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Johnson Pictures Inc.
Driftwood Beach - Jekyll Island
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Joe Loehle
Birding on Golden Isle
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Johnson Pictures Inc.
Christ Church - St. Simons Island
Christ Church Frederica. St. Simons Island, GA.
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Courtesy goldenisles.com
Georgia Sea Turtle Center - Jekyll Island
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Johnson Pictures Inc.
Morningstar Marina - St. Simons Island
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Joe Loehle
Mary Ross Waterfront Park - Brunswick, Golden Isles
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Courtesy goldenisles.com
Sea Island Golf Course
By Darcy Nybo - Photos courtesy goldenisles.com
A little piece of paradise on the Atlantic
There’s a semi-tropical paradise located 120 km (75 miles) south of Savannah, GA and 105 km (65 miles) north of Jacksonville, FL. The Golden Isles of Georgia has an average winter temperature of 20°C (62°F) and over 71 places to stay from five star hotels to comfy campgrounds.
The Golden Isles consist of the historic city of Brunswick on the coast, and four barrier islands; St. Simons, Sea, Jekyll, and Little St. Simons.
Day trips are the perfect way to discover the area. The natural beauty here makes for some great outdoor activities. Hiking and biking trails abound, with over 80 km (50 miles) of bike paths on St. Simons and Jekyll Islands. There are more than 280 species of birds on Little St. Simons Island, and the fishing is superb almost everywhere you go. The list of sights to explore while you visit the Golden Isles is almost endless.
The Blythe Island Regional Park in Brunswick is the perfect place to park your RV. It has 1,100 acres of public parkland to enjoy. There’s also the Coastal GA RV Resort with a pavilion, swimming pool, fishing dock, paddleboats and a bark park.
Historic Brunswick is a sight to behold with streets that still bear their colonial names. Shrimp boats line the wharfs and you can see shrimpers unload at the docks along Bay Street and then taste their catch at one of the local restaurants.
Also on Bay Street is the Mary Ross Waterfront Park. They have an outdoor musical playscape, a pavilion, a scale model of a Liberty Ship, and a farmers market. The market is open Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every first Friday you can enjoy live music, art openings, and food and beverage samples from 5 - 8 p.m.
Just outside of Brunswick, on U.S. 17 is the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation. Back in the 1800s William Brailsford created a rice field here. The family continued to grow rice until 1913, when it became too difficult to sustain. The family switched over to being a dairy farm, and in 1973 the last remaining heir left the State of Georgia. Today it stands as a museum and guided tours are available.
The Islands
St. Simons Island
The largest of the barrier islands is St. Simons Island where you can take in the charm of the villages, shop, or have some fun at Neptune Park with a miniature golf and fishing. There are plenty of historic sites here including the Bloody Marsh Battle Site where the British defeated Spanish troops in 1742. As with all of the Golden Isles, there’s kayaking, fishing, golfing, biking or just taking a stroll along the beach. When you’ve done all that, there’s disc golf, sailing and diving available.
Sea Island
Sea Island, which can be reached by causeway from St. Simons Island, is home to two of the five top resorts in the U.S. Here you can golf your days away, unwind in the spa, play tennis and squash or simply enjoy the beautiful outdoors and all nature has to offer.
Jekyll Island
Should you prefer some RV island living for your vacation, head over to the Jekyll Island Campground. No matter where you are, you’ll be within walking and driving distance from several beach access points. Jekyll Island was once a playground for the likes of the Rockefellers, Morgans, Cranes and Goulds, who represented over one-sixth of the world’s wealth back in the 1900s. While you are here you can take a walk along the 10 miles of white sand beaches, enjoy the waterpark, go fishing, explore the bike trails, try a round of golf or visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Centre. Should you like a little more of the great outdoors, explore the area on horseback or take an ecofriendly Segway® tour.
Little St. Simons Island
Little St. Simons Island is a boat ride away. The guided tour is recommended and they supply the lunch. If you like, you can choose to stay overnight on this privately owned 10,000-acre resort. There’s plenty to do including kayaking, fishing, bicycling and birding.
Casinos, Theatre, Music and More
There’s always something interesting to do while visiting the Golden Isles. You can take a casino cruise from Historic Brunswick during the day, the evening, or late at night.
The Brunswick Actors’ Theatre is presenting ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas from mid November to December 14, and the American Tenors perform at the Cloister on December 11. Christmas cheer is everywhere in December with Christmas themed plays, concerts and events, and that includes New Years’ celebrations.
In January there’s the 39th Annual Bluegrass Festival on Jekyll Island from January first to third, and the comedy weekend January 23 and 24.
The Golden Isles of Georgia truly are a piece of paradise for all to enjoy, every day of the year.