St. Simons

St. Simons is an inhabited island in the Atlantic off Georgia's east coast, south of Savannah and north of the Florida line. It offers sand beaches, small forests of oak and palm, and tidal marshes that stretch between the inlets.

British colonists founded a fortified settlement in 1736 to repel Spanish attacks from Florida. The Battle of Bloody Marsh in July 1742 ended Spanish attempts to reclaim Georgia.

The name comes from Anglican missionaries active here during the 18th century who invoked a Scottish saint. Today, traditions of descendants of formerly enslaved people blend with tourism, as craft work, music and local markets display this heritage.

The central area around the pier offers public beach sections, fishing spots and shops within walking distance. Beyond the center, paths lead through the woods and to quieter shore sections where a car is helpful.

A largely undisturbed forest section at the northern end holds traces of human use from a time long before European arrival. Visitors find mounds and earthworks there marking earlier settlement sites.