Have you ever wanted to visit an island reminiscent of a Caribbean village, and never have to leave the eastern United States? If this idea captures your dream, St. Simons Island, Georgia is the place to take time off for some well-deserved relaxation. Located near Brunswick, St. Simons is part of the Golden Isles. The entranceway takes you across the elusive Marshes of Glynn, and from then on the scenery becomes even more exotic.

The island itself is tiny, and there are two different atmospheres, depending on which section you visit. For a tropical setting, the seaside shopping village is a mecca for the beach-going tourist. Restaurants, t-shirt shops, toy stores and home decor can be found, along with an array of many other things. The village is accented with a lighthouse towering above the ocean. To get away from the hustle and bustle of village life, try driving back through the untouched woodlands and exploring rustic historic attractions. St. Simons Island showcases some of coastal Georgia's best scenery, complete with ancient trees dripping Spanish moss.

Before Europeans ever stepped upon what is now the state of Georgia, Native Americans were calling the marshy shores home. All of this changed in the 16th century, when intrepid Spanish explorers set out to make Christians out of the Indians and conquer the land for their own purposes. When England laid claim to Southern lands, the island became a military base in its own right when Fort Frederica was built. James Oglethorpe, the general and mastermind behind the local militia, defended his new territory against Spanish Floridians and native Indians. The town of Frederica reached its high tide in the mid 1700s, but then quickly deteriorated, leaving only echoes of the past.

Whether you are traveling alone, with a loved one, or with the whole family, there will be no shortage of activities to keep you busy. Are you curious about some of the best ways to spend your time on St. Simons? Here are some ideas rated high on the tourist meter: