ST. SIMONS ISLAND / SEA ISLAND / LITTLE ST. SIMONS ISLAND Via F.J. Torras / St. Simons Island Causeway
Start anywhere along the tour route. Five Flag tour guide signs are at most stops. In the listings, the number to the left of each point of interest corresponds to its map location. The number to the right (in parentheses) indicates the mileage to the next point of interest.
10. AVENUE OF OAKS (.7) Now the grand entrance to the Sea Island Golf Club (available to guests of the Lodge at Sea Island, Cloister guests and Sea Island Club members), the Avenue of Oaks was the entrance to Retreat Plantation, an antebellum plantation known for its superior quality sea island cotton and extensive flower gardens. Visitors may view the oak canopies and golf course vistas by driving along the Avenue of Oaks and circling back.
11. ST. SIMONS ISLAND VILLAGE (.1) An eclectic collection of shops, galleries, restaurants, and the starting point for several island tours, this area is the hub of St. Simons Island vacation activities. A variety of outdoor festivals and other activities take place year 'round in the village parks. The pier, a focal point of activity since the days of ferryboat transportation between St. Simons Island and the mainland, is a popular spot for sightseeing and fishing.
12. ST. SIMONS ISLAND CASINO (.1) The Casino (locally defined as "a room or building for public amusement") is home to the St. Simons Island Visitors Center and a branch of the regional library. The Casino also features public meeting and function rooms, a 100-seat theater, an outdoor bandstand, and restroom facilities. The St. Simons Island Visitors Center is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. (Area brochures are available outside after hours.) Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days.
13. ST. SIMONS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM & A.W. JONES HERITAGE CENTER (1.1) Built in 1872, the lighthouse and keeper's dwelling are the oldest surviving brick structures in Glynn County. The architectural simplicity of the restored keeper's house complements the towering 104-foot lighthouse with its 129 interior steps. Together, the lighthouse and keeper's dwelling comprise the St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum.
Visitors enter the museum through the A.W. Jones Heritage Center. The center features an exhibit that includes information about the 2004 Sea Island G8 Summit, highlighting Georgia's commercial, political and cultural ties to the world. Other exhibits will feature items from the society's permanent collection as well as traveling exhibits from other museums and historical societies. The Center also features a large multipurpose meeting room, state-of-the-art research library and a museum store.
The Lighthouse Museum and A.W. Jones Heritage Center are open Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm; Sunday 1:30-5 pm. Summer hours apply. Admission fee for Lighthouse Museum and A.W. Jones Heritage Center exhibits.
Combination tickets, good for admission to the Lighthouse Museum and Maritime Museum at the Historic Coast Guard Station, are available. Call 638-4666. saintsimonslighthouse.org.
14. ST. SIMONS BEACH (EAST BEACH and MASSENGALE PARK) (.5) St. Simons Island offers several miles of fine public beach off Ocean Blvd. to the north and south of the historic U.S. Coast Guard Station. East Beach, at the Maritime Museum in the Historic Coast Guard Station, offers a large parking area, new restroom facilities and a crossover to the beach with handicapped access. Beachfront Massengale Park, south of the Coast Guard Station, has a playground, picnic tables and restroom facilities. Open daily 6 am to 10:30 pm.
15. MARITIME MUSEUM AT THE HISTORIC COAST GUARD STATION (.9) Located in a former U.S. Coast Guard Station (1936), the Maritime Center offers an exciting look at coastal Georgia's natural assets, while highlighting some of the area's maritime and military history. Seven galleries feature a variety of hands-on exhibits and activities. May-August, the outdoor nature center offers hands-on nature tours, Workshops and programs for visitors of all ages. Open Monday-Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; closed Sunday. Summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day): Monday-Saturday 3 to 9 pm; closed Sunday. Admission fee. Combination tickets, good for admission to the Maritime Center at the Historic Coast Guard Station and the Lighthouse Museum, are available. Call 638-4666. saintsimonslighthouse.org.
