St. Simons Island has remained quaint, not heavily commercialized. There are no high rises. There are lots of oak trees with Spanish moss swaying with the wind. The lighthouse is attractive and has a great view from the top if you are willing to climb the staircase all the way up. Fort Frederica National Monument preserves the remnants of a fort and town built by General Oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748 to protect the southern boundary of the British colony of Georgia from Spanish raids. About 630 British troops were stationed at the fort. A victorious battle at Bloody Marsh on St Simons Island saved the Colony of Georgia from ownership of the Spanish.
Kayaking with the tides through the Marsh area and observing the wildlife is a very peaceful, enjoyable experience. The beaches are wide at low tide and just Beautiful! Bike riding directly on the beach is possible where the sand is firm enough. It is also very enjoyable riding on the bike paths throughout both St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island is accessible by ferry and has it's own interesting history and unique beauty. For other day trips, it is less than a 1 1/2 hour drive from the condo to either downtown Savannah, Ga., or Jacksonville, Fl. There are local Shrimpers right there at both St. Simons Island and Darien, Ga. bringing in some of the best tasting Shrimp in the world called 'Georgia White Shrimp'. The shrimp can be purchased directly from the shrimpers or local seafood markets or offered on some menus at the local restaurants. If you love the outdoors, there is plenty to do including scuba diving, golfing, biking, kayaking, exploring, shelling, boating, fishing, shrimping, shopping, etc. St. Simons Island also offers good restaurants and live music at several pubs or coffee houses. And there are often food, art and music festivals nearby.