Horseback riding on the beach. Check. Kayaking in the salt marsh. Check. Hobie Cat sailing tour. Check. I could go on and on.
Indeed, I did go on and on, starting with a 5:30 am wake-up call to accompany the staff naturalist on her rounds of loggerhead turtle nests, followed by a massage in my new favorite spa, and then the wildly popular bingo night in the Cloister Ballroom. I had originally turned up my nose at bingo, but looking at all the little boys in their jackets and bow ties and beribboned girls in their party dresses, I was totally charmed. It was clear they were joining in a family tradition that stretched back generations.
Bruce Dunham, who has worked at the resort for nearly 40 years, noted in an article in Sea Island Life that he remembers the adults who now visit with their children, as children. “Now they’re married with their own kids,” he said. “You see the changing of the generations, and it’s wonderful.”
Explore: Enjoy a service in Sea Island’s stunning 65,000-square-foot spa. For those wanting more action, there is paddle boarding, biking, tennis clinics, archery classes, among many other activities. This Southern destination also features a shooting school, falconry experiences, and Broadfield, a sporting club an hour or so away for seasonal hunting and fishing. Camp Cloister keeps the little ones occupied with nonstop activities; older ones flock to events like Survival Skills After Dark.
Dine: Of course, you want to experience the Forbes Five Star Georgian Room restaurant in The Cloister, but for more casual dining, try the River Bar (great view of the river), Tavola (rustic Italian), and Southern Tide over at the Beach Club (don’t miss the bacon-cheddar corn muffins). In the mood for steak? Grab the shuttle to Colt & Alison at The Lodge. Before dinner, settle into a rocking chair on the veranda and listen to the sunset serenade: a lone bagpipe player slowly making his way across the grounds.
Distance from White Plains: a 2 hour, 30 minute flight to Savannah, Georgia, followed by a 1 hour, 30 minute car ride south. Rates: in-season rates from $600/night
100 Cloister Dr, Sea Island, GA
(912) 638-3611
www.seaisland.com
