Sea Island: Coolidge's Oak, a Bush Honeymoon and the G8

On a barrier island off the Georgia coast, the Cloister has been welcoming presidents since its very first year, and it carries one of the most charming presidential traditions in American hospitality.

The Cloister at Sea Island

The Cloister opened in 1928, and President Calvin Coolidge visited during its first year, planting a live oak on the grounds and beginning a tradition that visiting dignitaries have honored ever since. In 1945, a young naval aviator named George H.W. Bush and his bride Barbara spent their honeymoon here, and the Bush family's affection for the island ran deep.

That connection helped bring the world to Sea Island. In June 2004, President George W. Bush hosted the G8 summit here, welcoming the leaders of the world's major industrial democracies. Keeping the tradition alive, he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair planted live oaks on the Cloister's grounds. The resort created a permanent Summit Board Room to house mementos of the meeting, including the table handcrafted from native woods for the leaders.

Today the Cloister holds Forbes Five-Star status, and the experience lives up to it: a beach club, a celebrated spa, championship golf, and a bagpiper who plays at sunset every evening.

Plan your stay: Explore more hotels in Sea Island

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About this guide: Presidential connections are drawn from public sources, including official White House schedules, presidential and historical archives, and reputable news outlets, as well as the hotels' own published histories. Hotel names, ownership, and amenities may have changed since publication. This information is provided for general interest, is not guaranteed, and should be independently verified. Hotelaholic is not affiliated with or endorsed by any U.S. president or government agency.