Sea Island + St. Simons Island Travel Guide
Travel along with Paige Kornblue to Georgia’s Golden Isles to soak in some Southern charm
and the most perfect fusion of luxury, adventure, food and fun
Two dear friends of mine have been raving about a beautiful stretch of the southeastern coast of Georgia for years and so when we were looking for a getaway – a destination to easily drive to from South Florida - we set our sights on Sea Island and St. Simons Island.
Sea Island and St. Simons Island are part of the Golden Isles which also includes Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and the mainland city of Brunswick.
What did we love the most?
· Good people vibes: kind locals and visitors of all ages and stages
· A marvelous mix of the marsh and ocean throughout the area
· Gorgeous Georgia live oaks at every turn
WHERE TO STAY
· Sea Island: your one-stop-shop resort destination option - see below for all of the fabulous details!
· Rent a St. Simons Island house/condo: Lilmar Properties (ask for Adam or Beth) and Lighthouse Vacations offer some great rental options (South Island/near the airport is a good area)
· Park SSI: trendy, walking distance to many things
· Hotel Simone: brand new, good location
· The King & Prince: beachside resort, over 85 years of service
THINGS TO DO
· Rent bikes or a golf cart and explore the island (be sure to book in advance)
· Fishing: hire a guide to fish by day or night, it's a great way to explore the area! Captain Tommy guided us to the trout and redfish and Captain Chad had us gigging for flounder
· Explore the East Beach neighborhood: Gould's Inlet (great beach time + beach walks) & Coast Guard area
· Pier Village: Neptune Park – walk to the lighthouse, look for dolphins and pop into local shops
· Tree Spirits: famous tree carvings sprinkle the island, start out at the Visitors Center
· Fort Frederica, Christ Church, Wesley areas: great history + beautiful churches
· Frederica Stables: great place to ride
· Avenue of the Oaks: drive through this beautiful stretch of Georgia live oaks, part of Sea Island property
· Sitters by the Shore: book a babysitter and head out on a day or night date (or both!)
· Shop: step into stores like Two Friends in Redfern Village
St. Simons Island/Brunswick
St. Simons Island: Home of speckled trout + redfish + more
Morningstar Marinas
WHERE TO EAT
· Halyards – dinner and brunch are fabulous, great service, good vibe, fun to sit at the bar or outside
· Catch 228
· Coastal Kitchen - nice stop as you enter the island, within Morningstar Marinas
· Porch near Pier Village, pick up the food + eat outside on picnic tables & Moo Cow Creamery for ice cream next door
· Half Shell - good seafood, casual, great location
· Gnats in Redfern Village
· The Wharf - outdoor restaurant on Jekyll Island (it's a 30 min drive from SSI, fee to get on the island - Turtle Sanctuary and Driftwood Beach there too)
· Groceries: The Market, Uncle Don's Market, Harris Teeter + Winn Dixie
SEA ISLAND
I’m a huge fan of one-stop-shop destination resorts (places you can stay and play + never have to leave) and Sea Island is definitely a fabulous one!
Sea Island is the only resort in the world to have received four Forbes Five-Star awards for 12 consecutive years. It features five miles of private beach, a Beach Club, Har-Tru clay tennis courts, Yacht Club, Shooting School, Sporting Club, fishing, sailing, children’s programs, horseback rides on the beach, and three championship golf courses.
There are many accommodation options on Sea Island: The Cloister, The Lodge, Cottages, The Inn and Broadfield Sporting Club. We stayed in a gorgeous plantation style Sea Island rental cottage just steps from the beach. Cottage 168 has 7 bedrooms, an updated kitchen, swimming pool and many separate areas for groups or families to stay comfortably.
If you opt for a cottage stay, be sure to bring or rent bikes because you’ll want to bike to The Cloister, Beach Club, through the neighborhood and even right on the beach!
Palm Beach Island meets Sea Island: Limited edition Lilly Pulitzer cruiser bicycles
The Beach Club is very family-friendly with a lot of space to social distance, multiple pools, a waterslide, beachfront playground, ice cream and candy shop and more. There are plenty of adult spaces as well – beachside bars, private pools, beach chairs galore and the most perfect coastline for beach walks. We enjoyed the live music beachside too.
The Lodge is part of Sea Island, but is a shuttle-ride away and closer to downtown St. Simons Island. The entryway to the Lodge, a small stretch of road coined "Avenue of the Oaks," is a must-see! The live oaks date back to the 1800’s and are magnificent. The Lodge is home to two of Sea Island’s championship golf courses which host the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic, a Fedex Cup event in November. Be sure to grab a cocktail at sunset and enjoy the daily bagpiper – a longtime Sea Island tradition! Speaking of music, don't miss Jackie live on the piano at The Cloister – she’s as nice as she is talented.
Sea Island is an amazing place to be and a perfect spot for some R&R.... one of those places you won't want to leave and one in which you will certainly want to return!
