Bluffton

When we were looking for the best accommodations in South Carolina, the excellent travel agency Black Tomato pointed us to The Inn at Palmetto Bluff. This cluster of cottages and sprawling vacation homes ooze Southern charm thanks in no small part to fireplaces, verandas, and a glittering riverfront. Plenty of family activities, including Lowcountry field trips and horseback riding, are a godsend when traveling with kids. And for a well-deserved mind-and-body break, the Cottage Spa is excellent.