Ultimate St. Simons Island Family Travel Guide

St Simons Island 

St Simons Island Georgia is the perfect place for a family getaway. Saint Simons greets travelers with gorgeous coastlines, historical sites, and more.

St. Simons Island has long been heralded as one of Georgia’s most gorgeous areas, and it’s no surprise. With beautiful coastlines, an inviting small-town feel, and no shortage of activities to take full advantage of both the coast and the interior of the island, Saint Simons Island is a true paradise close to home. No filters needed in this photo.

The area takes full advantage of the long summers of the south and the coastal breezes to give visitors one of the most pleasant atmospheres of any area you’ll visit along any coast in the states.

Saint Simons Island – A Getaway Awaits

South of the Altamaha River and north of Jekyll Island lies Saint Simons, an island with laid back, everybody’s welcome feel that attracts tourists from both near and far.

We recently took a trip to the island, and we had a great time. This is truly one a beautiful area in the southern region of Georgia.

With ocean swells, salty sea air, crisp breezes, and an island feel not normally found in the south, it felt more like a getaway that was a world away instead of in our own backyard – relatively speaking.

St Simons Island Lighthouse Museum

I love lighthouses, so of course, we had to see the historical Saint Simons Island Lighthouse. Completed in 1872 by the U.S. government to replace the original which was destroyed int eh Civil War, the lighthouse guides ships into Saint Simons Sound and makes boaters aware of the many sandbars in the area.

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Did you know Today is #NationalLighthouseDay? Lighthouses have been around for hundreds of years and have been a way for ships and boats to navigate safely at sea. One of my favorite things to do is to visit historic lighthouses, across the United States. Of course, I have favorites and my latest favorite is the @stsimonslighthouse. The lighthouse stands as a 104-foot tower and doesn’t disappoint in beauty or history. If you were to look at the St. Simons Island Lighthouse a 150+ years ago, it would have looked very different. Back then, they used whatever materials they could find to build. Just think of items that you’d find on a beach and those were probably used to build the lighthouse. James Gould, was the first keeper of this incredible lighthouse, he was also the original architect. During the Civil War, the lighthouse was burned to the ground by the Confederates. This Lighthouse you see today was rebuilt over a hundred years ago. If you get a chance, go visit the St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum. Visiting the lighthouse and museum is a must, whenever in this part of Georgia. Take in the natural and manmade beauty that can only be seen as you climb the stairs and breath in the delicious scent that only the ocean can provide. You can read more about our visit on the blog. #nationallighthouse #stsimonsisland #coastalgeorgia #lighthouse #goldenisles #georgiacoast #saintsimonsisland #travelblogger #familytravel https://lifefamilyfun.com/st-simons-lighthouse/

A post shared by Winona Rogers (@lifefamilyfun) on Aug 7, 2019 at 12:26pm PDT

We had a wonderful time learning about the lighthouse while we wound our way through the Saint Simons Lighthouse Museum, located in the 1872 keeper’s house.

We even got to climb all the way to the top of the lighthouse, which the kids got a kick out of.

Admission is $12 for Adults and $5 for children.

Children 6 and under are free.

The St. Simons Island Lighthouse is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Last climb is at 4:30 p.m.

Dining at Brogen’s

Another highlight of our trip was stopping in for a wonderful lunch at Brogen’s. This place was recommended by the Golden Isle CVB.  From the moment we entered the restaurant, we knew we were in a great spot.

They offer a wonderful menu that would meet the needs of the entire family. While waiting, the children can enjoy some video games around back and the adults can enjoy the outdoor corn hole toss boards. Definitely, a fun spot to grab lunch.

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We had a wonderful lunch at Brogens South today in Saint Simons Island. The burgers were absolutely amazing, the fried pickles and loaded skinned potatoes are a delicious choice for appetizers. My husband had the Southwest Salad and he said it was super tasty. My daughter said the hot wings were spot on! @goldenisles #hosted #stsimonsisland #brogensouth #friedpickles

A post shared by Winona Rogers (@lifefamilyfun) on Mar 12, 2017 at 1:45pm PDT

Visiting Fort Frederica

While we were there, the family headed over to see Fort Frederica, the historic fort that decided the fate of Georgia. I had to fit some history into our homeschooling adventures.

Here, the fort’s troops defeated the Spanish, maintaining Georgia’s status as a British Colony. We all had a wonderful time exploring the fort and the surrounding grounds, really drinking in the history of it all.

Surrounded by cannons, the weathered fort looked like something straight out of a movie. It was an amazing feeling to know we were standing exactly where a historical battle had taken place.

Admission is free and they have a great souvenir shop you don’t want to miss.

Visiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Center

From St. Simons Island, we took a short drive south to Jekyll Island to see the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The kids love wildlife so this was a great opportunity for them see something unique. 

The center focuses on rehabilitation, research, and education.  Although the kids were the ones I thought of when we took our jaunt, all of us had a wonderful time learning about sea turtles, their habitats, and how we could help them.

Admission is $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for Seniors, and $5.00 for children. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.

Only the Tip of the St. Simons Iceberg

We had an amazing trip, and although we spent most of our time focused on the places I talked about above, that’s only the tip of the iceberg in this amazing Georgian island.

There’s so much to see and do that it can’t all be covered in one post, but I have included some highlights below to help you plan your own getaway to Saint Simons Island.

Accommodations in St. Simons Island

• Saint Simons Island King and Prince Resort

• The Inn at Sea Island
• The Lodge at Sea Island
• Hampton Inn, Saint Simons Island
• Island Inn, Saint Simons Island

Activities in St. Simons Island

• Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
• Saint Simons Island Beach
• Saint Simons Lighthouse Museum (Fun!)
• Island Trolley
• Fort King George in Darien

Dining in St Simons Island

• Southern Soul BBQ
• Crab Trap
• Brogen’s (Yum!)
• Mullet Bay
• Echo restaurant at The King and Prince Hotel

St Simons Island – You Need to Go

I’m so happy that Golden Isle CVB made such wonderful recommendations for our family for this weekend getaway to Saint Simons Island. 

If you’re looking for a getaway that’s a world away from the same old same old, I highly encourage you to plan a trip to Saint Simons Island.

From the welcoming atmosphere to the beaches to historical sites and so much more, you’ll find everything you could ever want in a trip at Saint Simons Island.

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