Visit our online guide to Hilton Head Island and South Carolina's Lowcountry explorehiltonhead.com
St. Simons Island Tours
At the heart of Georgia's sea islands, St. Simons is a paean to southern living. Massive live oaks draped with Spanish moss, sandy beaches, the occasional antebellum mansion, and genteel golf courses that would have brought a smile to Bagger Vance. Once a quiet backwater, St. Simons now is home to major resorts as well as venerable inns and B&Bs, but that southern charm is still present.
Sometimes called The Golden Isles, this chain of nine barrier islands off Georgia's southern coast has been a retreat for the favored few ever since a group of families (the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts among them) bought Jekyll Island, just south of St. Simons. To the north, Little St. Simons (a short boat ride away) was once a private hunting preserve, while Sea Island (linked to St. Simons by causeway) has been the home of a renowned resort, The Cloister, since the late 1920s.
On St. Simons, the largest of the islands, a day of relaxation might seem unchanged from decades ago: a round of golf (the 6,300-yard Hampton Club features four holes on a marsh island), a game of tennis, perhaps a sail or a stroll on nature trails, maybe some shopping, and, at day's end, a southern-style dinner. Or just spend a day at the beach on the southeastern shore, watching the Atlantic lap on the sand and ponder the fact that you are only about an hour's drive from the wilds of the Okefenokee Swamp.
Amusements
Avenue of Oaks Located on Frederica Road
912-265-0620
Anne Page King planted this famous "Avenue of Oaks" that highlights the entrance to the Sea Island Golf Club.
Boat Tours and Excursions (One, Two & Three Hour) Salt Marsh Nature Tours One Hour Boat Ride
This ride goes through the marsh and is primarily an enjoyable boat ride which does not have much in the way of narration or explanation. It goes past large marsh-front houses on St. Simons Island, by the ruins of the Couper Plantation House at cannon's Point, and by Little St. Simons Island. You'll usually spot dolphins!
Rates: $30.00 per person, $120.00 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $180.00
Two Hour Boat Ride
This route goes down the Hampton River and a short distance offshore to Pelican Spit, where you can explore your own sand bar and look for shells. This spit is out of the water at low-tide only.
Rates: $40.00 per person, $160.00 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $240.00
Three Hour Boat Ride
This tour goes past the old Couper Plantation, through Little St. Simons Island, between Sea Island and St. Simons Island and into Musgrove Plantation. This tour emphasizes sightseeing. Other aspects of the marsh are discussed according to specific interests.
Rates: $55.00 per person, $220.00 or 4-person minimum, 6 maximum at $330.00
For additional information, please contact Salt Marsh Nature Tours at 912-638-9354.
Saint Simons Transit Company offers a 90-minute cruise in the inland waters. The cruises are narrated by the captain and crew. The touring boat is a 50' catamaran which can comfortably seat 40, is fully sun covered and has bathrooms.
Rates: Adults $20.00
Children under 10 $10.00
Reservations Suggested
Departure Schedule:
May 24 - August 14
Tue - Sun
10:30 am 1:00 pm 5:00 pm
Aug 15 - Sept 2
10:30 am Tues - Sun
Sept 3 - Oct 31
10:30 am Thur - Sun
Small boat Cruises daily
Salt Marsh Nature Tours offers a two-hour Dolphin Quest through the marsh and to the ocean. Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed, but do happen most of the time.
Rate: $40.00 per person, $160 or 4-person minimum, 6 person maximum at $240.00. The Dolphin Quest may be chartered for only 1 hour at $30.00 per person.
For additional information, please contact Salt Marsh Nature Tours at 912.638.9354
Historic Sites & Monuments
Bloody Marsh Battle Site Located Off Demere Road
912-638-3639
The battle fought here on July 7, 1742, when Spanish troops landed on the south end of St. Simons Island, proved to be the turning point in the Spanish conquest of Georgia. The marsh ran red with Spanish blood and the battle was a decisive British victory which ended forever the threat of Spanish invasion into this colony.
