CoastAway at St Simons Island

We are Todd and Jacqi Barker, residents of Gwinnett County, Georgia since 1999 after moving from North Carolina. We have raised a family in the north metro Atlanta suburbs while creating successful small businesses. Our main business is based in historic downtown Duluth, where we conduct environmental and transportation studies, community engagement, and leadership consulting. We started visiting SSI in our first summer here and fell in love with the island. Despite its growth and changes across 24 years, it is still an amazing place we love.

We also became owners of a National Register historic farmhouse in early 2018, located in Rabun County just two miles from the NC border (a 2-hr drive north of ATL). We share about its history along with our current events and guest experiences at farmhouseonboxwood.com and on social media as @farmhouseonboxwood.

We always wanted to be "on the water" but knew we could not yet afford the actual beach. Little did we know that our first ever condo would be "on the water" as in a small lagoon. We love its central location: not directly on the beach or within easy walking distance, yet within a 5-minute drive to free public beach areas, to excellent shopping (from groceries to gifts), to more than 20 dining spots (we can highlight the many we have tried over the years by your cuisine or preferences!), and to historic sites. Walking or biking? We have direct connections on sidewalks that extend for miles or a short connection onto a new public park at the marina with views of the causeway bridge! Fitness centers include one within 500 feet and one within 0.75 mile to warm up on your way to a workout (affordable day passes are available).

Back inside, you can just relax with friends or family (or on our own getaway) with comfy furniture, two king beds, 3 flatpanel Roku TVs, and basics in the kitchen to prepare meals or beverages. Of course, it's not as fancy or expensive as King and Prince, where we have visited for conferences or a rare splurge over the years. That's part of the Coast Away charm--as a resting/refueling spot that is well equipped with many updates while being just a few minutes away from countless sights, tastes, and sounds even beyond the beautiful dunes and waves.