18 minute read
Arts & Culture
SHOPPING
Fill your shopping basket with objects of desire unique to the Golden Isles.
Priceless
Eugenia Price, that is. Enjoy the author’s historic St. Simons Trilogy, starting with Lighthouse, while you sip a warm beverage from a handmade mug by local artist Betsy Wall.
The Sweet Buy and Buy
Take a little bit of the Golden Isles home with you. The Live Oak Shop, located inside the Golden Isles Welcome Center on St. Simons, is the place to find local art, apparel, books, toys, and gifts with a coastal Georgia flair. Live Oak also carries items from made-in-the-South brands, while golf aficionados can stock up on official RSM Classic merchandise. Shop exclusive Golden Isles goods and find the perfect gift to commemorate your trip. 912.638.9014
Dress to Impress
Regardless of your handicap, you’ll be a winner on the links — or at the RSM Classic — sporting this Golden Isles Ralph Lauren Pullover.
Glug-Glug
Add some style to your geaux-cups with Golden Isles Tumblers that keep your java piping hot, your sweet tea cold, and adult beverages fresh.
Stick To It!
Show off your travel cred on your laptop, fridge, or car with Golden Isles and St. Simons stickers, car decals, and magnets.
Esprit de Cora
Take home a miniature replica of the Golden Isles’ iconic Cora Tree Spirit Carving from Tom Sweeney Arts.
Hats Off!
Turn heads with a white, navy or putty-colored Imperial True Fit Hat bearing the Golden Isles or St. Simons Island logo.
Hang ’em High
St. Simons Lighthouse, a sea turtle, an evergreen tree, and Cora the Tree Spirit adorn handcrafted Christmas ornaments by Rebecca Braswell of Glorified Mud Pottery.
(RE)TAILOR-MADE
The Golden Isles’ shops offer a range of items that appeal to all tastes.
FOR THE CULTURE VULTURE
A handsome brass compass from the Lighthouse Museum Store will remind you of your excursion to the 150-yearold St. Simons Lighthouse — and guide you back to the Golden Isles.
FOR THE NATURE-LOVER
Wheel and deal at Pedego Electric Bikes St. Simons and — Namaste! — slip into some Free Soul gear for an outdoor class at East Beach Yoga. Or make waves in kayaks and on paddleboards from Southeast Adventure Outfitters while looking stylish in a custom SEA hat.
FOR THE GOURMAND
Tickle your tastebuds with Manzanilla, Arbequina, or our fave, bacon-infused EVOO at Golden Isles Olive Oil Company. Need a sugar buzz? Indulge in Savannah Bee’s Honey Hot sauce and Honey Spice Cakes.
FOR KIDDOS
Junior will rock a crab-themed T-shirt from SSI Lifestyle while cavorting on the beach. For rainy afternoons, how about decorating a plate or piggybank from The Tinted Tide’s selection of to-go pottery painting kits?
FOR THE SHOPPING MAVEN
Support artisans from around the world with handmade items from 20 different countries at Rahab’s Rope, and sip a vintage from Two Friends’ Bubble Bar while you browse its selection of apparel, colorful housewares, and stationery.
FOR THE JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
Find the perfect memento at the Shops at Sea Island, home to a bookstore and a toy store, boutiques with the latest coastal fashions, and so much more.
Liquid Gold
Sip and savor the Golden Isles with its official beverage: Golden Isles IPA.
