A Weekend in St. Simon and Jekyll Island, Georgia

Posted on by brennagallagher20

A perfect little winter getaway, Garrett and I celebrated one year of dating by visiting St.Simon Island in Georgia.  I caught a flight to Savannah on Wednesday, January 27th and we drove down to St.Simon’s on Thursday.  A hidden gem (at least to me) These Golden Isles are just an hour and a half from Savannah. 

We stayed at the coziest airbnb on St.Simon’s. It was simple, but had everything we could need. Full kitchen, laundry, one bathroom, one bedroom, and just two blocks from a beach access. Check out our airbnb here. 

Below you will see our full 2-day itinerary! Like the nerds we are, it is full of animal encounters, good food, and beaches. Check it out! 

BREAKFAST/LUNCH

Palmer’s Village Cafe – We ate breakfast here the first morning and had a really hard time deciding what to order.  We opted for 1 savory dish, 1 sweet, and switched half way through. Garrett got the French Toast.  I got the egg white veggie omelette. Both were sensationally good.  We cleared our plates. We wanted to come back the next day because the menu was so amazingly delicious, but decided there were too many other cafes we wanted to try too!

Sandy Bottom Bagels – I’m obsessed with bagels; next to pizza, I could eat them all day every day. So I knew we had to check out Sandy Bottom Bagels. My go to order is a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese, that is what  I got here. They lay the cream cheese on thick so be ready! You could also build breakfast sandwiches, they had a very extensive menu for just being bagels. 

Wake Up Coffee Company – Garrett always has to try out the local coffee spots when we travel and I cannot complain. Wake Up Coffee I have no doubt it’s hopping when we aren’t in a pandemic.  It’s a great space with indoor and outdoor tables. Garrett got a drip coffee and a nitro brew to go.  I got a raspberry vanilla latte and it was incredible.  I would highly recommend. 

Palm Coast – Right up the street from Palmers, Palm Coast sits on the main street leading towards the St.Simon Pier.  It is quaint in size, with an adorable patio off to the side.  Garrett and I sat outside.  The service was quick and efficient which was perfect because we had to get on the road. I got a veggie scramble with breakfast potatoes, toast, and bacon.  It was delicious and stuffed me to the brim. 

Side Note: I have no lunch recommendations because most days we ate a late breakfast and snacked throughout the afternoon while we explored. I would say all the places above could double as lunch spots!

DINNER

Delaney’s Bistro and Bar – I have nothing but good things to say about Delaney’s. Garrett and I made a reservation on Thursday evening for our anniversary.  It’s a very swanky, white table cloth kind of place.  It’s a multiple courses, tiny food kind of place. But I really loved the experience.  The wait staff was wonderful.  Everyone dining there was having the best time, laughing and carrying on.  Everyone was dressed up. It made for a lovely dining experience.  Garrett got a steak, I got the shrimp fettuccine.  I believe the menu rotates regularly based on what the chef is cooking that night though.  We finished our celebratory dinner with a slice of white chocolate cheesecake. 

Sal’s Neighborhood Pizzeria – Friday night we ordered in pizza from Sal’s and just had a lazy night after a full day of exploring.  One extreme to the other when it comes to dinner, but as I mentioned before, Pizza is my favorite meal and I must try it everywhere I go. Sal’s was delicious and if you are looking for something quick and easy one night, this is the perfect option. 

EXPLORING

Jekyll Island – Known for having one of the best beaches in the world, Jekyll island is a nature lover’s oasis. Before getting onto the island, there is a pay booth. You pay $8 for a day pass to be on the island and park anywhere all day without an issue.  I am sure if you were staying on Jekyll this would somehow be included in your rental. 

  • St. Andrew’s Beach – Garrett and I stumbled upon St. Andrew’s beach when we first got to the island. Keep in mind that we were there in January, but we maybe saw 10 other people the entire time we wandered around this beach.  There was driftwood everywhere (even though this wasn’t Driftwood Beach), white sand, calm waters, it was absolutely beautiful.  We walked down along the beach and then took a trail through the woods to get back to our car. 
  • Horseback riding – Beginner friendly, these horses were as calm as they come.  Garrett and I got a private tour on horseback. This was a quiet and beautiful to see the island.  We rode through the woods and onto the beach. My horse did get spooked at one point and scared the crap out of me, but it settled down quickly.  If you are a novice or advanced horseback rider, this is not the tour for you, but it was a lot of fun for someone who doesn’t do it on the regular! 
  • Driftwood beach – Driftwood Beach is the main draw for most people coming to Jekyll Island.  It is rated as one of the top beaches in the world! Though a bit chilly when we visited, it is absolutely beautiful, I don’t know how else to describe it.  The “driftwood” is full blow trees that have been washed away by the ocean and are worn by the power of the ocean.  Garrett and I walked around just inspecting all the beautiful trees and patterns the ocean had created in the wood. 
  • Sea Turtle Center and Hospital – I nerd out hard core on all things sea turtles.  They are my favorite animal and I am all for saving them.  So anywhere there is a sea turtle center, I need to visit.  We bought timed tickets online, but the center was empty.  There is a large room full of educational boards, videos, and interactions more catered towards children, but interesting nonetheless. There is also a window into the hospital, so that guests can view procedures being done.  There is also a separate building that houses the sea turtles.  You can see the turtles and read about how they got injured and where they are rescued from.

We did not eat on the island, however, there are a lot of options for dining. You can view dining options and more about Jekyll Island here. 

St. Simon’s 

  • Walked Around Town – St. Simon has a cute “downtown” area, I use quotes because its really just one street.  This area has small town vibes and I love it.  Mallery Street is where Palmer’s and Palm Cafe are located along with a slew of other beachy shops and restaurants.  It also leads right to the St. Simon’s pier. 
  • St.Simon’s Pier – as I mentioned Mallery Street right in the downtown area leads right to the pier. Like most pier’s it’s a great spot for fishing and sightseeing.  In September of 2019, there was a cargo ship that capsized right between St. Simon and Jekyll Island.  The ship is so large, it is STILL being taken a part piece by piece. You have a pretty good view to watch this drama unfold from the pier. In fact, when we were visiting, locals were sitting on park benches with binoculars watching the progress being made on the ship. 
  • Christ Church – Christ Church is an Episcopal Church built in 1736 right there on the island.  Due to covid, we weren’t able to go inside, but the grounds are beautiful. Surrounded by moss covered trees, gardens, and a quiet cemetery.
  • Fort Frederica – A National Park, Fort Frederica sits just down the road from Christ Church. “  Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. Colonists from England, Scotland, and the Germanic states came to Georgia to support this endeavor.” Learn More about Fort Frederica and plan your visit here.

While it was certainly a quick trip, I think we jammed in just about everything we could.  While I would highly suggest going in December – February if you are looking for a less crowded, local experience, we definitely did not get the full experience. I can’t wait to go back when it is warmer and we can do more excursions and get in more beach time. 

Have you been to the Golden Isles? What are your favorite weekend getaway activities? Leave a comment and let me know!

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