search
search
add New trip
St. Simons
Destinations › North America › United States › Georgia

St. Simons

Population: 15.000 Since: Fort Frederica founded 1736 Price: Mid-range

Introduction

St. Simons is a barrier island on the Georgia coast, reached by a causeway from Brunswick. Live oaks draped in Spanish moss line the roads, and the pace is slow. Most visitors settle into a cottage or condo and let the days blur together on the beach.

The village end, near the pier and lighthouse, has the shops and restaurants. The rest of the island is residential, marsh, and golf. Bikes are the natural way to get around, and the flat terrain makes it easy.

Sightseeing

St. Simons Lighthouse: 1872 lighthouse with 129 steps and a small museum at the base.
Fort Frederica National Monument: ruins of a 1730s British fort and town, free entry.
Christ Church Frederica: white 1880s church under old oaks, quiet and photogenic.
Avenue of the Oaks: canopy of live oaks at the former Retreat Plantation, near the airport road.
Neptune Park: waterfront park by the pier with a pool and playground.
Tree Spirits: faces carved into island oaks, a local scavenger hunt of sorts.

"Slow days under the oaks"St. Simons

Things to do

East Beach: the main swimming beach, wide at low tide.
Bike the island: rent from village shops and ride the marsh loops.
Kayak the marshes: tidal creeks off the Frederica River.
Climb the lighthouse: pay a few dollars for the harbor view.
Golf: several courses including the Sea Island clubs nearby.
Dolphin tours: boat trips leave from the pier village.

Top attractions

Local food and drinks - St. Simons

Local food and drinks

Georgia shrimp: local wild-caught, served fried or in boils.
Low country boil: shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes in one pot.
Southern Soul Barbeque: pit smoked pork and brisket, often a line out front.
Barbara Jean's: crab cakes and she-crab soup, a village staple.
Sweet tea: order it unsweet if you want a fighting chance.
Local traditions - St. Simons

Local traditions

Shrimp season: boats work the sounds and menus shift with the catch.
Fourth of July: parade and fireworks over the pier.
Sunday church at Christ Church: long history for a small congregation.
Golden Isles arts events: seasonal fairs in the village.

History

The Guale people lived here first, then Spanish missions arrived in the 1500s. In 1736 James Oglethorpe built Fort Frederica to guard the young Georgia colony against Spain. Two years later British troops beat back a Spanish force at the nearby Battle of Bloody Marsh, which helped settle who would control the region.

By the 1800s the island grew cotton and grew rich on enslaved labor, with Retreat and Hamilton among the plantations. After the Civil War it turned to timber and then tourism. The causeway opened in 1924 and made the island a resort, which it has stayed ever since.

Things to know

The causeway toll is gone but summer traffic on it is slow.
No public transit to speak of, bring a car or bike.
Beaches shrink dramatically at high tide, check the schedule.
Summer heat and biting gnats, called no-see-ums, are real, pack repellent.

Do's and don'ts

Bike between the village and the lighthouse, parking is tight.
Check tide tables before heading to East Beach.
Book restaurants ahead on summer weekends.
Bring sunscreen and bug spray for evenings.
Don't expect nightlife, the island quiets down early.
Don't walk on the dunes or sea oats, they hold the beach together.
Don't feed dolphins on the boat tours.
Don't rely on street parking in the village at peak season.

Good to know

Accessibility: Flat terrain and village sidewalks are workable, though the lighthouse stairs and some beach access are not step-free.
Price level: mid-range

Photo: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons