The Golden Isles encompasses a stretch of islands across coastal Georgia and Florida and the mainland town of Brunswick.
Each of the four islands has its own unique seascape and level of intimacy. While Jekyll Island is known for its underdeveloped driftwood beaches and tranquil trails, Sea Island is better known for its family-friendly resorts and premier fishing, and if you’re looking to nurture your connection? The 11,000 acres are virtually untouched nature on Little St. Simon’s island will do the trick.
However, with all its amenities and some of the most magical beaches you’ll find anywhere on the East Coast, St Simon’s Island is the place to be for the best of all worlds. Full of incredible eateries, bars, and activities, you’ll never be short on things to explore.
The center point of the city is the St. Simons Island Pier. Bustling with visitors and locals on any given day, it is a fascinating place to people-watch, fish, and explore the surrounding beach. This is why you should put a visit to the pier on your “must-do list” when staying at a Lighthouse vacation home.
About St. Simons Island
Approximately half the size of Manhatten and 12 miles long and three miles wide, St. Simons is the second longest of Georgia’s barrier islands and the biggest of the Golden Isles. It is a popular vacation home destination with a year-round residential community giving it a local feel. In the island’s center, you’ll find Pier Village, a downtown hub full of shopping, restaurants, and historic sites. It is also where you will find the iconic St. Simons Island Pier along East Beach.
St. Simons Island Pier History
As the social hub of St. Simon’s Island, the pier is teeming with both wildlife and human life and jets out protectively over the beach from above. It hosts a myriad of activities, from fishing to crabbing to sunset ice cream and romantic evening strolls.
Originally built in the 1800s, the St. Simons Island Pier was first used as a transportation hub for the island. Used primarily for cargo ships to transport goods, the area around the pier began attracting merchants and fishermen. The pier was expanded throughout the 20th century to meet the growing needs of the island, accommodating larger ships and offering more fishing opportunities.
Today, this fishing pier is embedded in the larger Pier Village community. The same spirit of the original merchants and fishermen lives on today as visitors fish, shop, and gather together in this historic part of St. Simons Island.
What to Do Around the St. Simons Island Pier
Go Fishing
The pier is a one-stop shop to cast a line. Common catches include trout, flounder, and redfish. The area is ready to host your fishing adventure for the day with bait shops on hand, gear rentals, and tray tables and water hoses available along the pier railings to prepare your bait and clean your catch.
Guests do need a permit to fish off the pier. You can head to St. Simons Bait & Tackle for your permit and fishing supplies.
Play a Round of Mini-Golf at Neptune Park
- Address: 550 Beachview Drive, St. Simons Island, GA
- Website: glynncounty.org
- Entrance: $8/per round with discounts for larger groups.
The St. Simons Island Pier is connected to Neptune Park, an oceanfront park lined with 100-year-old live oaks. The Neptune Park Fun Zone provides many family-friendly experiences, from picnic areas to a public pool and playground.
In the center of the Fun Zone lies a mini golf course, an 18-hole putt-putt course fit for all ages. This golf course is unlike anywhere else, with an incredible view of the St. Simons shoreline. Neptune Park provides public restrooms and plenty of picnic tables, offering the perfect spot to wind down after your St. Simons beach day.
Visit St. Simons Lighthouse Museum
- Address: 101 12th Street, St. Simons Island, GA
- Website: coastalgeorgiahistory.org
- Entrance: $12 for adults and $6 for kids 6 to 12 years old.
Located just a few steps from the pier, St. Simons Lighthouse Museum is a popular historic site along the coast. This island lighthouse was originally built in 1872 and is one of only five surviving lighthouses in Georgia.
Visitors can climb the 129 steps of the lighthouse for an unbelievable view of the Georgia coast. The lighthouse also houses a museum complete with artifacts, interactive exhibits, and educational programs to explore the history of Coastal Georgia.
Have a St Simons Beach Day
Located on the south end of East Beach, St. Simons Island Pier is one of the many access points to the island beach. After taking a stroll along the pier, you can head straight to the water to enjoy a day of sunbathing, shelling, kiteboarding, and even riding a bike along the hard pack sand.
East Beach is dog friendly, and with access to public restrooms at neighboring Neptune Park and plenty of lunch spots nearby, it is the perfect family-friendly spot to land for your beach day.
