Active Pursuits

St. Simons not only attracts families looking for a beach, but it's also heaven for golfers, with 99 holes. One golfer we met who's played every hole said that each one presents a worthy challenge. Other sports are boating, inshore and offshore fishing, and water-skiing. Jet-skiing, parasailing, charter fishing, scuba diving, and cruising can also be arranged at Golden Isles Marina Docks, 206 Marina Dr. (tel. 912/634-1128; http://giboathouse.com), on the F. J. Torras Causeway.

Neptune Park, at the island's south end, has miniature golf, a playground, picnic tables under the oaks, and pier fishing. There's beach access from the park.

Beaches

You'll find two white-sand public beaches here, foremost of which is the Massingale Park Beach, Ocean Boulevard. It has a county-maintained beach with a picnic area and a bathhouse. It's open with a lifeguard on duty June 1 to Labor Day, daily from 11am to 4pm. Parking is free in designated areas, and drinking is allowed on the beach but only from plastic containers (no glass). Fishing is free from the beach but allowed only from 4 to 10pm.

Another public beach is the Coast Guard Station Beach, East Beach Causeway, also family oriented, with a bathhouse and showers. Lifeguards are on duty from June 1 to the Labor Day weekend, daily from 11am to 4pm. Parking is free in designated areas, and fishing is permitted during nonswimming hours from 4:30 to 10pm. Drinking is allowed on the beach from plastic containers only.

Further information about beaches can be obtained from the Glynn County Recreation Department (tel. 912/554-7780; www.glynncounty.org).

Bike Rentals

Ocean Motion, 1300 Ocean Blvd. (tel. 800/669-5215 or 912/638-5225), suggests that you explore St. Simons by bike and will provide detailed instructions about the best routes. The island is relatively flat, so biking is easy. Beach cruisers are available for men, women, and kids, with infant seats and helmets. Bike rentals cost $12 for 4 hours and $16 for a full day.

Fishing

Your best bet is Golden Isles Charter Fishing, 104 Marina Dr., Golden Isles Marina Village (tel. 912/638-7673; www.goldenislesfishing.com), which offers deep-sea fishing and both offshore and inshore fishing. Capt. Mark Noble is your guide.

Golf

It's golf -- not tennis -- that makes St. Simons Island a star attraction. Foremost among the courses is the Sea Island Golf Club, 100 Retreat Ave. (tel. 912/638-5118; www.seaisland.com), owned by the Cloister of Sea Island. At the end of the "Avenue of Oaks" at historic Retreat Plantation, the club consists of a number of courses: the Retreat Course (9 holes, 3,260 yd., par 36), the Plantation Course (18 holes, 6,549 yd., par 72), the Seaside Course (9 holes, 3,185 yd., par 36), and the Ocean Forest (18 holes, 7,011 yd., par 72).

The club opened in 1927 and offers dramatic ocean views, adding a measure of excitement to the game. Its greatest fans mention it with the same reverence as St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, or Ballybunion. Former president George H. W. Bush liked the courses so much that he once played 36 holes a day. Seaside and Retreat are the most requested 9s, with Seaside definitely the most famous of all -- known for the 414-yard no. 7. Golf Digest has called this hole one of the best in golf and among the toughest in Georgia. A drive has to clear a marsh-lined stream and avoid a gaping fairway bunker.

Greens fees for guests of the hotels are $250 to $325, with the cart and the caddie fee included. Clubs rent for $65. The state-of-the-art Golf Learning Center on the grounds can help improve even an experienced golfer's game. Professional instruction is available for $95 to $110 per half-hour. Also on the grounds are a pro shop, clubhouse, and restaurant. The course is open daily from 7am to 7pm.

The Retreat Golf Club, 100 Kings Way (tel. 912/638-3611; www.seaisland.com), is an 18-hole, par-72 course of 6,200 yards. Known for its Low Country architecture, it hosts several popular tournaments every year. The demanding course, designed by Joe Lee, features narrow fairways lined by lagoons and towering pines. Greens fees for Cloister guests are $200 to $250; cottage guests at Sea Island pay the same. Professional instruction is available for $100 to $300 per hour through arrangements made at the clubhouse and pro shop. There's also a restaurant on the premises. Play is available daily 7am to 7pm.

Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort, 5445 Frederica Rd. (tel. 800/841-6268 or 912/638-3351; www.seapalms.com), offers outstanding golf on its Tall Pines/Great Oaks (18 holes, 6,500 yd., par 72), Great Oaks/Sea Palms West (18 holes, 6,200 yd., par 72), and Sea Palms West/Tall Pines (9 holes, 2,500 yd., par 72) courses. Some holes nestle alongside scenic marshes and meandering tidal creeks. Reserved tee times are recommended, and cart use is required. The courses are open daily 7am to 7pm, charging greens fees of $69 and $59 after 1pm, with cart rental included. Professional instruction costs $50 for a 30-minute session, $80 for an hour.

Nature Tours

The Ocean Motion Surf Co., 1300 Ocean Blvd. (tel. 912/638-5225), offers nature tours by kayak of the island's marsh creeks and secluded beaches. Featured are a 2-hour dolphin nature tour for $45 and a 4-hour wildlife tour, by request only, for $85.

Sailboat Rentals

Barry's Beach Service, Inc., at the King and Prince Beach Hotel, 420 Arnold Rd. (tel. 912/638-8053), arranges hourly, half-day, or full-day sailboat rentals, along with sailing lessons (by experienced instructors) and sailboat rides. Kayak rentals, tours, and instruction are also available.

Tennis

There are two public tennis courts on the island. The Mallory Park Courts, Mallory Street, has two lighted courts open year-round, and admission is free. Epworth Park, on Lady Huntington Drive, has two courts open 24 hours but not equipped with lights; it, too, is free.