12.21.2014

Travel: The King & Prince


I recently paid a visit to St. Simons Island for a quick stay at the beautiful King & Prince Hotel. They were in the midst of preparing the recently-renovated hotel for the holidays, so I got a peek at what they had in store for their holiday guests. For instance, check out Chef John's holiday hot chocolate recipe here!

I became familiar with St. Simons when I lived in Savannah, when I would go for day trips to the Tibi outlet (real life, true story) or to go visit with vacationing friends. The island is a tight-knit beach town, with plenty to do and see if you’re not just there for beach bumming. The King & Prince is really the place to stay; it’s a sprawling, gorgeous beach-front property with a long history. I don’t know how to explain it but you can almost feel the history-the way you can when you visit the Biltmore estate. It's like an old-fashioned Gatsby-style glamour. They’ve added a gorgeous bar and restaurant adjacent to the lobby, complete with ocean and poolside views. Very nautical chic. I could go on forever about the staff. They are attentive, but it is more about the attitude; more than once I tried to hug one of the hotel employees. 

While the property is super family-friendly, I can’t wait to go back down for a long girls’ weekend. It’s a half-day trip from Raleigh, and only a few hours from Columbia or Charleston making it an ideal spot to meet up with some of your BFFs. Did I mention the Tibi outlet? It’s less than five minutes from The King & Prince. The hotel also has several houses for rent, which is ideal for a pack of ladies on a mission to unwind, or for a bachelorette party for that matter. All the amenities of the hotel but more room for dance parties. It would be so much fun to plan to be there for one of Chef John’s cooking lessons. While there are plenty of spots (Del Sur. Do not miss.) to dine out, dinner at ECHO and drinks at the bar makes it hard to want to leave! I took a zillion pictures of the tile floors and mirrored walls. It's gorgeous. The kind bartender even saved me from a painfully awkward pickup attempt, for which I will be forever grateful. That is some serious top-notch service.

My friends at The King & Prince also directed me to some of the islands’ top spots to visit and best-kept secrets. I took a shrimp boat ride, a bike ride, and a trolley tour that included stops at the historic and stunning Christ Church as well as the best barbecue restaurant, possibly in the South. The dudes at Southern Soul are so serious about their Q it’s almost a religion. The trolley tour was narrated by the very handsome Cap Fendig, who is practically an island celebrity, due to his charm and abundant kindness. I can’t tell you how gracious and welcoming everyone you cross paths with is and how much they love their island. Even for a no-kid having, hard-core relaxer like me, I loved getting out and exploring in a way I hadn't in past visits. The K & P helped me truly explore St. Simons, and helped me love this island even more. 

If you’re looking for a romantic, last-minute New Years trip, book a stay at The King & Prince. They have a spectacular NYE dinner menu at ECHO, at an amazing price,  and really great winter rates you can take advantage of for your getaway. Now is also an excellent time to get a jump on your spring & summer plans, they book up fast in the high season! 


*The King & Prince graciously accommodated me; this post represents my own opinions*













Chef John's World-Class Crab Cakes























4 comments:

  1. No visit to Gogo?! We are right next to Tibi!

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    1. Emma-I'm sorry I missed Gogo, it's definitely on my list for next trip! Beautiful pieces!

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  2. We honeymooned on SSI 25 years ago and fell in love with it! The King and Prince is an amazing place to stay! So glad you were able to go and stay at the K&P! There are so many places we visit each time we make a trip to SSI that I can't begin to list them all! We adore the family atmosphere on SSI!

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    1. Tamyra I totally agree! Every time I have gone back I see & do something new and the K & P is such a fantastic hotel-I Hope you have seen their gorgeous remodel!

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