March 2019 nash v i l l e l i f e s t y l e s . c om

COASTAL GETAWAYS

Top Southern Beaches

FEATURES{MARCH 2019}

62LET’S HEAR IT

FOR THE BURBS Five suburbs that are full of dynamic lifestyle amenities.

76SOUTHERN SANDS Find your spot in the

sun at three stellar beach destinations.

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Sea Island

Find your spot in the sun at these stellar beach destinations.

Southern Sands

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A historical treasure, Amelia Island toes the line between Lowcountry living and Florida beach getaway. Picture live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and Victorian architecture set against pristine sand dunes, and a long stretch of beach. Natural resourc-es and ecotourism abound here, but it’s also a solid stay if you’re looking for a few days at the beach and a first-rate culinary scene.

Less than an hour from Jacksonville, Florida, on A1A, this Golden Isle was founded by the French, yet is the only town in America to have the history of eight flags flown—a fact the locals are proud to share. There are three museums that sort out the story. Start at the Amelia Island Museum of Histo-ry located in a former jail where the Carnegie sons once spent their fair share of time. (The Carnegies owned 90 percent of neighboring Cumberland Island once upon a time.) American Beach was an African American resort established in 1935 in defiance of segregation. Today the American Beach Museum pays tribute to the legacy of those who made “recreation and relaxation without humilia-tion” possible. The Maritime Museum of Amelia Island is in Fernandina Beach where “Talk Like a Pirate Day” is every day. You’ll learn the history of pirates, treasure fleets, and other maritime sea stories told by actual treasure hunters.

Nearby, you’ll find Marlin & Barrel, a distillery producing a variety of spirits. Rums are popular here. How could they not be with all those pirates next door? Try the Bearing Pineapple Rum made with Florida grown sugar cane and make room in that checked bag for booty of your own.

Climb aboard a private charter at Fernandina Harbor Marina with Amelia Adventures. You’ll inevitably see schools of dolphins and maybe even one of those Instagram-able sunsets. The Pippi Longstocking House, Downtown District, and paper mills dot the coastline. Your true destination should be out to Cumberland Island, which is part of the National Park Service (NPS), and has a non-native, feral herd of around 150 horses—the only non-managed herd on the Atlantic coast. Don’t miss the Dungeness Ruins where the Carnegie family once lived and are now home to many of the horses.

Kayak Amelia gets you out to explore the island’s waterways with history top of mind. Paddle the

Fort George River and learn of the balanced ecosys-tem of the area. Take a break at the NPS Kingsley Plantation where Zephaniah Kingsley’s wife, and former slave, Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley, eventu-ally fought discriminatory state laws and won.

The exploration continues on the plate. Al Waldis and T.J. Pelletier create signature favorites like seared tuna nachos at the Salty Pelican Bar and Grill. Just around the corner and up a block or so is Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro where chef-owner Ricky Pigg features local seafood and Angus beef. Shake his hand as you may remember Pigg from his days here in Nashville at MAFIAoZA’s on 12th, or as executive chef of Stoney River Steakhouse and Grille. The Decantery is the downtown go-to for after-dinner drinks. In addition to a strong list of cocktails, wine-dispensing machines line the walls for an in-house sip, with a retail section as well. Over on the resort side of the island, Lagniappe is a main event. Serving lunch and dinner daily, with a Southern breakfast on Sundays, this locally

owned fine dining gem blends Southern staples and French Creole with fresh local ingredients.

For a good night’s rest, The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island tops the list. Each spring, the resort kicks off the season with one of the world’s top automotive events—Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. This year, the charitable extravaganza has teamed up with Nashville’s Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, John Oates, to celebrate the relationship between cars and guitars. Check out his collection March 8 to 10.

If resort life isn’t in the budget, there are many other options. Stay at The Seaside Amelia Inn for beachfront accommodations with killer sunrises and just minutes from downtown. The Fairbanks House is a bed and breakfast located in the historic district and is well known as a romantic getaway. Or, camp at The Atlantic Beach campground within Fort Clinch State Park—a civil war his-torical site, which is also a great beach to hunt for shark teeth. (ameliaisland.com)

History Meets Charm on Amelia Island, Florida

BY MELISSA CORBIN

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From champagne-filled sunset cruises to morning marsh rides on horseback, this Coastal Georgia gem has some-thing for everyone.

