A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"One Sensational Resort" is from the July 2007 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

The Cloister is back. After years of tearing down and rebuilding, this treasured favorite has again taken its place among the finest resorts in the world. While it's stunningly updated, The Cloister is still all about hospitality, embracing guests as only the South can.

Once you cross the marsh from bustling St. Simons Island, Georgia, you enter Sea Island's dreamy universe. Situated between silvery sands and a tea-colored river, terra-cotta roofs peek over the land's greenery. Welcoming bent arms of live oaks shade perfectly clipped emerald grass, and palm fronds whisper in the breezes.

While the facilities may look different, one thing hasn't changed--the attitude of genteel service combined with lively family traditions. Everyone is treated equally, whether you are a once-in-a-lifetime guest or you never think twice about the hefty price tag.

The Next Generation
The 1928 Addison Mizner-designed hotel has been generously reproportioned and re-created in the same Mediterranean style. It boasts 100 guest rooms in the main building, a spacious lobby, ballrooms, restaurants, and a library. Two areas harken back to the original: the Solarium and Spanish Lounge, which feature architectural pieces dismantled and lovingly replaced in these new rooms.

Fine antiques, hand-loomed Turkish rugs, historic photos, and paintings of the island adorn the public spaces. Around the exterior, gardens surround a small chapel that hosts Sunday services and weddings. The back terrace offers strategically placed lounge chairs and tables facing the river.

The guest rooms indulge with plush yet livable furnishings. Dark wooden beams cross the ceiling, while hardwood floors are cushioned with thick rugs. Private porches look west for a view of the marsh and sunset.

The bath alone is the size of the entire hotel room at many lesser resorts. It sports a separate sink area complete with deep soaking tub, plus a huge shower, flat-screen TV, heated towel bars, thick robes, and soft slippers. If you can think of anything else you might need, a butler awaits your call.

Other accommodations around Sea Island provide different types of rooms. All are well-appointed. The Ocean Houses tempt guests with oceanfront rooms and suites. You can also reserve a cottage on a nearby residential street--anywhere from a three-bedroom bungalow to a nine-bedroom manse. Each comes fully equipped with kitchen, living area, and optional housekeeping service.

The Outdoor Life
It's tempting to simply sit and take in the beauty here, but you'd miss so much fun. Every day, more than 30 activities invite you to explore the nature of this barrier island, including a children's program to fill your young one's hours.

Take the Jeep Train at low tide to the south end of the island to find cockleshells and whelks. Or arrange for an hour on horseback. At night, join a naturalist to hunt for signs of turtle nests. While The Cloister plans to open the new Beach Club this fall, this summer is an excellent time to enjoy the three pools and the beachfront covered arcade. It's still presided over by longtime employee "Big George" Drayton, who will remember your name every time.

Of course, the resort entertains with world-class sports, including tennis, golf, sea kayaking, onshore and offshore fishing, sporting clays, and sailing.

Bring Your Appetite
Dressing for dinner may be one of the most favored Cloister traditions. Men still wear coats and ties, and ladies don finery for an evening in the Georgian Room, which serves Southern dishes enriched with international flair. The space borders on fussy, with rich fabrics and ornate fireplaces. The impeccable service and deft menu make up for the overly feminine feel. The Main Dining Room is more welcoming to children and stays open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

When you want a more casual experience, opt for the River Bar. You can dine inside or out on burgers, grouper sandwiches, and fried oysters.