Looking for a beach getaway without the crowds? U.S. News & World Report has just named St. Simons Island, Georgia, the most underrated travel destination in the country. As part of its annual Best Vacations rankings, the outlet evaluated more than 1,500 global destinations, scoring them across categories like culture, food, and adventure. When all the data was in, this quiet Georgia barrier island topped the list.
While St. Simons is a favorite summer spot for Georgians, it’s often overlooked by travelers heading to more well-known beach destinations in Florida or the Carolinas. But the largest of the Golden Isles offers plenty of reasons to slow down and stay awhile, from dune-lined beaches and moss-draped oak trees to maritime forests and small shopping villages.
Visitors can kayak the marshes, bike the St. Simons Island Trail System, fish, golf, or simply relax on East Beach. For a unique local tradition, search for the island’s famous “Tree Spirits,” faces carved into oak trees that honor long-lost sailors.
Families will love the Neptune Park Fun Zone water park, while food lovers can enjoy burgers at Certified Burgers and Beverage, seafood at Crabdaddy’s Seafood Grill, and frozen treats at The Cottage Custard + Coffee.
St. Simons may be underrated, but it won’t stay that way for long.
The top 10 most underrated travel destinations in the U.S.
- St. Simons Island, Georgia
- Sawtooth National Recreation Area
- Door County, Wisconsin
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Block Island, Rhode Island
- Big Bend National Park
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Crested Butte, Colorado
