Of all the rest areas I've stopped in through Georgia, this has to be the best one I have…read moreencountered on Interstate 95 South. This rest area has plenty of parking and they were many covered picnic tables for sitting and eating as well. Even though this rest area wasn't at the state line, it was staffed with a full visitors center. Although I wasn't looking for something in particular, I told her what the plan was and she gave me a bunch of info for St. Simon's Island. Overall, this was a great rest area. If you are passing through here, you should definitely stop in.

It was messy. Half the bathrooms were out of service…read more Dirty floors in men's restroom.

I highly encourage folks who have time to take a break and walk through this historical landmark…read more I cant overstate how important this piece of history is for the island. Its solemn and eye opening, you can ride your bike within 15 minutes from most hotels to the trail. There are interactive pieces (music, instruments), life size visuals (slave house and mortal/pestle for rice milling), as well as several informational boards to view the history of the kidnapped Africans and the background of the vessel itself. The trail overlooks a bluff that you can sit on, and there is plenty of shaded seating for a snack break or picnic. Take the trip, you won't regret it. I am still moved.

This is a must-see whether you are African-American or not. It's part of our history and the…read morehistory, specifically of Jekyll Island. This is a "trail" or self guided walking tour located at the St Andrews Park. It is easy to walk through and read/see all the items. The sand path, the "trail" has exhibits at each stop telling the history of the Wanderer, one of the last slave ships to arrive stateside. The ship arrived illegally in 1858 -- after slave ships were banned. On the ship there were 409 slaves. The ship landed near this site on the Jekyll River. In addition to the ship history, you get to see and hear the history of the one of the young African boys who was enslaved. And follow him from the ship through slavery to emancipation. There are interactive displays here to enjoy as well. It's informative and interesting.

Steeped in centuries of history, the Lover's Oak in Brunswick, Georgia stands as a testament to…read moretimeless affection and enduring strength. Legend speaks of this magnificent 900-year-old Southern live oak as a rendezvous spot for Native American lovers, whispering their vows beneath its sprawling branches. Located in the heart of the Brunswick Old Town Historic District, this living monument has witnessed countless stories of love and devotion. This tree is easy to find in the Historic District in downtown Brunswick. You'll see signs with directions to the tree throughout the area.

Lovers Oak is a very old Live Oak tree (dated to the 12th C), in the Historic District of…read moreBrunswick. It's in a residential neighborhood, at the corner of Albany and Prince Streets. There is kind of a median strip in the middle of the street, where the tree lives. It has a plaque and a small sign. The lore is that Native American lovers "met under the tree." Hmmm... and then what? Ate pizza? Anyway, it's a beautiful old majestic tree, with a trunk diameter of 13 feet!!!! Worth a look-see, and a photo. It's a lot more public now than it once was, but you could probably eat some pizza under it with your sweetheart.

Great selection of top quality art in a large variety of media. One artist was available to speak…read moreto about her art that she was showing. Another cashier was also available to talk to. They also had books from local authors. The prices were very reasonable for smaller pieces of art. (Doesn't carry art supplies.)

Jekyll Island Arts Association is housed in historic Goodyear Cottage in the Historic District on…read moreJekyll Island. The JIAA hosts art festivals and other events throughout the year, in addition to offering classes in a variety of art mediums. They have a pottery guild on the basement level, a store on the first floor, and classes upstairs. JIAA's store offers art created by its members, and they completely empty and restock the gallery every few months. There are dozens of artists' work on display; paintings, sculpture, fiber arts, pottery, even origami. It is so inspiring to walk through and look at everything. Prices range from as little as $5 or $10 for a crafty item, all the way up to the thousands for large paintings. Most of the art pays homage to the Golden Isles region, which makes it a special place to find a one-of-a-kind souvenir. I bought pottery pieces at the JIAA spring festival 2023, and a painting in Jan 2024. I smile every time I see these pieces in my home. JIAA members run the store, and often there is a member at a demonstration table working on their art during store hours, which is a very cool touch. Many members are retirees who live on the island and bring artistic experiences from all over the world, so for an arts center, this place draws from a diverse pool of talent, and a caucus of expertise. In other words, this place is beautifully appointed and well run!

