Wednesday, I was in a real estate continuing education class at our local realtor board office in Brunswick, Georgia.  Our instructor was introducing a power-point slide before moving on to the next topic – FHA Loan procedures, yes very exciting.  The slide had a photo of a poolside area overlooking a tranquil ocean view that was very similar to what one might see from one or our resorts.  She laughed and said, “In Atlanta, that’s a slide where everyone ooohs and aaahs but ya’ll see it every day so it’s nothing new.”  I thought for a moment about her comment.  Later, during a communal lunch with board employees, I told her that, thankfully, I really do appreciate where I live every day and try to always keep in mind that I live in an area where people come to spend their vacations.  We have great beaches, excellent restaurants, a ton of golf courses, fishing, boating, walking and hiking, history, shopping and more and more. 

It’s no wonder that Brunswick, St. Simons, Jekyll Island and Sea Island, collectively known as the Golden Isles, has become such a great place to visit, retire or relocate to.  Cumberland Island is visible from the South end of Jekyll Island and with a good pair of binoculars, you can see wild horses walking the beach.   Jekyll Island, one of the last lightly develped easily accessible barrier islands in Georgia and a Georgia State Park, is just a few minutes drive from Brunswick.  You'll find miles of bike and walking trails.  Large and long beaches.  Beautiful soccer fields.  A National Landmark historic hotel at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

I’m live just a short bike ride to the beach or one of the little shopping villages.  I love that we still have a small town feel where I run into my neighbors, friends and family while out running errands.  Biking and walking trails all over the island make for easy access to just about anything you want.  We have festivals just about every weekend, jazz in the park under our century and a half old lighthouse and old timers enjoying the days away fishing from the pier.  So yes, I do enjoy coming home and I still realize I live in a great community along the coast of Georgia.

A Sunset as seen from Jekyll Island

We boat out to "Pelican Spit" a sandbar a few

miles out on the ocean side of Sea Island

accessible only by boat.