Move Over Savannah! Escape To Georgia’s Underrated Island This Summer

Have Georgia on your mind this summer?

As lovely as Savannah may be to visit with its timeless European flair, nobody likes to deal with crowds all in search of the same thing.

Georgia has some of America's best hidden gems, but one charming island hideaway was named by U.S. News & World Report as the most underrated destination in the U.S.

Set about halfway between Savannah and the Florida state line lies an expansive barrier island with miles of pristine beaches to enjoy away from the hordes of vacationers you'd find in more mainstream getaways.

St. Simon's Island: Georgia's Serene Summer Retreat

There's no competing with Savannah. Whether it be picturesque cobbled streets of bygone eras, old-timey inns, award-winning cuisine, or social media's favorite baseball team, the Savannah Bananas, St. Simon's can't compete.

That being said, you could easily surmise St. Simon's as a “mini Savannah” with its Southern charm, contagious hospitality, and historic elegance.

But the real claim to fame for St. Simon's this summer is its off-path appeal. Despite being named America's most underrated destination as well as Southern Living's ‘best beach town‘, you won't find the same level of busy streets or shores on this laid-back island.

East Beach Is The Place To Be

There's no doubt East Beach is St. Simon's most popular, but even so, over the past few weeks beachgoers were so impressed with this slice of paradise, Google reviews were flooded with comments such as “Best beach in St. Simon's” and “Hidden gem”.

Even over busy Memorial Day weekend, a staple for beach gatherings across the U.S., there's not a single mention of unbearable crowds — quite the opposite, actually.

Visitors and locals alike love being able to bring their dog along, letting Fido run free. Though dogs aren't permitted 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day.

A stone's throw from East Beach is the fascinating World War II Home Front Museum, holding equally impressive reviews and giving tourists a small sample size of the island's 300-plus year history.

If want a beachfront stay, there's The Beach Club at St. Simons for spacious vacation rentals rather than traditional hotel rooms.

East Beach visitors rave about taking long walks on the beach, especially to start and end their day. If you need to a lunch break, Barrier Island Brewing is within walking distance to grab a cold one on a humid Georgia day and the Beer Cheese Dip is to die for!

East Beach is the place to be, but if you're the type like me who likes to discover the lesser known, check out these 3 hush-hush spots almost no visitors know about:

• Gould’s Inlet
• Gascoigne Bluff Park
• Wyley Street Public Beach

Where To Stay In St. Simon's Island

Vacation rentals aren't everyone's jam, but who can deny seaside resorts, cozy cottages and historic inns?

St. Simon's may be small, but it's overflowing with comfortable accommodations suiting every preference.

For high-end resorts, you'll want to scope out the following 4 stays:

• Sea Island Resort
• The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club
• Ocean Lodge Resort
• King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

For cozy cottages, you'll want to check out the following 2 stays:

• The Grey Owl Inn (adults only!)
• The Lodge Cottages

For historic inns, you'll want to check out these 2 stays:

• Village Inn And Pub
• Saint Simons Inn By The Lighthouse

The lighthouse referenced above is the town's most unmissable attraction, the St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum with admission only costing $12 per person.

Getting Here: Fly To Savannah Or Jacksonville?

Despite being located well into Georgia, St. Simon's is actually a little bit closer to Jacksonville, Florida's airport than Savannah's.

Of course, taking the winding backroads through the scenic South is always an option too, but there are plentiful flights to both Savannah and Jacksonville.

St. Simons Island is approximately 80 miles away from Savannah (SAV), compared to roughly 70 miles from Jacksonville (JAX).