Oak trees dangling moss in the breeze over marshlands as far as the eye can see. Five miles of pristine beach. Southern charm for days. To say Sea Island is one of the region’s premier beach destinations would be an understatement.

Just a day’s drive from Nashville (or an easy flight to nearby Jacksonville), nestled on the Georgia coast between the Atlantic Ocean and the marshes of the Black Banks River, Sea Island’s The Cloister and its neighboring sister properties—The Cloister Beach Club, The Cloister Ocean Residences, and nearby Inn at Sea Island, and The Lodge—provide an enchanting and elegant way to explore the great out-doors—and some breathtaking reasons to stay inside.

From first glance inside The Cloister Main Building it’s easy to see how the resort earned its Forbes Five-Star rating. A jaw-dropping lobby, complete with a grand staircase and enormous fireplace, greets guests with a tantalizing taste of what’s to come. The rooms in the Main Building, with their coiffured wood ceilings and sumptuous furnishings, offer a chic-

meets-rustic respite from daily life. But beyond the ivy-covered walls of

the hotel are activities and amenities that make this elegant retreat feel a bit like an impeccably-designed summer camp for all ages.

Rainbow Island Water Sports includes sunset kayak tours and kayak fishing trips all launching just off Sea Island. Head to the Beach Club for a golf cart shelling tour or bocce and horseshoe rentals on the beach. You can also rent a 39-foot Contender for fishing trips (up to six people) or catch salt marsh nature tours and dolphin tours. Go luxe with yacht rentals and private cruises, or hop aboard a pre-dinner cocktail cruise.

Venture beyond the resort to nearby St. Simons Island for a visit to Turtle Tides Paddleboards and Kayaks, where you can rent a vessel for a leisurely lap around the waterfront or hang ten with a Stand-Up Paddle-board (SUP) surf lesson. Turtle Tides also offers guided tours on the inlet and once you’ve got your sea legs, you can head out into the ocean or marsh area on your own.

If you’re an equestrian, The Stables at Frederica offer beach and marsh rides as well as private lessons. And huntsmen will love the nearby shoot-ing school, complete with clay target

shooting lessons for adults and kids and a special Annie Oakley Shooting Hour for Ladies.

Hit the greens on one of two 18-hole golf courses, including Seaside, the site of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic. Perfect your serve at the Ten-nis Center or slice your way through a game of squash (the resort is one of the few Five-Star spots in the country to offer such facilities). Or think outside the box and try something a little flighty.

Birdwatchers will go batty for a Private Hawk Walk on Sea Island, led by a falconer and a bird of prey. (So you’re guaranteed to see at least one of these majestic creatures!) Or get even more up close and personal with The Falconry Experience at Broadfield (available through March 31). You’ll be able to observe three different hunting styles from different raptors. And of course, a Southern-style lunch is included.

Dining on Sea Island is an equally elegant experience. By night, tuck into a booth at The Lodge’s renowned steakhouse, Colt & Alison, for an unforgettable fine-dining experience. Looking for casual daytime fare? Grab an oceanfront seat at the Beach Club’s Southern Tide for seafood delights, and don’t forget to stop by the neigh-

boring Wonderland, Sea Island’s ice cream and sweet shop, to order up the resort’s famous Gold Brick sundae.

The locals haunt Southern Soul Barbeque on Saint Simons. Named The South’s Best BBQ in 2018 by Southern Living, this is some legit ‘cue. From an entire sandwich made from burnt ends (the best part of brisket!) to smoked meats, pimento cheese, Brunswick Stew and other Southern faves, this is a perfect spot for family dining or family-style dining for two.

And after all that food and activity there’s only one way to wind down: In the Sea Island Spa and Fitness Center. Enjoy signature treatments like the Southern Comfort Swedish massage, the Rock Your Body hot stone mas-sage, or the Make Waves anti-aging facial. And if being perfectly pam-pered doesn’t leave you feeling relaxed enough, spend some time in the spa’s soothing co-ed atrium, replicating the coastal Georgia outdoors complete with babbling brook, stone pathways, and live palm trees.

