11 miles E of Brunswick
Since 1928, this has been the domain of the Cloister hotel . Today, in addition to the hotel, it's home to some of the most elegant villas and mansions in the Southeast. Most of Sea Island's homes are second homes to CEOs and other rich folk. Some can be rented if you can afford it; prices range from $720 to $1,770 a day. Call Sea Island Cottage Rentals (tel. 800/SEA-ISLAND [732-4752]; www.seaislandcottages.com).
The island was acquired by Ohio-based Howard Earle Coffin, an automobile executive, in 1925. Still owned by Coffin's descendants, the Cloister combines 10,000 acres of forest, lawn, and marshland, plus 5 miles of beachfront. Many day visitors who can't afford the high prices of the Cloister come over for a scenic drive along Sea Island Drive, called "Millionaire's Row" -- there's no tollgate.
