Villamare: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Villamare is another shining star in the galaxy of top-notch developments in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Located between the Marriott and Captain's Walk, Villamare, Italian for "house by the sea," is just that, 163 villas on more than eight acres of ocean-front property. Plenty of on-site entertainment and recreation opportunities surround the three five-story buildings of Villamare, including more than 400 feet of Atlantic shoreline; access to the beach; canoe, bike, boat and wave-runner rentals; horseback riding; dolphin cruises; tennis; fine dining; lagoons; winding walkways; an outdoor pool and bath house; an outdoor Jacuzzi; a barbecue area; and an indoor pool with health club and exercise facilities, an uncommon commodity at a Hilton Head villa complex.

Off-site amenities for residents of Villamare and the rest of Palmetto Dunes include three challenging golf courses designed by three of the golf world's renowned architects, more than 20,000 yards of golfing pleasure. The George Fazio course is renowned for its gently rolling fairways on the front nine and tiny greens surrounded by alluring bunkers on the back. The Robert Trent Jones course offers broad fairways and ample greens, but the Palmetto Dunes lagoon system complicates shots on 11of the 18 holes. The lagoons also come into play on the Arthur Hills course, and palms and beach vegetation render man-made hazards unnecessary.

At Shelter Cove, Palmetto Dunes boasts the largest deep-water anchorage on the Island, a 220-slip harbor situated on more than 16 acres. Its Mediterranean-style village has a wide choice of stores and restaurants. The Plaza houses a grocery and other businesses, while the mall is home to Belk and more than 55 smaller specialty shops.