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Have Georgia on your mind this summertime?
As beautiful as Savannah may be to check out with its timeless European flair, nobody likes to handle crowds all in search of the same thing.
Georgia has some of America’s best hidden gems, however one lovely island hideaway was named by U.S. News & World Report as the most underrated destination in the U.S. Set about midway in between Savannah and the Florida state line lies an extensive barrier island with miles of beautiful beaches to delight in away from the hordes of travelers you ‘d find in more mainstream vacations.
St. Simon’s Island: Georgia’s Serene Summer Retreat
There’s no taking on Savannah. Whether it be picturesque cobbled streets of bygone ages, old-timey inns, acclaimed cuisine, or social media’s preferred baseball group, the Savannah Bananas, St. Simon’s can’t compete.
That being stated, you could quickly surmise St. Simon’s as a” small Savannah “with its Southern beauty, infectious hospitality, and historic sophistication. However the real specialty for St. Simon’s this summer is its off-path appeal. In spite of being named America’s a lot of underrated destination along with Southern Living’s ‘best beach town’, you won’t find the same level of busy streets or shores on this laid-back island.
East Beach Is The Place To Be
There’s no doubt East Beach is St. Simon’s most popular, but however, over the past few weeks beachgoers were so impressed with this slice of paradise, Google reviews were flooded with comments such as “Best beach in St. Simon’s” and “Concealed gem”.
< img width="1200 "height="1200 "src=" https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kid-on-bike-on-beach-in-St.-Simons-Island-Georgia.jpg.webp "alt ="Kid on bike on beach in St. Simon's Island
, Georgia “/ > Even over hectic Memorial Day weekend, a staple for beach events across the U.S., there’s not a single reference of excruciating crowds– rather the opposite, really. Visitors and residents alike love being able to bring their dog along, letting Fido run totally free. Though pets aren’t allowed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day.
A stone’s toss from East Beach is the remarkable World War II Home Front Museum, holding equally excellent reviews and giving tourists a little sample size of the island’s 300-plus year history.
If want a beachfront stay, there’s The Beach Club at St. Simons for spacious getaway rentals instead of conventional hotel spaces.
East Beach visitors rave about taking long walks on the beach, especially to start and end their day. If you need to a lunch break, Barrier Island Brewing is within strolling range to grab a cold one on a damp Georgia day and the Beer Cheese Dip is to die for! East Beach is the location to be, but if you’re the type like me who likes to discover the lesser understood, take a look at these 3 hush-hush spots almost no visitors understand about:
- Gould’s Inlet
- Gascoigne Bluff Park
- Wyley Street Public Beach
Where To Stay In St. Simon’s Island
Trip rentals aren’t everyone’s jam, however who can reject seaside resorts, comfortable cottages and historical inns? St. Simon’s
might be small, however it’s overruning with comfortable accommodations suiting every preference. For high-end resorts, you’ll wish to scope out the following 4 stays:
- Sea Island Resort
- The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club
- Ocean Lodge Resort
- King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
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For relaxing cottages, you’ll wish to take a look at the following 2 stays:
- The Grey Owl Inn (adults only!)
- The Lodge Cottages For historical inns, you’ll want to check out these 2 stays: Town Inn And Club Saint Simons Inn By The Lighthouse The lighthouse referenced above is the town’s most unmissable tourist attraction, the St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum with admission only costing $12 per person.
Getting Here: Fly To Savannah Or Jacksonville?
Regardless of liing well into Georgia, St. Simon’s is actually a little bit more detailed to Jacksonville, Florida’s airport than Savannah’s. Naturally, taking the winding backroads through the beautiful South is constantly an option too, but there abound flights to both Savannah and Jacksonville.
St. Simons Island is roughly 80 miles away from Savannah (SAV), compared to roughly 70 miles from Jacksonville (JAX).
Sam Sears Sam, our Lead Author & Journalist based in San Diego has actually visited 36 nations and edited 1000 articles with a concentrate on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This short article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card provider, hotel, airline company, or other entity. This material has not been evaluated, authorized or otherwise backed by any of the entities included within the post.