Just mention the word ‘island’ and scenes as clear as photographs float through my frequently idle brain: Palm trees, soft sea breezes, sandy beaches, the redolence of freshly fried seafood, the brininess of gray oysters on the half shell, resting on shaved ice, meeting new friends in bikinis. Gives me pause. Women my age do not wear bikinis as a rule, or even as an afterthought. Even a two-piece is chancy. From middle age on, too many women lose confidence in their beauty, if you ask me, which no one has.
Enough Bikini talk for now, but not island talk. One island specifically: St Simons Island, one of a chain of islands along the south Georgia coast, known as the Golden Isles.
If you or your friends don’t own a piece of the island, ya gotta find some cute accommodations that inspire you to relax, cast your cares under the bed and exchange that sheepish grin for an all knowing smile. I found just the place in St Simons, an adults only (don’t get your hopes up tooooo high, anyone 16 and up is welcome), boutique hotel, nestled in the heart of town, yet hidden in the trees, offering a feeling of serene exclusivity. The Village Inn and Pub. There are so many pluses to this Inn that I feel like a calculator: Wonderful rooms, with the housekeeper, Conception, at hand to keep everything pristine, and a staff that is so cordially friendly and can give you tips on where to dine and where to shop and what to see. Nor can I forget the pub’s wonderfully cozy bar, featuring a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. To top it off, at check in, you’ll be given coupons for $3 off your first drink……and guess what, the house wines are delicious and at HH, a generous pour of wine costs $3!
So you’ve found a wonderfully restful place to stay, and restaurants such as Georgia Sea Grill at a short walk, almost in front of the Inn. Now all you need to do is find some things to do, and St Simons has plenty of those. Don’t you dare miss historically fascinating Fort Frederica!
Now for some more bikini talk. The swimsuit grabbed its name from the Pacific Ocean’s Bikini Atoll in the Marshall island chain, where the U.S. conducted nuclear weapons tests from 1946 to 1958.
Perhaps the heat of a nuclear blast is what inspired French designer, Louis Réard to introduce his scanty swimwear at a popular Parisian swimming pool, le Piscine Molitor. Two-piece suits came out in the 1930s, but Réard’s offering pared the two-piece down enough to barely hide the mountain range and the shag carpet, and from the looks of things, it’s still shrinking faster than a cube of sugar in a rainstorm. When you visit today’s summer beaches, be prepared to feel like an eager, amateur gynecologist. And when you do, don’t forget Atoll you so!
Now let’s get back to St Simons….or at least I will!
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