The Cloister at Sea Island

Golf carts and free shuttle service help guests navigate these extensive grounds consisting of three separate sections. Terracotta tile roofs, white stone cloistered walkways, and semicircular balconies dominate exterior architecture, which is complemented by lush, manicured gardens featuring palms of all sizes and oak trees. Cushioned wood chairs abound inside and outside of buildings and are found in spaces that include a glass-ceilinged solarium with brick parquet floors as well as a high-beamed lobby with stone archways and wrought-iron chandeliers. Fittingly, there are cloisters through the grounds -- namely, around the lobby, along hallways, and on the outside of various edifices. The resort has a large number of activities for children and young adults, and the property tends to attract families on holiday.

The road leading up to the Cloister winds through marsh lands and golf courses, as there is little other than natural scenery immediately surrounding the property. All roads within the resort are lined by oaks draped with Spanish moss. Two miles inland on Sea Island Road are a handful of restaurants, a grocery store, and a few other shops. Brunswick Airport is about a half-hour drive northwest, and Brunswick itself, the nearest town, is 20 minutes west by car.

Draped chintz curtains, dark wood armoires, wood poster beds, and marble vanities supply these sumptuous rooms with a tasteful comfort that manages to be elegant without succumbing to stuffiness. Beamed wooden ceilings and arched doorways insert a Mediterranean touch. Many of the units have small balconies furnished with tables and padded lounge chairs that overlook the surrounding marshland, forest, and golf courses. Contemporary touches -- plenty of outlets, free access to digital magazines through PressReader, and small flat-screen TVs in bathrooms -- are just a few of the amenities that keep rooms feeling modern. All rooms also have safes, hairdryers, coffeemakers, decorative cast iron and enamel spigots, iHome clock radios, and large flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms offer separate tubs and tiled walk-in showers along with Molton Brown toiletries.

The Cloister’s supervised offerings for children include glitter mani-pedis, bike lessons, and dock fishing. Family-friendly outings include wildlife walks, horseback riding, and stargazing. The spa and salon offers individual wood-paneled pedicure stations with throw pillows, a wide variety of body and skin treatments, and an indoor courtyard atrium with lounge chairs by a rock pool. There is a fitness center with a spinning room and a variety of machines as well as options for personal training. A couple of on-site retail shops sell apparel, while sports lovers can avail themselves of the squash and tennis courts. Golfers will delight in the resort's three championship courses and business travelers have access to more than 25,000 feet of meeting space. Additional amenities include bike and water sports rentals, a movie theater, and outdoor and indoor pools.

Each of the hotel’s three sections also has its own selection of dining options. For instance, The Cloister houses the fine-dining Georgian Room and the Italian venue Tavola as well as the tavern-like River Bar. The Beach Club and The Lodge have their own distinctive venues as well.