From the sight of 200 year-old moss-draped live oak trees to giant loggerhead turtles on the beach, St. Simons Island has long been a haven for children, including my own grandchildren.
In 1995, I told my visiting grandsons that the newly opened McDonald’s on the island was for adults only. All three boys, who were under six years old, never doubted my word. I was determined to bring them up craving shrimp, and that is NOT available in a Happy Meal.
I recently had a chance to again experience St. Simons Island through the eyes of my youngest grandson, who has just graduated from college. He agreed to re-visit and share some of his favorite island haunts.
Most of our family’s traditional activities are still very much a part of this island: fishing off the pier, miniature golf and playing on the playground in the village followed by ice cream treats from nearby sweet shops. The recent addition of Neptune Fun Zone and Mallery Street Park and Playground completes the scene now.
We never missed a visit to the lighthouse, climbing up every one of the 129 steps to be rewarded with the most fantastic view. Today we can even extend our visit by checking out the Historical Society Museum and Shop.
Always armed with bug spray, we loved exploring Fort Frederica National Monument. Three boys could always make believe they were part of the original British troops and relive the Battle of Bloody Marsh. Both Fort Frederica and Bloody Marsh can be visited daily and on weekends.
A tour of the Christ Church graveyard usually led to the re-telling of scary ghost stories and legends behind those imposing tombstones. Books about the area’s famous ghosts can be found at local shops, but be prepared for some sleepless nights after bedtime story hour.
Horseback riding in the ring at the Sea Island Stables was one of the first stops during visits in those early days. Thanks to the work of the St. Simons Land Trust, we can now visit that once beloved spot and dream of those past pony rides.
Heading the list of my grandsons’ very favorite traditions here is the Annual Fourth of July Sunshine Festival and fireworks display at the pier. To this day it is a highlight of their summer visits.
Moonlight walks on the beach at night, while chasing ghost crabs with flashlights, is still a vivid memory for my grandson. One summer night a Super Moon illuminated a huge loggerhead turtle depositing her eggs on the sand dunes of the beach. Another amazing adventure was helping to guide newly hatched baby turtles to the water so they could begin their life’s journey in the Atlantic Ocean. In recent years, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island has become a significant tourist attraction. Guided turtle walks during the summer are offered during nesting and hatching season. And if you're lucky, you may be here to see them release one of their rehabilitated patients back into their ocean home.
All my grandsons loved riding their bikes around St. Simons Island. Now there are more than 30 miles of bike paths inviting you to explore the island at a leisurely pace. The best place for picnicking bikers is at Frederica Park on Lawrence Road. It’s an inviting park for both people and their dogs, with play areas for both small and large dogs.
Other popular activities today include kayaking and paddleboarding. Families can arrange guided tours and spend time together exploring areas of the marsh and tidal rivers.
At the close of the day, our favorite place is Gascoigne Bluff. It’s the best spot for enjoying the sunset. Get comfortable sitting on the benches behind Lovely Lane chapel at Epworth by the Sea, Methodist Center. The show is better than anything you could possibly see at Disney World. The historic slave cabins and the mighty oaks seem to be whispering their secrets of the past to you.
At some point, the island McDonald’s added an outside children’s play area. By then, my grandsons were older and wiser, and they still preferred playing in the playground with the 200 year-old live oak trees. I predict their children will one day too.
Nona is everyone's favorite island grandmother. She knows everyone and all the best spots in the Golden Isles. Listen to Nona!