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NARRATOR: The coastal marshlands of Georgia present
an ideal vacation spot
for city dwellers looking to unwind...
JEFF: We live up in Boston.
We hear a lot of fire trucks and police sirens all the time,
so we're looking to get rid of all that noise
and return to nature.
...so newlyweds Rachel and Jeff are looking to tour
three islands to find the perfect destination
for a week away from home.
RACHEL: We really need a chance to just relax and reconnect
to our vows a year ago.
Will Rachel and Jeff find their secluded paradise?
That's just something we've been craving.
NARRATOR: Or will it be too tall an order?
[ Both chuckle ]
Might be a little tight.
It's a little smaller than I think I was imagining.
Find out as "Island Hunters" explores
the coastal inlets of Georgia.
[ Doorbell rings ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Georgia boasts over 348,000 square acres
of tidal marshland spread out over 100 miles of coastline.
With a variety of wildlife and activities,
these coastal inlets are a popular destination
for vacationers looking to get away from the big city
and enjoy a more relaxed pace.
We both love Georgia.
We've both spent a lot of time in Georgia.
Spent a lot of our growing-up years in Georgia.
It's just an area that draws us back again and again.
Now living in Boston, Rachel and Jeff are celebrating
their first wedding anniversary
and are drawn to Georgia's islands
for their big escape.
When you take a trip to somewhere,
it kind of has that extra significance
of just getting you away from your everyday life
and just making it more of a real special spot.
I think we really would like to be on an island
because it really gives you that extra feeling of seclusion.
Leaving it all on the dockside,
and we can get away from city life
and sit on the island and enjoy
and just kind of do nothing.
[ Both chuckle ]
Georgia's islands are somewhat unique.
Though they can appear large in size
and even connected to land,
most of the islands' landmass are made up of marsh.
So to help navigate the tricky terrain,
island expert Chris Krolow of Private Islands, Inc.
has sent his associate Louisa Baumander
to Brunswick, Georgia, to meet up with Rachel and Jeff.
Let's go over again what it is you're looking for
in your very own private island.
One of our big wish-list items is to be close to nature --
beautiful trees and beautiful views, hear the birds.
Those types of things are gonna be really meaningful
in helping us feel like we've separated
from the city life and can really relax.
We also want to have some time to spend alone
and really get away together.
We don't really get to see each other
as much as we'd like to.
And, also, I think water sports are
something that we both really enjoy,
especially things like kayaking.
We both really enjoy boating.
If we could get near a beach or have beach access,
I think that that's something that we'd really like
out of this island experience.
Wonderful.
Let's go do some island hunting.
Okay.
NARRATOR: With a budget of $5,000 for their romantic getaway,
Louisa is taking Rachel and Jeff on a cruise
through the Georgian marshlands.
Their first stop is May Hall Island.
Thank you.
This island is priced at $4,600 a week.
Great.
And as you look around you, you'll see over 20 acres of land
that will be all yours.
Okay. Great.
And what's really special about this island is
most of what you see here has been reclaimed
from the shores of Georgia.
Sounds great.
Look what we have here -- the most glorious little pool.
Oh, a little pool. And look at the view!
And look at the -- Isn't it gorgeous?
Stretches for miles.
You can just sit in the pool and look out and enjoy.
Absolutely.
Now, this is a really interesting feature
of this house.
There are two guest suites right here.
RACHEL: It's a little bit strange, the way that it's set up,
but at least that gives the higher floors
the opportunity for the best view
That's true. Yeah.
LOUISA: Each floor we go up, it just gets better and better.
Oh, wow. This is a wonderful room.
Isn't it glorious?
Yeah, all the big windows.
Yes. And it's got so many interesting historical features.
RACHEL: Really?
You look at the cabinetry.
these are reclaimed from a hotel in Brunswick,
so this wood is about 400 years old.
Oh, wow.
Limestone counters.
Top-of-the-line, stainless-steel appliances.
Beautiful ceiling fan.
This is such a wonderful space here.
So much light. It's great.
RACHEL: One person could sit in the living room,
and one could be in the kitchen,
and you could still have a conversation
and see the view, and so it's a nice open area.
This is great. Look at this.
