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The King and Prince resort

Enjoy St. Simons Island, GA in the Fall with a Stay at The King and Prince

The King and Prince - St. Simons Island, GA

As summer ends, vacation destination options may become less obvious.  However, families shouldn’t stop vacationing when cooler weather begins!  Fall is the perfect time for your family to enjoy the historical attractions, gorgeous ocean, and lovely wooded landscapes of St. Simons Island, Georgia.  The fiery heat of the summer has started to die down, but it is still warm enough to enjoy the pristine natural beaches of St. Simons Island in early autumn. During the fall, there are many excellent things to do for both parents and children and enjoyable places to stay on St. Simons Island. The perfect weather makes fall the ideal time to tour the historic sites and monuments of St. Simons Island – since many of them are outdoors.

On the driving and trolley tours, guests can see the site of the Bloody Marsh Battle Site, where the British fought the Spanish in 1742, and St Simons Island Lighthouse, a beautiful lighthouse built in 1872. Other outdoor attractions the entire family will enjoy include the Fort Frederica National Monument, a fortress established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe, and Gascoigne Bluff, a Native American campground and historic southern plantation. The Ghost Tour by Lighthouse Trolleys gives visitors a tour of historical sites with ghostly tales, and it is an excellent way for families to celebrate Halloween.

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St. Simons Island’s only oceanfront resort, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, provides luxurious accommodations where parents will appreciate fun adventures and activities to occupy children.  The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort has 5 swimming pools, including two kiddie pools, tennis courts, a fitness facility, and an Activities Coordinator who creates fun games for kids of all ages. The resort offers a variety of suites, bedrooms, beach villas, and private guest houses that are ideal for families.  Onsite dining includes ECHO, Pizzeria 201 and the seasonal The Sea Shack Bar + Bites, all of which offer kid friendly foods.

The King and Prince resort can help arrange activities such as horseback rides on wooded trails and kayaking trips through the marshes. St. Simons Island has a variety of fun fall activities including festivals, concerts, and tournaments that your whole family will enjoy. The St. Simons Food and Spirits Festival at Gascoigne Park will be a five day event at the end of September that features local restaurants, farmers, and artisans. Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience will come to the island in October to perform and celebrate the iconic British band. In November, the McGladrey Classic, a golf tournament on the PGA tour, will occur.

The St. Simons Island Calendar offers a full list of all of the interesting events that will be happening throughout the fall.

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island, Georgia, 31522

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More articles in The King and Prince Resort / St. Simons Island, GA series:

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia: Perfect Winter Vacation Destination

As I turned onto Torras Causeway which connects the city of Brunswick, GA to St. Simons Island, GA, I felt a rush in my heart, then pure relaxation.  I didn’t have a heart attack, I was home.   Quite a reaction to home, right?  My actual ‘home-base’ is in the northern suburbs of Atlanta but my home-away-from-home is The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, just a 5 hour drive from Atlanta.

The King and Prince Beach & Golf ResortGETTING THERE:
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island
Georgia, 31522

CONTACT
800-342-0212

CONNECT

Crossing the causeway I saw beautiful White Herons near the shoreline and in the marsh, stalking their soon-to-be lunch and possibly a Bald Eagle soaring above the trees which took my breath away.  If it wasn’t unsafe to stop in the middle of the causeway, I would have pulled over to stare at and document the incredibly beautiful animals gracing me with their presence.  Finishing my drive on the causeway I exited onto Kings Way, officially on St. Simons Island now, rolled the windows down and took in the sights, scents, and sounds of the island.   Driving on Kings Way is like driving through a tropical rain forest with residential communities filling in the spaces.  After about a mile I stopped at one of the few stoplights on the island, enjoyed a view of Pier Village, St. Simons Island’s place-to-be for residents and tourists alike.   Knowing I had to get to my destination and that I’d make my way back to the eclectic yet quaint shopping and dining district later,  I gently pressed the gas pedal when the light turned green and went on my way down Kings Way until it turned into Ocean Boulevard.  Then, I felt it in my soul; I was almost home.  Less than five minutes later, and no more than 7 minutes after crossing onto St. Simons Island from Torres Causeway, I stopped the car, opened my door, and took a deep breathe while looking up at the beautiful King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort that I and my family have become so fond of over the last four years.

