Travel

Travel: The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, GA

March 4, 2021

As you may know, Jason and I are always looking for family friendly places to visit as we have two littles and a third babe on the way! It is a major bonus when we can travel with our young children to a new town less than 2 hours away from Jacksonville. St. Simons Island (SSI) has been on our bucket list to visit as we have whole-heartedly enjoyed Georgia’s other beautiful Golden Isles. I have followed along with The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on Instagram for quite some time since it is a beachfront, family-friendly resort. When we were offered the chance to visit The King and Prince, immediate excitement overtook my mind and I could barely respond quickly enough! I am thrilled to share details and photos from our fruitful stay at the King and Prince below!!!

Photography: The King and Prince’s Press Photos & Dani Colding

Getting to know The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

Standing with wide open ocean views, you can both see and hear the glistening Atlantic Ocean waves crash along Georgia’s shoreline at The King and Prince Resort. The resort is a proud member of the Historic Hotels of America group; this is my favorite recognition for any hotel as it implies there is tremendous history to learn. The King and Prince Resort has a long, colorful story to tell after opening its doors in the fall of 1935, over three-fourths of a century ago.

The original owners, Frank Horn and Morgan Wynn, named the private club The King and Prince because they felt it addressed the regal atmosphere of their venue. The resort caught fire shortly after it opened and was rebuilt only two months later dressed in Mediterranean architecture, for which it is still known for today. In July of 1941, the hotel underwent a major expansion, adding 110 guest rooms that were open to the public. After spotting German U-boats off the coast in 1942, the hotel closed its doors to the public and remained open for the US Navy to operate during World War II. I still cannot get over how fascinating this historic resort is!!

The hotel reopened to the public in 1947, maintaining its reputation for a charming beachfront destination paired with luxury hospitality. As the years went on, the resort continued to grow and expand, while preserving its history and original architectural features. After finishing major renovations all around the grounds in the 2000s, the resort is now complete with multiple event spaces, meeting spaces, courtyards, 2 large main pools overlooking the ocean, 2-bedroom villas with private pools, upscale oceanfront dining, and a glamorous oceanfront boardwalk ensuring guests can make memories for years to come!

Family Time at The King and Prince and on SSI

Upscale resort life is the theme of The King and Prince. The perfectly maintained landscaped grounds rest closely along the Atlantic Ocean, making the beach just steps away from every guest building that The King and Prince has to offer. We enjoyed waking up both mornings of our stay, heading to the beach and then finishing up our day in the sun by the pool. The main pool deck is expansive, accommodating guests with an oceanfront sun deck, tables and chairs for poolside dining, or simply relaxing around the two pools. The larger of the two pools is heated, while the other is created for children with shallow water and a small fountain in the middle. There is also a hot tub on the main pool deck. In-between the pools and ECHO restaurant, there is a cozy fire pit lined in seating for the whole family to enjoy!

Other family friendly activities around St. Simons Island include bike rentals, kayak rentals, fishing, museums, trolley tours, boat tours, light house tour, and several premier golf courses. There are numerous shops and restaurants by the pier, as well as a waterfront playground, Mallery Park, for kids to enjoy! You can find more specifics on The King and Prince’s Website.

Dining at The King and Prince and on SSI

Dining and Hospitality is what The King and Prince Resort does right! ECHO is the chosen restaurant housed inside the resort and IT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! Upscale, modern cuisine with a focus on southern coastal dishes, generous portions, and a hospitable staff was most enjoyed at ECHO!

Shrimp and grits, fresh grilled swordfish, and smoked oyster and artichoke dip were just some of the mouth-watering dinner items we feasted on at ECHO. For breakfast we each got something different so we could all share, my personal favorites included Belgian Style Waffle Napoleon and the Praline French Toast. Bottomless mimosas and bloody mary’s are also par for the course so you better believe I will be back after pregnancy!!

Lastly, guests can order food and drinks from ECHO to be enjoyed poolside or beachside during the day. We did get some sampler style plates and frozen beverages to enjoy poolside, which is my ultimate idea of a little R & R on vacation! During season, there is a poolside Sea Shack to order food and drinks from.

There is no shortage of great dining on SSI, with 55 restaurants to choose from on Georgia’s largest barrier island! We had lunch at Porch (Nashville fried chicken style) and dinner at Fiddlers (casual coastal vibes on the marsh) and we would recommend both!

