FORT BENNING, Ga., (July 3, 2013) -- If you are looking for the perfect weekend getaway, St. Simons Island on the coast of Georgia might just be the place for you.
Located about 260 miles from Fort Benning, St. Simons Island is home to many attractions such as the St. Simons Lighthouse, the A.W. Jones Heritage Center, the Maritime Center -- and of course, the beach.
The St. Simons Lighthouse and museum is one of only five lighthouses in Georgia.
The restored lighthouse has its original 3rd order Fresnel lens, which shines 23 miles out to sea. It remains a navigational aid for traffic entering the St. Simons Sound. Visitors are allowed to climb the 129 steps to the top to a panoramic view of the Golden Isles.
The museum is housed in the two-story keeper's quarters, with period exhibits from 1872-1900 and the history of lighthouses and the Golden Isles.
Located adjacent to the lighthouse is the A. W. Jones Heritage Center's Exhibit Hall.
The hall displays donated images from a collection of Margaret Davis Cate's lantern slides. The hall also contains exhibits from early newspapers and an exhibit of the 2004 G8 Summit where President George W. Bush hosted the world leaders of major industrial nations to discuss the issues facing the world.
Next door to the heritage center is a family-oriented park with picnic tables, miniature golf and a swimming pool.
Just a mile down the road is the Maritime Center at Historic Coast Guard Station.
The center includes not only the history of the U.S. Coast Guard, complete with uniforms and early video of the Coast Guard, but includes exhibits on the natural history of the Golden Isles, the geology of the Georgia tidewater, maritime forests and exhibits of fossils found in the area -- including the northern right whale.
The northern right whale uses coastal Georgia as a calving ground. The whales migrate from the coastal waters to summer feeding, nursery and mating grounds in New England and northward to the Bay of Fundy. The northern right whale is Georgia's state marine mammal.
Another local resident is the loggerhead sea turtle, which is capable of living in a variety of environments. In addition to open sea, they live in brackish waters of coastal lagoons and river mouths.
Loggerheads are carnivorous with large heads and powerful jaws.
Whatever your tastes, whether it's Georgia history, or just having fun, St. Simons Island offers a little of everything for everybody.
Nearby Brunswick, Ga., offers plenty of reasonable room rates, and of course, the sunshine is always free.
Social Sharing