Guest Author - Jessica Hoffmann
Tucked east of Brunswick among Georgia’s Golden Isles, St Simmons Island has an uptown island chic feel, thanks to its convenient distance from Atlanta, Savannah and Jacksonville. The small town of under 15,000 residents boasts a slew of fabulous shops and restaurants that would be equally at home in more cosmopolitan areas, but successfully retain the local friendliness of small town Georgia.
The best way to take in the sights and scenes of St. Simmons is by bike. A simple beach cruiser enables you to pedal along the waves, glimpse the quiet ebb and flow of the marshes, cruise the busy Mallory Street shops, the downtown fishing pier and light house. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, children make full use of Neptune Park’s public playground and ocean view swimming pool.
The homes dotting the island vary from Mediterranean-inspired villas to clapboard cottages and tabby-walled homes, a construction style which incorporates oyster shells and ash into the building walls. The Spain meets England feel can be traced back to the Battle of Bloody Marsh, were English soldiers, Scottish Highlanders and Native Americans skirmished with Spanish forces in 1742, effectively ending Spanish claims to the region.
We spent a lazy Thanksgiving weekend at a cozy, marsh front beach rental within easy walking distance of East Beach, where fishermen, dog lovers and kites shared the sandy expanse. We walked a few blocks to meet up with our guides from SouthEast Adventure Outfitters for a kayaking tour of the area, which allowed us to take in the surrounding islands and marshes up close.
Bottlenose Porpoises swam by as we searched for seashells along the uninhabited south end of Sea Island, one of many area barrier islands where loggerhead turtles nest. Our tour guide Luke recounted the Battle of Bloody Marsh once we were deep in the marsh and a stone’s throw from the battle site.
An evening trip across St. Simons Sound enabled us to peek at the Christmas lights of Jekyll Island, where the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival was in full swing. This beautiful island takes visitors to a bygone era, when the Millionaires’ Club was in its heyday and wealthy barons like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers vacationed in elegant “cottages.”
The Victorian Club House opened its doors in 1888, and welcomes guests today to what used to be known as one of the most exclusive clubs of America.
After feasting at our rental house on local oysters, we headed out on our last night to a new hotspot, Fancy Q. This busy restaurant has quickly become the local favorite for delicious sushi, and we devoured every last roll.
The weekend disappeared quickly, but cemented our desire to return and explore more of Saint Simons and the surrounding islands.