5 Simple Accommodations that made The King and Prince stand out to our family as a place we plan to visit again:

1. The heated pool- this made it possible for us to swim even in February! My kiddos could stay in the pool all day long so this is a huge perk for traveling in the cooler months.

2. The 2-bedroom Villa- The 2-bedroom villa space was nothing less than impressive, we have never been that comfortable and spread out in a hotel before! Amenities included a full kitchen, a large refrigerator, a washer and dryer (we used to dry bathing suits), two full baths, an extra sink and counter, a wet bar, and a large balcony with optional ocean views! The North and South Villas both include their own private pool and hot tub.

3. ECHO- nestled inside the resort, ECHO is the ONLY restaurant on the island that is directly oceanfront. You can enjoy, breakfast, lunch, dinner, small plates, sandwiches, and handcrafted cocktails at ECHO! We would give the food a 10/10 and want to visit again!

4. Steps away from the beach and pool- When I say steps away, I truly mean the resort has steps directly from the pool deck to the beach. This makes it easy to run to the restroom or grab yourself a pina colada at the bar to enjoy by the pool or beach. You can also enjoy a quick boardwalk stroll or relax on porch style swings overlooking the ocean.

5. Effortless travel with an abundance of activities- Again, this weighs heavily on where we vacation during this season of life with a 3-year-old, 4-year-old, and a baby on the way. The King and Prince resort is an hour and a half from Jacksonville and the perfect blend of island living and local life.

We can’t wait to visit again and we are already talking about visiting with my parents! From the immaculate grounds to the kind staff, every detail about The King and Prince was lovely and well thought out. I would like to give a huge heartfelt thank you to The King and Prince Resort for graciously hosting our family this February 2021! Please let me know if you have any questions about our stay at the resort or SSI!

xx Dani

Our go-to Entertainment Items for Going Out with Kids

Mommy & Misc, Travel

August 30, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

Sharing the details of what is in my diaper bag to help make dining out and traveling with kids easier.

It is no secret that my husband and I love to go out to eat! We usually eat out one night over the weekend to spend some time together as a family, eat a nice meal, and get out of the house with the kids. Having babies and toddlers can definitely make going out (anywhere) a daunting task. We decided early on that we did not want to stop doing the things that we love just because we have kids. Of course, like a lot of parents with young kids we have to pick and choose what we do these days, but we still wanted to be able to enjoy a meal out and not be afraid to venture or travel with our kids. I wanted to share the items that we use with our kids to make going out a little less stressful.

Gathre playmat– We use this as a interactive placemat for Tanner. He can play with his trucks on it while we are waiting for food and then I know he is snacking or eating off of a clean(er) surface.
Small CAT machines– These mighty machines are a staple in our home. My mom picked my son up a set from CVS one time and then I have seen them in several stores since then. Our toddler plays with these nearly every single day. Fun for water, water beads, sand, and play doh activities. I also believe that they are very realistic and small enough to fit in their hands that kids can develop excellent fine motor skills plus learning educational skills when playing with these.
Small playdoh tubs– Call me crazy mama, but I usually have a few of these in my bag. With the Gathre playmat Tanner does not make a mess and play doh entertains him for about thirty mins. We will make silly items, fun items, and all kinds of creations for his trucks to pick up.
Small coloring book- I know I keep saying small, but its true I get tiny items that will fit into my diaper bag and not make it a thousand times heavier. Always keep a color book and some crayons on hand with toddlers.
Magnetic Doodle Board- These are so fun for kids and a better alternative to taking out the phone. Not that I am above putting on a show on my phone, but we try other things first.
Homespun reusable snack packs– We can not go anywhere without a snack, usually some goldfish. We are trying to do our small part in making our earth a better place with using reusable pouches.
Baby Suction Toy- We ordered this one from Amazon and are happy with it. It will entertain Winnie while we are out, Tanner even loves it too.
Carseat Hanging Toy– If your baby is tiny and doesn’t mind staying in the carseat these are nice to keep baby smiling.

I would love to hear if you have any tricks up your sleeve for entertaining your kids while you are out or what fun things you have in your diaper bag!

Keep in touch,
Dani

Travel series 1: Jekyll Island Club Resort Getaway

Travel

July 20, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

We recently had the pleasure of exploring Jekyll Island and spending two nights at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. It was truly the perfect getaway to hit our reset button so I am sharing all of the details on the blog today.