Soak in your memories of the Golden Isles by soaking up the suds of Silver Bluff Brewing Company’s Golden Isles IPA. Partnering with the Golden Isles CVB, the brewery reintroduced its awardwinning American IPA as the destination’s official beverage last fall. Made from five high-quality hop varieties, Golden Isles IPA boasts standout flavors of citrus and floral tinged with notes of orange marmalade, and a piney finish. Its balance of bitter hops and sweet malt will elicit your bittersweet longing for sunny afternoons on pristine beaches, the last hole of the back nine as you sank your final putt, or the quiet creek where your fishing line bobbed in the water. Celebrate the collaboration between the CVB and the brewery with a quaff of this golden elixir at Glynn County’s unofficial “front porch,” Silver Bluff’s beer garden in downtown Brunswick, and relive every golden hour of your stay by purchasing Golden Isles IPA in coastal markets, Valdosta, Athens and Atlanta — where Silver Bluff has sealed its sterling reputation.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
Savanah Bee Company
Discover the very best in specialty honey, mead, and beauty products made from honeybee hive ingredients at Savannah Bee Company. The brand’s heritage is rooted in St. Simons Island, where founder, head beekeeper, and native Ted Dennard developed his love of honeybees as a child. Visit the St. Simons Island store to experience his passion for honeybees and the exceptional products they bring to our world. savannahbee.com 912.771.8972
Shopping
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
ALo Naturals Beach Cow Nut Company East Beach Yoga Golden Isles Bracelet Co. Golden Isles Olive Oil Lighthouse Museum Store Live Oak Shop The Market at Sea Island Rahab’s Rope Savannah Bee Company Shops at Sea Island SouthEast Adventure Outfitters SSI Lifestyle Viola’s Market
JEKYLL ISLAND
Georgia Sea Turtle Center Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum
BRUNSWICK
Golden Isles Mattress The Market on Newcastle SouthEast Adventure Outfitters Silver Bluff Brewing Company Redfern Village, 265 Redfern Village Redfern Village, 216 Redfern Village 1201 & 1205 Ocean Blvd. Pier Village, 215 Mallery St. 1609 Frederica Rd. Pier Village, 610 Beachview Dr. Pier Village, 529 Beachview Dr. 351 Sea Island Rd. Pier Village, 320 Mallery St. Pier Village, 315 Mallery St. Intersection of Frederica Rd. & Sea Island Rd. Pier Village, 313 Mallery St. Retreat Village, 4 Retreat Pl. Redfern Village, 267 Redfern Village
214 Stable Rd. 100 Stable Rd.
208 Harrison Ln. 1624 Newcastle St. 1200 Glynn Ave. 1325 Newcastle St. 912.623.0005 alonaturals.com beachcownuts.com 912.771.9021 eastbeachyogassi.com 912.638.3636 gibcobracelets.com 912.602.9736 goldenislesoliveoil.com 912.638.4666 coastalgeorgiahistory.org 912.638.9014 goldenisles.com 912.638.5800 seaisland.com/dining/the-market 912.434.6059 rahabsrope.com 912.771.8972 savannahbee.com facebook.com/ShopsAtSeaIsland 912.638.6732 southeastadventure.com 912.223.2324 ssilifestyle.com 912.638.3399 violasmarket.com
912.635.4444 jekyllisland.com/gstc 912.635.4036 jekyllisland.com
912.602.5009 goldenislesmattress.com 912.554.7909 facebook.com/themarketonnewcatle 912.265.5292 southeastadventure.com 912.275.7024 silverbluff.com
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
Golden Isles Olive Oil At The Market Place
The ultimate stop for gourmet cooks, wanna-be cooks, and anyone who likes good food. Shop the freshest and finest ultra premium extra virgin olive oils in the Golden Isles, including more than 60 flavors of fused and infused olive oils and vinegars. Their large selection of cheeses, charcuterie, handmade pastas, sauces, honey, jams and other gourmet delights are available for pick-up or concierge shopping. Find tasty prepared foods from their take-and-bake menu and take-out from the regular menu. The patio is open for dining and wine. Serving lunch, brunch and small bites. goldenislesoliveoil.com 912.602.9736
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
Two Friends
This chic lifestyle boutique showcases an impeccable mix of clothing, shoes, jewelry, art, home accessories and gifts. Owner and curator Marti Tolleson designed Two Friends to capture the essence of this Southern coastal resort destination and her unique style and outlook. Established in 2000, Two Friends has evolved from an appointment-only micro-boutique to one of the most popular shops in the Golden Isles. Don’t miss The Bubble Bar, where you can sip wines from around the world while shopping.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
East Beach Yoga
East Beach Life, LLC is home to East Beach Yoga Boutique and Studio, in the heart of East Beach. In our retail boutique, score all the essentials — as a Free People and lululemon Authorized Retailer, East Beach carries the finest seasonal styles, your favorite core pieces, and gear to keep up your practice six days a week.
Engage your body and mind through a hybrid-model of online, in-studio, on the beach, public and private classes, events, and retreats. Our practice is powerful and unique, combining movement and mindfulness to increase your personal well-being.
eastbeachyogassi.com 912.771.9021 @eastbeachyoga
WEDDINGS
Where better to start your journey together than the Golden Isles?
Worth a Thousand Words
Meet the talent behind renowned wedding vendor Brooke Roberts Photography.
