Whether you’re looking for a romantic couple’s getaway with relaxing vibes, incredible food, and unforgettable experiences or a memory-filled family vacation, look no further than Sea Island Resort on the southeastern coast of Georgia. It’s the perfect embodiment of Southern hospitality! We’ve been visiting Sea Island for years—both with kids and without—and every time we’re there, it feels like home. I’m thrilled to share this luxurious five-star resort with you—it’s the perfect destination for rekindling romance and creating cherished memories!
Note:This post has been updated in 2025 with fresh links and new ideas added for empty nesters. Enjoy your getaway!
Getting to Sea Island
From DC we take a direct flight to the Jacksonville Airport. You can also fly into Savannah; both airports are about an hour away. We always rent a car for our stay, but Sea Island does offer transportation to and from the airports if you’d prefer. We like having the car to leave the resort and venture into St Simons Island.
Where to Stay
Sea Island offers many options for accommodations, including The Lodge (perfect if you’re a golfer), The Cloister (including the Ocean Residences and Beach Club), or two to eight bedrooms “cottages,” including the Beach Club and Ocean Club condos.
If you’re venturing to Sea Island as an empty nester, I recommend the Ocean Residences. They’re a little more secluded, the pool is quieter and you have all the comforts of home (plus amazing ocean views!) in these one bedroom units. The Cloister is also a fabulous option. It’s filled with Southern charm, and and breathtaking interior design and exterior views.
If you’re traveling for a family vacation, I recommend the Beach Club condos. You can choose 3 or 4 bedroom units, they have fully furnished kitchens, and include washer/dryer (a must have on a beach trip!). Pro tip: Check out Beach Club Garden South #452, one of our favorites. You can also check out the Beach Club (which is more like a hotel) for a fun family option. It’s right at the heart of the pools, ice cream shop, restaurants and beach.
All of the Sea Island accommodations are furnished beautifully in a Spanish Mediterranean decor. It’s a great place to get some design inspo. (I have been known to check the back of a mirror or underneath a bowl to see if I can find out who made something!).
Every time we visit Sea Island, I come home with a some decorating inspiration. This time, it was the yellow gingham dining chairs! They were such a fresh burst of color in the neutral space. I’m trying to figure out how to get this same vibe in my own kitchen!
What to Do at Sea Island
Sea Island definitely offers something for everyone. From relaxation at the spa to tennis lessons to a day on the golf course, you can stay as busy as you’d like. (Or grab a good book and find a comfy lounge chair by the pool–where someone can bring you a drink! It’s your vacation — do what you love!)
If you’re an outdoorsman, you’re in the right place because Sea Island offers hunting, shooting, and fishing of all kinds (for all levels). There are lots of nature excursions, too, including sea turtle nests, dolphins and other local wildlife.
You can rent bikes; a ride through Sea Island is always fun, checking out the architecture and scenery! You can go bowling, take a historic walking tour, go horseback riding on the beach, kayak to a private picnic lunch, reserve a private cabana by the pool, sail on a Hobie Cat sailboat, or go for pre-dinner cocktails on the Sea Island Explorer yacht.
They offer an online system for reserving your activities, but I think it’s easier to call the concierge (especially if this is new for you) and let them help you. (Their online system could use a few improvements.)
This year, we took a salt marsh dolphin excursion, great fun to be out on the water looking for dolphins. In 2015, we went on a “sea turtle dawn patrol,” checking sea turtle nests — and we were lucky to see a nest hatching and all the babies scurrying to the water. Unforgettable family experiences!
Clickety Click, O-66! Any stay at Sea Island is not complete if you haven’t played Bingo. Guests dress up for a night of fun, playing everything from four corners to best (and worst!) card. It’s a Sea Island tradition, and if you’re lucky, you could walk away with the top prize of more than $1,000!
What to Eat at Sea Island
If you follow our lead, you will NOT go hungry on your vacation! I think we ate our way through this trip and every bite was better than the last! The restaurants at Sea Island do NOT disappoint! There are plenty of options so you can eat someplace new every night. Our favorites include the Italian cuisine at Tavola (they also have the best breakfast buffet every day); Southern Tide for southern cuisine, seafood and ocean views; burgers and pizzas at Sea Strike & Pub (the new bowling alley done Sea Island style); the Snack Shack (in the Beach Club) for poolside lunch; and Colt & Alison at The Lodge for the BEST steaks and five-star service! We also had “a few” after dinner desserts at Wonderland ice cream parlor.
As you can see, we definitely did not go hungry! Shown below — Colt & Alison wagyu beef appetizer (cook your own on a 500 degree salt block!), Sea Strike & Pub, and Wonderland ice cream and candy parlor.
PLENTY OF GREAT DINING IN ST. SIMON’S ISLAND, TOO!
When you’re planning your dining, don’t forget to check out the local restaurants in St Simon’s. There are many great ones you shouldn’t miss! It’s our tradition to head to Sal’s Pizza on every trip. At Sal’s you’ll find some of the BEST New York style pizza. Pro tip: Get there early because it’s a small place and it is definitely a local favorite!
And my guys love to stop at Southern Soul Barbeque for at least one lunch. It started after they saw it featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives — it’s some of the best BBQ they’ve had.
What to Wear
Sea Island is “beach casual” all day, but for the evenings, guests take their resort attire up a notch and dress for dinners. Generally, I paired dresses with my favorite SCHUTZ sandals and my “formula” worked wherever we went. My packing formula is so easy when you just bring a dress for each night! The SCHUTZ sandals were the only shoes I wore besides my beach flip flops! You can’t go wrong shopping for your trip at Lilly Pulitzer, Tuckernuck, Farm RIO, Tommy Bahama, as well as Saks and Nordstrom.
Pro tip: Sea Island Bingo and the Colt & Alison restaurant do require nicer attire — cocktail dresses for women and jackets for men.
For the guys, collared shirts and nicer chino shorts or pants work well for almost everything. My guys wore their Tommy Bahama and Faherty clothes most of the time, and they wore suits when a jacket was required.
SHOP FOR SEA ISLAND DRESSES
SHOP FOR ACCESSORIES
Where will your next trip take you? I hope Sea Island Resort is on your list because I know you will love it! It’s a perfect place for families, multi-generational reunions, empty nester getaways, girls’ trips, and guys’ trips. There really is something for everyone, no matter your age. And their Southern hospitality will leave you feeling so spoiled!
I hope the photos, tips and outfit ideas provide you with some inspiration to plan your next trip! If you already have a trip scheduled, then safe travels, friends!
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