Beach Bound in Georgia
Multiply your coastal fun with visits to St. Simons, Sapelo and Sea Island, where history, nature and outdoor activities blend beautifully.
Escape to the relaxing beaches of Georgia’s 100 miles of shoreline and 14 barrier islands, where unspoiled sandy shores await your beach blanket, sun-kissed paddlers seek a workout, adventure-spent vacationers wind down over fresh seafood, and the unique history of the state is on display in historical ports and towns. The whole region is perfectly positioned for family fun in the sun, and once you’re on Georgia’s coast, it’s easy to visit several beaches — including those on St. Simons, Sapelo and Sea islands — to multiply your shoreside fun.
St. Simons Island
With its blend of history, natural beauty and varied outdoor activities, St. Simons Island is a quintessential Georgia beach destination. The largest of the Golden Isles, it’s easily accessible by car, minutes from I-95 and just over an hour from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Its modern history dates back more than 400 years, when Spanish explorers came ashore looking for gold. Take advantage of pristine beaches ripe for swimming, beachcombing and soaking up sea breezes, or grab a kayak or paddleboard for a water tour.
On the ocean side of the island, East Beach is loved by pedalers on cruiser bikes and families taking a break from beachcombing. At Gould’s Inlet, birders, anglers and paddleboarders can be seen along the boardwalk and the distant sandbars. The Coast Guard Station section offers many amenities alongside its wide, sandy expanses, including a wheelchair mat, showers, picnic tables and a summer snack shop. Off the beach, don some sturdy boots to spy on the birds and sealife that live amid the salt tides — ribbed mussels, periwinkle snails, wood storks, American oysters, redfish and more provide a wondrous coastal classroom.
Immerse yourself in history at the stops along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor National Heritage Area, including the Historical Harrington School. Built in the 1920s to serve the island’s three African American communities, the school is now a cultural center and museum. Visit the archaeological remnants of Fort Frederica National Monument (also part of the national heritage area), where Spanish and British forces skirmished in 1742
See the Native American grounds at Gascoigne Bluff and go on a scavenger hunt for Tree Spirits — meticulously carved faces seen throughout the island’s dignified oak trees. In between, the island’s Pier Village is a delightful blend of quaint and modern, with a mix of boutiques and restaurants just steps away from the water. Whether you take a guided trolley tour or go it alone on foot or atop a bicycle, there’s plenty to see and do.
Eat
Taste the sea’s bounty at The Half Shell on St. Simons, where peel-and-eat Georgia shrimp and blue crab cakes are favorites, and fresh oysters are served with creative accouterments like bacon, Cajun dust and asiago cheese.
Local ingredients, global influences and made-from-scratch preparations are hallmarks of the menu at Halyards, where the catch of the day and a perfectly grilled filet mignon shouldn’t be missed.
Sleep
For a relaxing getaway, look no further than Hotel Simone, where luxury suites include access to a rooftop lounge, glittering plunge pool and beach bicycles. Stay at the island’s only waterfront resort, King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, which dates to the 1930s. Choose from refreshed resort rooms, villas and residences, and enjoy an 18-hole championship golf course and three swimming pools.
Do
Roam around Pier Village, the island’s social hub, with its local shops and restaurants, and climb the 1872 St. Simons Lighthouse for sweeping views of the Atlantic and a glimpse of the island’s maritime history.
Learn how the region protected the coast from German submarines and built Liberty ships at the World War II Home Front Museum. Then, soak up some sun at nearby Coast Guard Station Beach, a centerpiece of all the action, or search for the island’s Tree Spirits.
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Sapelo Island
Find a blend of culture, history and island beauty on Sapelo Island, accessible only by ferry with a pre-booked tour. Learn about the people of Hog Hammock — one of the last intact Gullah Geechee communities — and their agricultural and fishing roots. Descendants of enslaved peoples from West Africa, the Hog Hammock community honors their heritage by passing on traditions like making baskets and weaving cast nets. Marvel at Georgia’s earliest Native American artifacts at the intriguing Sapelo Island Shell Ring Complex, which dates back to 2170 BC. On Nanny Goat Beach, hunt for sand dollars along 2 miles of wave-lapped coast. Or climb 80 steps to see the views from the candy-cane-striped Sapelo Island Lighthouse, built in 1820.
Sea Island
Indulge in the luxury of the Golden Isles on Sea Island at The Cloister or The Lodge at Sea Island — the world’s only resort to receive four Forbes Five Star awards 14 years running. Spa treatments, shopping and championship golf courses offer all the perks expected of a beach resort, but coastal Georgia’s Southern charms are what makes the Sea Island experience stand out. Discover 5 miles of private golden beaches, perfect for strolling, riding horses or relaxing. Dine on the freshest seafood as Spanish moss dances from oak branches in the ocean breeze. Unwind on a custom yacht cruise as you cut through thick marshlands and experience the full beauty of the state’s coast.
