Good evening, SF.

The Lovely Girlfriend (TLG) and I have been talking about a vacation in May, somewhere between North Carolina and Florida. In our search, St. Simons Island shows up frequently.

I've only visited Georgia briefly, and don't know much about its beaches. Who's got knowledge to share?

Thanks, all.


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Edited to change title -- considering Amelia now instead of St. Simons.

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Jan 7: Edited title again. We're now considering Hilton Head, too.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: vthoky,

St. Simons Island is nice. My brother has lived there over 10 years and I've been there many times. Some great restaurants (Coastal Kitchen for the shrimp and grits or anything, and Delaney's are great). Beach is nice but the water is a murky brown. There's a nice little beach area with a lighthouse and stores. But I think I'd prefer either Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island or St. Augustine, or Charleston or even Hilton Head over Sea Island.

I’m guessing you want to stay within a certain driving distance, but I just want to throw out there that you might consider the Florida gulf coast.

It’s probably 50% farther, but it’s much more than 50% nicer, at least if you care about the water and the beach. If you’re not aware, Destin for example has blue/green/ emerald water and white sand beaches. Great food and shopping.

I just wanted to mention it because I think a lot of people aren’t aware of how nice the water and beaches are in that area.

Don’t tell anyone how nice it is in Destin.

My wife and I rented a house on SSI for a month after we retired, thinking we might buy a condo there. We wanted to see what it was like before we committed.

Glad we did. We left the rental and came home a week before the month was over. As was said, the water is murky and not at all inviting. I guess if you're not a beach person it wouldn't matter but Amelia is much nicer and close to the historic district. Much better choice IMO.

Amelia Island is a great place for a vacation.
We’ve been many times.
They have great restaurants and the beach is super.
Nice people too.
Billy

Another recommendation for Amelia Island. It is close enough to be S GA.

We try to get up there a few times a year. Great restaurants, beaches, and enough nearby things to keep you occupied.

Thank you all for your responses. We've talked some this afternoon about it and are starting to look at Amelia Island instead.

Any particular recommendations in the area?

GO to the Nature Center down by the state park.

Boneyard Beach

Concours at the end of February.

We live in Orlando and have spent a summer weekend at Amelia Island each summer for the the last dozen or so years. Most of those have been at Omni Amelia Island Plantation, one or two at Ritz Carlton.

Many times, for a 3 day stay, we will park the car at Omni and never touch it again until we leave. Their breakfast buffet is amazing. We hang at the pool or beach all day. The kids play, we relax when they are not making us play with them. For dinner, steak night at Marche Barrett is my favorite, sitting lakeside, usually live music. I can feel my body relax as I type that.

They have a nature center also. And putt putt. And other activates. And golf. And tons of trails that can be hiked.

Everyone tells us how cute the little town of Fernandina Beach is, but not a single time have we left Amelia to explore. I am sure it would happen if the trips were longer, but we have never gotten around to it.

Pick you nightlife and stay there, either the beach or downtown. We usually stay at the Hampton inn by the downtown waterfront. We'll drive to the beach during rhe day but we like the restaurants downtown more and like being able to walk to dinner and drinks.

Crab trap for dinner.
Sunset drinks on the deck at Bretts.
There is a quirky little gift shop on the parking lot end of Bretts thats worth passing through.
Rum Punch at the Pirate's bar.
The forts is worth a few hours if you are into that kind of stuff.
Unless there is an event, the nightlife downtown can be spotty while the beaches has some great bars and the nightlife has a different vibe and is more consistent.

Fernandia beach is really nice. Or was, a few years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by 2Adefender:
Don’t tell anyone how nice it is in Destin.

Destin looks great, for sure. Getting there would involve flights, though, and that's more than we're apt to tackle this year. Will certainly keep it in mind for future, though.

quote:

Originally posted by sunburn:
Concours at the end of February.

I would stinkin' LOVE to attend that.

My wife is returning from Hilton Head as I type this. The weather wasn't the greatest for the beach this past weekend but her sisters and her found a nice place to eat while there. Hudson's, a seafood restaurant, was a hit amongst them. As far as anything else to do or see, she didn't tell me anything else.

If you go down I95 to Amelia Island, you might make a small detour to stop at Jekyll Island (just south of St. Simons) and visit Driftwood Beach (with stark dead trees and driftwood matching the name) and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Those were my two favorite memories of our visit to St. Simons shortly before COVID hit (though Fort Frederica National Monument, which is actually on St. Simons, was a close third).

Whatever you decide, have a great trip.

Went to Hilton Head for the first time in May. My Father in law has always wanted to go so we did a family trip there. It was nice, but I’m a Gulf coast of Florida person. Destin is closer to us, so no reason to chose HH over 30A. The water at the beach is brown and brackish and it took our kids some convincing to go in it as they are used to Florida beaches. I guess if it was on the way to somewhere or a good place to meet up, I’d choose it. Good golfing, great seafood dining, and kept clean and orderly, but we have most of that closer.

vthoky, For future reference, don't come to Destin in the summer. I live 8 mi9les away in Shalimar and we avoid Destin like the plague in the summer or during spring break. Paradise lost. Navarre hasn't quite caught up to Destin yet but it's getting close. This time of year is absolutely gorgeous!

The Georgia Barrier Islands are lovely but not really known for beaches.

Amelia is very nice and HHI is nice, but more casual than Amelia. Folly B and Sullivans I. and Isle of Palms around Charleston are great, too, and would cut off an 1-2 hours of your drive.

HHI is a very family friendly place. The beaches are nice but can definitely be very crowded if you're not staying somewhere with a private stretch. We stay in Sea Pines often and enjoy it a lot. Great spot for riding bicycles and a very natural landscape apart from the beaches. Harbour Town has ok restaurants and the lighthouse and some shopping. Tons of great golf in HHI.

Being in Atlanta, we alternate HHI and Gulf Coast every year, plus visit Charleston a good bit.

I have a small condo on Hilton Head Island. I'd be happy to offer any specific advice if you'd like.

Email in my profile.