As of July 6th, 2021 my wife and I have been traveling for 1 year! Time sure does fly when you are having fun and boy did we have fun on contract #4! On April 5th we moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia. Yes, it started with a few bumps in the road, (flat tire, tornados, cockroaches), but through all of that, we only have great things to say about our time spent in Georgia.
My contract was located on St. Simons Island where I was working in an outpatient setting at Advance Rehabilitation. I met some amazing people and enjoyed my first assignment in that setting. The term “Southern hospitality” has proven to be true through the incredibly generous and caring patients and coworkers I had the pleasure of working with every day.
CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK
Although Congaree National Park isn’t in Georgia, it was within driving distance from where we were living. And with our goal to visit every national park in the U.S., we couldn’t pass it up! National Park #13 complete!
Congaree is a unique National Park. The boardwalk trails winding through the many tupelo trees in the park are a sight worth seeing! We had rented a canoe from River Runner Outdoor Center just outside the park to float down the quiet, murky waters, but beware of snakes! We ended up seeing almost 40 snakes during our two days spent there! My favorite thing about Congaree was the many unique bald cypress trees, which THRIVE in the swamps of South Carolina.
CUMBERLAND ISLAND
If you have an extra day or weekend to spare be sure to visit Cumberland Island National Seashore! To get to the island you must reserve departure and return ferry tickets ahead of time. Once arriving at the ferry you will have to purchase a day pass to access the island; however, if you have an annual National Park Pass your group can get in for free!
No cars are allowed on the island, but if you have a bike you are allowed to bring that on the ferry or you can rent one once arriving on the island. However, there are only a few bikes and it is first come first serve. They’re not in the best condition, but if you can get off the ferry first to be the first in line you can ensure you get one that rides okay that way you can see more of the island!
We were the first ones off the ferry, but unfortunately picked ones that were broken so we ended up walking instead. Walking is doable as long as you’re okay with not seeing everything you may have wanted to. Either way, the island is beautiful and the wild horses make this National Seashore one to remember!
Since Cumberland Island is a National Seashore there aren’t any restaurants or businesses on the island. Be sure to pack plenty of food and water for your trip. And don’t forget the bug spray!!
DARIEN/BRUNSWICK
Living in areas with easy access to fresh seafood is something we love, and there was no shortage of that in Georgia. We experienced every type of oyster you can imagine along with other delicious types of seafood, with my local favorite being the wild-caught Georgia shrimp. We (or should I say Paige) cooked our very first “low country boil” using all locally sourced ingredients. Our condo may have smelt like seafood for the next week, but it was well worth it!
Living in Darien made for about a 20-minute commute to the island, however, we had just what we needed within walking distance of our condo. There was a great restaurant right next door, Skippers Fish Camp, where you must order the Garlic Peel and Eat Shrimp. Unbelievable! We also lived right on the waterfront. The Darien Waterfront was a great place to watch the sun go down and admire all the fishing boats.
On a side note, Georgia had some of the prettiest sunsets we have ever seen! And we were fortunate enough to have these views from our porch!
JEKYLL ISLAND
On the weekends we spent our time exploring all the islands nearby and gaining an appreciation for what made each one unique, such as Driftwood Beach on Jekyll, the wild horses on Cumberland, the energetic vibes of Tybee, the beautiful beaches of Hilton Head, and of course, the breathtaking live oak trees of St. Simons. But our favorite of them all had to be Jekyll Island!
When we didn’t have anything planned for a day our go-to was to head to Jekyll Island Beach mid-morning and spend a few hours soaking up the sun before a late lunch at Tortuga Jacks. Be sure to sit at the bar for a beautiful ocean view. After you’ve had the Big Boy Burrito and a margarita, head to Driftwood Beach for the afternoon. Driftwood Beach is unlike any beach, you won’t be disappointed! After taking a stroll up and down the beach take a drive around the island admiring all the live oaks and pop into the Georgia Sea Turtle Center before heading out for the evening. We’ve had this specific day quite a few times and it’s always so much fun!
SAINT SIMONS ISLAND
The Georgia coast surprised us with just how beautiful it was! Working on Saint Simons Island I was about a 10-minute drive to the beach. It was glorious! Palm trees, local, authentic food, and the smell of the ocean breeze made living by an ocean a dream come true. Coming from the Midwest we only got to explore towns like this on vacation, but living there was like being on vacation for 4 months. It was awesome!
Some of our favorite things about the island that I would highly suggest you check out would be of course the Saint Simons Island Pier! Perfect for watching the sunset, as well as getting a show of the local fisherman catching sharks! Before the sunset though you have to shop around the local shops and grab dinner at either The Half Shell SSI, Crabdaddy’s Seafood Bar & Grill, or Sal’s Neighborhood Pizzeria. This island holds some of the best meals we have ever had. Check out our post 10 Best Restaurants on the Coast of Georgia to see more of our favorites!
SAVANNAH
We loved getting to learn more about our country’s history through exploring the historic sites of many old ruins and forts of Darien, St. Simons, and especially downtown Savannah. The weekend my parents visited town we booked an Old Town Trolley Tour to easily explore all of Savannah and learn some pretty interesting facts! And a fun fact, if you happen to accept a contract in Savannah ~or nearby~ locals can ride the trolley for free.
Another fun tour we booked was a ghost tour of downtown Savannah. There are MANY types of tours to choose from and I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them!
One of our favorite sightseeing destinations had to be River Street. A lively street filled with music, food, drinks, and great people-watching. I would suggest The Shrimp Factory! Can you tell I enjoyed the shrimp here? You should also visit the Wormsloe Historic Site. An iconic mile-and-a-half-long street that is lined with nearly 400 live oak trees. It’s absolutely stunning! Many movies have been filmed here as well.
WILDLIFE
We highly enjoyed getting a chance to fine-tune our photography skills with our new zoom lens for our Canon to get a closer look at the many unique creatures the marshlands have to offer. Some of our favorites included alligators, water snakes, and the beautiful Spoonbill birds which you can find at Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge.
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