Have Georgia on your mind this summer? <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n Georgia has some of America’s best hidden gems<\/a>, but one charming island hideaway was named by U.S. News & World Report as the most underrated destination<\/a> in the U.S.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n That being said, you could easily surmise St. Simon’s as a \u201cmini Savannah\u201d with its Southern charm, contagious hospitality, and historic elegance.<\/p>\n 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 \u2018best beach town<\/a>\u2018, you won’t find the same level of busy streets or shores on this laid-back island.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cBest beach in St. Simon’s\u201d and \u201cHidden gem\u201d. <\/p>\n Even over busy Memorial Day weekend, a staple for beach gatherings across the U.S., there’s not a single mention of unbearable crowds \u2014 quite the opposite, actually.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A stone’s throw from East Beach is the fascinating World War II Home Front Museum<\/a>, holding equally impressive reviews and giving tourists a small sample size of the island’s 300-plus year history.<\/p>\n If want a beachfront stay, there’s The Beach Club at St. Simons<\/strong> for spacious vacation rentals rather than traditional hotel rooms.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> is within walking distance to grab a cold one on a humid Georgia day and the Beer Cheese Dip<\/em> is to die for! <\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n Vacation rentals aren’t everyone’s jam, but who can deny seaside resorts, cozy cottages and historic inns?<\/p>\n St. Simon’s may be small, but it’s overflowing with comfortable accommodations suiting every preference.<\/p>\n For high-end resorts, you’ll want to scope out the following 4 stays:<\/p>\n For cozy cottages, you’ll want to check out the following 2 stays:<\/p>\n For historic inns, you’ll want to check out these 2 stays:<\/p>\n The lighthouse referenced above is the town’s most unmissable attraction, the St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum<\/a> with admission only costing $12 per person.<\/p>\n Despite being located well into Georgia, St. Simon’s is actually a little bit closer to Jacksonville, Florida’s airport than Savannah’s.<\/p>\n Of course, taking the winding backroads through the scenic South<\/a> is always an option too, but there are plentiful flights to both Savannah and Jacksonville.<\/p>\n St. Simons Island is approximately\u00a080 miles away from Savannah (SAV), compared to roughly 70 miles from Jacksonville (JAX).<\/p>\n Sam Sears<\/a><\/p>\n \u2193 Elevate Your Travel\u2193<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium!<\/strong><\/a> No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!<\/p>\n Sign Up To Receive Our Twice Weekly Newsletter<\/a><\/strong> With Free Travel Hacks: The Upgrade!<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Beach](\"https:\/\/www.traveloffpath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Move-Over-Savannah-Escape-To-Georgias-Underrated-Island-This-Summer.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nSt. Simon’s Island: Georgia’s Serene Summer Retreat<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nEast Beach Is The Place To Be<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Where To Stay In St. Simon’s Island<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Getting Here: Fly To Savannah Or Jacksonville?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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