St. Simons Island, Georgia (May, 2010) As the year turns a page in history, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island is celebrating a Diamond Anniversary as one of America’s legendary gems of hospitality. With its rich southern heritage spanning 75 years of island evolution and advancements, the hotel’s distinctive Mediterranean architecture has secured its place in history. The story continues today as a destination of immeasurable riches. The seaside paradise combines pleasure and practicality in a setting heralded by guests since it opened in 1935.

“It is with great pride as we enter the second decade of the 21st Century that we celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Over the past seven and half decades The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort has provided true Southern Hospitality to thousands of guests and we look forward to continuing that tradition for the next 75 years and beyond” Michael Johnson, General Manager, announces.

THE KING AND PRINCE HOTEL HISTORY: If walls could talk, The King and Prince, (on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America), would share a rich legacy of its place in American history for 75 years. Originally opened as a private dance club, friends of owners Frank Horn and Morgan Wynn coined its name that befitted its regal atmosphere. In its first two years it survived two fires, enduring each reconstruction with grand accommodations, fashionable parlors, stately ballroom, elaborate beachfront boardwalk, palm gardens that hosted events from popular orchestras to boxing matches. Maintaining a reputation for elegance and warm hospitality throughout each decade, the Resort has been a tranquil island haven for dignitaries, celebrities, discerning families and business travelers since pre WW II until today.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND HISTORY: History buffs have treasures beyond compare when tracing the timeline of centuries-old accounts of people marching into and settling along the coast of St. Simons Island. The Historical Society offers a glimpse into the rich island heritage that meticulously captures our Native Settlers, Spanish Missions, The English Period, Plantation Era, The Mill Era and into today’s Resort Era.

THE KING AND PRINCE GOLF COURSE: We offer an irresistible award-winning golf course that lures all levels of golfers to the northern tip of St. Simons Island. It occupies some of coastal Georgia’s most dramatic low country acreage that was once the thriving and vast 18th century Hampton Plantation where cotton, indigo and rice dominated. To celebrate the Resort’s 75th anniversary, what has been called the east coast’s ‘best marsh front’ course is finally re-opened after a $3.6 million transformation that touched every yard of its glorious location. It is a valued part of The King and Prince Legacy.

ROYAL TREATMENT COTTAGE: Welcome to where your mind and body can relax, in an historic beach cottage on the resort grounds just steps from the sand and sea breezes. We focus exclusively on massage therapies and treatments, both traditional and customized that includes Swedish, aromatherapy, reflexology, sport-specific and side-by-side for couples. The team of licensed therapists each possess a sense of intuition and understanding that brings each guest personalized healing styles and techniques.

MEDIA INVITATION: Come celebrate a Diamond Anniversary and experience the Resort’s dramatic saga that introduces our Hotel’s accommodations ~ oceanfront rooms, beach cottages, suites, villas, Cabana rooms and resort residences. Play or visit the award-winning King and Prince Golf Course, visit our Royal Treatment Cottage, savor the flavors of relaxed oceanfront dining and allow the staff to open doors of exceptional amenities that blend with first-class southern hospitality and service.

MEDIA REPRESENTATION:
Leigh Cort Publicity

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522
http://www.kingandprince.com

TripAdvisor’s Recent Headlines:
“Love this historic hotel in a beautiful location”
“More than we could have expected”
“Everything about this resort is outstanding”
“Picture Perfect”
“Great Location, Great Room, Great Vacation”
“Best beach in St. Simons Island”

Drive Times:
1 hour from Jacksonville, FL
1.5 hours from Savannah, GA
3 hours from Charleston, SC
4 hours from Orlando, FL
5 hours from Atlanta, GA
5 hours from Charlotte, NC

Getting There: Jacksonville, Florida & Savannah, Georgia International Airports. Additionally:
Brunswick-Golden Isles Airport, Brunswick, Georgia. This airport currently is served by Delta Air Lines, with three daily round-trip flights to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This and other information can be found on the CVB website — http://www.ComeCoastAwhile.com

Escape to Eagle Lodge Where Your Private Island is Waiting

Join us for one of America’s most secluded private islands on the Atlantic coast. Eagle Island, a 10-minute boat ride from Darien, Georgia (a small fishing town 60 miles south of Savannah), features the Eagle Lodge. It’s an extraordinary vacation hideaway, completely outfitted with luxurious amenities AND the Lodge comes with an uninhabited 10-acre private island!