There are not many times in a person’s life when they’re surrounded by all the people they love most. And then their partner — the person they love deeply — has that too? It’s an incredible thing to see; and it’s even more incredible to document,” says Brooke Roberts, who owns her eponymous business, Brooke Roberts Photography, with her husband, Paul.
The couple met at the University of Wolverhampton in England, where they were both pursuing art degrees. As they married and made their move to the United States, Paul and Brooke already knew they loved coastal living, so when an opportunity to settle in the Golden Isles arose, they jumped at the chance.
Although specializing in weddings was never the plan, when Brooke was invited to shoot the nuptials of a dear friend, she was surprised to learn she loved it. “I realized I had a passion for photographing love, and the unique perspective that photographing weddings gives you on life,” she recalls.
Paul began joining Brooke at events, business took off, and soon both partners were able to leave other jobs to pursue photography full time. In the 16 years since launching their business, the couple has become parents, mastered the art of work-life balance, and earned a glowing reputation for Golden Isles weddings.
Paul is particularly skilled at capturing candids, and Brooke says she enjoys finding the best light and angles for dramatic, artsy shots. Together, they aim to be storytellers, so that when a couple looks back at the pictures from their special day, they feel they can relive it all over again.
“The Golden Isles is quite the wedding destination, and we’re really grateful to live in a community that helps all couples celebrate their love story,” Brooke surmises. “We feel good about humanity because we get to witness this kind of love.” Learn more at brookerobertsphotography.com. “I realized I had a passion for photographing love, and the unique perspective that photographing weddings gives you on life.”
-Brooke Roberts
Diverse “I Dos”
Whether indoors or outdoors, low-key or lavish, wedding celebrations of all kinds are available throughout the Golden Isles.
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“We’re spoiled for options locally for budget-friendly event spaces,” says Brooke, the most obvious being the abundance of beaches. Glynn County rents out spaces at a low cost, plus many resorts offer small wedding and elopement packages that are all-inclusive.
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Oceanside resorts, event barns in the countryside, purpose-built venues along waterways, a multitude of churches, garden squares — even a lighthouse — present moderate budget choices that can adjust based on the DIY required or a “show up and it’s done” arrangement desired.
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The historic Jekyll Island Club and Forbes Five Star-rated Sea Island regularly host some of the most opulent events Brooke has seen. And two of the largest and most lavish weddings she’s captured have taken place at the Frederica Township community on St. Simons Island. “It’s extremely unusual to find a small coastal community that boasts so many high-end wedding venues, and yet we have a multitude of options here.”
Wedding Vendors
Brooke Roberts Photography 912.223.8442 brookerobertsphotography.com Experience Event Planning 912.480.7757 experienceep.com Halyards Catering 912.399.0241 halyardscatering.com Maggie Hughes Events 309.533.8522 maggiehughesevents.com Martin’s Vintage Rides 912.617.1310 martinsvintagerides.com The Needle 706.726.7276 wearetheneedle.com The Tent Guys 912.268.1554 thetentguysssi.com Three Little Birds 912.771.8787 events@georgiaseagrill.com Coastal Catering
TIME WELL SPENT
Beyond the wedding activities, wedding guests can make the most of their stay in the Golden Isles.
HAVE A FULL DAY?
It’s hard to beat a day at the beach, unless you’d rather join fellow anglers on a guided fishing charter, or tee up on one of the area’s world-class golf courses.
HAVE A HALF DAY?
Via horseback, kayak, paddleboard, motorboat and more, enjoy a guided tour of the area’s salt marshes and marine wildlife. Or hop aboard a leisurely sunset cruise.
ONLY HAVE A FEW HOURS?
Bring your bike — or rent one — and pedal along two paved trail systems to explore quaint neighborhoods, beaches, and historic sites. Or hoof it through Brunswick’s historic district, Jekyll Island’s Main Street, or the Pier Village of St. Simons Island and find signature shopping along the way.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
The Tent Guys
The Tent Guys provides wedding tents, tables, chairs, and linens that are both high quality and affordable for your special day. We love to serve our customers and their families on events of all sizes by providing transparent pricing, clear communication, and attention to detail.
thetentguysssi.com 912.268.1554
JEKYLL ISLAND
Westin Jekyll Island
Let your beginning start at our unforgettable wedding destination. The delights will astound you… a beautiful venue, delicious cuisine, sublime details. Whether your dream is to exchange vows on an island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, or dance the night away in our elegant ballroom, the Westin Jekyll Island blends expertise with intuition to create a celebration as unique and individual as you are.