JEFF: Oh, this is beautiful.
I could just sit out here. Couldn't we just for a week?
Yeah, well, that's your option.
It's great.
Especially all the little attention to detail in the decor
and nice open marsh view and the breeze.
This place is really nice, but it's just so fancy.
I'm wondering if just for the two of us,
we wouldn't want something a little more rustic
and a little more maybe connected to nature.
And even with such a beautiful kitchen,
I'm not sure if we're gonna be doing too much cooking
on this vacation.
I don't know. I like it.
You like it. I like it, too.
He likes it a lot, but we've got more to think about, I think.
And I'm gonna bring you into the master suite.
JEFF: It's a little tight turn.
Yeah, it's a tight coming up.
Yes, it is.
Getting up and down the stairs was a little bit tight for me.
There's no banister railing on it,
so it might be a little bit difficult,
especially after a couple glasses of wine.
LOUISA: Isn't it gorgeous?
This is wonderful. Look at this.
Maybe those stairs are worth it.
[ Both chuckle ]
And looking out over this view,
this is a great way to wake up.
And look at the bed.
Oh, wow. That's a crazy bed.
Might be a bit challenging for you to get in and out of.
Look how ornate it is.
Be kind of hard to get in and out of it, right?
Yeah, you'd have to duck your head.
[ Both chuckle ]
So, one really unique aspect of this property
is this entertainment area.
Yeah.
If you wanted to invite some friends down,
this is where you could entertain them.
This are all ballast stones.
LOUISA: And this motif,
you'll find it in this glorious, handmade fireplace.
JEFF: I like the little skull.
You see the skull?
And look at the little smiley face.
Yes, I think that's a talisman.
Then you can get wood all over the island.
Rachel, that will be your job.
[ Chuckles ]
Well, I think he loves getting wood.
So I'm gonna hand that off to him.
Could you see yourselves entertaining here?
I think it's just the two of us this time.
We need to relax by ourselves.
But it's definitely for the future --
coming and having a group, this would be wonderful.
LOUISA: Well, we've got more to see.
All right.
All right.
So, as you look out, towards the horizon,
there's this extraordinary feature -- a manmade pond.
I'm not exactly sure how you use a pond.
I guess you just kind of look at it,
and, you know, enjoy the view.
It's a really nice place to do some canoeing...
Yeah.
...to sit around, meditate maybe.
But it's still an interesting feature to have.
LOUISA: What do you think of this island?
I love it. It's beautiful,
especially with all the attention to detail
and the beautiful views from the top
and all of the bedrooms.
We could both just sit and look at that view forever.
The only thing I don't like is the different levels,
and it's a really big place.
For two people, it might be a bit on the big side
and a bit on the fancy side for a kind of island getaway.
As our first island, I think we're really impressed.
It's really exciting to see what else we have.
If they're half as good as this,
I think we'll be on a good track.
NARRATOR: Rachel and Jeff tour a charming resort,
but are they willing to share their vacation with others?
Are you okay with sharing it?
We wanted to have a secluded getaway.
We'd have to think about that.
NARRATOR: Rachel and Jeff are coming up
on their one-year wedding anniversary,
but Rachel's studies and Jeff's work
doesn't leave them with enough alone time
to spend together.
We really both would like to have a place
we can just go and relax and not be on our laptops
and just kind of get away from everything for awhile.
The couple has returned to Georgia,
where they were married last year,
in search of an island escape
from their hectic lives in Boston.
A vacation like this is gonna last us
a lifetime worth of memories.
Armed with a budget of up to $5,000 a week,
Rachel, Jeff, and island expert Louisa
have already toured May Hall Island,
which featured upscale amenities.
RACHEL: Just sit in the pool and look out and enjoy.
Absolutely.
NARRATOR: But they were concerned
that the house seemed better suited
to entertaining large groups
rather than providing a no-frills vacation.
It might be a bit on the fancy side
for a kind of island getaway.
For their second tour, Louisa's taking Rachel and Jeff
to Little St. Simons Island, a full-featured resort
that can house up to 32 guests.
So, as we walk along the boardwalk,
you can hear the birds and feel the shade
from the beautiful oak trees.
