About the Golden Isles

Many of the most beloved features on Georgia’s Golden Isles are the extensive bike paths, the canopy-draped hiking trails, and the numerous green spaces, parks, and preserves on St. Simons Island. More than 1,100 acres on the island have been protected by the St. Simons Land Trust, an accredited member of the national Land Trust Alliance. This includes Cannon’s Point Preserve, with its 644 acres of undeveloped wilderness, intact maritime forest, and more than six miles of peninsula shoreline on the north-end of the island. The 258-acre Guale Preserve features Polly’s Trail in the center of the property and Janet’s Trail at the waterfront. And across the island are protected areas that provide intimate access to historic, cultural, and environmental features and memorable experiences for birders, hikers, bikers, kayakers, photographers, and all nature lovers. As the Land Trust continues preserving and protecting iconic properties and undeveloped land on St. Simons, we celebrate the residents, local businesses, and visitors who have helped to create a culture of conservation on the island. Thank you for that support, and please be sure to also support the Pennies for Preservation partners who participate in our voluntary 1% giving program that, with your help, turns pennies into protected acres.

To learn more about the many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed on Land Trust properties, call 912.638.9109 or visit sslt.org.

The siren call of the Golden Isles of Georgia — four natural barrier islands and scenic port city — has entranced poets, artists, and writers with unspoiled beaches, shimmering marsh grasses, and graceful live oaks.

Owing to its wild beauty, this friendly beachside community awash in history, fresh local seafood, and a wealth of diversions has for eight consecutive years earned Travel + Leisure’s designation among the World’s Best Islands in the continental United States. Picturesque streets, meandering waterways, and award-winning courses invite you to pedal, paddle, and tee up. Settle into a vacation rental, bed-and-breakfast, or five-star resort, and as the sun’s rays burnish the sands and newly minted memories, you too will hear the siren’s whisper in this place where time stands still, your personal paradise . . . your Golden Isles.

2 About the Golden Isles 4 St. Simons Island 8 Sea Island 12 Little St. Simons Island 16 Jekyll Island 20 Brunswick 24 The Great Outdoors 32 History 42 Arts & Culture 48 Golf 54 Activities & Tours 64 Dining 80 Shopping 84 Weddings 90 Accommodations 112 Relocation & Real Estate 120 Getting Here

President and CEO | Scott McQuade

Marcie Kicklighter

Partnership Manager | Chelsey McNicoll Interactive Marketing Specialist | Emma Bakken Marketing Coordinator | Sarah Johnson Chief Financial Officer | Brenda O’Looney Director of Operations | Nicole Campbell

529 Beachview Dr. St. Simons Island, GA 31522 800.933.2627 goldenisles.com

5710 W. Gate City Blvd. Ste. 237 Greensboro, NC 27407 DestinationCreativeGroup.com

Summertime, and in fact year-round, the living on St. Simons Island is easy and fish are always jumping. Could there be anything more satisfying than saluting the day with a leisurely walk on a vast expanse of pristine sand?

Relax in the lap of luxury as waves lap against the shore of Sea Island’s private beaches, while Hobie Cats and paddleboarders navigate the surf, and occasional echoes of “fore” ring from distant fairways of this exclusive retreat.

The only crowds on Little St. Simons Island? Flocks of birds nesting in the dense canopy of maritime forest or wading by water’s edge, not to mention sea turtles, horseshoe crabs, and, troves of shells. Unspoiled and enchanting, the creatures and landscapes call this conserved oasis home. Follow your heart’s desire to the Golden Isles, combing its untouched beaches, wandering its historic haunts and lush wooded paths, enjoying its rich culinary bounty and varied sporting life — and discover the dawn of a new Golden Age.

Windswept and verdant, Jekyll Island will feed your sense of adventure with its wild and open spaces — and feed your soul with stately vestiges and enthralling tales of its august past.

Day or night, you’ll delight in the charms of Brunswick, the colorful harbor town fringed with undulating marshlands, where history sprouts from every street corner of its Historic Old Town. With a rich maritime culture, Brunswick thrives as a congenial port for cargo ships, fishing boats, pleasure boats . . . and anyone longing for a place to call home.

Stay in touch with the Golden Isles, selected one of the World’s Best Islands in the Continental United States by Travel + Leisure, before, during, and after your trip.

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The Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of information presented in the guide but assume no responsibility for errors, changes, or omissions. © Copyright 2023 GICVB. Printed in USA. All rights reserved. ON THE COVER A sailboat drifts along the Golden Isles waterways with Brunswick’s Sidney Lanier Bridge in the distance.