Sometimes the most captivating destinations are those that don't often make headlines in the travel sections of national and regional newspapers. St. Simons Island, located off the coast of Georgia among a group of islands (Jekyll Island and Sea Island are situated nearby) dubbed "The Golden Isles," is one such place. Those who have visited this island almost never come here just once. It's well known among Georgians and Southerners in general as a peaceful respite where relics of history still stand, where Southern hospitality and that laid-back Southern pace are the rule, and where visitors can relax on pristine beaches, peruse quaint retail shops or get in a few rounds of golf.

The landscape of St. Simons is quintessential Southern: marshlands, large oak trees covered with moss, and vast stretches of sandy beaches. Diverse species of wildlife -- including deer, turtles and several species of birds -- thrive on this island. Author Eugenia Price, a transplant from Chicago who relocated to St. Simons, was so inspired by its landscape that she based her best-selling historical novels (including Lighthouse and New Moon Rising), around this setting.

The island's history is quite fascinating. Its heritage tells of the determination of early British settlers, who, despite being extremely outnumbered, fought off the Spanish and claimed this island as their own. Plantations would eventually dot the island as the cotton crop became one of St. Simons' primary means of commerce. Many of these antebellum plantations still stand today. St. Simons' economy soon diversified to include fishing and maritime industry; agriculture; and eventually, tourism. The island quickly became known for its sandy beaches, its friendly weather and resort-like atmosphere, not to mention its casinos.

Because tourism makes a substantial contribution to the local economy, St. Simons Island offers tourists a broad range of accommodations, from quaint bed-and-breakfast inns to beachfront condos to luxury resorts. If you decide to pay a visit to St. Simons, don't leave home without a camera. Being a small island, St. Simons is blessed with fantastic views from a multitude of vantage points. Amateur photographers should plan to stop at Neptune Park, located oceanside (Neptune Park is the site of the Georgia Sea Island Festival, scheduled to take place May 27-28, 2000, and featuring the internationally renowned Georgia Sea Island Singers); the St. Simons Pier, considered the heart of the island; and the St. Simons Lighthouse and LightKeepers' cottage, both of them architectural anomalies in this day and age.

The island caters to sports enthusiasts with numerous golf courses, tennis courts, and hiking and biking trails. Visitors who prefer a slower pace will want to take their time strolling along the St. Simons Pier, dropping into the shops in St. Simons Village and sampling some of the freshest seafood around at one of St. Simons' eclectic restaurants. For a genuine taste of local color, hop aboard the Salt Marsh Sea Tours, which wind through narrow tidal creeks between St. Simons Island and neighboring Sea Island, giving passengers a front-row seat for viewing native wildlife in their natural habitats.

Home prices on St. Simons Island vary greatly. You'll find some two- and three-bedroom homes priced in the mid $100s and low $200s. The island also offers large, sprawling beachfront homes priced in the $700s, $800s all the way up to $1 million-plus. Developers continue to construct new, planned communities on St. Simons. One of the newest planned communities on the island is The Commons at Frederica, comprised of 177 single-family homesites set admist historic acreage. The Commons' developers have taken considerable measures to build its homes among the area's existing old oak trees instead of chopping them down for the sake of progress.

The island has a sizeable inventory of condominiums and luxury apartments, as well as a wide selection of vacation homes and condos for its seasonal residents. Because the weather on St. Simons Islands is relatively mild throughout the year, a visit here during the winter months will still give you plenty of opportunities to spend time outside. Rates for winter rentals are, of course, cheaper than during the summer months, when monthly rentals for two- and three-bedroom vacation condos can reach $1,500 or more.

From its pristine landscape and preservation of local wildlife to the friendly, accommodating nature of its locals, St. Simons Island embodies the best of the old South. At the same time, St. Simons embraces the future, continuing to build up its residential real estate market without compromising its natural resources -- which have proven to be the island's biggest draw -- to accomplish that goal.

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