From its pristine beaches to its Southern hospitality and endless ame-nities, it’s easy to see why generations of families have flocked to Sea Island year after year. If you’re not yet one of them, now is the perfect time to plan a trip. (seaisland.com)

Luxury and Leisure on Sea Island, GeorgiaBY ALISON ABBEY

Colt & AlisonThe Cloister

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With its sugar-white beaches, glistening turquoise waters, and 16 captivating towns each unique in their own de-sign, it’s hard to believe that just 30 years ago the roughly 26 miles of pristine coastline that make up South Walton, Florida, were virtually undeveloped.

While South Walton may be its proper name, as many Nashvillians can attest, it’s better known as “30A” —by visitors and locals alike —in reference to Scenic Highway 30A that hugs the Gulf, linking the towns together.

Seaside was the place that started it all: a master planned community with colorful cottages, white picket fences, a thriving town center, and pedestrian friendly streetscape. Others followed suit with their own person-alities and style. But Alys Beach, the most recent urbanist community along this stretch of the Emerald Coast, pres-ents a whole new level of luxury and amenities. One only has to catch a glimpse of the towering rows of Medjool date palm trees that line the entrance to recognize this Bermuda-inspired oasis is destination like no other.

Alys is a serene sea of white—white stucco homes and buildings with white roofs—punctuated by rich, wood banisters and colorful railings. Impeccable green lawns swathe the community spaces, and at night, a low-light policy ensures guests can enjoy the stars in all the glory. The overall feeling is one of being transported to some-where exotic, like the Mediterranean.

All rentals are managed by Alys Beach directly, and guests have access to the tennis and basketball courts, community center, Caliza pool, private beach, and a high-ly anticipated state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot fitness center and full-service spa, ZUMA (opening spring 2019). Options range from one-bedroom condominiums to multi-bedroom homes with private courtyard pools.

Start your mornings in Alys with a cappuccino and freshly baked pastry at Fonville Press and cozy up on the patio with one of the cookbooks that line their shelves. Then take a stroll through the adjacent Fonville Park and admire the serpent sculptures along the way before claiming a cushy chaise by one of the pools.

Alys has three pools designed to meet a wide range of needs: Caliza Pool, a 100-foot, zero-entry, salt water pool that’s perfect for lounging and relaxing; a shallow family pool complete with whimsical fountains and draped aw-nings to shelter little ones from the sun; and a 75-foot lap pool where you can plug into the poolside iPod port and fuel your workout with underwater tunes. Or, escape the crowds entirely in the spa whirlpool that’s tucked away behind a cypress glade for maximum privacy.

Modern Simplicity at Alys Beach, Florida

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When afternoon temps hit their peak, take respite in the covered, outdoor courtyard, or throw on an extra layer of sunscreen, grab your sun hat, and climb the stairs to the loggia’s rooftop terrace for breathtaking views of the Gulf.

For lunch, grab a seat at the open-air bar at Caliza Restaurant. You can slip inside one of the cozy, draped cabanas that sur-round the pool and enjoy Caliza’s shareable plates or entrees, and refreshing cocktails, and Cava there, too.

After lunch rent bikes from Alys Beach Bike Shop and cruise along the paved pedestrian lanes that line both sides of 30A as it meanders along the coast. Take time to explore the neighboring towns and all their unique offerings along the way.

NEAT Bottle Shop & Tasting Room is where you’ll want to land for happy hour, for tasty bites that range from charcuterie to tableside caviar service that perfectly complement the stellar collection of curated wines and craft cocktails. From there it’s just a few short steps to George’s at Alys

Beach for dinner. Located within a repurposed coastal

cottage, George’s is just what you want beach-vacation-dining to be. There’s plenty of fresh seafood, but no shortage of other options to choose from, with everything from roast chicken to pork belly short ribs. It feels just right for a special occasion, but there’s no pretention here. Kids will feel right at home here, too.

When you’re ready to soak up some beach time, Alys delivers with style and grace, from a 30-foot bluff, where you can take in expansive Gulf views before making your descent to the crystal white sands be-low. (For a special treat, make arrangements for a bonfire on the beach at night).

And while it won’t be easy to pull yourself away from the glammy poolside life or the warm lap of waves hitting the shore, an elevated boardwalk welcomes guests on a journey through Alys’s 20-acre nature preserve, for a glimpse of the dense natural landscape that once covered the area. (alysbeach.com)

George’s

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