And look at these delightful cottages --
each one with its own distinct personality.
When we first arrived on Little St. Simons Island,
we were both really blown away
by just the wonderful nature setting.
So, are there other people on this island?
There are other people on this island.
And what I want you to do is to bear in mind
that Little St. Simons is a full-service resort.
JEFF: I'm not sure I really like other people on the island.
We wanted to have a secluded getaway,
so we'd have to think about that.
But you get your beds made in the morning,
and you have three meals a day
provided by a really top-end chef.
BOTH: Oh, nice.
The meals are really excellent here.
You have nature walks.
And there are naturalists here
that will answer every one of your questions.
Oh, I think that sounds great.
We love nature, and we'd love to learn more.
Well, it's nice to have all those different activities.
We can do anything we want, or we could do nothing.
LOUISA: So, we'll walk up this deck into our little cottage here.
Nice little cottage.
I love all these trees and all the Spanish moss.
I like the screened-in porch.
Sit out here in the morning.
LOUISA: And have your cup of coffee.
Come on in.
Oh, this is very nice.
Isn't it beautiful?
Look at it -- they got the fireplace.
Nice, cozy in the evenings.
You've got lovely oak floors and beautiful paneled ceiling.
Is it tall enough for you, Jeff?
Just about.
I'm 6'2", and I can actually touch the ceiling pretty easily.
I really do like walking into a place
that has a really tall ceiling
and feels really open and airy.
That one was a little bit short.
What do you think of the size of this space?
It might be a little tight.
We might get on top of each other a little bit.
[ Laughter ]
A week with just the two of us --
we'll see, but I think it's romantic.
And I want to know what you think
of this lovely master.
Oh, I think this is a very cute room.
Looks like a nice, comfy bed.
JEFF: I do like the bed frame a lot.
Isn't it beautiful?
And here's the master en suite.
It's a three-piece.
It's a really cute bedroom,
but it's a little smaller than I think I was imagining.
What do you think?
Yeah, it's a little small.
The ceiling's still a little bit low.
I like the porch right off the side over here.
And should we go out and take a look at it?
Yeah, that looks like a great view.
Here we are.
What do you think of this lovely deck?
Isn't this beautiful?
JEFF: It's really pretty.
This is just what we had in mind.
It's just got a real nature feel,
and, I mean, these beautiful oak trees
just right off the deck that you could just sit here
and take in the view.
Yeah, it really has all that non-manicured feel.
It's all natural indigenous plant life.
This is just really a quintessential
South Georgia environment.
Just really love it.
The cottage was a little bit small.
I'm not sure we'll have quite enough room.
But all of the nature outdoors.
I mean, you could open those windows
and just bring nature in.
LOUISA: Do you want to go take a look at some of the amenities?
Okay, let's go.
NARRATOR: Only a 10 minute drive from the guest cabin is
Little St. Simons' own private beach.
Now, one of the great things
that Little St. Simons Resort has is
this fabulous beach access.
Seven miles of beach, and as you can see,
very, very few people on it -- if anybody.
But we share it with people, right?
You do, but I think in seven miles,
you could find a little spot where nobody's going to see you,
nobody's going to interrupt you.
Are you okay with sharing it with people?
Possibly.
Sharing the beach with others wasn't
Yeah.
But, you know, I haven't seen
anybody else on the beach so far,
so it might seem like our own island anyway.
What do you think of this island as a whole?
We really love all of the nature
and all of the closeness that we feel to nature.
JEFF: And there are so many activities, as well --
all the different areas
and all the tours and everything.
Did you think the rooms were a bit small?
They were a little bit small.
I'm okay with it being a little on the smaller side,
but, you know, we can talk about it
and hopefully meet in the middle.
You know, we really have to think about
all the things we'd be gaining by coming here,
so it's really gonna be a tough decision.
NARRATOR: Rachel and Jeff check out a secluded cottage,
but will its layout present a problem?
Is there a bathroom on this suite?
BOTH: Oh.
NARRATOR: Newlyweds Rachel and Jeff are
looking forward to a relaxing island getaway
along the coastal inlets of Georgia.
These are barrier islands on the Intracoastal Waterway,
so you've got a lot of marsh and kind of tidal creeks,
and you're getting forest and all sorts of trees.