16. BLOODY MARSH BATTLE SITE (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE) (5.2) Here, on July 7, 1742, an outnumbered force of British troops ambushed and defeated Spanish troops, halting a planned attack on Fort Frederica. Markers and information panels explain the battle, which once and for all ended Spain's claims to the Georgia territory. Open daily 8 am to 4 pm. nps.gov/archive/fofr/battle.htm
17. SEA ISLAND (7) Since 1928, discerning guests have returned time and again to The Sea Island Resort for unparalleled service, accommodations and amenities. The Cloister at Sea Island welcomes guests to its beautiful new main Hotel, Spa, Tennis Center and Beach Club. Inside and out, the grand resort complex recalls the architecture and ambience of the beloved original hotel, designed in 1928 by famed architect Addison Mizner. Access to Sea Island is available only to guests staying at The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island, and members of the Sea Island Club. Call 638-3611. seaisland.com
18. FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE) (.2) As you travel north on Frederica Road, you will reach a traffic circle, or roundabout, at approximately mid-island. To reach Fort Frederica, enter the roundabout and take the second right (Frederica Road). The fort will be to your left around the bend past Christ Church. The town of Frederica was founded by General Oglethorpe in 1736, three years after the founding of Savannah. Park Ranger-led tours and soldier/colonial life programs throughout the year recall life in Georgia's second town. The park visitor center features exhibits and an orientation film, which is shown every 30 minutes. Visitor center open daily 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Christmas Day. Admission fee. Call 638-3639. nps.gov/fofr
19. CHRIST CHURCH, FREDERICA (7.4) In 1736, John and Charles Wesley, acknowledged as the fathers of the Methodist Church, held services under the oak trees near the location of the present church, built in 1883 by Anson Phelps Dodge Jr. as a memorial to his first wife. Open daily 2 to 5 pm, except Christmas Day. christchurchfrederica.org
20. LAWRENCE ROAD Lawrence Road will be the second road to the right after you enter the roundabout from Christ Church. Leading to the northern tip of St. Simons Island, Lawrence Road is dotted with historical markers, which tell about the plantations that once thrived in the area. As you head north on Lawrence Road, to your left is the Sea Island Stable, available only to guests staying at The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island, and members of the Sea Island Club. Following Lawrence Road to its northern terminus, you will reach the Hampton River Club Marina (7.4 miles from Stop 19; 11.2 miles to Stop 21), departure point for LITTLE ST. SIMONS ISLAND. Guided day tours of this pristine private island are available year 'round by reservation only. Overnight accommodations are available at The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. Call 638-7472. littlestsimonsisland.com
21. EPWORTH BY THE SEA (.7) A Methodist Conference Center with lodging, meeting and dining facilities, Epworth by the Sea is on the former site of Hamilton Plantation. The Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum is open to the public. Call 638-8688. epworthbythesea.org
22. GASCOIGNE BLUFF (15) Live oak timbers milled here in 1794 were used in building "Old Ironsides," the U.S.S. Constitution. In 1874, timbers were cut here for the Brooklyn Bridge. Located on the Hamilton River, Gascoigne Bluff features a public fishing pier, floating dock, picnic pavilion and restroom facilities. The facility is free and open year 'round.
23. SIDNEY LANIER BRIDGE (7) Georgia's tallest cable-stayed suspension bridge. This beautiful structure is 7,780 feet long and 486 feet tall. It contains 95,283 cubic yards of concrete and 14,810,095 pounds of reinforcing steel. The Lanier Bridge provides easy access to Brunswick & The Golden Isles from I-95 Exit 29. At the foot of the bridge on the north side, a new public park will honor the men and women who worked in Brunswick's shipyards in World War II, building the Liberty Ships that supplied the Allied troops around the world. The planned park will offer a playground and picnic area with grills, benches, boardwalk, fishing pier, vending concession area and restrooms.
