Sea Island — A Family and Friends Favorite

Families and friends have regarded Sea Island as a favored spot to vacation since The Cloister first opened as a “friendly little hotel” in 1928.  And in today’s world, Sea Island’s attributes have become even more desirable. These attributes include a private beach resort with an expansive, lushly landscaped campus surrounded by ocean, river, marshes and five miles of private beach. At Sea Island, there is a plethora of outdoor activities, including three championship golf courses. There is also an array of accommodations options that include private cottages as well as hotel rooms and suites.

This perennial Forbes Five-Star resort provides an abundance of space and an array of outdoor activities that are second to none. The saying goes that while you can’t snow ski at Sea Island, you can enjoy virtually every other imaginable amenity. Amenities include a Beach Club with three pools, a Forbes Five-Star spa, nature center, tennis center, fishing, boating, sailing and paddleboarding, Shooting School, and an abundance of nature-oriented experiences, including falconry and Hawk Walks.

A year-round children’s program provides age-appropriate activities for kids 3-14. A summer highlight is searching for loggerhead turtles that have laid their nests on the beach. And in terms of dining, guests have many options from which to choose, most of which provide outdoor seating.

Accommodation options include 265 rooms and suites at The Cloister, a Mediterranean masterpiece on Sea Island; 43 rooms and suites and seven cottages at The Lodge, nestled between the Seaside and Plantation golf courses on St. Simons Island; and The Inn, a casual, select service hotel with 85 rooms on St. Simons Island. Also available are 150 cottages on Sea Island, with from one to eight bedrooms, many with pools, offering the privacy and flexibility of an individual home while being close to amenities and the beach.

A recent $30+ million enhancement program included seven cottages at The Lodge, along with an oceanfront pool and pool house. The enhancement program also included the 18-hole putting course, state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center, and the reopened Plantation Course, redesigned by Mark and Davis Love III, who are Sea Island residents. Capping the roster of enhancements is the refurbishment of many of The Cloister guestrooms, all reflecting the elegance and traditional architecture of the hotel.  A dining hot spot is the Sea Strike & Pub, a six-lane bowling alley and casual restaurant, which debuted last fall.

Of particular note for friends traveling together is the new 4,200-square-foot, oceanfront King Cottage, adjacent to The Lodge and the Golf Performance Center. The cottage has four bedrooms, an expansive living and dining area, kitchen (which can come with its own chef and be stocked as requested), and an indoor hitting bay, allowing guests to hit right onto the driving range without stepping outside.

While acres of beautiful landscape, miles of private beach and a multitude of captivating experiences have drawn guests to Sea Island for generations, it is the genuine gracious hospitality provided by their team members, many of whom have been there for decades, which guests mention most often as a reason to return.  Visit seaisland.com to learn more.