It is a well-known fact that St. Simons Island is a popular destination, in any season. But, like most historic places, there is more than meets the eye. Curious? What follows are some little-known fun facts about St. Simons Island.
- St. Simons Island is the largest of Georgia’s Golden Isles, in good company with Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and Little St. Simons Island.
- In 1794, two thousand live oak trees from St. Simons Island were used to construct six warships, including the USS Constitution. Oak trees, in particular, were used because of the sturdiness – cannonballs bounced off the planking instead of destroying it completely.
- The St. Simons Island lighthouse, rebuilt in 1872 after sustaining heavy damage during the Civil War, is still functional today.
- The island itself is surrounded by marshes and wetland, which inspired poet Sidney Lanier to compose his famous poem “Marshes of Glynn.”
- Outdoor recreation is plentiful on St. Simons Island. Tour the many available attractions by car and the marshes and wetlands on rentable kayaks. If you’d prefer to remain on land, rent a bike and take a ride down one of the island’s bike trails. And there is always the option for a professional, guided tour. Want to get outside? There are plenty of ways to do it.
- St. Simons Island was once voted America’s #1 Favorite Romantic Town. It was also voted America’s #1 Favorite Beach Town, both by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
- St. Simons Island is around the same size as Manhattan Island, New York.
For an island so small, there is a large amount of history and activities to do on St. Simons Island. Spend some time among the ancient oaks discovering secrets for yourself.