St. Simon’s Island, GA

[Anonymous]

We are looking at changing up our summer beach vacation and visiting St. Simon’s instead of the OBX. Anyone who’s BTDT, thoughts on whether it’s a good place to vacation? Kids are 13.

[Anonymous]

Isn't that more of a high end golf resort?

[Anonymous]

There’s definitely a golf course but nothing I’ve seen indicates that it’s just a place to visit for golf. If it is though, that would be good to know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s definitely a golf course but nothing I’ve seen indicates that it’s just a place to visit for golf. If it is though, that would be good to know!

Definitely do research. The only people I know who go there go to play golf. We know someone who retired there who is a serious golfer. But there could be plenty else to do.

[Anonymous]

We just got back from Amelia Island and there's a lot there for families.

[Anonymous]

We love it there but have not stayed there.

We stopped by for a whole day out on our way past.

Gorgeous beach, calm water, good food around the area, snow cones sold on the beach.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t been there in about 10 years but I’ve been a few times, as well as to Sea Island and Jekyll Island. No, it’s not just golf and is a great family vacation area. I do think of Jekyll as being more of a family vacation spot akin to OBX. Great Dunes Beach Park on Jekyll is nice and there’s a water park, great bike trails and a sea turtle center. St. Simons is quaint and more of a town with nice shops and restaurants. It’s only about 1/2 hour drive from one island to the other so not a big deal which you choose, but I’d consider staying on Jekyll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been there in about 10 years but I’ve been a few times, as well as to Sea Island and Jekyll Island. No, it’s not just golf and is a great family vacation area. I do think of Jekyll as being more of a family vacation spot akin to OBX. Great Dunes Beach Park on Jekyll is nice and there’s a water park, great bike trails and a sea turtle center. St. Simons is quaint and more of a town with nice shops and restaurants. It’s only about 1/2 hour drive from one island to the other so not a big deal which you choose, but I’d consider staying on Jekyll.

I posted above.
Jekyll is where we stayed. We found the beaches were not good for traditional playing but the rest of the island was SO fun. We rented bikes, did hotel outdoor pool (big), did a day at the water park (busy, then closed for storms), went to the sea turtle rescue (small, but so good). Cute markets for shopping or unique groceries (felt like Luke’s Diner/Doose’s from Gilmore Girls), glimpsed a few beach weddings at a large hotel (cute), not a lot of restaurants, but we actually brought groceries from the mainland and an air fryer for the small hotel kitchen. Checked out beaches, but the water and sand were strange. Smelly. Cool to see protected turtle nests all around. You can pay extra to do a guided night tour (that keeps turtles safe).

St Simon’s was a daylong stop on the way out of Jekyll, and it was the traditional beach day. We .. sort of preferred that. But Jekyll was worth getting to know.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Georgia and loved St Simons. It’s quiet and there’s not a ton to do but that was the beauty of it. There is a golf club there , not that I ever played as a kid and a nice little downtown area with a large pier. Brogan’s was our favorite place to eat there. It’s beautiful!

[Anonymous]

Stayed at beachfront house with a small pool on St Simons a few summers ago. House was very near the Golden Isles visitors center on Beachview Dr.
Kids enjoyed playing on the beach every day and walking to get ice cream. Drove to Jekyll one day to check out the turtle rescue center. True not very “exciting” but give my kids beach, pool, and ice cream outings and we’re happy. Arranged grocery pickup ahead of time at Harris Teeter and there were plenty of restaurants too, both walking and driving distance.