Christmas in the Golden Isles

        Being from a family of only three people, big Christmas dinners were never really a thing for us once all the cousin grew into adults. So we've always tried to come up with new adventures for Christmas. Usually we would eat Christmas dinner at a fancy hotel downtown or something. Then about three years ago we started the tradition of spending Christmas down in the Golden Isles of Georgia. It has come to be the highlight of the holiday season for me, and I look forward to it all year long. Usually we stay at the King and Prince resort on Saint Simons Island, and eat our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals at the Club on Jekyll island. We love getting to stay on the water and enjoying the beach on Saint Simons, and the food at Jekyll Island is just amazing. In the past the Jekyll Island Club has done an incredibly massive Christmas Day brunch buffet that was the largest I've ever seen and was reasonably priced. This year due to the health restrictions I think they are doing menu only. 

            This year because of Covid, Jekyll Island is only allowing people staying there to eat in their dining rooms. So this year we get the new adventure of staying at the Club on Jekyll Island. I am looking forward to exploring that Island more. The last couple of years we have explored Saint Simons and the downtown area and found some neat shops and restaurants. Last year we went and looked at the lighthouse that stands where the one built by James Gould. I grew up reading the Eugenia Price books about Saint Simons, so getting to see that was so neat. 

            Jekyll Island is very interesting because it was the hunting club of the rich and famous in the early 1900s. Some of the families stayed in the hotel rooms in the Club, while some (like the Rockefeller's and Firestones) built "cottages" (read mansions) on the Jekyll grounds. These gorgeous homes are now hotel rooms, event spaces, and museums. Strolling around the island is like stepping back in time. Jekyll Island is rich in history as it is also the home of the Federal Reserve. 

          If you are looking for a new Christmas adventure, then Saint Simons and Jekyll are the place to go. 

Back of the King and Prince resort 

 

Views from our room 2018 

View from our room 2019 

Southern Soul BBQ on Saint Simons. They were featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Definitely worth a stop! 

Some of the many "cottages" on Jekyll Island. 

My favorite "cottage" on Jekyll. Below are pictures of some of it's grounds. 

The Jekyll Island Club 

One of the libraries at the Club 

The sitting area outside the main dining room at the Club 

Christmas morning 2019 at the Jekyll Club 

Christmas morning 2018 at the Jekyll Club 

Saint Simons Lighthouse 

Saint Simons downtown waterfront 

Downtown Saint Simons 

The neat little sweet shop we found in downtown Saint Simons 

Downtown Saint Simons. Its a few blocks that ends at the water. It's a beautiful and quaint little area. 

We discovered a neat little home cooked restaurant in downtown Saint Simons called Barbara Jean's. The food was amazing homemade southern food. It was some of the best pot roast I've ever had. She's even written two cookbooks. 

Christmas Style in the South

2017

Jacket: Bebe 

Pants: Taikonhu

Purse: Michael Kors 

Top: Chelsea28 (Nordstrom)

Pants: Banana Republic 

Shoes: Louise et Cie 

Necklace: So Good Jewelry 

Ring: Nordstrom Rack 

Christmas Eve 

Turtleneck: Banana Republic 

Dress: Karl Lagerfeld 

Shoes: Dune of London 

Christmas Day 

Jacket: Bebe 

Shell: Bebe 

Skirt: Custom made 

Shoes: Ivanka Trump 

Earrings: Local Artisan 

2018

Top: Michael Kors 

Skirt: Ted Baker 

Shoes: Gianni Bini 

Top: White House Black Market 

Jacket: CeCe (Nordstrom) 

Pants: White House Black Market 

Shoes: Kate Spade 

Christmas Eve 

Shirt: Ralph Lauren 

Vest: White House Black Market 

Skirt: Banana Republic 

Shoes: Louise et Cie 

Christmas Day Brunch 

Top: Grazia 

Jacket: Reese and Riley 

Jeans: White House Black Market 

Shoes: Dune London 

Christmas Day Dinner 

Top: Chelsea and Theodore 

Jacket: Loft 

Skirt: White House Black Market 

Shoes: Dune London 

Turtleneck: Banana Republic 

Shawl: Mudpie 

Jeans: See Through Soul 

Booties: INC 

New Years Eve 

Top: Chelsea and Theodore 

Skirt: Maeve (Anthropologie) 

Shoes: Marc Fisher Ltd. 

