Instagram Tour: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head

From beautiful, wide beaches and endless bicycle paths to world-class golf and tennis, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort offers a family vacation that's as laid-back or as active as you like. (See the Palmetto Dunes area on a map.)

Follow me on Instagram for a tour of some of the highlights of our stay in November 2014.

We saw these signs near the ponds and lagoons at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. We didn't spot any alligators, but we did spy plenty of turtles, ducks, herons and other seabirds.

Also, the signs didn't stop visitors from canoeing and kayaking in the resort's lagoon.

Here's the image on Instagram.

We loved our rental bikes from Hilton Head Outfitters, which is located inside Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island.

One of the best things about this resort was that there are bike paths everywhere. We loved being on bikes to explore and get between our villa and the beach, restaurants, and the little general store that sells groceries, sundries, newspapers, penny candy and ice cream.

Here's the image on Instagram.

During an afternoon walk by the lagoon, this blue heron came to about six feet away from us. None of the wildlife we saw seemed skittish around people.

Here's the image on Instagram.

The approach to Palmetto Dunes Beach one morning, while the sun was still low. 

Here's the image on Instagram.

During our late November visit, the beach was nearly deserted in the morning. 

Here's the image on Instagram.

Along with seashells and horsehoe crabs, we also found a few sand dollars on the beach.

Here's the image on Instagram.

We drove to the nearby Sea Pines Resort ($6 day pass) on Hilton Head to visit Harbour Town and its signature red-and-white striped lighthouse.

Here's the image on Instagram.

They don't call South Carolina the Palmetto State for nothing. These palmetto trees are everywhere.

Here's the image on Instagram.