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia

Visiting The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort has become at least an annual occasion for my family so as I embarked on my most recent trip to the island, I wondered what I could possibly learn or experience at the resort and on the island that I haven’t already?  I was in for a surprise!  During this trip I received educational insight from local residents, historians, entrepreneurs, and artists including Curt Smith, Lighthouse Historian, Cap Fendig, life long resident of St. Simons and island host via way of trolley and boat, Cap’n Larry Credle, who runs educational shrimp boat excursions on the Lady Jane, a family MUST-DO!  I listened in awe as Mr. Smith shared details of when, in 1941, Germans sank five Allied merchant ships off Georgia shores, Georgia’s closest brush with actual combat operations in World War II.  The Naval Air Station Glynco in nearby Brunswick, GA was home to blimps that flew thousands of hours on coastal and maritime patrol.  A visit to the St. Simons Lighthouse and Maritime Center are a must for families with children who want or need to learn about the Georgia’s rich coastal history.  If your child, or yourself, is interested in history, a stop at the Lighthouse is a must-do!

King and Prince accomodations

The lavish accommodations make guests feel like royalty, even the young one’s receive a crown upon checking in.  Mom can sneak away for a relaxing massage in the Royal Cottage with treatments starting at just $50 for a 30-minute massage.   Dad can get away for a round of golf before setting out on a kayak tour of the marshes later in the day.  After being treated like a King or Queen, the family can relax by the pool and enjoy light snack by the pool served by The Sea Shack Bar and Bites.   ECHO, the resort’s restaurant, also offers patio seating near the pool area, weather permitting.  The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort is the only beachfront hotel on St. Simons Island giving guests an exceptional view from any angle.  Most rooms, villas, and rental homes on the property have at least an ocean view.  For large families, the available rental homes provide everything your family needs for a week-long, or longer, stay including a fully supplied kitchen, plenty of seating, ample closet and bathroom space, and easy access to all of the resort’s amenities.

King and Prince food and drink

St. Simons Island offers endless opportunities to dine in local hotspots that combine fresh seafood with traditional southern cuisine such as the Shrimp and Grits dish complete with Andoyille etouffee and Sapelo Farms greens served at The King and Prince or Homemade Empanadas served at Del Sur, a new restaurant on St. Simons Island.   The second morning of our visit, we enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast at the Sandcastle Café, where owners, Tim and Melissa, have operated for 26 years. 

The King and Prince Resort, on St. Simon’s Island is the perfect secluded escape for busy parents in need of a relaxing vacation.  Bringing the kids is optional but never have I taken the kids to The King and Prince and regretted that my husband and I didn’t have enough relaxing time.   The beautiful view, resort ambiance, amenities, dining, and accommodations more than make up for the fact that the kids are with us the entire time.  The kids are happy because there is so much to do at the resort and you know that happy kids = happy parents!

The King and Prince hosts fun events during the year, including culinary classes, taste of Thanksgiving, holiday cookie parties, and a New Years Eve party.  You can follow along on their Facebook page for up to date event and activity information.

Do you see why The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort is my home-away-from-home?

More articles to come in this series:

  • 10 must-go places and things to do on St. Simons Island when you’re staying at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
  • Enjoy great dining at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
  • Holiday events and activities at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
  • 3 Must-See Historical Sites on St. Simons Island, Georgia

Getting to The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island
Georgia, 31522
(800) 342-0212

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort is located on historic St. Simons Island in Georgia and is easily accessible by either car or air.  Island exits from I-95 are just 15 minutes from St. Simons. The Jacksonville International Airport is just 60 miles away and the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is less than 70 miles away. Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is a quick 20-minute drive, with three incoming Delta Connection flights daily.

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More articles about The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

Note to readers: I was invited by The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on a media trip and was provided lodging and meals.  All opinions are my own.

The King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia

Remodeled King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

Location:
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island, GA

About a 5.5 hour drive from Atlanta
About an hour drive from Jacksonville International Airport

Reservations: 877-724-3170
www.kingandprince.com

St. Simons Island, GA map

St. Simons Island, Georgia is home to an award-winning vacation destination called The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort.  If you live in Georgia, chances are you and/or your friends and family have been to The King and Prince and many families have memories of visiting the quaint seaside resort for decades.   The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, opened in 1941, recently underwent a head-turning remodel.

My family stayed in one of the The King and Prince’s rental homes called the Familia Meadows House in July and experienced the beautiful renovations first-hand.  During our stay at The King and Prince last August, Bud St. Pierre – director of sales, explained the upcoming renovations and while I had reservations about the indoor heated pool being taken out and replaced with a seating area, I can’t imagine it any other way now.  The King and Prince’s lobby, bar and restaurant were completely remodeled and look better than ever.   It’s hard to believe that the work was completed in just three months.

The King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia

The newly remodeled lobby features a huge fireplace with a plush and relaxing seating area where the indoor pool used to be.  My kids were concerned that the indoor pool was ‘missing’ but quickly formed a bond with the seating area and view in the lobby, like kids do.  The mixture of hardwood, tile, modern and vintage fixtures in the lobby and dining areas grab visitors attention while at the same time the beautiful use of these elements relaxes the mind and body.  The gorgeous view of the ocean from the lobby and ECHO restaurant and bar, doesn’t hurt.

