What to do in St Simons Island for first-time visitors and regulars alike!
Considered one of the best beach towns in Georgia, St. Simons Island offers not just sandy shores and charming storefronts but also adventure, history and excitement.
My in-laws live along the Georgia coastline and visiting St. Simons is my favorite way to spend the day!
Whether you’re day tripping from nearby or traveling in from afar, I’ve compiled the best things to do on St. Simons Island. These activities will entertain everyone in the family!
East Beach – What to do in St Simons Island
With soft sands, gentle waves and a long coastline, East Beach is an excellent place to play in the water or lounge with your favorite beach tunes.
East Beach is located on the southeast end of St. Simons Island. This peaceful escape offers a large free parking lot, public showers, bathrooms and changing rooms. A visit to the beach has never been more convenient!
If you’re visiting East Beach on a summer weekend or holiday, try to arrive well before noon to ensure you can grab a good parking spot, as the lot does occasionally fill up.
If this happens, more free parking is available along the main roadway–it’s just a little bit further to walk (maybe eight minutes to the water instead of two or three minutes).
The tides on St. Simons greatly affect the amount of land available on the beach for your lounge chairs and umbrella at any given time of day. For that reason, I’d recommend checking the tide chart in advance of your visit, just to be prepared.
When we last visited East Beach, high tide came in so quickly that our neighbors’ chairs and cooler were nearly washed away. Thankfully we rescued them. You have to be careful though!
Drinking alcoholic beverages on East Beach is permitted if you are 21 or older and the drinks aren’t in a glass container.
World War II Homefront Museum
The World War II Homefront Museum, located next to East Beach, is another excellent activity in Saint Simons Island, especially on a rainy day. This museum commemorates the contributions that Georgia and other states made to the war effort from 1941 to 1945.
The Homefront Museum has interactive exhibits where you can try plane spotting to identify enemy aircraft, visit an old storefront to see how Americans bought their rations, and even learn how the nearby port of Brunswick built Liberty ships to transport troops and supplies overseas.
Interesting tidbit: The museum is housed in an old U.S. Coast Guard station. During the war, this station’s crew rescued survivors from a German U-boat attack that sank two ships 13 miles off the coast of Saint Simons!
The Homefront Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $12 for adults or $20 for a combined ticket that also includes admission to another favorite activity–St. Simons Lighthouse.
St. Simons Island Lighthouse
The lighthouse–technically called the St. Simons Light–is one of the best things to do on St. Simons Island. The tower offers panoramic views of the entire coastline. This structure is a little piece of history. It was completed in 1872 by Union troops, who replaced the original 1810 lighthouse destroyed by retreating Confederate troops.
Keepers lived on site at the lighthouse and manned the light to help passing ships navigate the various sandbars and shallows in the area until 1934, when the light became automated.
Today, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society operates the lighthouse site and museum in addition to the Home Front Museum. Both museums are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with the last entry at 4:30pm.
Fort Frederica and Bloody Marsh – What to do in St. Simons Island
The National Park Service runs the site of Fort Frederica on St. Simons, a military installation dating back to the 1730s, when Georgia was Britain’s newest colony.
Built to guard British Georgia against Spanish Florida, forces from the fort defeated invading Spanish forces at the Battle of Bloody Marsh.
Part of the colorfully named War of Jenkins’s Ear between Great Britain and Spain, Bloody Marsh–the area between the SSI airport and East Beach–supposedly got its name from the blood of the fallen staining the waters red.
In reality, the battle was a minor skirmish with very few deaths compared to many other eighteenth-century clashes.
Significantly, it was the last time the Spanish attempted an incursion into Georgia.
You can visit a marker at the approximate site of the battle off Old Demere Road. Fort Frederica itself is located north of the town of St. Simons, on the Frederica River. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except for holidays.
Explore the Island by Golf Cart – St Simons Things to Do
One of the most fun things to do in St. Simons Island is zip around town in a golf cart like a true local.
Low speed vehicles like golf carts are permitted on roadways with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. This is a very popular and fun mode of transport on St. Simons Island and you’ll see these neat little vehicles everywhere you go!
There’s plenty of rental options if you’d like to use a golf cart to travel to and from the beach and get around town. Island Carts, Coast to Coast Beach Rentals and Posh Carts can all set you up with a set of wheels in no time.
Paddle Along Georgia’s Waterways
If you’re a nature lover, consider exploring the island’s many channels, marshes, and rivers by kayak or canoe instead! There are loads of twisty rivers and tributaries in the marshy areas just inland where you can paddle around and spot diverse wildlife like herons and dolphins.
The last time my husband and I took kayaks out on St Simons, a dolphin swam alongside us for ten minutes. It was magical!
I recommend booking a kayak rental or tour with Turtle Tides or Southeast Adventure Outfitters. Their two-hour guided tours cost about $75 or so. Alternatively, you can rent the kayak and paddle out independently for more freedom.
Cycle the Island by Bike
Still wondering what to do in St Simons Island? The area is filled with excellent trails and bike lanes. The flat terrain and small size (St. Simons is only about 2 miles from east to west in most parts) make it a great place to explore on two wheels.
Unlike in many cities, traffic on the island is fairly calm and drivers are used to yielding to bikes and respecting their space.
I recommend renting a bicycle with Zoom Bike Rental or Bike Dude, both conveniently located very central on the island. You may want to consult this map showing all the multi-use trails running across St Simons to plan your route.
Horseback Riding – Fun Activities in Saint Simons
In addition to kayaks, golf carts, or bicycles, you can also “rent” a horse!
The Stables at Frederica, located just north of St Simons near the Fort Frederica historic site, offers trail rides for those looking for a unique experience.
You can explore the beaches, woods and marshes on their various longer trail rides (lasting from 45 minutes to 2 hours and ranging in cost from $95 to $160). Even children with no riding experience can take pony rides at the stables to begin learning the ropes.
Popular Things to Do in Saint Simons Island, Georgia
From relaxing at the beach to exploring colonial battlefields on bike or horseback, St. Simons offers plenty of excitement for travelers of all ages and inclinations. I hope you find value in my recommendations for what to do in St Simons Island.
Best wishes for a fun-filled trip!
RELATED LINKS
If you’re staying for longer, be sure to check out my guide to the five best beaches in Georgia! You certainly don’t want to miss nearby Jekyll Island, either.
Commonly Asked Questions about St. Simons Island
Is St. Simons Island worth visiting?
St. Simons Island is an incredibly diverse destination that offers not only exceptional restaurants and seafood, but also a pristine beach, plenty of wildlife and lots of museums and other indoor activities to fill even a rainy afternoon.
If you’re up for some exercise, St. Simons Island has plenty of nature trails and coastline for leisurely rides or long sunset strolls. A visit to this part of coastal Georgia is well worth the time and money involved in planning a trip.
Does St. Simons Island have a downtown?
Yes, downtown St. Simon’s is known as the Pier Village District. Here you’ll find excellent dining options like The Half Shell, Porch and Brogen’s South.
If you’re a shopping fan, consider stopping by the Savannah Bee Company or SSI Lifestyle—two of the best retail shops on the main Mallery Street.
The Pier Village District is walkable and it’s fun to spend an afternoon strolling through town, punctuating shopping with lunch and drinks.
Save and bookmark this page for your next excursion to Saint Simons!
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