There’s nothing quite like waking up to a golden sunrise over the marsh, grabbing your beach bag, and knowing the day ahead will be filled with sandcastles, salt air, and maybe a little history too. That’s the rhythm of St. Simons Island — beach, bike, explore, repeat. It’s the kind of place that manages to feel both exciting and totally laid back, where your kids can run free, and you can actually take a deep breath and enjoy it.
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Quick Links for this post:
- Best Beaches for Families
- Bike St. Simons Island
- Kayak the Marshes
- Take a Hike
- Go See Something
- Other Ideas For Family Fun on St. Simons & Hidden Gems
- Why Families Return to St. Simons Island Year After Year
Best Beaches for Families
St. Simons’ beaches hit that perfect balance of beautiful and family-friendly. They’re wide open, walkable, and never too crowded. A note on beaches at night: Flashlights are not allowed on or near beaches from May to October (except turtle-safe lighting), as it can be disruptive to nesting sea turtles or their hatchlings. If you’re planning a coastal getaway with kids, I put together a few family beach vacation tips — from what to pack to how to keep little ones entertained between tides — that’ll make your trip a little smoother (and a lot more fun). [Read my Family Beach Vacation Tips post for the full list]
- East Beach: located on the Atlantic ocean and known for hard-packed sand and dunes. A local favorite for good reason and where we spent the majority of our time hanging out. East Beach is made of smaller sections named after each beach access point- see more info on each below. At low tide, you can bike or walk for miles along the shoreline, and the packed sand makes it easy to push strollers or pull wagons. Note: Beach rules state that dogs must be leashed or in immediate control from 6 PM to 9 AM and are not allowed from 9 AM to 6 PM during the summer season.
- Gould’s Inlet: Our favorite spot to explore. The sand is soft, the waves are calm, and the view stretches forever. Just be sure to set up close to the dunes — the tide sneaks up faster than you think!
- Parking: small, limited parking lot.
- Amenities/Features: shower, water hose, benches and a fishing pier.
- Massengale Park Beach Access: Ideal for families with younger kids. There are restrooms, shaded picnic tables, and easy parking with 2 beach access points.
- Parking: Yes
- Amenities/Features: picnic tables, grills, playground, restrooms and outdoor showers
- Coast Guard Beach, 4100 First St.(Public Beach Access #27) A very popular beach location along East Beach
- Parking: Free parking lot
- Amenities/Features: restrooms and showers, picnic tables, bike racks, water hoses and a concession stand in the summer.
Kid-favorite moments: Boogie boarding until you’re covered in sand, spotting dolphins from shore, and ending every beach trip with a Sunset Slush from the beach cart. It quickly became our daily pre-lunch ritual .
Outdoor Adventures Beyond The Beach
If your family is like ours, you’ll want to break up beach time with a few off-the-sand adventures, and St. Simons makes that easy.
Bike St. Simons Island
With more than 20 miles of paved paths winding through shady oaks and marsh views, this island was made for biking. We brought ours from home, but plenty of local spots offer rentals — Island Bicycle, Ocean Motion, Zoom Bike Rental and Golden Isles Bike Rentals all have great options. Riding under the canopy of Spanish moss with the ocean breeze behind you feels like the definition of vacation. Pro Tip: Check the weather before heading out and avoid the heat of mid-day if you can.
Kayak the Marshes
For something a little different, we joined a private guided kayak tour through the salt marsh. Paddling past herons, jumping fish, and maybe even a dolphin or two is such a fun way to experience the island’s quieter side. Outfitters like Southeast Adventure Outfitters and Turtle Tours make it easy for beginners, even kids.
If you have time for a day trip, hop over to Jekyll Island — it’s just a short drive and full of lots of fun things to do. We booked a two-hour Marsh and Shark Tooth Beach Kayak Tour with Turtle Tide Outfitters, which was such a memorable (and hot!) morning adventure. The kids were obsessed when our guide found real shark teeth for everyone — a major highlight. Afterward, we grabbed lunch at Tortuga Jack’s, a super casual, affordable spot where a robot delivered our food (kids thought this was amazing). Before heading back, we stopped by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center — a quick, air-conditioned stop that’s both educational and adorable.
Jekyll Island Know Before You Go:
- Because Jekyll Island is a state park, all vehicles pay a small $10 entry fee upon arrival. These funds go directly toward keeping the island beautiful and well-maintained, from roads and picnic areas to conservation efforts and public safety.