St. Simons Island is a barrier island off the southern coast of Georgia that offers visitors a wealth of scenic views, historical sights and tours such as Fort Frederica and St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum as well as wildlife viewing areas, great food, fishing, and boutique shopping.  St. Simons Island isn’t what I would call a touristy beach town but more of a town where year-round residents welcome visitors and share the beauty St. Simons Island has to offer with guests. 

St. Simons Island, Georgia beach

What my kids love most about The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort and St. Simons Island the beach.  The hard-sand beaches make for amazing sand castles, great bike riding, and easy walking.  Twice a day, as if by magic, large sandbars appear about 25-75 yards from shore and closer in some places.   Many visitors swim or kayak to the sandbar to look at shells.   During low tide my kids found dozens of empty knobbed whelk shells in the large rocks.  We learned from a St. Simons Island native who walks the beach every morning, that the snails living inside the knobbed whelk scurry (slowly I suppose) out of their shell to get to water once the shell gets stuck in the rocks at low tide.  

The King and Prince St. Simons Island sandbar

The King and Prince Guests See A Lot of Marine Life

You can’t get much better than St. Simons Island in regards to viewing marine life.  During our visit this month we saw small sand sharks playing near the sandbar early in the morning when the tide is very low as well as lots of hermit crabs, blue crabs, purple crabs, horseshoe crabs, and sea anemone.

Grab your family and watch the short video below to see what is so great about
The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, GA

About 15 minutes from The King and Prince Beach & Golf resort is one of the greatest opportunities for your kids to learn about and see what is in the waters of the St. Simons Sound.  On board the Lady Jane shrimpin’ excursion is marine biologist, Mr. Phil – as the kids called him, who explained in detail the marine life that was pulled up in the net during the 2 hour ride through the Sound.  The kids loved seeing and learning about the stingrays and squid while I enjoyed learning about the delicate yet thriving ecosystem of the area.  I highly recommend that you take a trip on the Lady Jane shrimpin’ boat during your next visit to St. Simons Island.

St. Simons Island beach - kayak and bike rentals

Water Activities

Not one’s to miss out on adventure, my husband and 14-year-old son took to the ocean in kayaks.  Kayaks are available to rent right from the beach at The King and Prince and if kayaking isn’t your thing, hop on a bike rented from one of the local shops and ride the shores to take in the scenery and wildlife.  For the entire family, I recommend hopping on a trolley tour of St. Simons Island.  Standup paddleboarding is big now and we got to see plenty of paddle boarding action, including paddle boarding yoga, from the beach.  Paddleboards are also available to rent.  Visit the concierge desk at the resort to plan your itinerary during your stay on the island.

The King and Prince Resort Accommodations

Accommodations include 2-bedroom villas, oceanfront suites, oceanfront rooms, partial ocean view rooms, resort-view rooms, standard rooms, and private guest houses. Guests can enjoy access to the onsite pools and exercise facility.  Spa/massage services are available in the Royal Treatment Cottage.

During our stay in July, we stayed at the Familia Meadows House at The King and Prince.  The five level, 4 bedroom pet-friendly house has 4 decks/patios, a loft living room with large flat screen TV, stainless-steel appliances, beautiful hardwood floors, a huge walk-in closet in the master bedroom, and a fenced in yard.  The top deck looks out onto the resort property and has a fireplace, seating area, and a sink.  The kids spent most of the time we were in the house on this deck.

The King and Prince Resort - St. Simons Island Meadows House

The King and Prince Dining Options

ECHO is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and its menu, which changes seasonally, features ingredients provided by fisherman and farms in the local region such as fresh Georgia shrimp and peaches as well as local cheeses.   On days you want to relax by the pool all day, The Sea Shack Bar + Bites, will happily serve your family items such as all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders, ceasar salad, and shrimp cocktail.

Connect with The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island, GA

Reservations: 877-724-3170
www.kingandprince.com

More articles in The King and Prince Resort / St. Simons Island, GA series:

Six Flags Over Georgia Announces Biggest Expansion Ever, Hurricane Harbor Water Park!