Spectacular views of the coastal Georgia area from the bridge. From his bridge you can see Jekyll…read moreand Saint Simons Island and downtown Brunswick Georgia. I won't add to or reiterate what other reviewer's have done here so well. All I'll say here is this: see the photo below. This is what a view from the bridge looks like during a hunters moon. It's a view few will ever see unless they live in the areA. A trip to this bridge is worth it with you stop at Saint Simons, Jekyll, or Brunswick or not. It's about 8 miles off of I 95

I've seen this bridge dozens of times as I drive I-95 but it isn't the I-95 bridge. The Sidney…read moreLanier Bridge carries four lanes of US-17 over the Brunswick River. It is a cable-stayed bridge that is the longest spanning bridge in Georgia and is 480 feet tall. It is named for poet Sidney Lanier (1842-1881) who was hailed in the South as "the poet of the Confederacy." The bridge was completed in 2003 and features a span of 1250 feet that has 185 feet of clearance over the water. It has four lanes of traffic. The original Sidney Lanier Bridge was opened June 22, 1956, and was built by Sverdrup & Parcel, the same firm that designed the I-35W Mississippi River bridge which collapsed in 2007. On November 7, 1972 the ship African Neptune struck the bridge, causing parts of the bridge to collapse and causing several cars to fall into the water. Ten deaths were caused by the accident. On May 3, 1987 the bridge was again struck by a ship, this time by the Polish freighter Ziemia Bialostocka. If you squint your eyes, you could see this bridge being compared to Charleston's Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/arthur-ravenel-jr-bridge-mount-pleasant-2?hrid=adycp2YtNWJNWD6GJRhgFA though this one has straight pilings where the Charleston bridge is diamond shaped. [Review 15746 overall - 428 in Georgia - 1250 of 2021.]

This is a definite 'must-visit' historic district when visiting Jekyll Island, Georgia. The…read moreatmosphere is amazing and it has an awesome collection of historic cottages as well as uniquely curated shops in addition to a few cool restaurants and eateries. We took the Landmark Trolley Tour to begin our visit and this gave us a great foundation of where to go and what to do. After the Trolley tour, we walked back beginning with Wake up coffee and ending with Faith Chapel. Such an amazing atmosphere and historical significance from the Georgia Gilded Age. A self-guided tour is free and the Landmark Trolley Tour is $20 per person.

5 stars for beauty. The people here not so. All the people we ran into were not very friendly at…read moreall, but it's a beautiful area to bike around or walk.

I have been to Brunswick numerous times over the last several years and I have watched the historic…read moredowntown blossom! I love small towns, I love communities that come together and celebrate their uniqueness. Brunswick has history, shopping, food and a quaint, small town charm. Downtown has a distillery, brewery, local artisan shops and boutiques plus a few eateries. Local landmarks include Lover's Oak, Historic downtown buildings, and the Marshes of Glynn. Beautiful natural and scenic landscape invites jogging and walking with paths and areas such as the Sidney Lanier Bridge, the Old Town Brunswick National Historic District, and Mary Ross Waterfront Park. With moderate temperatures, our great outdoors offers the year round pleasures of kayaking, sailing, surfboarding, volleyball, and swimming. You can also reel in a good time with local charters offering fishing and dolphin boat tours. It is a skip and a jump to St Simons Island or Jekyll Island. Surrounded by Georgia Marshlands and plenty of wildlife, it is a wonderful little treasure of a town to visit. They have a little farmers market at the Mary Ross Waterfront Park that I have been lucky enough to hit a couple times now!

Dubignon Cottage was such a charming little piece of Jekyll Island history!…read more I loved stopping by and getting a glimpse into the island's fascinating past. The cottage dates back to Jekyll Island's glamorous Jekyll Island Club era, when some of America's wealthiest families would spend their winters on the island. It's such a beautiful reminder of just how exclusive and luxurious Jekyll Island once was. The cottage itself has so much character, surrounded by those gorgeous live oaks and Spanish moss that give Jekyll Island its dreamy Southern-coastal feel. There's something so special about standing in a place with so much history and imagining what life must have looked like here more than a century ago. I'm a sucker for historic architecture and little hidden gems, so this was definitely a fun stop during our Jekyll Island adventure. It's peaceful, picturesque, and full of old-school Southern charm. A lovely little glimpse into Jekyll Island's past and definitely worth adding to your island exploration!