The ultimate guide to the beaches on the South Georgia shore

The biggest beach on St. Simons is the Old Coast Guard Station. This access point (also known as First Street Beach Access) gets its name from the Coast Guard Station that was built here in 1935 as part of the Works Progress Administration. There's a large parking lot, a seasonal concession stand, showers, bathrooms, and more, which make this a great place if you're looking to spend a few hours enjoying the beauty of the beach!

Ample parking and a nice playground and picnic area make Massengale Beach a great stop for oceangoers on St. Simons. It's conveniently located near tons of restaurants, in case you want to wander around and look for a place to grab lunch or dinner, or just take a walk on the beach after indulging in a big meal of Southern cookin'. Massengale even has outdoor showers so you can rinse off sandy feet before strolling over to one of the eateries!

If you're looking for a beach that provides more activity, Great Dunes Park is your best bet. It has lots of parking, and is right next door to a playground and a mini golf course, in case the kids want to take a break from the ocean for a bit. You can also rent bikes and Segways nearby, which are perfect for exploring the beaches. Other features include the fact that it's pet-friendly, is set up for volleyball and bocce ball, has an activity deck, and features restrooms and showers on site. If you're coming for a day trip to Jekyll from a little further away, this is the best place to set up a home base for exploring!

If you're a photographer looking for a really unique setting for some pictures, then Driftwood Beach is your spot. Wander around this haunting tree bone graveyard and allow the beauty to wash over you. The sand is studded with massive, gnarled logs of driftwood, deposited here as this part of the island has eroded away. Come around sunrise or dusk to see the fading light cast shadows over the twisted branches, and feel free to climb atop a log and take a moment to appreciate the uniqueness of this beach.

St. Andrews Picnic Area is the only west-facing beach in the Golden Isles, making it an excellent place to watch the sunset from the beach. Here you'll find tons of amenities, from picnic tables and grills to restrooms and walking paths, as well as a historical marker dedicated to The Wanderer, a ship that illegally brought in hundreds of enslaved Africans in the 1850s, well after The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves had taken effect. It was one of the most controversial moments in Jekyll Island history. The picnic area also has beach access, and the shores here are known for their excellent shell-collecting and dolphin-spotting opportunities.