SURF’S UP
One of the best ways to begin the day is with a sunrise stroll on the beach. It’s even better if you’ve got a pup along for the fun or a morning run! So, let’s get you familiar with our beaches and their rules so you can head up to Gould’s Inlet and join the other early risers. Of course, if you want to end the day with a walk along the shore so you can capture the sunset, that’s fantastic too!
Of St. Simons Island’s four miles of beaches, the most popular area is East Beach, which has three main access points. Gould’s Inlet is the northern-most access point on East Beach at 15th Street and a favorite spot for SUP and surf. The Coast Guard Station access is at First Street and has a large parking area, convenient facilities, and a seasonal concession stand. Massengale Park access at 1350 Ocean Boulevard also has a large parking area and convenient facilities, with a shaded picnic area and playground. Sea Island’s beaches are private access only. On Jekyll Island, you’ll find approximately ten miles of beaches. Families flock to play in the sand and sun at centrally located Great Dunes Park, near Beach Village. Photographers and nature lovers are drawn to the iconic otherworldly landscape of Driftwood Beach, the pristine sand dunes and sea oats of Glory Beach, and the gorgeous sunsets at St. Andrews Beach.
Beach Rules:
Vehicles are prohibited on the beach.
Fires on the beach are prohibited without a permit from the Glynn County Fire Department.
Glass and hard plastic containers are prohibited. Additionally, all beach areas on St. Simons Island are Trash Free Beaches, subject to a “carry in, carry out” rule. There are no trash receptacles on the beach, so every beachgoer is responsible for making sure all trash generated is picked up and carried out to be disposed of properly in the receptacles provided in the parking areas or at home upon their departure. Please plan accordingly. It is unlawful to leave tents, tent frames, and chairs on the beach overnight. Any such items left on the beach overnight will be removed and disposed of as litter. Littering carries a fine of up to $1,000.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 16th St. (East Beach South) to Mallery St. (Pier) from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. During allowable times and in non-summer months, dogs are permitted on any portion of the beach but must be within close proximity and under the immediate control of the owner/handler. If the handler is unable to control their dog via voice-command, a 10' leash is required. Owners must clean up after their pets.
While collecting shells is a favorite activity for many, it is illegal in Georgia to collect and kill live animals from the beach, including hermit crabs and sand dollars. If a sand dollar is brown/purple and has bristles, it is likely still alive. Sand dollar skeletons have no bristles and have been bleached white/grey by the sun. Only the skeletons should be taken from the beach.
Our beaches are nesting spots for sea turtles from May through October. Sea turtles are protected by state and federal law. To provide them with a safe path of ingress and egress, all sandcastles should be knocked over and any holes dug on the beach should be filled before you leave. Never touch or disturb a nesting turtle, hatchling, or nest. At night, keep the beach as dark as possible and if flashlights are carried, use certified turtle-friendly red LED lights instead of white artificial light.
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Beach Safety
Lifeguards are only on duty from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily at Coast Guard and Massengale beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While they can provide assistance, you swim at your own risk. There is a Warning Flag system in place to notify visitors of hazardous conditions. The flag key is posted at main beach access sites. Please pay attention to the flags and do not swim in hazardous conditions.
Please DO NOT swim to visible sandbars, because tides change very quickly and submerge the sandbars completely by as much as six to eight feet of water. The differential between ocean levels at low and high tide on St. Simons Island is one of the highest on the East Coast, so it is essential to know the times of the tide change. Even strong swimmers have difficulty when that change occurs and the rip currents swirl, because the water can be moving as fast as ten miles per hour. You want to be aware of when the tide comes in, so you can be well away from sandbars before then. Your best source for tide charts online is tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov. App such as Tide Alert (NOAA) – USA, My Tide Times, or Tide Charts can be downloaded to your phone or other mobile devices. If you’re an angler, the Fishing Points is a comprehensive app that includes helpful maps, tide info, and fishing forecasts.
Another important safety concern here is the danger of rip currents. Rip currents are difficult to see and much more dangerous than undertow. They are capable of sweeping even the strongest swimmer out to sea. More than 100 people die annually in the U.S. from drowning in rip currents. If you are caught in one, don’t fight it. Do your best to swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the beach and then make your way back to the shore. If you can’t escape the current, tread water or float on your back. If you need help, do not hesitate to call out and wave your arms for assistance. Most importantly, stay calm. You do not want to exhaust yourself trying to fight the current and frantically attempting to swim back to shore. It’s best to allow yourself to float out in order to break the grip of the rip current and wait until you can make headway swimming parallel to the beach to try to make it safely to the shore.
Fun in the Sun
Once you’ve packed your beach bag with sunscreen, towel, cover-up, hat, sunglasses, and the latest NY Times bestseller from Righton Books, grabbed some cold drinks and snacks, and hit the sand, now what?! If want to do more than just relax and read or play in the waves, here are some ideas for family fun:
List items such as different kinds of shells, jellyfish, seaweed, hermit crabs, types of birds, and other common beach sights, then have a scavenger hunt to locate each item. The person finds the most wins a slush or ice cream! If you want some ideas or a guide that’s already been prepared, pick up a Passport to Preservation at the St. Simons Land Trust office or find it on their website at sslt.org. Another variation would be to have a treasure hunt by hiding coins or other objects on the beach (but please stay out of protected dune areas!) and giving the kids clues to locate them.
Collect items and have your child count them. This can also be a great way to work on math skills. For example, count all the shells; now if we take away the broken ones, how many are left? If we add all the black pebbles plus the oyster shells, what do we get? Take home the shells for art projects.
Build a sandcastle. Bring along small figurines like mermaids, princesses, dragons, and other toys to make your creation come to life. Please remember to knock your structure down before leaving and fill in any moats or holes.
Pack a soccer ball, frisbee, bocce set, or other beach games, and designate an area to play away from the crowds.
Hold an obstacle course/relay race. This is good exercise and can be as simple as jumping over buckets or towels, running to the water to fill up a bucket, and bringing it back without spilling.
Draw in the sand to play games. Tic-tac-toe, hangman, hopscotch! Be creative. Use shells or rocks for game markers.
If you’re set up under a shady umbrella, canopy, or beach tent, this can also be a great time to encourage your child to relax with a snack as you read to them from their favorite books or something new from the children’s book selection at G.J. Ford Bookshop or St. Simons Drug Co.
Take a siesta! Just make sure you’re in the shade or have applied plenty of sunscreen and you and your personal belonging are in an area that will stay high and dry if the tide comes in! There’s nothing like the sound of the ocean to help lull you to sleep.
Enjoy a sunset picnic on the beach. Pack a big blanket, wine in a box, and stash some of the delicious grab and go treats from our local restaurants, or even just a cheese and charcuterie snack pack from Golden Isles Olive Oil, in a cooler to wind down your day deliciously.