It has been on my heart to start a travel series for quite some time. As a North Florida blogger, I often get inquries about the best places to travel for the weekend. Jacksonville is centrally located to enjoy several great weekend trips that are ideal for families. The first spot I am highlighting is only ONE hour and TWENTY minutes away from Jacksonville, Jekyll Island! Let’s just say, I am kicking myself for not visiting Jekyll sooner!! Jason, the kids, and I enjoyed a trip to the beautiful Jekyll Island Club Resort. Our trip was the perfect blend of relaxation and exploring. So here are the details that you will want to know about the historic club of America-

Hotel highlights:

The Jekyll Island Club Resort is an historic hotel of America, with over 130 years of history. It feels as if you stepped back in time to old Georgia roots. The resort is lined with old photos of the club that my husband and I loved to study. It was originally a hunting club for the elite and was named the most exclusive club in the late 1800s. Over the early 1900s, Jekyll Island was a destination spot for wealthy families, like Crane, Morgan, and Vanderbilt. Many movies were filmed on site, most notably, the Legend of Bagger Vance, starring Will Smith. The history of the hotel does not disappoint!

Jason and I agreed that the best part about the Jekyll Club is that you do not have to leave to find anything. Once we parked our car, we did not have to get it until it was time to head home. There is also a free shuttle that will take you around the island and to the Jekyll Club’s new beachside resort that is oceanfront. There are several different buildings of the hotel where you can stay, which were originally built by several wealthy tycoons. We stayed in the Anex building where we enjoyed a lovely room with a large balcony with a beautiful view! My family and I walked around the entire property and loved exploreing the grounds. The entire place is kept immaculate and rich in architecture! I am happy there were little signs that gave the history of each building.

Most enjoyed family activities:

Riding bicycles around the resort and island was our favorite activity while visiting Jekyll! The club has the cutest bike rental shop right on site (you can see in the above photos). They have bikes that are suitable for all ages, baby seats, and child trailers. You can see some photos and videos on our bike ride on my Instagram saved under the “northeast travel” highlight, @thecoldcraftsman.

Secondly, relaxing was high on our wish list so the pool was another spot that was perfect for our family. We ordered lunch, smoothies, and cocktails along the poolside.. what more does a girl need? The pool and the pool house menu was what the doctor ordered!

Last, we walked over to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on our last day before heading home (again, located right next to the hotel so you can walk)!! The Sea Turtle Center was really neat experience that we all enjoyed just as much as our two year old son. The center is a hospital where injured or sickly turtles can get treatment and will be kept until they are strong enough to be released. It was eye opening to think about all of the polluting that hurts our oceans and turtles.

Where to eat:

There are four places that you can eat without having to leave the club grounds! This is SO convenient, especially with little kids! We ate at three of the four places on site. We kept it pretty simple since we had our young kids with us. We grabbed a quick (and reasonably priced) breakfast and lunch at The Pantry. The Pantry is an adorable cafe in the center of the club with breakfast, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, wine, and beer. We enjoyed pizza and burgers by the pool from the poolhouse- so yummy! And we had a nice seafood dinner overlooking the water at The Wharf. Next time, we definitely plan to eat in the upscale dining room, as we heard excellent things about the menu.

Pro tips:

Bring multiple bathing suits if you plan to check out the pool and beach so that you have plenty of time to let your wet suit dry.
Order a s’mores kit at the pool house and roast marshmallows at the fire pit while you watch the sunset.
Walk around the entire club and see all of the movie flyers and shows that have been filmed at the Jekyll Club.
Find the ice cream and candy shoppe and treat yourself to a Georgia made ice cream cone.
Ride bikes to Driftwood Beach to check out the beautiful beaches filled with Driftwood trees. A unique beach destination to see for yourself!

Needless to say, we had the best time! If you are a Jax local and are looking for a family friendly, relaxing, and exclusive destination- The Jekyll Island Club Resort is your place! It is a no brainer at an hour and twenty mins away from Jax. We are so grateful for the opportunity to visit the Jekyll Club as a family! We liked it so much that we plan to go back with my family in the spring. I would also like to go back with some friends and their kids and just kick back for a fun and relaxing weekend! Be sure to check out the club’s page on Instagram, @Jekyll_Club, to see more photos of the gorgeous resort.

Keep in touch,
Dani