Golden Isles, GA

Apr 15

The “Golden Isles” of Georgia stretch along the Atlantic coast between Savannah and Jacksonville, FL and are comprised of barrier islands such as St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island and more!

We were able to make a trip to this beautiful stretch of coastland for a friend’s wedding on New Years Eve a few years back and are already dreaming of our next trip back! Coming from Charleston we had an amazing drive south through Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah and other Atlantic coast towns adorned with marshes and moss in the trees. (my personal favorite kind of scenery!) We stayed at the Inn at Sea Island for the duration of the weekend but we spent time all over St. Simons, Sea Island, and Jekyll.

Upon arriving at the Inn we made a quick change and headed to the wedding which was on our friend’s parents property on the water on St. Simons. Quick shoutout, these friends have now also moved to St. Simons and have created an amazing business helping residents with their property management needs such as excavation and yard junk removal. Check our Golden Isles Property Solutions on Instagram if you are living in the area and looking for an amazing team to work with! They also have great food recommendations which are listed below!

This property was the perfect first example of the beauty that St. Simons holds – huge oak trees, Spanish moss everywhere, golden marsh grass and a bright blue creek shimmering in the warm January sun! St. Simon’s, being a coastal town, does stay fairly warm year round, which made for the perfect weekend even in the winter.

The day after the wedding we grabbed coffee from the Sea Island Market and loaded our bikes into the car and headed for Jekyll Island. The drive from St. Simons to Jekyll was about 45 minutes but there is also a ferry you can take between the islands. Jekyll is famous for their driftwood beach. Years ago trees were left behind on the beach due to erosion on the islands but now they serve as “driftwood monuments” lining the whole beach.

Jekyll also has about 25 miles worth of bike trails for visitors to enjoy. We did a portion of the trail starting at the Jekyll Island Oceanview Beach Park. From there we road through forest areas, on the beach, through neighborhoods, and saw so much more. It was a great way to see the island and all the different areas it contains. We had to stop for some refreshments at the Jekyll Island Club Resort while exploring! This resort has beautiful buildings dating back to 1888 and the grounds were the perfect place to relax.

Other great areas to check out on Jekyll are St. Andrews Picnic Area and Beach, Riverview Park, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and the Old Amphitheater Area for birdwatching. Jekyll is definitely the island for the outdoor enthusiasts!

We then headed back to St. Simons where we walked around Neptune Park and saw the famous St. Simons Lighthouse on our way to join our friends at East Beach for sunset. St. Simons has a cute downtown area stretching between Neptune Park and Kings Park including the St. Simons Island Pier.

The next and last day we of course had to check out the Sea Island golf courses which you can read about here. This trip I decided to ride with Matthew and it was truly such a beautiful course all along the water. Before his tee time we saw the Avenue of Oaks, checked out the pro shop, and enjoyed the putting course which was right outside the clubhouse and on the water, where guests and players can take in the relaxing atmosphere! After 18 holes, we packed up and said goodbye to a beautiful weekend on Georgia’s coast!

Other incredible places to stay within Sea Island is the Cloister and the Lodge which each have their unique offerings for an unforgettable vacation. You could also rent a cottage or check out Broadfield which is Sea Island’s sporting club and lounge. Within Sea Island, if you are a guest, you can enjoy an amazing spa and the beach club as well!

We hope you too can make it over to the Golden Isles and have a very memorable trip with family or friends!!

As promised above, here are some St. Simon’s Food Recommendations from our favorite locals!

Brunch:

- Palmers

- Café Frederica

- Sandy Bottom Bagels

- Wake Up Coffee

- Dolce Dough

Lunch:

- Southern Soul BBQ

- Sea Salt

- Taco Trucks: Tacos Del Ranchito or Jefecitas