SIP & SAVOR
Only the freshest ingredients are transformed by our talented chefs, personalized to your tastes and served to your guests with thoughtful presentation. Venues include our Ocean Front Courtyard, Sea Side Event Lawn, Contemporary Ballroom, Rooftop Observation Lounge and Ocean View Veranda. All you need to do is say “I do”.
westinjekyllisland.com 912.635.4545
Wedding & Meeting Venues
ST. SIMONS ISLAND
SLEEPING ROOMS MEETING ROOMS MEETING SQ. FT. THEATER BANQUET CONFERENCE STYLE GROUP MEETINGS WEDDINGS
A. W. Jones Heritage Center
912.638.4666 N/A 1 1,386 150 140 150 Yes Yes Best Western Plus 912.638.7805 61 1 1,934 175 120 100 Yes Yes Epworth by the Sea Methodist Conference Center 912.638.8688 234 38 36,000 300 400 900 Yes Yes Hampton Inn 912.634.2204 79 1 850 17 17 17 Yes The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort 912.638.3631 196 8 11,835 300 270 220 Yes Yes Ocean Lodge 912.291.4300 15 1 600 15 15 10 Yes Yes Sea Palms Resort & Conference Center 912.638.3351 83 7 10,000 300 250 200 Yes Yes St. Simons Casino Building 912.279.2836 N/A 3 2,583 182 100 84 Yes Yes The Lodge at Sea Island 912.634.4300 40 4 3,213 140 90 30 Yes Yes
The Cloister 912.638.3611 265 10 87,400 500 500 40 Yes Yes
LITTLE ST. SIMONS ISLAND
The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island
JEKYLL ISLAND
Beachview Club Hotel Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island Club Resort Jekyll Island Convention Center Villas by the Sea Resort The Westin Jekyll Island
Courtyard by Marriott – Exit 38 Embassy Suites – Exit 38 Hampton Inn & Suites – Exit 38 Hilton Garden Inn - Exit 38 Holiday Inn & Suites – Exit 38 Holiday Inn Express - Exit 38 Home2 Suites - Exit 38 Old City Hall Queen and Grant Residence Inn by Marriott - Exit 38 912.638.7472 16 1 1,000 32 32 32 Yes Yes
912.635.2256 38 2 3,500 300 150 50 Yes Yes 912.635.2211 157 4 3,000 288 200 50 Yes 877.212.1898 198 12 14,300 400 300 250 Yes Yes 912.635.6400 N/A 17 78,000 4,068 2,520 2,100 Yes Yes 800.841.6262 140 5 5,500 500 350 300 Yes Yes 912.635.4545 200 5 5,350 350 200 70 Yes Yes
912.265.2644 93 1 580 40 25 25 Yes 912.264.6100 130 4 5,000 200 125 120 Yes Yes 912.261.0939 97 2 1,800 150 100 120 Yes 912.267.1111 84 3 4,500 260 190 160 Yes Yes 912.264.3300 103 2 1,664 100 96 66 Yes Yes 912.267.9999 88 1 350 40 40 40 Yes 912.267.1111 91 3 4,500 260 190 160 Yes Yes 912.265.4032 N/A 2 2,927 N/A 200 150 Yes Yes 912.254.8600 N/A 1 20,000 500 350 500 Yes Yes 912.617.8580 112 1 500 40 30 25 Yes Yes
BRUNSWICK
Queen and Grant
Nestled in the heart of downtown Brunswick, Queen and Grant is the region’s newest event venue. This historic building has been thoughtfully transformed into more than 20,000 square feet of enchanting indoor and outdoor space. Featuring vaulted ceilings, a grand reception hall with abundant natural light, private outdoor garden, office space, dressing room/lounge, and catering kitchen, Queen and Grant provides the perfect setting to host up to 300 guests for a seated reception and more than 500 for strolling. The possibilities for gatherings are endless.
JEKYLL ISLAND
JEKYLL ISLAND
Jekyll Ocean Club Resort Weddings
The Jekyll Island Club Resort has been the cherished setting for generations of happy couples. Here, a wondrous sense of history walks hand in hand with unforgettable celebrations. Weddings of all sizes are the resort’s specialty — from elopements to large and festive. The Club provides a magical and picturesque backdrop for your special day. Whether you envision a celebration that’s traditional or trend-setting, casual or formal, intimate or grand scale, in a historic mansion, the ballroom, sunken garden, under live oaks festooned with Spanish moss, riverside at sunset or right on the beach, the resort’s variety of premier wedding sites will give you unlimited options in planning your perfect Coastal Georgia storybook wedding. Every event is presented by a team devoted to delighting the wedding party and their guests with thoughtful planning and flawless execution. Our staff sees to every detail and grants every wish. Matrimony at the Jekyll Island Club has become a tradition for families. Let us help you create memories for a lifetime. jekyllclub.com 877.212.1898
ACCOMMODATIONS
Once you check in, it’s time to check your worries at the door.
