A visit to Sea Island resort has been on my bucket list for some time, but I could never have imagined the sense of luxury and genuine hospitality that makes this place so unique. With four Forbes Five Stars for nine consecutive years for The Cloister, its elegant Georgian Room restaurant at The Cloister, The Lodge and the Spa at Sea Island, everything about the experience here transports you to a world of luxury and elegance.
From the moment you pass through the security gate, you are made to feel like a VIP. Pulling up to the entrance the valet knows your name, as does the bellman. As you enter the lobby, the first thing you notice is the giant pots overflowing with pink and purple hydrangea. My first thought was that this elaborate display must be for a wedding, but no, this is just another day at Sea Island. Here, there’s a space for every occasion—more than 87,000 square feet of meeting and gathering space (indoor and outdoor combined) and 390 spacious guest rooms.
There’s even elegance to the sense of style here, with a dress code in place that blends seamlessly with the resort’s ambience.
Our first evening begins with a welcome cocktail at The Lodge, as we’re serenaded by the high-pitched sound of the nightly bagpiper. This is followed by dinner at Colt & Alison, the resort’s classic steakhouse, where we are treated to a tableside show as our server whips up a divine Caesar salad, followed by steaks, cooked to perfection.
These fine dining experiences continued throughout our stay. We participated in a cooking class in the resort’s kitchens, learning how to make gnocchi and an interesting scrambled egg dish set on top of wilted spinach—all while sampling some of the restaurant’s finest sparkling white wines. We also dined in The Lodge’s Oak Room, an oceanfront tavern with golf course views, and The Georgian Room, one of the Forbes Five Star-award-winning restaurants. There’s also Tavola Sea Island’s newly expanded 80-seat rustic Italian eatery with hand-painted tiled wainscoting and floor-to-ceiling Euro Cave wine cabinets. A pizza kitchen turns out Neapolitan and Sicilian pizzas in addition to a seasonal menu of lamb, duck, salmon and poultry dishes, all prepared using the finest ingredients sourced both locally and globally.
My favorite meal, hands down, was the five-course gourmet meal we experienced in The Cloister’s wine cellar, the atmosphere of the cellar accented by soothing candlelight. The meal, with thoughtfully chosen wines from director of wine and spirits Ryanne Carrier, was scrumptious. This intimate room is perfect for a group of up to 30. Carrier also mentioned that one could enjoy a relatively inexpensive bottle of wine at about $100 or taste true luxury for as much $10,000 a bottle.
Sea Island is the only resort in the United States that has hosted the G8 Summit. President George W. Bush chose this resort in 2004 because of the level of security and quality of the facilities and exemplary service. Coincidentally, President George H.W. Bush and his bride, Barbara, honeymooned here in 1945.
The G8 Summit Room was recreated to commemorate the Summit being held here with its imposing round southern heart pine table and high backed chairs adorned with brass plaques with the names of the world leaders who were in attendance. And, while the chefs at Sea Island planned the Summit menus for more than a year to ensure meals were fit for such dignitaries, there were a few world leaders that just wanted a good old American hamburger.
The chefs obliged.
Built in 1928, Sea Island resort on Georgia’s coast is rich in history. Walls are adorned with photos of Margaret Thatcher and other visiting dignitaries who were invited to plant a tree on property during their stay, and pictures of bathing beauties clad in the very modest 1920s bathing costumes of the day. Many of the resort’s employees regale visitors with stories, as more than a few, like Bruce Dunham, who will celebrate his 40th anniversary with the property in October, are long-timers. He started in the resort’s transportation department and became a bellman, where he remains today.
This is a place to relax and yet there’s no end to activities on-property. We met our horses on Rainbow Island for a morning ride on the beach. Later it was off for some skeet shooting at the Shooting School. At our “Intro to Clay Target Shooting” class on property, I shot the gun, shattered a few pieces of clay and now I’m hooked! Sea Island’s other skeet spot (as well as for hunting and fishing) is Broadfield, a Sporting and Club and Lodge, one of the South’s oldest hunting clubs. Set on 5,800 acres about 45 minutes away, Broadfield also has rooms for overnight guests that can accommodate up to 18.
Sea Island staff can also put together tailor-made teambuilding events like sand castle building competitions and a cast and blast shooting and fishing contest. And to take advantage of its G8 Summit notoriety, there’s an Amazing Race-type event where in one segment of the game contestants search for the giant heads of Summit world leaders that are in Summit Park.
Then there’s biking, fishing, boating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and golf. Here you’ll find not only three beautiful courses (Seaside, Plantation and Retreat), but also the finest practice facilities— with idyllic ocean views from Seaside and Plantation. There are covered hitting bays for teaching, chipping and putting greens, and such well-regarded instructors that two have made the list of Golf Digest’s Top 50 teachers. PGA pros such as Graeme McDowell and Matt Kuchar have worked with Sea Island mentors to perfect their putts, and actually show up on the courses to play a round once in a while.
In the words of Sea Island’s director of sales David Furnish: “Here at Sea Island, we specialize in heartfelt hospitality and excellent service.” Which is evident in every aspect of the Sea Island experience.
Sea Island
855.572.4975