Six Flags Over Georgia Hurricane Harbor news

Planning a visit to Georgia next summer?  Be sure to include a visit to Six Flags Over Georgia in your plans!  Six Flags Over Georgia will surprise you from entry to exit.  The healthy food options, immaculately clean park, safety features, and shaded play areas make the popular theme park a must visit for Georgia residents and tourists alike.  Opening Memorial Day of 2014, Hurricane Harbor will provide you and your kids with one more way to have an amazing day and build great memories.  Don’t forget to bring a waterproof camera! 🙂

Six Flags Over Georgia announced the addition of Hurricane Harbor, opening in 2014, today.  Hurricane Harbor, an all-new water park element of Six Flags Over Georgia will open Memorial Day 2014.  Not only can parents take their kids to get the thrill of a lifetime on Six Flags’ traditional roller coasters and rides, starting Memorial Day of 2014 parents and kids can relax in the 800,000 gallon wave pool or enjoy a (gigantic) splash on Bahamas Blaster sporting a four story drop in the 7-acre Caribbean landscaped Hurricane Harbor.  Younger kids will enjoy the wave pool and interactive children’s water play area.

Park president, Dale Kaetzel, informed us that the Caribbean Island themed water park will include cabanas, shaded areas, dining locations, and shopping.  The addition of Hurricane Harbor to the South East’s premier theme park, will make Six Flags Over Georgia a must-visit park for residents and tourists alike.  Six Flags Over Georgia is located at 275 Riverside Parkway SW in Austell off of Interstate 20 west of Atlanta, just a quick drive from Atlanta and surrounding areas.

Hurricane Harbor, set to open in late May 2014, will include an 800,000 gallon wave pool, a multi-slide tower, and a “world’s first” single slide tower combining two extreme slide thrills, plus an interactive children’s water play area.

Admission to Hurricane Harbor will be included in any one day admission ticket or a Six Flags Over Georgia season pass. Six Flags White Water in Marietta, Ga. and Six Flags Over Georgia will continue to offer combination passes for guests to enjoy both destinations at one low price.

Six Flags Over Georgia Hurricane Harbor 2014 announcement

 

What Will Be Inside Hurricane Harbor:

Gigantic Wave Pool – Hurricane Bay
With over eight hundred thousand gallons of water this, thirty eight thousand square foot high tech ocean experience will simulate the deep blue Caribbean surf. Equipped with a state of the art wave system that is capable of producing waves up to four feet high this pool will create rolling waves that guests can enjoy all day.

Dual Slide Complex – Calypso Cobra
For those who feel the need for speed and cool thrills, this world’s-first slide will test riders bravery as they take on something the world has never seen. Combining two great slide experiences into one extreme thrill; four riders will take on the Cobra as they barrel down an enclosed 5-story drop before they are shot into a 40 -foot wide bowl and take on complete watery mayhem. Just as they think it is over riders take on the Calypso Cobra’s finale which shoots them perpendicular to the ground and suspends them in a moment of zero-gravity as they are swept across the Cobras tail. Guests will find themselves screaming around every slippery turn.

Multi-Slide Complex – Bahamas Blaster and Runaway Pipeline
Riding with their family and friends in an inner tube, guests will careen down a dark watery decent through the enclosed tunnels and soar down 180 and 360 degree curves. The serpentine tunnels will propel riders through rushing water and then drops them into the pool below. Bold adventurers can take on the Bahamas Bowl and careen down a four story drop into a gigantic bowl that will hurl them around and around in gushing water before finally dropping them out through a corkscrew chute into a splash pool below.

Children’s Activity Area – Paradise Island
Kids will be in command of this, 200 square foot interactive water playground that includes three giant water-dumping towers and hundreds of interactive water elements. Splash into this water play structure and get soaked on six slides with dozens of water gadgets, climbing nets, water blasters and tipping buckets.

 

As you may have read on AtlantaMoms.com, I am thrilled to be a Six Flags Super Mom for the next year and hopefully longer.  Being a super mom has its benefits.. such as learning about new and exciting developments at Six Flags Over Georgia.  Holding this fabulous secret in has been tough and I am so glad to get to share it with you today!

Learn more about what I am and will be doing as a Six Flags Super Mom here!


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Atlanta Readers: Enter to Win TOTEM by @Cirque du Soleil Tickets, Backstage Tour, and More!

Cirque du Soleil is back in Atlanta with TOTEM and Atlanta Moms® is giving away an exclusive prize pack of tickets and more, to one lucky reader!

Cirque du Soleil TOTEM ticket giveaway

 

This Exclusive Online TOTEM by Cirque du Soleil Atlanta Prize Pack Includes:

  • One Family Four Pack of great tickets to TOTEM by Cirque du Soleil in Atlanta  ($280 value)
  • Backstage Tour of TOTEM for all 4 ticket holders (priceless!)
  • One TOTEM merchandise pack (value $50)
  • Gift card for dinner at Lobby at Twelve at Atlantic Station the day of the show (value $100)
  • This show is in Atlanta and transportation costs are not included!
How incredible is that?  We want you to be able to experience a fabulous night out with your family so enter to win tickets today!

This prize pack is valued at over $430!

Enter to win here