A recent retreat so beautiful, it deserves its own blog post.
Patrick and I slipped away for a long weekend last month to Sea Island, a stunning resort destination along Georgia’s coast. A getaway I simply cannot gatekeep!
Nestled between Savannah and Jacksonville, Sea Island is home to three distinct properties: The Cloister, The Beach Club and The Lodge. It’s a place you could opt to savor in just a few nights or easily spend a week (or more) slowly exploring. As soon as you arrive, life immediately feels freer … and I loved that I quickly could feel my “to-do” list drift away.
We checked into The Cloister to relish in the relaxing for a *romantic* (much needed) couples getaway. It certainly checked off all the boxes we were looking for in that department. But that being said, Patrick and I were in awe our entire trip of all of the amenities, different services & overall accommodations for younger children. “Annie and Bennett would love this!” was said dozens of times during our stay. I know we will be back with our two littles very soon!
Planning your own Sea Island getaway? You can explore rates, availability and current offers here.
But *today* I’m letting y’all in on WHY I think the The Cloister is the best place for a slow, sweet, scenic and romantic couples getaway.
1. The Setting Feels Like a European Escape
The Cloister is castle-like, old world with ornate architecture so spectacular it transports you upon arrival. If you were dropped into the lobby out of nowhere with no explanation, your first guess may not be that you were in Georgia!
Originally built in 1928 as a Mediterranean-inspired retreat, The Cloister was entirely reimagined in the early 2000s. Today, the sprawling resort features more than 200 guest rooms and suites, blending modern luxuries with the historic-inspired charm that made the original Cloister so beloved.
Soaring “cloistered” archways, stone walkways, woven tapestries lining the walls, rich upholstered wingback chairs and intricate eye-catching details around every corner … the ambiance was a feast for my eyes … and my camera roll!
2. Adventurous Activities are in Abundance
Patrick and I are usually a more active type of traveler. When we first sat down on our suite’s patio lounge chair, books in hand, I looked over to him and said, “I literally don’t know how to sit still and actually relax!” In the busy season of life we’re in with young children, it almost feels foreign. (But don’t worry we eventually let ourselves rest & re-charge in between all the adventure!)
There’s sailing, kayaking, biking, tennis, fishing, horseback riding and even falconry! If taking it easy is more your speed, discovering the services and amenities at The Sea Island Spa is an adventure in its own way. The only thing missing was the extra time needed to experience it all. 😉 We spent three days on Sea Island, and even with the mix of scattered showers and bright sunshine, we were able to fit in plenty of the fun.
One of our biggest highlights was horseback riding along the coast. My horse, his name was Oscar, carried me down the wide-open beach to the place where the river met the sea. With a shoreline stretching out before us and hardly a soul in sight, it felt like trotting through a scene from an epic fantasy movie.
The 90-minute ride winds through the marsh and along the beach, with your guide sharing tidbits about the local flora, fauna and wildlife along the way. It offered a completely different perspective of Sea Island’s natural beauty we might not have gotten to see otherwise. You may even get lucky enough to spot a sea turtle or a dolphin or two.
Biking is another must-do. Bikes are available to rent at the Beach Club, making it easy to explore the island at your own pace. You can pedal beneath live oaks draped in Spanish moss or join a guided bike tour focused on Sea Island’s nature and wildlife or its history and architecture.
And for my fellow tennis lovers, don’t miss the opportunity to play a match on Sea Island’s courts! No worries if you didn’t pack a racquet – equipment rentals are available, along with court time on the resort’s clay courts.
The pro shop alone is worth a visit. You’ll find Sea Island-branded sportswear, along with a selection of tennis and resort wear brands I already know and love, including Tuckernuck and Varley. (I may have done just as much shopping as I did playing).
3. Every Meal Feels Like a Date Night Moment
A dining experience at Sea Island isn’t just time set aside for a meal … it’s an attraction all its own. The Cloister boasts multiple restaurants, each with its own unique atmosphere. One afternoon you might enjoy a casual lunch by the pool, and the next evening find yourself all dressed up for dinner, feeling as if you’re celebrating something special (other than the joy of simply being on vacation). Patrick and I planned our days around where we would eat, even booking our preferred dinner reservations before we ever left Memphis.
But what I think made the evenings feel extra special was that several of the restaurants maintain a dress code. I do so love to get dolled up! (Fashion blogger, after all.) Choosing the perfect dress, slipping on a favorite pair of earrings and heading out for cocktails before dinner made each evening feel like an event!
Over our long weekend, we enjoyed casual lunches at The Oak Room (I’m still thinking about their French Dip sandwich … divine!) and started each morning at Tavola.
Totally random, but I’ve lived my entire life not really caring for scrambled eggs … until I tried Tavola’s. I know that sounds ridiculous, but they were that good. Whatever magic makes them so creamy and rich, I’m determined to recreate it at home. Though I have a feeling the green onions, cheddar cheese and bacon piled on top may have helped.
We ventured a bit farther afield, taking the complimentary shuttle from The Cloister to both The Lodge and The Beach Club for dinner.
Colt & Alison, the Southern-inspired steakhouse at The Lodge, is warm, woodsy and effortlessly elegant. Put on your favorite dress for this one, order the octopus appetizer and save room for the flaming Bananas Foster. Trust me.
