Being only a few hours away from Atlanta, I’ve always heard friends refer to the irresistible pull of the sleepy Georgia coastline and its comforting resorts.  So when our dear friend Cheri Leavy, cofounder of The Southern Coterie, invited me to experience her Golden Isles, I knew my photographer and friend, Kathryn, and I would be in for a treat. 

There’s really no wonder why it’s called the Golden Isles; the cluster of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons and Brunswick nestled on the Georgia coast and their romance envelopes you like rays of warm sunshine the minute you enter into the low country. An easy drive from Atlanta, the Golden Isles offer a tempting getaway from everyday life in the city, and you’d be hard-pressed to be anything but relaxed along its pristine beaches among miles and miles of sprawling marshlands. 

Before meeting up with the group, we did a bit of shopping at Redfern Village, where I could have spent hours.  Stops at Two Friends, Two Friends Too and Petite Maison were a must.  In Two Friends, I found bags from my dear friend Cinda B and jewels from one of my favorites, Julie Vos. At Two Friends Too, I fell in love with an antique Chippendale dresser that I had dreams of turning into a bar, but alas there was no extra room in the car home.  And how could I pass up my greek letters, Chi O, in a super fun doormat version. At Petite Maison, my heart went pitter-patter as I swooned over art by Britt Bass and Teil Duncan, plus the most amazing tassel earrings from Audrey Allman.  And before heading out I of course, had to hit up the Tibi outlet and support a hometown hero. 

After doing a little damage in Redfern, we were happy to gather for evening cocktails at The Lodge on St. Simons Island, recognized as a #1 resort in the mainland U.S by. Conde Nast Traveler.  As Cheri always says; “the Lodge is my happy place,” and happy it was.  As the sun set and the sky turned pink we enjoyed our sips on the sprawling porch overlooking the 18th hole and causeway, while being serenaded by a set of bagpipes.  It was nothing short of magical, and the perfect way to start the weekend.

Be sure to fan through the photo gallery for more stunning images from Day 1 below, and tune in Friday for the recap from our second day among the glorious Golden Isles.  Truly, MKR

Just an hour outside of Atlanta lies a city that feels a whole world away, Athens.  Best known as the home of the University of Georgia Bull Dawgs, but as I was about to quickly find out Athens is not just about Saturday football games.  Athens is a community, a tightly knit one at that.  Athens is a community filled with local proprietors that have been open for generations, food that rivals that of any metro market, emerging artists in every shape and form, and families where parents do the daily commute to Atlanta just to raise their children in a place they feel is home.  This I all knew from hearing friends speak passionately about the town, but I was excited to experience it for myself and see the things to do in Athens, Georgia. 

First stop (per everyone’s suggestions on Instagram),  Last Resort.  A restaurant that has been serving locals for decades.  The food was fantastic and better yet cheap.  I noshed on a southwestern salad and the best grilled okra I’d had since being down south, Kathryn the grilled vegetable pasta a staple from her days as a Dawg.  We washed it all down with some rose of course and cake which was worth the hype.  A quick walk up the street we met Cheri and friends at Heery’s Closet to do a little shopping and attend the Empire State Finery trunk show.  From Tibi (a local Athens girl herself) to Tory, Joie and Theodosia I quickly understood why Heery’s was your best bet when it came to shopping local.  I snagged another ESF piece for my collection and even though the temperatures were in the 90’s I couldn’t resist this perfect Vince cashmere for fall.

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