We just returned from a week at Sea Island off the coast of Georgia with my mom, my brother, my sister in law, and my two nieces. It’s a week we’ve been looking forward to for so long, mostly for the time we get to spend together, but also because we had heard wonderful things about this small island resort, which fully lived up to the hype.
It’s beautiful little island with a lush landscape of giant live oaks with Spanish moss juxtaposed to miles of beach and endless ocean views. We rented one of the cottages, a label that is a little misleading given that it easily housed all nine of us and had a heated pool in the backyard.
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I usually opt for a day by day breakdown when sharing our travels, but this family-focused week together lends itself better to sharing through some of my favorite memories from the week. Mom left after a few days to be with Nannie, so the second half of the week was very lowkey, mainly focused on spending time together at the cottage.
Delaney’s Date Night
When Mom had to leave, my brother and I had the idea to trade off date nights. It really worked out so well, giving us each a night out with our significant other and each some time with the kids. I can’t remember the last dinner out David and I had together so I was excited. We started at Dorothy’s, a cute spot on St. Simons that had happy hour cocktail and oyster specials. The weather was idyllic and we took advantage by sitting outside.
David’s Uncle lives in the area and we knew he worked at a restaurant with a stellar reputation, so we decided to try to swing by at opening and say hi to him. It was such a fun surprise to get to visit Uncle Kevin! And the surprise got even better as we squeezed into a cancelled bar seat reservation and got to experience Delaney’s for ourselves. This family owned and operated restaurant is a gem! We spent the next hour talking to the owner while we tried their scallop appetizer, fresh bread and butter, and ostrich appetizer. It was some of the best food and the most welcoming atmosphere I’ve experienced out in a long time. If you have the chance, go! But make a reservation because they are clearly an in demand spot.
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Afternoons at the Beach Club
A funny story- I was texting with a college friend about needing to get together because it had been so long one week, and then next week I got a text saying- “Saw you are at Sea Island; guess where we’re driving to right now?” Oh my goodness, what a wonderful surprise! We planned to meet up at lunchtime at the Beach Club and meet up we did.
It was my first experience at the Sea island Beach Club and I was blown away by the experience. Multiple pools, a water slide, a playground and yard games, grab and go food spot, a free arcade, a small hands-on nature room for kids, a surf shop, a nicer restaurant and bar; it was like an adult spring break with cute kids running around to boot. The weather was perfect. The kids swam and ate hotdogs while David and I got to spend a few hours catching up with our dear friends, Mark and Carrie. Definitely a highlight of the week and a setting we returned to enjoy multiple times.
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Riding Bikes to Coffee and Croissants at The Cloister
A friend of mine gave me an insider tip that the main hub of the resort, The Cloister, offers complimentary tea, coffee, and pastries in the mornings. Being a couple miles down, we took bikes most mornings to wander the historic hotel and get a little coffee and croissant to kick off the day. The kids loved it because they were able to take off on their own to do so and the adults loved it because it was tranquil and interesting to read about all the historic images displayed in the halls and rooms of the historic property.
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Round Table Family Dinner at River Bar & Lounge
We had one dinner slot available when we found out mom was going to need to leave. Until then we’d be eating dinners at the cottage, but decided we needed one full family dinner out together. We took the opportunity to get everyone dressed up for a nice family picture before dining at The River Bar & Lounge, a lively dinner spot at The Cloister. They set us up with the most perfect large round table, tucked away in a corner. It allowed us all to converse easily as we enjoyed our dinners. The food was excellent, with the mussels and David’s lamb being two highlights, and the kids really enjoyed getting to attend a “fancy” dinner.
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Hailey Playing Piano at the Lodge
While Mom and Kris had to cancel their round of golf, we still wanted to check out the lodge area of Sea Island and I’m so glad we did. It’s stately and breathtaking with it’s dark wood interiors and incredible marsh view. Hailey, like a moth to flame anytime she sees a piano, inquired about playing the one in the lobby and was granted permission. I, almost fully talentless when it comes to music, watched (ok, recorded and snapped pictures) as she confidently sat down to play a song or two. I think she’s the coolest.
Birthday Dinner Lasagna Night
Our trip overlapped with a special day- Cara’s birthday! We took the opportunity to throw a little dinner at the house. We kicked off things with a cocktail hour on the beach and followed it up with a decorated dinner inside. Mom and the girls made two pans of lasagna to freeze and bring with us, which we paired with bagged Caesar salad and garlic bread. It was such a fun way to celebrate Cara!
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Time at the Cottage
Our main focus for these multigenerational trips is time together. We are a family that likes to take walks, play games, snack, and sip. The large cottage worked so well to help us attain this goal and we spent a large chunk of our time swimming in the pool, walking the beach, watching football, playing Monopoly, chatting on the porch, and just being together- the best. Especially since the kids are all old enough to play Monopoly without an adult involved and spent hours altering rules and having a blast.
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Girls Spa Day
What an experience! Mom treated Cara and me to a spa treatment and we milked every minute we could out of it by showing up a couple hours ahead of time to take full advantage of the beautiful facilities. The mineral pool, sauna, and vitamin C shower were magnificent, topped only by the cup of tea and outdoor lounge chair that I laid on for a solid hour, just feeling the breeze and taking deep breaths. It’s one of the nicest spas I have experienced and I could physically feel stress melting away- what a dream!
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Kayaking from Rainbow Island
Sea Island offers a lot of tours and adventures. From falconry to shooting, dolphin tours to fishing, there is no shortage of activities to choose from. We booked a kayaking tour as a way to get on the water in a fun way that would suit everyone in our party. The kids went tandem and we spent a peaceful two hours paddling around, looking for wildlife. For the most part we didn’t see much more than still water and reeds, but we ended the experience with a boost of adrenaline – a dolphin siting!
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Lunch at Brogans and Crabbing
We took a couple trips over to St. Simons, the adjacent island. Their downtown area only takes about 15 minutes to drive to and offers so much. We wandered a craft fair one day, crabbed on the pier another day, and came back on a gorgeous day to enjoy at outdoor lunch at Brogans’s. I had almost forgotten about Brogan’s, a staple spot for UGA college students on their way to the Georgia/Florida game each fall, but when I saw the wrap around deck, a few fuzzy, late night college memories came flooding back. I’m happy to report it’s just as great as a spot smack in the middle of the day (maybe just a hair less wild).
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Overall we had such a wonderful time at Sea Island. I see why some friends I have make it an annual vacation spot. It’s beautiful, employs friendly people, offers immaculate facilities, and is very bike-friendly. It’s a spot I’d love to return to!
Our last night overlapped with the biggest, brightest full moon of the year. It was wonderful to be able to walk out onto the beach right after sunset to see it in all its glory. Pictures never do it justice, do they?
I’m not usually a repeat destination kind of traveler, just because there are so many places I’d love to see! But I’d return to Sea Island in a heartbeat. Here’s that and a few more pictures for memory sake. Do you have a special vacation spot that you love to return to?
