St Simons Island Lighthouse
This is one of only five lighthouse
s in Georgia and it is right in the Village. If you climb the 129 circular steps you will have an amazing view! It’s an easy walk from the cottage or drive to the Village and park near the lighthouse.
Fort Frederica National Monument
Fort Frederica National Monument, which is run by the National Park Service, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort and town built by James 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 town of up to 500 colonial residents had grown up outside the fort; it was laid out following principles of the Oglethorpe Plan for towns in the Georgia Colony. The town was named Frederica, after Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King George II. The monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The Fort, which is on St Simons Island, is about a 10 minute drive from the cottage.
For information, directions, hours, etc. check the website…. Fort Frederica National Monument
Day Trip to Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island has great beaches and our favorite is Driftwood Beach. Jekyll is also home to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center whose mission is to rescue and rehabilitate injured sea turtles. There is a tour of the turtle hospital, but you should call ahead for tour times and days. There are great bicycle trails on the island and you can rent bikes or bring your own. The Summer Waves Water Park is open from mid-May to early September, but check their calendar for specific dates and times.
For more information: https://www.jekyllisland.com/
Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island is a barrier island off Georgia’s southeast coast, with beautiful protected beaches and maritime forests. Wildlife includes loggerhead turtles and feral horses and it is very common to see the horses. The Dungeness Ruins are the remains of a mansion built by Thomas Carnegie.
We took a family trip to Cumberland Island and had a great time. The ferry ride was also fun. Depending on the time of year ferry reservations may sell out days in advance so you may want to call ahead for ferry reservations. Please see the website below for more information on the island and ferry reservations.
For more information: Cumberland Island National Park Service Website
Cannon’s Point Preserve
Cannon’s Point Preserve is a an undeveloped 608-acre wilderness preserve on the northern end of St. Simons Island. It is a peninsula with more than six miles of salt marsh, tidal creek and river shoreline that has the last intact maritime forest on the island. Cannon’s Point Preserve is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and provides important habitat for many coastal wildlife and plant species. Shell middens dating back to 2500 BCE are on the site, as are the remains of the large plantation home and slave quarters built by John Couper in the 1800s. We highly recommend a day trip to a part of the island full of history and environmental treasures! 
Cannon’s Point Preserve is a primitive wilderness experience so please remember to bring water, bug spray and snacks. There are no pets allowed on the Preserve. Limited restrooms are available in Taylor’s Fish Camp near the parking area. From the parking lot to the plantation ruins is about 4.4 miles one way. To explore beyond Taylor’s Fish Camp you can walk or bike, as cars are not allowed past the parking area. When we visited we took bikes along and that was a great way to cover the distances in a shorter time, but if biking please be aware that some parts of the road have areas of soft sand. It’s doable, but a mountain bike or possibly a hybrid would probably be best. Skinny tire road bikes are definitely not appropriate.
It all takes a bit of planning, but it’s a great experience. Days and hours are somewhat limited so plan ahead: Saturdays, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm; Sundays and Mondays, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
For more information: http://www.goldenisles.com/listing/cannons-point-preserve