Sojourn on Sea Island

	The Georgia Beach

Whoever came up with the expression "life is a beach" probably envisioned something more simple than the Sea Island resort complex, which has been luring vacationers to the tranquil coast of Georgia for almost 80 years.

Situated along a five-mile strip of private beach on tiny Sea Island, the original hotel on the site, the Cloister, was designed by Addison Mizner, a pioneer in Spanish and Mediterranean Revival-style architecture.

President Calvin Coolidge, who attended the Cloister's grand opening ceremonies in 1928, would not recognize most of the current $500 million complex.

Even the original structure was rebuilt in 2003 to incorporate modern amenities. In fact, the most recent presidential visitor, George W. Bush, would also see some changes. Since he attended the G8 conference at Sea Island in 2004, a new spa has been built, and a beach club is set to open this summer.

Still, regardless of how much the Sea Island complex changes, it retains the unique charm and luxurious feel of the original resort.

Southern Hospitality

Visitors have a choice of three lodging options. The rooms and suites at the rebuilt Cloister at Sea Island were designed to maintain the ambience of a 1920s-era Florida mansion ($725 to $1,550 per night).

The Lodge, just across the causeway on St. Simons Island, was built in 2001. The rooms (starting at $450 per night) have hardwood floors, open-beamed ceilings and plush furniture, all evocative of an English country manor.

Complimentary use of a Range Rover, digital cameras, personalized stationery -- and of course, 24-hour butler service -- are among the benefits of staying at the Cloister or the Lodge.

Larger accommodations are also available for families or groups, from three-bedroom bungalows to nine-bedroom luxury homes with swimming pools ($2,400 to $22,000 per week).