golden isles.com
When you first take in the smell of the marsh as you cross the causeway then make your way down the roads lined with live oaks draped in Spanish moss to step foot on St. Simons Island, there’s an air of welcome and excitement. This is a place where not only vacation dreams come true, but dreams of home, and big aspirations and daydreams too. Whether you’re visiting St. Simons Island for the first time or you’re celebrating your fiftieth year here, you’ll feel a sense of home—even if it’s a home you never knew existed before.
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Marcie Kicklighter, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications at the Golden Isles CVB said that feeling is expressed by visitors to the Golden Isles Welcome Center on St. Simons all the time. They love to hear it because the focus of the CVB is not only to attract visitors who appreciate the island and all it has to offer, but to also make sure our visitors have a great time while they’re here and leave feeling a connection to this place. The recent naming of the Golden Isles as the top destination for “Islands in the United States” in Travel+Leisure’s 2023 “World’s Best Awards” demonstrates that the Golden Isles CVB is incredibly effective at doing that. Not only did the Golden Isles earn that amazing accolade, it also ranked in the “Best Islands in the World” for the first time, coming in at #13 on a list with some jaw-dropping competitors. Earning this praise was a dream come true for the staff of the CVB, says Kicklighter, and but so is sharing that accomplishment with the community. Marcie is quick to point out that although the CVB worked very hard to earn the recognition from Travel+Leisure, it is not the only dream that has come true for them. Last year’s launch of Golden Isles IPA with Silver Bluff Brewing Co. stemmed from a partnership they cultivated based on positive brand alignment. Since the launch of the co-branded brew, Silver Bluff’s sales have increased 70%, making it a dream come true for both parties.
But perhaps most important was the initial move in of the Welcome Center in 2015 from its tiny spot in the Casino Building to the beautiful larger space it now occupies. That’s when they began to dream bigger, making great strides in developing and strengthening the brand they have so much pride in today. It led to a partnership with Glynn Visual Arts to display works by local artists and allowed them to open a retail store, which has now become the Live Oak Shop and is experiencing record sales this year.
When you visit the Golden Isles Welcome Center in the popular Pier Village area of St. Simons Island, you’ll find more than just brochures and flyers promoting local and regional attractions and amenities. Here, you’ll discover the treasure that is the Live Oak Shop. But before you walk in the front door, we urge you to stop and see Cora, the Golden Isles mermaid tree spirit outside of the building. Part of St. Simons Island’s unique charm, there are more than twenty hand-carved faces and characters engraved into several centuries old live oak trees around the island. While several exist on private property, almost a dozen are located in public areas and can be found using a map provided in the Welcome Center. If you’re visiting, hunting for the other tree spirits is a perfect way to discover additional spots on the island in a fun way.
The focus of the Live Oak Shop is to share the beautiful and unique gifts of the Golden Isles with visitors and residents alike. Part of doing that is by displaying local art. The Welcome Center’s large art gallery partners with Glynn Visual Arts to feature works by a different local artist each month. They also sell paintings, prints, note cards and photography, such as the gorgeous nature shots captured by Tom Sweeney Arts at popular destinations like Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. Tom’s hand-carved tree spirit minis and loggerhead turtles make great keepsakes of your island adventures They offer an extensive array of jewelry, ornaments, and other unique handcrafted items made by Golden Isles artisans as well. If you like “usable art,” Rebecca Braswell’s pottery pieces include mugs, tea pots, and a variety of trays and jewelry holders in different sizes.
Since the holidays are upon us, now would be a perfect time to start a new Christmas tradition by purchasing a custom Wendell August ornament engraved with a Golden Isles landmark. These designs feature a different design each year. Last year’s ornament depicted the St. Simons Island Pier. This year, the St. Simons Lighthouse is the subject. They make ideal gifts for anyone who cherishes time spent in our little corner of the world!
And speaking of the lighthouse, you’ll also find best-selling author Eugenia Price’s St. Simons Trilogy (The Lighthouse, New Moon Rising, and The Beloved Invader) and Georgia Trilogy (Bright Captivity, Where Shadows Go, and Beauty from Ashes) in the Live Oak Shop. Books by several other local authors ranging from history to nature photography to works of fiction are also carried in the shop.
For the golf lovers, the Live Oak Shop is the only place you can purchase official RSM Classic gear year-round. So if you miss your chance to grab a hat or shirt as a souvenir at the tournament, there’s still a chance to pick up some official gear exclusively offered here. Products include RSM-branded RLX Polo shirts and Imperial Hats. There is also a wide selection of official Golden Isles and St. Simons Island logo gear and tasteful apparel that includes Ralph Lauren RLX Polo custom shirts, vests, and pullovers. Other branded items include drinkware, custom Golden Isles landscape puzzles, hats, and visors. An array of plush animals and children’s books and coloring books ensure that everyone in the family can find something they’ll want to take home.
The Golden Isles Welcome Center and Live Oak Shop at 529 Beachview Drive are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. This is a reminder that you don’t have to be a tourist to visit, there is fresh art on display each month and new treasures arriving frequently that even longtime residents will be thrilled to discover. C’mon by, say hello to Cora, and then step through the doors to find that Southern hospitality and a warm welcome are just the beginning here.
Photos provided by GoldenIsles.com.
