Nearby Getaways: Georgia's Charming St. Simons Island

Thanks to a housesitting gig for a friend, we enjoyed five wonderful days on Georgia's St. Simon's Island, tucked away deep in the southeast corner of the state where the low country meets the Atlantic. We fully expected this to be a beach vacation, but enjoyed much more after we learned our way around this bucolic community.

Make no mistake, unlike some of those other busy and well-known touristy islands that line the coast from North Carolina to Florida, St. Simons remains a community. That's in large part due to long-time historic and preservation-minded residents who have created innovative public and private partnerships to help retain the island's charm while managing its growth.
We set out to list our five favorite activities on St. Simons, but just couldn't stop at five. You'll find our full report on all our favorites at our blog, OurTravelCafe.com, where we also provide links to more information on each item listed. Here's the short summary:

• Historic Lighthouse and Village Pier. Find a village parking spot and visit the lighthouse first. Then stroll the downtown area, catch the late-afternoon sites at the pier then enjoy an early dinner at one of nearly 20 restaurants within easy and pleasant walking distance.
• WWII Home Front Museum. The former Coast Guard station houses a museum documenting local and regional involvement in World War 2, including building of Liberty Ships, the sub-spotting blimp fleet and much more.
• Cannon’s Point Preserve. Home to pristine maritime forest, salt marsh and tidal creeks, Cannon’s Point features well-marked walking trails, a canopy viewing platform and historic discovery. We recommend long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, lots of bug spray and bottled water so you can enjoy the natural splendor in relative comfort and safety.

Hiking under giant, ancient oaks at Cannon's Point Preserve. Bring lots of water and bug spray.

• Southern Soul Barbeque. Best. Ribs. EVER! We could stop there, but even those superlatives don’t fully describe how much we enjoyed this local joint, operating out of a former gas station. We were skeptical when Southern Living magazine listed this as the best barbeque restaurant in the South in 2018, but we are now believers.
• Barbara Jean’s. If we convened a local group to debate authentic island eateries, Barbara Jean’s might not get the top nod, but it would undoubtedly be recognized in the top two for real Southern specialties.

Plus, don't miss the uncrowded beaches, marsh and open water kayaking, and 11+ miles of protected bike trails safe for casual riders and families.

For our full story, visit our blog at OurTravelCafe.com.