Where to Eat Near St. Simons Island Pier
Barbara Jean’s
- Address: 214 Mallery St., St Simons Island, GA
- Price Point: $$
- Website: barbarajeans.com
Barbara Jean’s is a family-owned restaurant in the heart of the village area. Serving Southern cuisine with a coastal twist, you will find delicious salads, sandwiches, and soups that highlight seafood ingredients here. And you don’t want to miss out on their fresh bread baked daily, including their infamous sweet jalapeno cornbread.
Located on Mallery Street, just a short walk from the pier, it’s the perfect spot for a midday lunch before an afternoon fishing adventure.
St. Simons Crepes
- Address: 215 Mallery St, Suite 5, St Simons Island, GA
- Price Point: $
- Website: stsimonscrepes.com
There is no better place to enjoy a sweet or savory snack than St. Simons Crepes. This one-of-a-kind restaurant serves a rotating menu of delicious European crepes perfect for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon treat.
Crepe fillings range from banana and Nutella to salmon and cream cheese. No matter what your taste buds crave, there is a crepe for you here!
Palm Coast Coffee
- Address: 318 Mallery St, St Simons Island, GA
- Price Point: $$
- Website: palmcoastssi.com
Palm Coast Coffee is a one-stop shop for all your food and beverage needs. This local cafe offers a relaxed atmosphere with indoor-outdoor seating. You can expect freshly-brewed coffee and an extensive menu featuring classics like eggs, waffles, and bacon for breakfast. The lunch menu boasts salads and paninis.
Heading into the afternoon, Palm Coast Coffee becomes a wine and beer hub where visitors can enjoy a drink on the deck after a long day in the sun. It’s got a little of everything and is the perfect spot to relax no matter the time of day.
The Half Shell SSI
- Address: 504 Beachview Dr, St Simons Island, GA
- Price Point: $$
- Website: thehalfshellssi.com
If you’re searching for a dinner spot along the pier, look no further than The Half Shell. The Half Shell is a family-friendly, casual restaurant serving dinner on the weekdays and both lunch and dinner on the weekends.
They are known for their extensive Seafood menu featuring fresh catches from fish to shrimp to crab. They also have an oyster bar with a rotating list of raw oysters. And you don’t want to miss out on their specialty cocktails, including one-of-a-kind oyster shooters! The Half Shell offers an authentic Coastal Georgia restaurant experience, from appetizers to aperitifs.
Where to Shop Near St. Simons Island Pier
Savannah Bee Company
Located a few blocks from the pier on Mallery Street, Savannah Bee Company is a long-time favorite shop in the SSI community. While the store has many locations, Savannah Bee Company was founded by a St. Simons Island local resident.
The store features local honey in many forms, providing interactive stations from tastings to testing skin-care products to try the variety of honey products. The staff offers a fun and knowledgeable look into honey products, helping customers choose the best local honey! Savannah Bee Company doubles as a gift store with many local items and even has a kid’s section for kids to learn how honey is made.
Southeast Adventures Outfitters
- Address: 313 Mallery St, St Simons Island, GA
- Website: southeast-adventure-outfitters.com
Southeast Adventures Outfitters is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Located on Mallery Street in Pier Village, the store has outdoor equipment, including clothing, gear, water bottles, hammocks, and more.
The shop is special because it doubles as a hub for kayak and boat tours throughout SSI. Tours range in location, length, and tide. Visitors can stop in the shop to learn more and book a tour. The shop even has kayaks for sale if you want to buy your own!
Live Oak Shop
- Address: 529 Beachview Dr, St Simons Island, GA
- Website: facebook.com/liveoakshop.goldenisles
The Live Oak Shop features locally-made handcrafted items inside the Golden Isles Welcome Center. The Live Oak Shop features a variety of items, ranging from jewelry to fine art to kids’ toys. Each item represents the talent of the arts community in St. Simons Island and offers a unique souvenir for visitors to bring home with them.
The Welcome Center has plenty of helpful information about the neighboring islands in Glynn County and all that the Golden Isles have to offer. It’s a great spot to help visitors get the most out of their stay.
Enjoy the St. Simons Pier
The pier offers a tranquil setting to immerse yourself in all the Georgia coast offers. Just beyond the pier, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly activities, restaurants, and watersports at East Beach. Let Lighthouse Vacations host you at one of our luxurious rental homes while you explore St. Simons Island!
