Why You Should Visit Georgia’s Golden Isles: St. Simon’s and Jekyll Island
1. You love the ocean. If you love stretches of deep blue water as far as the eye can see and foam-tipped waves reaching out forever, this is going to be your idea of heaven. It won’t do to just love the beach, high life and bikini-clad bodies; while they are not absent here, it’s a family oriented sort of a place, and the bikinis are more likely to be on moms or four-year-olds than they are to be on supermodels or sexy young singles. You have to like water, and breaking surf, and waves, and blue sky.
2. You love comfortable accomodations. We chose to stay in Brunswick, GA, which, while not that exciting as a destination itself, is a convenient gateway to St. Simons and to Jekyll Island. We stayed at the Best Western. It was inexpensive, clean, and very comfortable. The staff was friendly and helpful. The continental breakfast was plentiful and varied enough for most tastes. There was a great seafood restaurant, Captain Joe’s, right across the street. But if you want to stay on one of the islands, vacation rentals run as low as $640 a week in season in accomodations that will house from four to six people. If you’re looking for luxury, you’re in luck, too. On Jekyll Island, you might even stay where the millionaires who once owned the Island stayed, at the Jekyll Island Club. You can pretend you’re a Morgan or a Rockefeller as you lounge on your balcony and look out at the “rustic cottages,” sip your coffee and read your perfectly folded newspaper.
3. You love seafood. These are islands, people. The shrimp boats go out daily and bring back those succulent, sweet shrimp, possibly nature’s perfect food. Nearly every restaurant features delicious crab cakes. The ones at Barbara Jean’s on St. Simons are so popular the restaurant sells them online and ships them all over the country. Prices are generally moderate. However, reservations are highly recommended if you don’t want to spend an hour or more people-watching while you wait for a table.
4. You love ice cream. I only put this one in because I love ice cream, and I can’t imagine a beach vacation without it. It’s hot; it’s vacation; grab a scoop or two and head for nirvana. Try Sweet Mama’s on St. Simon’s Island.
5. You love Ghost Tours. Once again, I’m assuming you’re just like me. The ghost tour at St. Simons starts at the front of the pier Tuesdays through Saturdays at 9 pm during the summer.The coast’s pirate history is reflected in the tales of buried treasure and sunken ships. This is the South, so there are also intensely romantic gestures from beyond the grave, a wandering white lady (this one very often on a white ghost horse,) and a marvelous haunted lighthouse(which has been said to be the third most haunted in the country.) Ghost tours are exciting, entertaining ways to tap into the history and folklore of a place and get acquainted with the inhabitants, present and past.
6. You love museums. On St. Simons,don’t miss the Lighthouse Museum and the new Maritime Museum at the old Coast Guard station. Climb the 123 steps up a spiral staircase ath the lighthouse to see an incredible view in every direction. You can also visit the lighthouse keeper’s quarters and learn some of its history, and maybe encounter that ghost mentioned above, although we didn’t. On Jekyll Island, the Jekyll Island History Center is your stop for informative displays, an irresistible gift shop, and to pick up tickets for the essential tour that takes you to the next thing you must love to make this the perfect vacation:
7. You love old houses. From the 1880’s to the 1940’s, Jekyll island was completely owned by millionaires. This was at a time when 1% of the population of the country owned 60% of its wealth. Only members of the Jekyll Island Club and their servants and service people were allowed to live on the island. They built “rustic cottages” for themselves so they could get away from it all and “rough it,” with only five or six servants to help them and a minimum of eight or nine rooms. One of the cottages has twenty-six rooms. Some are made in a Southern country style, with shingle exteriors. Others look Spanish or Mediterranian. Each gentleman and his family decided for themselves how to interpret “rustic,” “cottage,” and “roughing it.” Take thetrolley tour from the History Center to get an overview of the place. You’ll be able to explore two restored cottages filled with representative furniture, photos, and other memorabilia. Other cottages and staff dwellings have been turned into charming shops where you can purchase from an array of tempting merchandise and handcrafts.
8. You love live music. You can hear it at Ziggy Mahoney’s, next to Bennie’s Red Barn on St. Simon’s, and Rafters Blues and Raw Bar, also on St. Simon’s. You can also relax to live jazz at the Lighthouselawn on some Sunday evenings. Many of the restaurants and clubs offer live entertainment as well.
9. You love shopping. I’ve already mentioned the gift shop at the Jekyll Island History Center. There’s also a bookstore in the old infirmary for the Jekyll Island club, which also features New Age music and toiletries. If you are male, you may also have the opportunity to be touched and talked to by the resident, very flirtatious ghost on the upper floor. If you, like me, are fond of tacky, touristy shopping for t-shirts, snow globes, shell necklaces and the like, then The Village at St. Simon’s Pier will fill your every cheap trinket-shopping dream.
10. You love kids, yours and other people’s. The place is absolutely swarming with young families and children. Kids are EVERYWHERE, including climbing all over the huge statue of the Right Whale on the beach, which is clearly marked “Do not climb on the Right Whale.” No one enforces that rule when the statue is obviously perfect for climbing. So take your husband, your kids, your dog, your best friend, and head for the Golden Isles for the perfect ocean, history, food, book,ghost,family, music lover’s vacation.
