MMM Exclusive: Discovering South Carolina's Iconic Palmetto Bluff in Cadillac's New Escalade

“This post is in Partnership with Cadillac. The next generation Escalade is coming. Check it out here.”

There's something iconic about Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. Set amidst a gorgeous backdrop of moss-covered oak trees, the Montage resort epitomizes Southern comfort. When Cadillac graciously invited My Modern Met for a visit, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Born and raised in Southern California, I'd never visited the South. There's a much more relaxed tempo in this part of America, and Palmetto Bluff – a vast expanse of pristine land bounded by the May, Cooper, and New Rivers – is quintessential South Carolina Low Country. The days are fed and measured by the tides, and the marshes are teeming with life.

Like Palmetto Bluff, Cadillac is a classic American icon. The first thing I noticed about the 2015 Escalade was its bold exterior design. The Escalade is purposely large, with sleek and sexy lines. Exterior highlights include a detailed Galvano chrome grille and the industry's first Total Internal Reflection LED high-beam function, which consists of four vertically-stacked crystal lenses and LEDs.

You can tell that Cadillac didn't hold back on the interior details either. Real wood combines with premium cut-and-sewn materials, suede accents, and ambient lighting. Both the second- and the third-row seats fold down, allowing for maximum versatility.

When I got behind the wheel, I was really impressed by how quiet it was inside. I later found out the lack of noise was due to a stronger body structure, including triple-sealed doors, acoustic-laminate glass, and Bose Active Noise Cancelation technology. Even the exterior mirrors had been carefully shaped in the wind tunnel to reduce wind noise.

When first driving any new car, I always feel an obligation to test out its power. For a vehicle this size, the 6.2L V-8 engine provides more than enough power to navigate traffic safely. In fact, the new V-8 can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

For those of you wondering about gas mileage, the new 6.2L engine delivers an EPA-estimated 21 mpg on the highway. That's about 17 percent greater efficiency on the highway than previous models.

Looking back, when I think about my experience with the 2015 Escalade, I start daydreaming about all the fun that could be had in this vehicle. There's plenty of room for family and friends to enjoy a sunny trip to the beach, a road trip to a bustling city like Vegas, or an expedition to a national park like Yellowstone. Equally important, the amount of utility this vehicle provides is hard to beat, with ample space to haul the kids to school or to sporting events.

With the 2015 Escalade, Cadillac has done a great job of modernizing its brand. The thing we love most about it, however – its classic American style – is here to stay.

Arriving at Palmetto Bluff. Overwhelmed by the iconic beauty of the South.

Inn #7: My private sanctuary. Had a blast riding a cruiser all around the property.

My favorite thing about this place: the gorgeous moss-covered oak trees.

A beautiful perched egret, right before it flew away.

It was incredible to see all the different kinds of wildlife in their natural habitat, though we didn't want to invade this alligator's space too much.

Right before we went kayaking on the May River.

My buddy Jack kayaking on the May River.

Loved when they lined up the Escalades like this. Looks like a Presidential motorcade!

The advanced interior has all the bells and whistles. Particularly liked the display on the windshield, which showed the speed I was going and the speed limit.

So much Southern charm, along with beautiful music, from these talented ladies.

This is the Escalade I had the privilege of taking out. It's the extended-length ESV edition, which offers a 14-inches-longer wheelbase and approximately 20 inches more in overall length, maximizing leg room for third-row passengers and nearly doubling the cargo space behind the third row.