Gascoigne Bluff P.O. Box 287, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Located on Gascoigne Bluff Road
912-265-0620
Overlooking the Frederica River, this area was a favorite Native American campground, and during Colonial days, the landing at the bluff became Georgia's first naval base and bears the name of the man, Gascoigne, who first surveyed the Georgia coast for England. Live oak timbers milled here in 1794 were used in building "Old Ironsides," the USS Constitution, in 1874, and timbers were also cut here for the Brooklyn Bridge.
St. Simons Island Lighthouse 101 Twelfth Street, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-4666
First constructed in 1807 by James Gould on Couper's Point, this towering, 104 foot lighthouse was reconstructed in 1872 on the same site to replace the original which was destroyed by retreating Confederate forces in 1862. A beautifully restored 1872 lighthouse keeper's home complements the lighthouse.
Kayak Tours
Southeast Adventures 912-638-6732
Many choices offered:
2 Hour Brunswick Kayak Tour
3 Hour St. Simons Kayak Tour
Half Day Tours
St. Simons Sound Tour Village Creek to Coast Guard (St. Simons) Tour
Cathead Creek Loop
Day Trips Altamaha River Day Trip
Satilla River Day Trip
Pelican Spit Day Trip
Overnight Trips Cumberland Island
Sapelo and Blackbeard Islands
Altamaha River Camping
Lewis Island Overnight
Pelican Spit
Coastal Center for the Arts 2012 Demere Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-634-0404
A 12,000 square foot regional art center which promotes local St. Simons Island artists and other Georgia artists in its six galleries. There are also four classrooms and conference rooms in the center.
National Parks & Natural Wonders
Fort Frederica National Monument Route 9, Box 286C, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-3639
Established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia, this historic national site includes remnants of a tabby fortress the British built in the 1730s as a bulwark against Spanish invaders from Florida. Hiking and nature trails are on site and historical tours are available.
Parks, Gardens & Zoos
Honey Creek Coastal Encounters Nature Center 4201 First Street, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-0221
A hands-on environmental education center for all ages that offers a variety of educational programs include beach and saltmarch ecology walks, plankton labs, and summer camps for children.
Neptune Park Located on Beachview Drive
912-265-0620
An oceanfront public park that features picnic tables under stately oak trees, a children's playground, a miniature golf course, lots of benches for relaxing by the sea, a fishing pier, and a bandstand where events are held throughout the year.
Sunset Cruises Several organizations on the Island offer Sunset Cruises. Please contact them directly for further details.
Salt Marsh Nature Tours 912-638-9354
St. Simons Island Experience 912-638-7992 or 1-888-945-7992
Captain Larry Kennedy Tours 3405 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-5454
Scenic marsh boat rides and birding excursions are offered by Captain Larry Kennedy, a naturalist who specializes in ornithology.
Island Tours 101 Marina Drive, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-6882
This tour company offers professionally guided tours of The Golden Isles area with both land and sea packages available.
Misty Oaks Carriage Company Located in The Village Area
912-638-6181
See all of the sights historic St. Simons Island has to offer in a relaxing horse drawn carriage provided by this carriage company.
Salt Marsh Nature Tours 310 Magnolia Avenue, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-9354
EMAIL: jeanne@marshtours.com
Climb aboard a comfortable 26 foot pontoon boat and enjoy a wide variety of tours through beautiful narrow tidal creeks in the marsh. Interpretive tours include ecology, history and birding information. Dolphins and other wildlife is often seen. Open all year round. This tour is an unusual trip through some narrow, winding tidal creeks. This is a 2-hour narrated exploration of the marsh. Topics include tides, food chain, vegetation, birds, mammals (including bottle-nosed dolphins), shellfish and finfish. Nesting birds along the route during the spring are Osprey and Great Blue Heron. Winter birds include cormorants, loons, grebes, and various ducks. History is also discussed as the tour passes the sites of two former plantations at Hampton Point and Cannon's Point. Children are invited to steer the boat on any tour.
