Imagine my surprise when I was informed that I’d won a St. Simons Getaway Contest: a package including four nights in a two-bedroom cottage on St. Simons Island compliments of the Golden Isles Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Island Cottage Company, plus gift certificates from restaurants and activities. WOW!

Since I travel for my work, I don’t usually take a vacation. So, what would I do with this wonderful windfall?

I have four grown children and eight grandchildren, but needless to say, a group that size wouldn’t fit. In talking with them, my son Steve and his extended family decided to rent a house on St. Simons, concurrent with my cottage reservation. My youngest and single daughter, Laura, would share the cottage with me. So, plans were made for a multi-generational family vacation.

St. Simons Island

We all arrived in early June, some driving and some flying. St. Simons is the largest barrier island in the Golden Isles group, situated off the southern Georgia coast. The name comes from the warm reflection of the sun on lowland Spartina or marsh grass.

To get there, I drove about two hours before crossing the 480-foot tall Sidney Lanier Bridge and through the Lowcountry. Once on St. Simons, you pick up a peaceful, family-friendly vibe.

Much of the island is residential, the streets lined with stately old oaks dripping Spanish moss. One of the most beautiful spots, called the Avenue of Oaks, features a double row of huge trees planted in 1826. The island includes a few villages, a small airport, and lovely beaches.

Laura and I checked into the Piper Cottage, a small house full of big delights. We each had a bedroom, plus a living room, dining area, another den or lounge, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and outdoor patio. In addition, a small screened-in front porch and a fenced in yard.  What more could we want?

Michele Beveridge, the owner, came over and welcomed us. The Piper Cottage decor blends hues of blue and white in a casual, beachy style that’s totally laid-back and charming. Another bonus was high-speed WiFi. Yes — even when you’re on vacation.

The chosen week turned out to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer. Whew! The family over in Steve’s house awaken with the sun, so various adults would get out early and set up a tent for shade and the beach chairs. Sunscreen, sand toys, Boogie boards, snacks and cold water were trekked down along with the kids. Everyone splashed in the ocean, jumped the waves and built sand castles.

When the beach got too hot, we headed to the pool, an extra that came along with Steve’s big house rental. Soon, lunchtime called and the youngest needed naps.

Laura and I decided to use one of the gift certificates and headed off to Southern Soul BBQ for pulled pork sandwiches. This super casual restaurant, in an old gas station, has lip-smacking, tender and juicy BBQ. The meat is slow-cooked, and you choose a choice of sauces. Yummy!

Another afternoon, my son and I took the two oldest girls to the Lighthouse (four tickets were included in my package.) It stands near the village and the pier and is one of only five light towers in Georgia. The 104-foot brick structure dates back to 1872 but was overhauled in 1876. In 1953, it became fully automated.

We began by watching a terrific orientation video. Then, despite the heat, we climbed the cast iron spiral stairway with 129 steps to the top. The view of St. Simons Sound from up high is sublime.

The 1872 keeper’s dwelling is of Victorian design and restored to the period. Compared to others lighthouses I have visited, this house seemed quite grand and spacious. The girls and I enjoyed peeking into the children’s bedroom and guessing at the antique kitchen tools. The gift shop is one of the best with truly lovely items!!

Another afternoon, we visited the Maritime Center housed in the old Coast Guard Station (Tickets to the lighthouse also admit you to the Maritime Center). The station was used up until 1995 and later turned into a museum that includes some hands-on history activities and nature exhibits for children.

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island, another of the Golden Isles, is a sleepy, secluded place of unspoiled beauty. You pay a $6 entry fee to cross the causeway. It supports the island’s natural and cultural resources.

Jekyll became the winter escape grounds for America’s richest during the Gilded Age. Legendary families like the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Pulitzers reveled in their luxurious “cottages.” Their homes around the Jekyll Island Club became known as the Millionaires’ Row.

One morning my family group skipped the beach and carpooled to nearby Jekyll to visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. This extraordinary facility functions like a top-of-the-line hospital except the patients aren’t humans; they are turtles.

The night before a giant sea turtle had been rescued and we saw him lying on the surgical table being debrided- removing barnacles that had grown on his shell. Blood was drawn and the turtle was taken to the Radiology lab for x-rays.

Results revealed a boat propeller wound sometime in the past. The resulting crack in his shell became infected. The turtle would receive antibiotics, and his shell would be mended with a laser.

Every rescued turtle at the center receives a name, so much nicer than calling one XJ257. Detailed medical records and all treatments are recorded. When a turtle is ready to be released back into the sea, a tracking device is attached so their movements can be monitored.

We watched a feeding demonstration with a young turtle in a glass tank placed at children’s eye level.

Earlier, the kids roamed about the museum playing with interactive displays, please touch exhibits and lots of videos. Afterward, we went out back to the Rehabilitation Pavilion, a room filled with tanks that look like small swimming pools. Adults and kids agree, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center ranks as a fun and worthwhile place to visit.

The family returned to Jekyll another day to beat the heat at Summer Waves Water Park. Although a water park seems out of character for this upscale maritime preserve, I give a thumbs up to the attraction. We had a blast slipping down a variety of water slides, hanging out on inner tubes in the lazy river and getting dunked with water in the splash zone. The little ones kept busy in the kiddie area. Summer Waves is clean and well attended by life guards.

Summer Waves Water Park

Lastly, I took Laura over to Jekyll early one morning to let her experience Driftwood Beach, one of my favorite spots for photography. An array of petrified trees lying on their sides framed the beach, something like a tree graveyard. The place feels magical, a picturesque spot for wedding photos or family portraits. Every time I go I encounter different conditions: low tide, high tide, sunrise, wind and rain. Laura fell under its spell, too.

Relaxation

With so many children and adults, it is easier and more relaxing to cook and dine at home. One night, I had the group to the cottage for a meal. However, dining out is always a treat, and we enjoyed a casual meal of burgers and fried fish at Brogen’s at the Pier. Fast service and reasonable prices.

We also couldn’t resist the Moo Cow ice cream shop. The employees were amazingly friendly and efficient. Hot days + cold ice cream = a perfect pair.

What We Missed

I am so sorry I missed a Tree Spirit scavenger hunt on St. Simons. In 1982, local sculptor Keith Jennings started carving faces on trees. He says the wood speaks to him, and he just has to let the tree’s soul out. There are 20 Tree Spirits on the island. Somehow I hadn’t heard about them, but guess I’ll just have to return another time.

Because the grandchildren are young, we didn’t include fishing, kayaking, dolphin tours, golf, guided nature walks and tennis, but they are certainly adventurous options. The Golden Isles provide a wealth of experiences for family vacations, getaway weekends or romantic escapes. Thank you Golden Isles for providing me with priceless family memories.