Our Cloister stay in January
We had a wonderful couple of days celebrating our anniversary as a family on Sea Island in Georgia. There’s no place like The Cloister. I’ve now been to the private island with friends, for The Southern C, and in 2023 we brought the kids at the end of summer. We were all itching to go back, and thought this would be the perfect time. In January, we enjoyed lower crowds, a cozy feel, and an ease with booking dining reservations and activities. We still did plenty of outdoor activities, and even dipped into the heated pools for a bit!
Where is Sea Island and how to get there
Sea Island, Georgia is a beautiful coastal destination located on the southeastern coast of Georgia. It’s part of the Golden Isles. I did some work with the golden isles highlighting Jekyll, Brunswick, and St Simons in the past. You can fid that post here.
From our house the journey takes about 4.5 hours via car. But you can fly into Brunswick, which is just about 30 minutes from Sea Island via car. You can also fly into Jacksonville, which is an hour and a half. There is a private airport on St Simons (SSI) which is about 15 minutes from Sea Island via car. Sea Island can arrange transportation from any of these airports.
Where to stay on Sea Island
There are a few different options on Sea Island and we’ve experienced a cottage, beach club condo, and The Cloister.
The Cloister is my favorite. Timeless, elegant, and iconic. I think it’s best for families, or a couples weekend get away. I would recommend this for families with young children, as it’s close to most of the activities you’ll get up to.
The Lodge is a golfers paradise. While we haven’t stayed there, we have had dinner a few times over there. Every day there’s a bagpiper from 5-6, walking the beautiful grounds. You can stay in the Lodge, or you can also rent a golf cottage.
The Inn at Sea Island is a more budget friendly option. You can still have access to Sea Islands golf, spa and dining. This is perfect for those that are seeking the Sea Island charm but would prefer a lower price point.
The Sea Island private cottages are a great way to go for larger groups or multi-generational travel. There are many different configurations and they are all so beautiful!
Broadfield is one we have not tried yet. It’s a hunting lodge that sounds incredible if you are into fishing, hunting, falconry, and all of the fun of the outdoors.
What to do on Sea Island
I love how active the island is, and how much there is to do! For everyone! I’m going to outline a few of the things we got up to while we were visiting.
Horseback ride
Last time we were there we did a Marsh ride, and the boys loved the horses so much. Since 2023, they compare every horseback ride we do on vacation to Catfish and Bandit. This time we did a beach ride, led by Cami.
You can find the stables on Rainbow Island. Which took about 5 minutes to get to, via a bike ride.
GOLF at SEA ISLAND
We loved getting a tour of the Golf Performance Center at Sea Island. The facilities are the best we’ve ever seen. We also had some golf instructions by Joe Foley. They all loved it, and it seemed to spark renewed interest for my boys in golf.
Make sure to explore the grounds
Sea Island is perfect for exploring through biking or walking around. You can even book a homes and history tour through Pedals. Where they’ll give you a history lesson, as well as a tour around the island. It’s all so gorgeous!!
HAWK WALK
This summer at Dromoland in Ireland my boys discovered falconry for the first time. They have since loved reading all about falconry and were so excited to meet Sea Islands hawks and falcons. They loved taking a walk, and feeding the hawk. It’s such an educational experience. The falconer was incredibly knowledgable and we felt like we were on a National Geographic show. Highly recommend!
Fishing with Captain Dooley
We enjoyed a morning fishing trip with Captain Dooley. We caught some trout, and learned more about the ecosystem around the Golden Isles. Such a peaceful morning on the water!
DOCK FISHING
The boys loved grabbing a fishing pole in their downtime, and throwing out a line off the dock.
Junior Naturalist
While we enjoyed the spa (more on that below!), the boys spent time with Hailey and Scout and became “Junior Naturalists” for the afternoon. They explored all over Sea Island together, learning all about their ecosystem along the way. They bounced around from the marsh, to the beach, to the nature center. They even got to hold turtles and snakes and reeled in a fish while fishing the river. They came home with a few beautiful shells they discovered along the beach.
Pro tip: make sure to have them wear waterproof boots!
The Spa
While the kids were having a blast as Junior Naturalists, we enjoyed a couples massage. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I think Sea Islands spa is the nicest one in the US. I love the mineral soaking tub, sauna, eucalyptus steam room, vitamin c showers, and all of the relaxing areas throughout. This was my third treatment that I’ve had there, and they are always so good. I love a consistent spa!
Insider Tip: If you’d like to just experience it, but don’t want to get a treatment, you can inquire about a day pass! You’ll get to explore all of the amenities.
The Pools at Sea Island
While we didn’t spend much time around the pools this time, Sea Island has a ton of different pools all throughout their properties. There’s even a slide my kids loved in 2023!
The Lodge at Sundown
You cannot miss an evening at The Lodge at Sea Island. You’ll enjoy a Scottish serenade by a talented bagpiper from 5-6. There is a putting course on the lawn, and the boys enjoyed putting around before the sun went down.
Where to eat
This trip we ate at La Tavola, Snack Shack, The River Bar, and Colt & Allison. Everything was delicious!! I wanted to share some of our standouts.
La Tavola: The Chicken Parm is the best I’ve ever had. Get it, if that’s up your alley! You will not be disappointed. The kids were able to watch the pizzas being made while we dined. The food is incredible, but it’s not stuffy at all. We ate breakfast here too. I loved their avocado toast, which I got two mornings in a row.
The River Bar: Get the hummus! wow- so good. Love the interiors here too!
Snack Shack: I had the Sea Island burger, and I’m still thinking about it. A great spot to grab a quick lunch. The boys checked out the arcade while we finished.
Colt & Allison: This was our 15th anniversary dinner and was so special. Every dish was memorable. My kids and JB (and me too!) can’t stop talking about the wagyu. The mountain of truffle fries, perfectly cooked chateaubriand, and lemony asparagus was incredible.
Wonderland: Your kids will love this ice cream shop. Wes got C is for Cookie – like last time we were here.
Sea and Strike pub: The cutest bowling alley! You can also grab lunch here. We did this in 2023.
Southern Tide: We ate here in 2023. The decor and views are beautiful. Great seafood!
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
I often share our itinerary when we travel, and hear they can be helpful! Here’s the one that we did in 2023 in August. Below is This years itinerary. There’s so much to do at Sea Island, and I love how you can explore at your own pace.
Day 1: Get settled into the Southern Charm of The Cloister
- Pick up bikes that you can enjoy for the remainder of your stay
- Enjoy cookies and tea in the stunning Solarium.
- Do a Homes and History Tour with Sea Island historian Wheeler Bryan. I am a major history nerd, and love learning all about Sea Island.
- Dinner at Tavola. Get the Chicken Parm!
Day 2:
- Grab the complimentary coffee in the Solarium
- Enjoy breakfast later on at Tavola
- Go on an adventure. A horseback ride on the beach at Rainbow Island!
- Bird of Prey encounter at Rainbow Island Falconry. Get to do a hawk walk
- Kids go with the Naturalists, while the adults go to the spa.
- Mom and Dad have an amazing massage and relax at The Spa.
- Go to The Lodge. Listen to the bagpiper while you putt on the putting course.
- Have an incredible fine dining experience at Colt & Allison
Day 3:
- Breakfast at Tavola
- Family fishing trip with Captain Dooley
- Lunch at the River Bar
- Family Golf at Sea Island Golf Performance Center
- Sea & Strike Pub for bowling and dinner
