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!!!
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