Rate: $40.00 per person, $160.00 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $240.00. For further information, call Captains Jeanne or Jim at 912-638-9354.
Coastal Georgia Charters and Tours
Presented by St. Simons Transit 105 Marina Drive, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-5678 http://www.goldenislesfun.com A wide range of options to explore the Georgia Coast, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Altamaha River and Sapelo Island is provided by this transit tour company that features a fleet of 40 passenger tour boats, executive yachts, tour buses, and trolleys. Dolphin tours, dinner cruises, partyboat fishing, shark hunts, and eco tours are just some of the options available.
Dolphin Tours
Depart from Jekyll Island Wharf in the Historic District
Call for Departure Times and Schedules
912-638-5678
Rates:
Adults- $24
Children 10 and Under-$12
Children 2 and Under- Free
Fishing Charters
Depart Jekyll Island Wharf in the Historic District
Call for Departure Times and Schedules]
912-638-5678
Rates:
Party Boat Fishing- $65 per person
Private- $350 for 1-2 people
$370 for 3 people
$390 for 4 people
For Groups:
Private Eco-Shrimping Tours, Bus Charters and Tours, Travel Planning
Call Missy at 912-638-5678
Trolley Tours
St. Simons Trolley 649 Dellwood Avenue, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Leaves From Pier in the Village
912-638-8954
Tour historic St. Simons Island on this antique trolley and listen as professional guides provide an entertaining and informative narrative of over 400 years of history and folklore. Tours depart daily and last for an hour and a half.
Nature Tours
Walks in Nature 96 Village Green, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-7652
Enjoy scenic walking tours and wildlife viewing in the Brunswick and Golden Isles areas with this tour company. Reservations are required.
Wood Stork Tours 3405 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-5454
Affiliated with The Bedford Sportsman South, this tour company offers a variety of services including step-on guides for historical and naturalist tours of the Golden Isles and Okefenokee Swamp, as well as fishing, fly-casting, fly-tying, and saltwater fly fishing excursions.
Driftwood Nature Center 4201 1st Street, East Beach
(At old Coast Guard Station)
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Phone: (912) 638-3849
Fax: (912) 638-0642
Hands-on environmental education facility conducting day and residential classes on a range of subjects from seining to herpetology. Call for scheduling. Handicap accessible.
Earth Day Nature Trail Georgia Department of Natural Resources
One Conservation Way (off US 17 at Sidney Lanier Bridge)
Brunswick, GA 31520
Phone: (912) 264-7218
Fax: (912) 262-3143
Completely self-guided trail winds across salt marshes, tidal ponds and coastal hammock high ground. Features include wooden boardwalks across wading bird habitat, osprey/eagle, etc.
The Cloister Dock Sea Island, GA 31561
Toll-Free: (800) 732-4752
Phone: (912) 638-3611
Nature tours with resident naturalist to explore local waterways. Available to guests of The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club, and members of the Sea Island Club.
Tidelands Nature Center 100 South Riverview Drive
(Next to Summer Waves Waterpark)
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Phone: (912) 635-5032
Stop by and visit a young sea turtle, corn snake, fish, alligators and other species native to Georgia's coast! Enjoyable environmental education for all ages and groups.
Turtle Walks Island History Center
Stable Road
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Phone: (912) 635-4036
Following a description of sea turtles and their habitat, local wildlife guides conduct shoreline walks in search of turtle tracks and nesting mothers from June to mid-August.
Ghost Tours and Ghost Walks
GHOST ENCOUNTER St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Phone: (912) 638-2756
Website: http://www.ghostwalkofstsimons.com
For the truly brave at heart, the Original Ghost Walk includes a very private late-night entrance to the St. Simons Lighthouse, reportedly the third most famous haunted lighthouse in the country.
GHOST WALK OF ST. SIMONS St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Phone: (912) 638-2756
Website: http://ghostwalkofstsimons.com
E-Mail: tourgal@bellsouth.net
Experience the beauty, history and mystery of old St. Simons Island as you hear strange tales and legends of lovers and the lost. Seasonal schedule.
