Sea Island is a lovely, secluded summit spot

SEA ISLAND, Ga. -- At first glance, Sea Island might seem an unlikely place to have hosted this month's Group of Eight Summit.

But scratch beneath the surface of Sea Island -- less than 100 years ago not much more than a wilderness of tidal creeks, marsh, beach and thick forests of live oaks -- and you'll find that President Bush chose wisely for the summit site. But then, there was a little family history going on: His parents honeymooned here in 1945.

Sea Island is tiny -- it is only 5 miles long and a couple of miles wide. But it is perhaps most famed for a glorious sense of isolation and stunning natural beauty. Quiet reigns over the lush, green grass, willowy pines, Spanish moss and colorful foliage.

The resort area and the name are on the map because of the Sea Island Company. It started up in the 1920s. The Hudson Motor Company's Howard Coffin and his cousin, Alfred W. "Bill" Jones Sr., became enamored of the island beauty and began developing a full- scale resort that sprang from a simple bathhouse and dance pavilion. Coffin was looking to build a hotel in the tradition of the Waldorf- Astoria in New York, but Jones wanted something smaller and more luxurious. From this melding of ideas, The Cloister began.

The Sea Island Company now owns and operates not only the historically renowned Cloister, considered one of the finest hotel properties in the world, but also The Lodge at Sea Island, a collection of golf-course accommodations touted as "the premier destination for discriminating golfers the world over"; Sea Island Cottages, an assortment of homes and condominiums that typically rent from $2,400 to $21,000 a week; and The Lodge at Cabin Bluff, a rustic lodge about an hour south of Sea Island that is hidden away among 50,000 acres in the lowlands of Camden County.

The company also controls development of private residences on the island. In 2003, Forbes listed Sea Island as one of the most expensive ZIP codes in the United States, owing in part, Forbes stated, "to its natural beauty, Addison Mizner-designed buildings and famous golf links." That means the median home price for 2002, when the numbers were compiled by Forbes, was $2.232 million. Not bad, considering that not even Beverly Hills 90210 made the list. Neither did any other place in Georgia.

On Sea Island, life is good. There is no such thing as "hurry" here. Sea Island is made for long afternoons of slow-motion activities like birdwatching, golfing, bicycling, horseback riding, sailing and fishing. And there are five miles of uncrowded private beaches -- there is no public beach at all.

As for dining on Sea Island, life is good in that respect, too. You'll find the old Southern staple of buffet-style food at the Beach Club, but it's an extravagant affair with lots of fresh seafood. The Davis Love Grill has one of the best Caesar salads I've ever had (and a medley of terrific wines), and the elegant Colt & Alison's specializes in dry-aged beef.

Perhaps the biggest thing on Sea Island is golf. At one of the three courses -- Plantation Course, redesigned in 1998 by Rees Jones; Seaside Course, restructured in 1999 by Tom Fazio; and Retreat Course, renovated in 2001 by Davis Love III -- you may find yourself playing alongside golf great Arnold Palmer, former National Geographic president Reg Murphy, former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, CBS's Bob Schieffer or maybe even a Bush or two.

And the weather should be decent. Although the rest of Georgia can be furiously hot and humid during the spring and summer, Sea Island seems to keep its cool.

The closest airport to all this is Brunswick-Golden Isles Airport, about 18 miles away, with limited scheduled air service via Delta and Atlantic Southeast airlines. Savannah, about an hour to the north, and Jacksonville, an hour's drive south, both have international airports with scheduled service with most major carriers. Interstate 95, the closest major highway, is under an hour's drive away.

Consider going to Sea Island sometime -- it's just the place for your own little summit.

For more info

For more information on Sea Island, call toll-free 800-SEA-ISLAND (800-732-4752) or visit www.seaisland.com.

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