2019 

Dress: Vineyard Vines 

Shoes: Nine West 

Belt: Amazon 

Top: Michael Kors 

Skirt: White House Black Market 

Shoes: White House Black Market 

Turtleneck: Banana Republic 

Jacket: Reese and Riley 

Jeans: Loft 

Shoes: Michael Kors 

Top: H&M 

Skirt: Custom made 

Shoes: Dune London 

Sweater: Michael Kors 

Jacket: White House Black Market 

Pants: Banana Republic 

Shoes: Paolo Linea 

Necklace: Versona 

Hat: Vince Camuto 

Turtleneck: Banana Republic 

Pants: White House Black Market 

Sweater: White House Black Market 

Shoes: Paolo Linea 

Necklace: White House Black Market 

Earrings: Nordstrom Rack 

Christmas Eve 

Top: Grazia 

Pants: White House Black Market 

Shoes: Nine West 

Earrings: Nordstrom Rack 

Sunglasses: Dolce and Gabbana 

Christmas Day Brunch 

 Top: Anthropology 

Pants: Calin by Flying Tomato 

Shoes: Steve Madden 

Christmas Card Photo 

Dress: Ash and T's formals 

Shoes: Ivanka Trump 

Gatlinburg at Christmas

Every year when I was growing up, we would go to Gatlinburg in the fall for vacation. We always rented this same little house, and I remember it being some of the best memories I have from being a kid. Then the owners sold our little rental house, and we just drifted into going elsewhere for vacations.  So last year we decided to take a family vacation and go to Gatlinburg the week before Christmas. It was beautiful and so much fun, though it was cold. It was a great chance to wear all the winter clothes that never get used in Charleston. 

We stayed at the Margaritaville hotel in Gatlinburg. It was a beautiful hotel and our room had an extra little bedroom with doors, which worked out great for me and the minion. The only drawback was that all the food in the hotel was super expensive. 

The hotel was right on this beautiful creek with I loved. It really made you feel like you were in the mountains and not in the business district. 

They have an adorable parrot that lives in the lobby. It's super fun to watch and take pictures of. 

The Pancake Pantry is a must visit. We ate there two different mornings and everything was amazing. These were the chocolate cherry crepes. 

I always have to take pictures with nutcrackers whenever I find them. This one was in the candy store next to the Pancake Pantry. They had great chocolate and taffy. 

Sweater: Michael Kors 

Jacket: White House Black Market 

Pants: Banana Republic 

Shoes: Linea Paolo (Nordstrom)

Hat: Vince Camuto 

Necklace: Versona 

We stopped to look around the Mountain Mall and these were the super cute elevator doors. 

We found a neat indoor putt-putt course. It kept the minion entertained for an hour or two. He absolutely loved it. 

The view down the stairs at the Mountain Mall 

The precious little birds that live in the dining room at the Applewood Farmhouse restaurant. 

Turtleneck: Banana Republic 

Pants: White House Black Market 

Sweater: White House Black Market 

Necklace: Black House White Market 

Earrings: Nordstrom Rack 

Shoes: Linea Paolo (Nordstrom)

Checking out the apple barn at the Applewood Farmhouse. He wanted to use them as balls. 

Sunglasses: Dolce and Gabbana 

Coat: Miss Sixty (Burlington Coat Factory) 

We stopped at the little corner kiddie amusement park and arcade where I rode my first ride when I was about Cameron's age. Thomas was his favorite ride. 

We had to get some Marble Slab ice cream after riding the rides, even though it was cold. 

So if you are looking for a fun and different place to go visit this Christmas, go check out Gatlinburg. It may be cold, but it will be beautiful and there is so much to do. And because it isn't a peak season for them, there are no crowds and everything is a bit cheaper. I also loved their Christmas decorations and all the lights they put up. All together it was a really special family trip.