A different pace of life defines Georgia’s island-dotted southernmost coast, especially come summer. As evening approaches, the shoreline glistens in the stillness, the salt marsh grasses take on their honey hue, and the sun retreats in a fiery blaze. Taking it all in, you’ll understand why settlers called the region Golden Isles more than three hundred years ago.
The sunsets probably haven’t changed much over the years, and many things about these barrier islands, which sit between Savannah and Jacksonville, Florida, seem almost frozen in time. But on Jekyll, St. Simons, Little St. Simons, and Sea Island, travelers are as captivated by what’s timeless as by what’s new, and for my family, there’s something on each visit to the Golden Isles that feels like our own personal discovery.
A Laid-Back Getaway on Jekyll Island
The most southern of the Golden Isles, Jekyll Island and its ten miles of shoreline have been a draw for generations of vacationers. The Westin Jekyll Island Beach Resort was home base for a recent getaway with my husband and pup to revisit old favorites and check out what’s new. The pet-friendly oceanfront resort underwent a refresh about a year ago, debuting a bright, airy design with soothing pastel-hued coastal decor. The resort’s cozy bar Pour Tabby and restaurant Willet’s Lowcountry go all in on Southern classics. We dined on the breezy outdoor veranda, and the gin-based Peach & Basil Smash and pickled Georgia shrimp with Vidalia onions were standouts.
We spent a morning revisiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, a rescue facility that thankfully had very few residents in June. Then we strolled along the Wanderer Memory Trail, an educational walk along the banks of the Jekyll River that shares the story of one of the last known enslaved ships to sail to America, the Wanderer. Later, we joined a Gilded Age history tour by tram at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. The club’s beginnings date to 1888, and it was a turn-of-the-century playground for Vanderbilts, Pulitzers, and Rockefellers. This trip, the resort’s reimagined District Shops were a fun surprise, and we enjoyed Wake Up Coffee Company and Founder’s Social, an outdoor beer garden serving Georgia craft brews.
Evening cocktails at the Jekyll Island Club Resort’s Alexander’s Bar & Boar’s Head Lounge are a tradition for us when visiting, and as usual, we enjoyed the lively conversations at the rounded wooden bar, a replica of the one featured in the 2000 movie filmed at the resort, The Legend of Bagger Vance. We’re still waiting for Matt Damon to join us.
A few additional Jekyll Island dining venues to consider if you make the trip: Coastal Cucina, a family-style Italian restaurant, and Corridor Z Kitchen & Cocktails, a come-as-you-are seafood spot located next to the Westin and a sister restaurant to the popular (and always recommended by locals) Zachry’s Riverhouse.
Stay Awhile on St. Simons Island
With marshes to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, inland maritime forests, and distinct communities offering history lessons, outdoor adventures, golf galore, boutique shopping, and a multitude of dining options, St. Simons Island requires a trip of at least four or five days to explore its twelve miles thoroughly.
The Lodge at Sea Island sits at the end of the majestic Avenue of the Oaks, overlooking the ocean. It’s my choice for bunking on St. Simons, and is part of a network of accommodations that span both Sea Island and St. Simons (this map helps). Perks at the luxury property include butler service, leisurely bike tours, and guided golf history walks—St. Simons is home to the PGA’s annual RSM Classic and World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III.
Off property, World War II history buffs will appreciate the World War II Homefront Museum housed in the historic St. Simons Coast Guard Station. Our other top historical sites to visit are the Fort Frederica National Monument; beautiful Christ Church, Frederica; and St. Simons Island lighthouse, which is still operational and offers panoramic views if you’re willing to climb 129 steps.
While you’re taking a waterfront stroll or perusing the shops at Pier Village , peek at the menu at Three Little Birds (excellent for breakfast) or King City Kitchen, one of the newer and understandably buzzy restaurants and cocktail bars on the island. Do ask residents for their go-to spots: From locals, we’ve learned about a few that we always return to, including Georgia Sea Grill (stop in for happy hour), Del Sur Artisan Eats (for Argentinean and Italian dishes), and the Porch, a casual lunch spot known for its Motherclucker hot chicken sandwich and fried shrimp (and featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives). Dorothy’s Cocktail and Oyster Bar is a newer favorite, an upscale venue for craft cocktails, inventive seafood dishes, and Asian-inspired small plates like salmon belly with yuzu dashi and pear.
Come evening, we try not to miss a time-honored tradition back at the lodge: the Scottish bagpiper sunset serenade on the veranda and putting course.
Time Stands Still on Little St. Simons
This 11,000-acre, nearly untouched private island (reachable only by boat from St. Simons) is an important refuge for wildlife and conservation efforts along the Atlantic. The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island hosts no more than thirty-two guests at a time for a naturalist-led, rustic-luxury wilderness experience that hasn’t changed in thirty years, according to the general manager, Jamie Pazur. “They say everything old is new again,” Pazur says. “And that’s how we feel about the special seasonal things we wait for each year on Little St. Simons Island.”
Some of the only-in-summer activities at the exclusive hideaway include attending a sea turtle nest inventory with a technician after a hatching; walking along freshwater wetlands to view the spectacular blooms of swamp hibiscus; and surf fishing at the beach for whiting, sharks, and redfish. Another highlight, Pazur says, are the “early-morning birding trips to visit the blinds when the birds are most active.”
Guests can reserve individual rooms, private cottages, or the entire eco-friendly resort for a private event, or even visit for a day trip from St. Simons. Overnighters dine on chef-prepared meals with vegetables and herbs pulled from the on-site garden and sourced from local fishermen and farmers. Evenings usually wind down with new friends gathered around the porch swings and rocking chairs at the rustic 1917-built hunting lodge.
Sea Island’s Toast to Tradition
Sea Island has been welcoming guests to the storied island retreat since the Cloister opened its doors in 1928 as a self-described “friendly little hotel.” Although the resort has changed quite a bit since then (and was rebuilt between 2003 and 2006), the traditions remain the same, with guests returning year after year to share the experiences they had as children with their own families.
The Cloister’s towering ancient oaks, Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, and lush gardens have long made it one of the most photogenic hotels in the South. Inside, the European-inspired lobby feels as though you’ve traveled far from the Georgia coast, with dark wood-beamed ceilings, stone-lined walkways framed by arches, massive wrought-iron chandeliers, Oriental rugs, woven tapestries, and overstuffed upholstered furnishings in rich fabrics. The Solarium, one of the prettiest public spaces at the property, is a light-filled, glass-enclosed jewel box where guests begin the morning with coffee and pastries.
While it’s always fun to see what’s new (such as the reopening of the renovated Seaside Golf Course in October 2026 or fun events like Garden & Gun’s Labor Day Southern Grown Event), most guests return to enjoy what they love most about Sea Island—the things that don’t change. Long days soaking in the sun at the Beach Club; horseback riding along the coast; bicycling under the shady oaks; sailing or kayaking; playing tennis, golf, or pickleball; joining the Sea Turtle Dawn Patrol at sunrise; and gathering with family and friends over steak dinners at the on-site Georgian Rooms.
And in the evening, you’ll want to catch one of those fiery sunsets over the Black Banks River and salt marshland from the River Bar & Lounge —a fitting way to toast to your Golden Isles getaway.