St. Simons Island
The name of these islands comes from the beautiful fall colors of their huge marshes. They are full of history.
Spain sent sailors to the Southern coast of Georgia to look for gold. Instead, they found beautiful beaches and golden marshes. People today can enjoy these natural sights as well as the history and culture of St. Simons Island, Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, and Sea Island, which are the four places, as well as the city of Brunswick, Georgia, which is on the mainland. The Golden Isles are made up of these islands. Enjoy a day of relaxation on St. Simons Island, the group’s biggest barrier island, where you can visit historic sites, enjoy nature, and go shopping. Check out the best things to do on the island.
Start your day on St. Simons Island at the Pier.
At the St. Simons Fishing Pier, you can start your trip to St. Simons Island by watching people and taking in the beautiful views. A lot of people from around the world and the area come here to fish, watch the sunrise, or just hang out. Mallery Street and Pier Village are lively places close to the fishing pier where people can shop and eat at small shops and restaurants owned by locals. Take your time looking around the cute shops and smelling the delicious food from the decks of the restaurants. For a fun family trip, take the kids to Neptune Park, which is only a short walk from the beach. You can play mini golf, have fun on the playground, or have a lunch at Neptune Park. Kids will love the Fun Zone, which has water slides, a zero-depth pool, and a swimming area. Plus, it’s all right on the water, so you can enjoy a beautiful and peaceful day on the island.
Get up on top of the St. Simons Island lighthouse
This lighthouse is close to the bottom of Mallery Street. After going up 129 steps to the top of the tower, you’ll be able to see Neptune Park, Jekyll Island, and the rest of the beautiful coast. This still-working light was first lit with oil, but in 1934, it was switched to electricity. The original third-order Fresnel lens is still used. You should stop by the museum and gift shop at the base of the tower.
Visit Historic Sites
It will take you about 20 minutes to drive to Fort Frederica from the lighthouse. The fort was built to keep British interests safe from the Spanish. It was built on March 16, 1736, as a protection post and was named after Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales. One of its founders, James Edward Oglethorpe, came here to protect British military interests, as well as for business and charitable reasons. At first, there were 44 men, 72 women, and 12 children from England, Scotland, and the German regions. After just a few years, there were 1,000 people living in the colonies. As of now, only the ruins are left of the abandoned post, which burned down in 1758. The wall remains, which are made of “tabby,” a mixture of sand, water, and boiled oyster shells, show how the building was built in the past. The Spanish moss-covered live oaks in the area complete this ethereal scene.
Christ Church, Frederica, is only a few minutes away from the fort. It is built in the shape of a cross and has beautiful painted glass windows. This church is one of the oldest in Georgia. During the Civil War, the first building was destroyed. Anson Dodge rebuilt it in 1889 as a shrine for his wife Ellen, who died in India while they were on honeymoon. It is right next to the park and is home to the graves of early settlers and famous Georgians. The gravestone that is the oldest is from 1803. The Wesley Memorial and Gardens are another interesting place close to the fort. The grounds are beautiful and peaceful. They were made in honor of the Revs. John and Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley wrote the well-known Christmas hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” You should go in the spring to see the azaleas bloom. It’s hard to think of anything more peaceful than the flowers and the trees covered in Spanish moss. A Georgia stone Celtic cross is the main piece of this monument.
Going shopping and eating
St. Simons Island has some of the best shops and award-winning dining on the Georgia coast. It also has beautiful nature, sandy beaches, a fishing pier, a movie theater, and a movie theater. As soon as you get there, you’ll notice that almost all of the stores and restaurants are little ones, not big chains. How friendly the staff is is a great sign of how much they care about guest comfort. If buying makes you hungry, go to Bennie’s Red Barn, which has been around since 1954. The founder of the oldest restaurant on St. Simons Island got the idea for the restaurant while he was a soldier in World War II and took refuge in a German barn.
While you’re regaining your strength, go look for “tree spirits,” which are face carvings hidden in the island’s big live oaks. The scary faces on this wall are of sailors who died at sea. You can use an online guide to find each spirit, but don’t try to cheat. Instead, enjoy the scavenger hunt.
Island of Little Simon
From the north end of St. Simons Island, the only way to get to Little Simons Island is by boat. At most, 32 people can stay at the Lodge at Little Simons Island at a time. This is the perfect place for a group of people to get away in secret. If you’re not staying at the Lodge, you can take a day trip with a guide to see the island and learn about its beautiful scenery. Or, disconnect from everything and enjoy the peace and beauty of the island’s wildlife on the unexplored beaches.