Cap’n Andy Hill personally opens the door to an eco island adventure for journalists as he introduces ‘Boating 101’, a hands-on journey that begins with navigating his boat from the Darien River into the Intracoastal Waterway, through the Doboy Sound and to the Atlantic Ocean. Writers learn about why the Nature Conservancy named this region of the Georgia Coast one of ’75 Last GREAT PLACES Left in the World’.

Begin your trip at Cap’n Andy’s newly opened COASTAL MARITIME LODGE and HIGH TIDE COTTAGE – then continue your journey to Eagle Island for 3 days of purely relaxing heaven. It’s a *5 Moon Getaway – NO Agenda, NO Clocks, NO Deadlines, YES Fun! Privacy is our Policy.

Eagle Lodge sits alone – surrounded by wildlife and plants in their natural environment, offering peace, quiet and complete seclusion if vacationers want it. Thousands of acres of Georgia coastal marsh cut the lodge off from the rest of the world, although the wild beaches of Sapelo Island are only a short boat ride away. The full indoor and outdoor kitchen are alluring since Guest Services provides all food, beverages and an enthusiasm for preparing freshly caught crab and fish from the island’s private dock.

Contact: Leigh Cort Publicity at (904) 806-3613 or leighcort@bellsouth.net

2010 TRIPS~

• October 12, 13, 14 (checkout 15th) Boating, fishing and camping Writers
• November 2,3,4 (checkout 5th) All Girls Trip – eco journalists
• December 6,7,8 (checkout 9th) Print Travel Writers – Adventure

MEDIA TRIP – September 20 – 22, 2010 ~ LONGBOAT KEY
‘Forgotten Florida’

AN ENCHANTED ISLAND... A WORLD APART
Where ‘Forgotten Florida’ is Alive

“One of the most secluded tropical beach settings on Longboat Key”

Longboat Key, a slender barrier island nestled between the Gulf and Sarasota Bay, is a great outdoor adventure. The Sandpiper Inn’s 11 accommodations bring guests back to a time when vacations meant relaxation, reading a book, beachcombing where there are more birds than people, watching a changing sunset every night that takes one’s breath away.

The Sandpiper Inn is a place where one can do everything or nothing and vacation where Money magazine identified one of the four wealthiest ZIP codes in the country. Yet despite the affluence, the casual island character remains, especially at the Sandpiper.

Walk out the door and you’re in the garden with resident egrets, 200 species of birds, exquisite tropical foliage and a petite heated pool for enjoying the average year-round 73 degree temperature. Balancing a little salt air and sand in your toes with the cultural jewels of Sarasota, within minutes one can drive to exquisite dining, John Ringling’s opulent home and museum, world-class shopping, ballet and opera, celebrated golf courses and sun-drenched tennis courts from island to mainland.

For the ‘foodie’ enthusiast, you’ll dine in restaurants tucked away under mangrove trees, along bayous, beaches and bays that are a world away from glaring neon, towering billboards and massive mini-malls. There is a warm welcome awaiting everyone’s taste for upscale and down to earth dining.

Visit the Mansions and Museums of Sarasota and try your hand at surf fishing. The ‘Liquid Limousine’ is a fabulous way to see the luxurious shoreline as you cruise through Sarasota Bay. Whether hunting for an old historic site and Indian middens or sipping a frozen beverage on the beach, Longboat Key is a balanced affair. The riches of this coastal hideaway can quickly bring you back to the past ~ while its style is definitely living in the moment.

Here in this ‘forgotten Florida’ Inn that is surrounded by luxurious mansions and high-rise condos, one can experience why Longboat Key became a seasonal hideaway for well-to-do northerners nearly a century ago and home to a small enclave of hardy folk who could live without luxuries, all happily sharing this 11 mile ‘cay’ in harmony.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING 9 JOURNALISTS ON Media Trip – contact:

Leigh Cort
Leigh Cort Publicity
(904) 806-3613
leighcort@bellsouth.net

PLEASE NOTE: Accommodations, dining and group activities are hosted by Sandpiper Inn and participating restaurants. (Gratuities are the only media charge for housekeeping and dining servers). Transportation to Longboat Key, Florida is not included.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Sandpiper Inn
5451 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Longboat Key, Florida 34228
http://www.sandpiperinn.com