want to visit! Spanish moss and soaking tubs? Yes please!!
Yes! Spanish moss, soaking tubs, and fried EVERYTHING! It’s pretty amazing. 🙂
haha I was going to say THAT SPANISH MOSS! glad I’m not the only one obsessed. 🙂
well you are my sister from another mister, it’s no wonder you love it too! 🙂
Really pretty your dress, love outfit.
Amazing place and pics.
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Man, you guys are CUTE! as in, gorgeous, both. Only way I’d buy a gigantic car like that in 2014 is if it was hybrid or flex, and recyclable would be nice. Otherwise, I couldn’t sleep at night. But the trip looks like it was a LOT of fun!
Tunie, thank you! We have our moments….and we have a lot of moments where you would not think we’re so cute! HA!!
I hear you- I hope all car companies continue to develop more environmentally friendly cars! As I mentioned below, it’s not as bad as you might think but I still wish EVERY car could be hybrid, flex or electric! I also wish we would all stop planting grass in southern CA too, while I’m wishing for things. 🙂
That trip looks fun but how can they build a car that huge in 2015 and not make it at least a flex car? That is %100 irresponsible! And kind of shockingly ignorant… But you two look so happy. Bet those oysters were great!
I think you’d be surprised by the gas mileage (we were!). It’s a large car but I think the gas mileage is actually better than a lot of it’s competitors. They made efforts to make the car as streamlined as possible for efficiency. This was a concern of mine as well! I drive a hybrid SUV- I’m not really comfortable in anything smaller on the roads here in southern CA where there are so many large cars. But I do wish they would consider a more planet friendly option in the future!! 🙂
hi! i love your hair! what product do you use on it? particularly for your curls in the picture where you’re sitting in the back of the car 🙂 XO
Hi Kelly, thank you! I don’t use anything fancy- those curls are the result of a curling iron and a little bit of hairspray (not even sure of the brand, it’s nothing special and I change brands all the time!) 🙂 I owe my good hair days to the colorist who did my hair last July! (I’m probably due for another trip to the salon!)
Isn’t Palmetto Bluff the best? I’m so glad you had a chance to experience it AND spanish moss. These photos are amazing!
Love this little adventure; looks like a blast! I’m hankering for a southern road trip…
Gorgeous! But as a native South Carolinian I have to tell you, its called an Oyster Roast!
OH! I had no idea, thanks for letting me know! I’m a huge fan, I’ll be at every oyster roast I’m ever invited to. 🙂
Gah, I just love palmetto bluff – a trip there will make you feel so pampered!