Southern Tide was the standout at The Beach Club, with sweeping ocean views, oysters on the half shell and oodles of fresh, delicious seafood. Their Jalapeño-Mango Margarita was so divine that we simply had to come back for a second round over lunch the following day.
4. The Luxury of Slowing Down
Remember me mentioning that Patrick and I aren’t exactly experts at sitting still? Sea Island effortlessly managed to change that for us.
Our trip took place in mid-May, and as every parent knows, May can be pure chaos. (I have friends who lovingly refer to it as “MayCember” and honestly, they’re not wrong.) Between field days, performances, class parties and all the logistics that come with wrapping up a school year, it’s often like managing a second full-time job. So we intentionally left the first full day of our getaway free of anything major or time-sensitive.
Our key to immediate relaxation and escapism!? A day spent at the Beach Club, alternating between the pool, the beach and our private cabana.
The cabana quickly became our home base for the day. Complete with a comfortable sitting area, private bathroom, stocked refrigerator and (perhaps most importantly) air conditioning, it offered the perfect retreat from the afternoon heat. The Beach Club attendants were incredibly kind, regularly checking in and offering recommendations for cocktails, snacks and anything else we might need.
Between finishing a few chapters of my book (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – great by the way!), taking an afternoon swim in the pool and sipping a Pina Colada cocktail under the shade of our umbrella, at one point I realized I hadn’t checked my phone in hours. A luxury all its own!
We flew into Jacksonville, FL and the Sea Island transportation team whisked us away in a little over an hour to paradise. We left Memphis before dawn but were sipping on cocktails shortly by lunchtime.
5. Guest Suites so Grand You’ll Want to Extend Your Stay
When we walked into our room, we knew to expect elegant accommodations along the lines of the interiors we had already glimpsed in the grand lobby and while wandering through The Cloister’s many hidden alcoves. Even so, the guest rooms had a distinct character all their own!
Exposed wooden beams lined the ceiling above a grand spindle-post bed, with a massive colorful old-world woven rug drawing your eye right to the center. The floor-to-ceiling floral draperies were stunning enough I actually audibly gasped in response. They were rivaled only by the tassel trim adorning the upholstered pillows. Every nook and cranny of our room was exquisite enough to be admired all on its own! (Which I most certainly did.)
We stayed in one of the Cloister’s River View Rooms which featured a private patio with a small dining table and green-and-white striped lounge chairs that beckoned to be relaxed upon the moment we saw them. One of my favorite moments of the trip was shortly after arriving. We had a leisurely lunch then picked up cocktails to-go from The Oak Room, settling ourselves onto the patio with nowhere to be and nothing to do. A feeling only unique to a *vacation!*
It was like the river was the star of a theater performance, with the swaying Spanish moss and the tall grasses dance along on the breeze. We were transfixed with our view from the patio! Living in Tennessee, marshland isn’t something we get to experience all that often, and even with ocean-view rooms available nearby at The Beach Club, I can see myself choosing the quiet beauty of the river again and again. It is this uniquely coastal landscape that makes Sea Island feel unlike anywhere else!
Ready to experience The Cloister for yourself? Check current rates and availability here.
6. Hospitality is at the Heart of it All
Saving the best reason for last!
Time and time again throughout our stay, Patrick and I found ourselves returning to the same conversation: the people behind the scenes! We were absolutely blown away by every team member we encountered (from transportation and dining staff to activity guides and housekeeping) over our long weekend. We were met with kindness, thoughtfulness and the uncanny ability to anticipate what we didn’t even know we needed or wanted at every turn.
Maybe it’s this busy stage of parenthood we are in where we are usually the ones caring for everyone else … but being intentionally cared for in such an exceptional way ourselves during our Sea Island escape elevated our trip to a level we could not have expected!
Sharing a few examples because there aren’t enough praiseworthy adjectives in the dictionary to do the Sea Island team service!
There was turndown service each evening, complete with Sea Island chocolate coins left at our bedside. Complimentary tea, lemonade, and cookies were served each afternoon in The Solarium. Transportation around the resort was effortless thanks to the Sea Island shuttle service, and even our horseback riding guides went above and beyond to ensure every guest felt safe and cared for throughout the experience.
But the moment that will stay with me forever happened on Mother’s Day!
We were away from Annie and Bennett on this special day which I was not expecting to emotionally impact me as much as it did. (Aren’t moms supposed to relax and recharge on Mother’s Day?!) But after seeing so many mothers and their littles celebrating over breakfast that Sunday morning, I literally was in tears at one point missing Annie and Bennett. Mind you, it was a mix of happy and sad tears, nothing too dramatic. 🙂
Only a few hours later, we open the door of our poolside cabana and find a Mother’s Day card, a bouquet of flowers and a framed picture of our little family of four on the coffee table waiting for us from the Sea Island team. I have never been so touched!! I still get misty-eyed just thinking about.
A luxury stay can mean beautiful rooms, lavish meals, and unforgettable experiences. But true hospitality is making someone feel seen and special. And that’s exactly what Sea Island does best.
You can learn more about planning *your* own Sea Island getaway here!
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A heartfelt thank you to the Sea Island team for hosting such a memorable getaway. All thoughts, opinions and favorite moments shared here are, as always, my own.