ABOVE & BEYOND
Golden Isles’ accommodations understand all too well it’s the small gestures that matter.
YOUR WISH, THEIR COMMAND
Since 2001, guests of The Lodge at Sea Island are greeted at the front door by a butler, one of a team who works tirelessly to grant their charges’ wishes. As any Anglophile will tell you, a good butler anticipates a guest’s desires. So, when starry-eyed newlyweds retire for the evening, they can thank Jeeves for drawing a nice warm bath, scattered with rose petals.
GREEN TEAM
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” The familiar expression from the Depression era is back in vogue again, thanks to the dedicated
employees on Little St. Simons Island. Ecologically sound policies are a way of life here, from the locally grown and sourced produce that fills the Lodge’s kitchen and diners’ plates, to solar and geo-thermal energy sources. And the accoutrements that make or break a vacation? The Island’s naturalists repair anything that might have suffered wear and tear — trucks or binoculars — until it’s good as new and ready to go.
ROYAL WELCOME
When it comes to special occasions, St. Simons Islands’ King and Prince
Beach & Golf Resort knows how to pull out all the stops. From the 550-square-foot Butler Room to the 1,590-square-foot Hampton Clubhouse, the property can create the perfect ambiance for board meetings and elegant soirées. Among its eight event spaces, the latest gem is Atlantic Court, a 3,008-square-foot tented terrace with a formal lawn and expansive ocean view. Whether wedding reception or anniversary celebration, you’ll long remember dinner and dancing by the light of festive strands as well as twinkling stars, and, of course, the rhythm of swells lapping the shore.
Home Away From Home
The wealth of rentals in the Golden Isles can satisfy any vacation style.
THE GANG’S ALL HERE!
One last hurrah before the bride makes that trek down the aisle? A trip down memory lane with college buds? Family-owned and locally operated Lilmar Properties on St. Simons Island can add to your store of memories with a stay in one of its privately owned cottages, oceanfront villas, or condominiums. Replete with heated pools and spas, firepits, private beach accesses, and fully equipped kitchens, you’ll quickly slip into the laid-back island lifestyle.
THE SWEET LIFE
Leave the day-to-day behind and unwind in style at a luxe property, courtesy of Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals on St. Simons Island. Take your pick of a luxury cottage with pool, tiki bar, and direct beach access, a charming cottage in the heart of Pier Village, or a penthouse condo with cozy hardwood floors and stunning ocean views.
HISTORIC HIDEAWAY
History buffs will appreciate the Gilded Age atmosphere at the Strachan Carriage House, perched on the southern tip of St. Simons Island. Built around 1915 by steam and sailing shipping magnate F.D.M. Strachan, the carriage house was a companion to a much larger cottage (later moved to Daufuskie Island, South Carolina) as a rebuff to the Jekyll Island Club, which had rejected the millionaire’s potential membership. Over time, the property was a summer home for U.S. Congressman William Stuckey (of pecan company fame) until Sara and Joe Edwards (Edwards Pie Company) converted it to a youth retreat. Soak in the echoes of the past in the meticulously restored Carriage House that, in 1997, earned a place on the National Historic Register.
DUOS, DUFFERS AND DOGS
Looking for a romantic getaway with your sweetheart? A trip with your four-legged bestie? Or maybe you and your foursome need a convenient base while you play the Golden Isles’ revered golf courses. Georgia Coast Realty offers a range of properties, from quaint, beachside cottages where you and your significant other can gaze at the waves or where doggo can plop in the sand, to spacious homes just a pitch and a putt from the fairway.
RUSTIC CHIC
You’ve come to the Golden Isles for some biking, kayaking, hiking, and fishing, but even the most rugged weekend warrior needs a comfortable crash pad after exploring the area’s natural wonders. How about a Jekyll Island cabin, available through Real Escapes Properties? Choose from among the simply but attractively appointed dwellings, where you’ll get a good night’s sleep before the next day’s adventures.
