About the Golden Isles of Georgia The Golden Isles of Georgia run alongside the 100 mile long coast of the US state of Georgia. The isles include: Seas Island, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Historic Brunswick and Little St Simons Island. The isles are all located in the Glynn County, Georgia, The average annual temperature is 66.5F, with August high temperatures of 91F and January low temperatures of 42F. As a result of the year-round mild temperatures, Northern Americans from states like New Jersey and New York are attracted to the Golden Isles. The good weather on all the islands combined with the natural beauty has made the Golden Isles of Georgia an exclusive place to live as much as to visit. Visitors to the Isles are impressed with the beaches, water recreation, wetlands and sub-tropical forests. Leisure Activities in the Golden Isles of Georgia Since the time period after the American Civil War, most of the islands have become homes to elite resorts that are frequented by some of the country’s wealthiest families and are popular islands for leisure and relaxation.
- Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is about seven miles long and one and a half miles wide. Jekyll Island features a paved causeway so that the island can be accessed by cars. The north end of Jekyll island is the main part that has been developed. In total, the island has about eight miles of wide and flat beaches on the east shore. The sand on these beaches is hard packed so that visitors can easily walk or bike on the beaches. There is also about twenty miles of hiking trails. It is suggested that visitors take a leisurely stroll through the Landmark Historic District on Jekyll Island. Guided tours are available as well. This attraction is among the largest restoration projects in the US that is ongoing and the work has received numerous awards for its historic preservation.
- Sea Island
Sea Island is a well-visited island with two luxury resorts – The “Sea Island Beach Club” and “The Cloister”. The island is owned by Sea Island Acquisitions and they operate the two resorts so public access to the island is fairly limited. The island sits about 60 miles south of Savannah and 60 miles north of Jacksonville, FL.
- St Simons Island
St. Simons Island is the largest island of the Golden Isles of Georgia. It was cultivated by the English colonists for its cotton and rice plantations that were worked by African slaves. This created a unique culture and has more recently been developed into a resort community. While it has many seasonal residents, there are also many year-round residents. There is a causeway for traveling to the island by car and there is even an airport located on the island. One of its main attractions is the St. Simon Lighthouse which underwent significant restoration work in 2010. Leisure Vacation Packages in the Golden Isles of Georgia The Golden Isles of Georgia offers ample leisure and relaxation activities. On Sea Island, the two resorts are The Beach Club which lies by the ocean and provides visitors with plenty of beaches and water activities; and The Cloister which is on the south-west part of the island along the Black Banks River. This is considered the main hotel of the whole resort island and contains restaurant, a pool plus on-land activities. Both resorts are luxury five star resorts; the difference between them is what you are looking for: beach and ocean or pool and land activities (golf etc). Both resorts offer accommodation packages for golf, spa, and racquet. There will definitely be a relaxation package for you! The King and Prince on St. Simons Island offers different leisure and relaxation packages, depending on what type of package you are looking for. The “Just Beachy” package is for those who love the beach and enjoys catching a nap in the sand under a beach umbrella or soaking up the sun. The “It’s All About WE” package is an island escape for couples whose priority is just being with one another. The “Royal Golf” package includes green fees and more for each day of stay at the resort. The “Royal Treatment” package includes some spa treatments along with accommodations. The “Kayak Adventure” package allows you to discover the island on a 3 hour kayak adventure with an adventure tour group. How much will the Golden Isles of Georgia cost? The Golden Isles of Georgia can be relatively expensive compared to other destinations in the United States however, compared to some international destinations, it can be more reasonable. St. Simons Island is the most affordable of all the islands. The average household that sells on St. Simons Island is about $300,000. Compare that to the average single-family dwelling on Sea Island which is $3.4 million. So if you are budget-conscious, St. Simons might be the better of all the islands to visit. Accommodations on St Simons Island is a little cheaper than the other islands and there are more to choose from. The two resorts on Seas Island can be fairly expensive and often does not include any meals and extras.