The wildlife is more abundant.
It just makes for a really special atmosphere.
Working with a budget of up to $5,000
for a seven-night stay,
they've already toured two islands
that offered vastly different experiences.
May Hall included a single house,
which Rachel and Jeff could use as their own personal love nest.
JEFF: That's a crazy bed.
It would be kind of hard to get in and out of it.
Little St. Simons was a resort
that could house up to 32 guests,
but what the resort might lack in potential privacy
it could make up for in extra amenities and activities.
We can do anything we want, or we could do nothing.
Now Rachel and Jeff are touring their final
potential vacation retreat on Eagle Island.
Welcome to Eagle Island.
You see -- there's its motif right above that gate.
That gate closes, you close the world out.
This house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms.
The owner wants $2,900 per week.
Wow. It's a great first impression.
Well, let's go take a look, shall we?
All right.
So as you walk up this beautiful shell path...
This is a great entryway.
Isn't it lovely?
As we started to walk up the path, like,
it really just seemed like a nice, tranquil place.
Looks like the house is built on stilts,
but actually, those wooden blocks are
what support that beautiful wraparound veranda.
Oh, I love this porch already.
Isn't it beautiful?
So, here we are. Isn't it gorgeous and cool?
Nice open space.
It is a very nice open space.
Two bedrooms on either side and the bathroom right there.
So, this feels like a chalet
with all the wood paneling everywhere.
Isn't it beautiful?
Yeah, it's airy,
but it's still kind of cozy at the same time.
Although it was cozy,
it did kind of feel like a little bit more like
a mountain cabin when you were inside,
and maybe we'd want something that reflected
a little bit more of an island personality.
And you've got the kitchen.
Nice dishwasher, built-in microwave,
stove, fridge --
everything you could possibly want
to make your stay really convenient.
We could relax and prepare food here.
It has a nice big table here,
so we could go cook some shrimp and all that
and go relax on the couch and watch the fireplace.
What do you think of the view?
Well, it's really nice. You can see the marsh pretty well.
It makes you feel very isolated, though.
Definitely feels like it would just be the two of us here.
Oh, it definitely would be. That's for sure.
Well, shall we go up and take a look at the master bedroom?
Okay.
This is a nice, cozy bedroom.
Yes, isn't it?
And look at the view that you've got from here.
Yes.
This is a really nice little space.
I mean, the rooftop feel gives it
that extra little cozy feel.
Is there a bathroom on this suite?
BOTH: Oh.
I don't really know if I really want to go
up and down the stairs when I have to use the bathroom.
Before we focus on that,
we don't we go and have a look
at the other unique features
of this really beautiful property.
Yeah.
All right.
So here's one of the unique features
I was telling you about.
Nice.
Let's test the water.
Oh, it's already nice and hot.
[ Both chuckle ]
And right behind it, there's a fireplace.
Ooh.
We probably would use the hot tub,
although I'd probably be the first to get in
because someone would have to build the fire...
...and pour the wine.
Well, I'll pour the wine.
Have a cold beer first, then pour the wine.
[ Both chuckle ]
Look at this -- an outdoor shower for two.
Oh.
Very intimate.
The two-person shower was a really cool feature.
And I think it would be perfect after a day of kayaking
to just be able to go and rinse off
with the sounds of the outdoors around you, too.
Can you picture yourselves in this?
[ Chuckles ]
You could picture like eight people in this.
Well, I don't know about eight.
It's just for two, right?
A really nice feature of this island is
that you can come on this river cruise,
have a glass of wine, and relax and enjoy yourself.
RACHEL: It's definitely so relaxing,
and you just feel so well taken care of
just out here, looking at the great view.
I really like Eagle Island.
It has a light, nice cabin feel to it.
And such a cozy interior feel while still giving you
kind of an airy feel,
I think so.
It has a lot of outdoor seating,
and there's a lot of benches.
The overall feel of the place is just wonderful.
It's making it really hard for us to make a decision.
NARRATOR: With three island tours behind them,
Rachel and Jeff have a tough choice ahead.
It's kind of boiled down to privacy versus people.
That's true.