Georgia Sea Turtle Center Know Before You Go:
- Open Daily 9am-5pm (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
- Admission: Ages 4-12 $10, Ages 13+ $12
- Gift shop with a cute variety- we left with some t-shirts and a lot of bracelets!
Take a Hike:
- Cannon’s Point Preserve: A 600-acre stretch of preserved wilderness and live oaks that feels straight out of a Southern novel. The views of the marsh are unreal (open weekends only).
- John Gilbert Nature Trail: A shady, easy half-mile loop that’s perfect for stretching your legs between beach and dinner.
- Earth Day Nature Trail: A one-hour loop trail at the Georgia DNR Headquarters where you can wander boardwalks and bridges through marshes, forest, and shoreline, which makes it a perfect, easy nature walk for families.
Go See Something:
- St. Simons Lighthouse & Museum
- It’s impossible to miss this island icon. Climb the 129 steps for sweeping views of the coastline. The museum is small but packed with stories about the island’s maritime past.
Kid tip: Let them count the steps as they climb… it’s surprisingly motivating.
- It’s impossible to miss this island icon. Climb the 129 steps for sweeping views of the coastline. The museum is small but packed with stories about the island’s maritime past.
- Fort Frederica National Monument
- This historic site brings Georgia’s colonial history to life, but without feeling too “lecture-y.” The grounds are open and beautiful, perfect for a picnic under the live oaks. Rangers often host scavenger hunts for kids, which is always a big hit.
Other Ideas For Family Fun on St. Simons & Hidden Gems
When you need a break from the beach, there’s plenty more to do:
- Mini-Golf & Pool Time:Neptune Park has a mini-golf course right by the water, plus a public pool and playground that are great for younger kids. Note the hours change seasonally and are dependent upon weather. Give them a call ahead of time at 912-279-2836 for current hours.
- Daily Rates: 12 & Under $6, 13 & up $8,
- Village Pier & Shops: The island’s main hub. We loved wandering the shops, grabbing ice cream, and watching people fish off the pier with Jekyll Island visible in the distance. Don’t miss SSI Lifestyle in the Village for cute local gear.
- Tennis & Pickleball: Courts near Gould’s Inlet are perfect for burning off extra energy before dinner.
- Epworth Park, 108 Lady Huntington Dr.
- Mallery Park, 601 Mallery Street
- Tree Spirits: Hidden around the island, these carved wooden faces in old oak trees are such a unique treasure hunt. Some are easy to find, others not so much…which is half the fun. There are about 20 scattered throughout the island but note that some are on private property. You can read more about the history and legend of the tree spirits here.
- Avenue of the Oaks: Don’t sleep on this drive! It’s one of the most beautiful spots on the island (also the entrance to the Sea Island Golf Club), with sweeping Spanish moss and picture-perfect 150+ year old oak trees.
- Parks & Playgrounds: Neptune Park and Mallery Park are both great stops when you need shade and a break from the beach.
- Events & Markets: Depending on the season, check out the St. Simons Farmers Market or the Music in the Park series. Both are fun, local, and very family-friendly. A few to note:
- Brunswick: First Friday event in downtown historic Brunswick with shops, galleries, restaurants, art openings, live music, food and beverage samples. From 5-8pm.
- 2nd and 4th Saturdays- Forward Brunswick Farmers Market 8am-1pm
And if you catch a rainy day, there’s still plenty to do:
- Watch a movie at Island Cinemas (44 Cinema Ln #6600)
- Go wild at Pinball Palace (3303 Hopkins Ave) or Golden Isles Strike Zone (380 Millennium Blvd) in Brunswick
- Shop around Redfern Village
- Visit the St. Simons Library (530A Beachview Drive, Closed on Sundays) or have a family game day at your rental
Why Families Return to St. Simons Island Year After Year
It’s easy here. Safe to bike, walkable to everything, and relaxed in all the right ways. You can have a full day of beach time, history, and local flavor without ever feeling over-scheduled. St. Simons Island is the kind of place where beach days turn into bike rides, where kids can climb a lighthouse or kayak through quiet marshes before sunset. It’s full of little adventures that remind you how good it feels to slow down, explore, and just be together.
Next up: Where to eat! Family-friendly restaurants, local favorites, and the best sweet treats to wrap up your island adventures.