St. Simons Island is the largest of Georgia's barrier islands with about 27,000 acres (42.19 sq. mi.). There are about 12,000 acres (18.75 sq.mi.) that are uplands. On the island, there are more than 14,000 residents who enjoy the four miles of beach that the island offers.

It is in these beaches and marshes in particular that you will find some of the best views of the area's wildlife. Everything from dolphin, manatee, sea turtles, rare coastal birds and alligators to high flying eagles, hawks and tarpon.

One of the best ways to creep up on this abundant wildlife is by kayak. If you don't have your own you can contact a tour guide like Ocean Motion, and they have daily tours that take you through the golden marshes of The Golden Isles.

Other ways to enjoy the great outdoors of The Golden Isles is by renting a bike and traversing miles and miles of bikepath, chartering a boat and fishing the rivers or ocean, or just sit back on the beach and enjoy the scenery.

For a true outdoor experience, spend a day or book a luxurious cabin overnight on Little St. Simons Island. At The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island, you can kayak, bike, fish or take a naturalists tour and learn about the flora and fauna that make up our diverse ecosystem. For more information, visit their website.

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Golf
When you think about St. Simons and Jekyll Island, you immediately think GOLF.
Sea Island’s links venture onto St. Simons’ southern shore, and are traditionally featured as some of the finest holes bracing the South Atlantic. The Island Club course features beautiful holes surrounded by some of the finest homes in the area and a luxurious clubhouse. Sea Palms thrives at the center of the island with an expansive layout which meanders treacherously through piney woods and the marsh. Hampton Plantation at the north end means even more championship golf, and all clubs offer full services. More fine golf is found on Jekyll Island where you have a choice of two 18-hole and one 9-hole course.

Tennis
Tennis is one of the area’s most popular sports. Sea Palms features professional events and collegiate championships, the Island Club is a hotbed of league and competitive play, Sea Island offers top-flight professional facilities and the King & Prince features four fine courts. Public play is available on hard courts at Mallory Park and Epworth park. Jekyll Island’s Tennis Center is among the best and other public courts are available on the mainland.

Fishing
Don’t bother trying to count the ways one can go fishing in the Golden Isles. There are simply too many!
Spotted sea trout, channel bass, flounder, grouper, Spanish and king mackerel, dolphin, sailfish, whiting, shark, amberjack, tarpon and everything in between are available in local waters, and in plentiful quantities and respectable size. Public fishing is available at the Village Pier, all along the Torras Causeway and at the older bridge-heads (off the causeway). Good shore fishing can be had at Gould’s Inlet on East Beach; however, the tide is extremely treacherous and should be respected.
Inshore waters feature fine fishing for trout, spottail bass, flounder and other fine-eating fish while offshore fishermen can catch just about anything. Further inshore, fishermen can find largemouth bass, bream, catfish, speckled perch (crappie) and other species.
The Golden Isles Marina, located adjacent to the Torras Causeway on the Frederica River, offers expanded berths and a host of professional services, including charters. Hampton Point Marina, at the island’s north end, also includes a range of services, dry storage and charters. The Sea Island marina offers charter services while the St. Simons Boating and Fishing Club is a public facility located on the Frederica River.
Over on Jekyll Island, The Jekyll Harbor Marina offers wet and dry storage, launching facilities and a cafe.
Another popular marine pastime is crabbing with handlines from low docks or with crab pots or traps from bridges and fishing piers.

Water Sports
St. Simons’ wealth of water offers a natural invitation to an astounding variety of activities beyond fishing. They include beach-walking, bird-watching, canoeing, kayaking, surfing or wind-surfing, SCUBA diving and boating.
Divers will find a wide range of SCUBA services available. Georgia’s murky waters clear to a beautiful crystal blue offshore. Gray’s Reef is an outstanding diving area as are many artificial reefs built around sunken ships.

Bicycling
One of the best ways to see the Golden Isles is by bicycle, whether maintaining a leisurely pace through the resort areas near the south end of St. Simons or pushing oneself faster along open roads at the north end.
Bike paths wind around the airport, through the village and along the marsh at East Beach as well as the entire length of Frederica Road. Visitors might want to start with an easy ride in the village and then expand their ventures onto other paths. Serious cyclists might consider starting near the northern end of Frederica Road, then following their own pace up Hampton Road, a stretch of some 12 miles offering expansive scenery and wide-open riding.
Bicycle rentals, purchases or equipment are available at a number of locations. Check our yellow pages to find the dealer nearest you.

Other Activities
Avid bird-watchers should bring binoculars and books to bone up on the wide variety of feathered life while beach-combers can find treasures at every turn. A brisk sea breeze can make beach waters a delight for sailing or surfing, canoeing or ocean-kayaking, while inshore and offshore waters offer boating of all sorts. Rentals are available through a number of outlets featured in the Yellow Pages.
Day trips to Ft. King George in Darien, Cumberland Island out of St. Marys, and the Okeefenokee Swamp near Waycross or Folkston and Little Saint Simons Island are always a possibility.