NARRATOR: Newlyweds Rachel and Jeff have traveled to Georgia
in search of a private island
for a first-wedding-anniversary celebration.
The coast along Georgia just has that special charm
and that special appeal.
JEFF: I really enjoy the people, the environment,
and the nice warm weather.
This feels like home for us.
They have a budget of $5,000
for their week-long vacation
and have toured three islands that may fit the bill.
At $4,600 a week, May Hall Island offers
breathtaking views from its three-story home.
I could just sit out here. Couldn't we just for a week?
Little St. Simons was a full-featured resort
priced at $3,150 for the week,
which included multiple cottages for numerous guests
and its own private beach.
You do.
And at only $2,900 for a seven-night stay,
Eagle Island offered
more rustic, secluded accommodations.
Definitely feels like it would just be the two of us here.
Now the time has come for Rachel and Jeff to choose
the perfect island for their second honeymoon.
So, what do you think about May Hall?
May Hall Island was really special.
It was really well-manicured.
I thought there was great attention to detail.
We could just sit in the pool with a glass of wine
and just look out at the view that was just for us.
And indoors, it just felt like
a light, airy space with windows all around.
However, you know, I think it was
still a little on the big side.
Three floors just for the two of us
might be a little much.
But the view at May Hall was really nice.
The view there was probably my favorite.
If you can get up the stairs.
If you can get up the stairs.
I was a little surprised at first that Louisa brought us
to Little St. Simons Island.
We wanted a secluded, private island,
and this was more of a resort.
Even though it's, like, shared with a couple people,
I didn't see anybody out there.
I like St. Simons Island
for all the different activities and stuff.
You can't give up all the access to nature.
Everything was kind of unspoiled and as it was.
It wasn't manicured.
And going on long walks on that beach I think would be
a great activity for us.
The cottage was a little bit small.
Although there was a lot of nature
Yeah.
It was kind of private.
It was a surprise at first,
but it definitely grew on me
as I started to see all the amenities
and just how close we were to nature.
What I loved about Eagle Island was the feel of the house.
It just felt like a casual place that wasn't too big.
It felt like it was a perfect space for two people.
It was really kind of a nice and cabiny,
especially the huge porch around it.
And they had that area out by the end of the dock
where you could go sit out there in the bench swing,
so it was like your own little view there.
But, again, there was that master bedroom
with another spiral staircase.
Going up and down those stairs was a little difficult.
And it did feel a little bit more like a cabin
and not as much like an island retreat.
That is true.
I could sacrifice bedroom size for a hot tub any day.
So if you had to take one off the list,
which would would it be?
I would have to say Eagle Island.
It just was a little far from the water.
That long walk was a little bit much.
And, like you said,
the staircase was a little tough.
Going up and down those stairs just to use the bathroom
might be a little bit challenging.
I guess it's kind of boiled down to privacy versus people.
That's true.
May Hall Island was really secluded
Yeah.
And it's a little big for us,
but just the ability to watch the view from any room
and the pool is a big strong point for me.
Although Little St. Simons has people on it,
it does have a lot of the activities
that we wanted, too.
We could go on the beach.
Yeah.
Have we made a choice yet?
Oh, I agree.
I think the draw to nature there is just hard to pass up.
Yeah, let's go.
Little St. Simons was just a great choice for us,
and it's just been so relaxing,
and it's just what we needed, I think.
We were a little concerned that we might lose
a little bit of the privacy aspect,
being on an island where there were others around,
but you really, really feel like you're just off by yourself.
Some of the perks here are you have access
to all of these great activities that you might not
if you were out very secluded on your own.
Bird watching was probably one of our favorites.
We got to go out in a truck
and see a lot of different viewing points,
see a lot of different birds in their natural habitat.
We've already learned about anything from, like,
eating habits to nesting behaviors,
and then just being on the beach.
You can't beat just relaxing on the beach
and walking through the water.
Yeah.
It's like our own private beach, so that was really special.
Yeah, that was special.
Unlike another vacation,
where you might go and take a tour around,
here, you just feel like you're secluded from everything,
and so it's just such a unique setting to be in
and to have all of this
just right here for us just for us,
[ Both chuckle ]