Highly recommended…read more If you have any interest at all in the history and impact of British Colonial America on present day affairs, make sure you set aside an hour or two to tour this place. Take exit 49 at Darien, Georgia off of I-95 and you'll be at this place in a matter of minutes. Built by the British in 1721, this fort stands as the oldest English fort on Georgia's coast. It was originally constructed to protect the southernmost part of the British colonies from Spanish forces and Native tribes. Though it faced many challenges, including disease and harsh weather, it became a symbol of determination and survival. Walking through Fort King George today feels like stepping back into time. The reconstructed fort gives you a glimpse into what life was like for the soldiers stationed here. You can explore the blockhouse, barracks, and guardhouse, which are exact replicas of the original structures built nearly 300 years ago. Climb to the top of the blockhouse, and you'll be greeted with sweeping views of the river and marshland, a reminder of why this spot was so strategic. But this site isn't just about military history. It's also a window into the cultures that shaped the area. The nearby museum shares the stories of the Guale tribe, who lived along the river long before the fort was built. You'll also learn about the Scottish Highlanders who later settled in the area and gave Darien its unique identity. What makes Fort King George so special is how it blends history with nature. The surrounding landscape is stunning, with moss-draped oak trees, tidal creeks, and expansive marshes teeming with wildlife. It's the perfect setting for a peaceful walk or a family picnic after exploring the fort. The office / store offers many books about local history and culture. I left with two bags of books! You can view the orientation film about the fort and then tour the site.

I knew that British loyalists had a presence in South Carolina during the Colonial period after…read moreseeing some history on Hilton Head Island. I was pleased to learn that they were as far south as Darien at the same time. This was their southernmost outpost and the fort was built to help protect the area from the Spanish, who had their own colonies in the new world and were in Florida. The fort and battlements have been reconstructed and offer a great opportunity to see what life would have been like here in the 1700s. In addition to the grounds and the fort structures, there is a cemetery. None of the soldiers who died here was a result of battle, instead it was due to dysentery and malaria. Mosquitoes were quite strong back then and remain so today as I got pretty well attacked by them when outdoors. Indoors is a museum with artifacts and displays angled for school age learnings about life in the 1700s and what it would be like as a soldier in the fort at the time. The fort is only a couple of miles off I-95 so if you're looking for a break on the highway, this is a good choice. [Review 15736 overall - 419 in Georgia - 1240 of 2021.]

Amazing. Just amazing. Great tour. Not your Disney style zoo. No ice cream. No hot dogs. Just…read moreanimals in large enclosures in a very wild setting. Very country. Loved the giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, bengals. Off the beaten bath for sure. There are messages and discussion about conservation, what it takes, why it's important. We are losing biodiversity, which will be a problem for the human race.

I was invited to go on a tour and had heard about all the work they do in conservation for many…read moreyears. Our guide was well educated in the history of White Oak and had first hand experience working with conservationists. He's well traveled and provided extensive information about each of the animals we saw. It was an awesome experience!

This is a great place to stop regardless if you are traveling North or South to different…read moredestinations. It serves as a mini visitor's center, a museum, a gift shop and an art gallery all housed in an actual historic jail. The proprietor lived in the house along with the prisoners. Inmates were allowed outside to catch a breath of fresh air only when the local children were in school. The construction of the building is incredible. The bars, doors, and floors seem completely impenetrable. You can even peruse the records of all the prisoners who were housed there, what their offense was and how much it cost. Funny to see hand written prices of the constable's cost like $1.25 to arrest the criminal, .75 to keep the man before the trial, and .25 to summon witnesses. Just super interesting tid bits of life back in the day. They also have many many more historical artifacts, photos, and reading materials. You can browse through the jail cells, view interesting art, and explore the interesting trinkets in the gift shop. The staff person there was extremely knowledgeable and related wonderful stories and tales of the building's past. They recently acquired a boat/ship that was saved from being destroyed in a marina somewhere in Mississippi. It was painstakingly and beautifully restored. This vessel played an important roll for the surrounding area and its residents as it served multiple functions. This place is truly a local gem, and should be supported by all. Donations are accepted as there are no fees to visit. Oh and they have a local rooster that doesn't know what time it is as he crows whenever the desire arises. When we visited, he was a noisy fella, nestled under a bush that was in front of a ground floor window. This colorful character Just added to the overall experience.

Interesting Art Center with local artist's work available for sale. There is also a local history…read moremuseum section upstairs. A shy rooster outside building announces your arrival. It is housed in the old Darien jail!

Went to waste a rainy Saturday.. so much fun!!! Looking forward to visiting again.!! 10 out of 10…read morehighly recommend!

What a hidden gem! Perfect for kids and adults. The bouncy houses were great for our 3yo. The…read morepinballs are so much fun and the other games like TMNT, air hockey and basketball were a hit too

Whoa, I was not prepared for how amazing this place was!…read more When we first arrived I thought it would be just kind of a silly tourist trap thing, but boy was I wrong! It is a very large collection of everything spooky, odd and strange! There are entire rooms focused on serial killers, such as Gacy, HH Holmes and Richard Ramirez. We were in there for a very long time and learned so much from the women running the tour. There was even a guy in our group who had been childhood friends with one of Gacy's victims, which was incredibly surreal and really hit home how real all of this was, and not just entertainment. They also have, or are going to have, another location in Chicago which is very exciting and I would definitely seek that out next time I am there. All in all a 10/10 experience.

This museum was MUCH bigger than I anticipated. We spent about an hour and a half and easily could…read morehave spent another or so in there learning and listening to the gals educate the group. There was so much to read, so much to see, and so much to experience. This is a very dark museum so if you have a weak stomach, are faint of heart if easily disturbed I would not recommend. Even still you are heavily warned about what is in each room should you not want to see or experience something by the staff. They were so helpful!! Their regular price is $25 OR $50 for a two day pass, tshirt, tote (or a pin), and sticker. Absolutely great deal if you're wanting some merch. Very spooky, eerie, and overall an interesting time!

Who can pass up visiting the World Famous Onion Museum. The director greeted us so warmly and she…read morewas very excited to share her knowledge about the area and history of the sweet onion. The museum is free and a great stop.

This is one of the most unique and coolest attractions in all South Georgia. How many people can…read moresay they've been to a museum entirely devoted to one vegetable?? The museum is quite small but packed full of info. You could spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or two here. It walks you all the way through the history of the vidalia onion and region in general from the very beginning to modern day. I never knew how much i didn't know about onions until i came here. They also have a whole room dedicated to kids with lots of onion related toys and activities to keep kids engaged. The staff might be the best thing about this museum. They are all super nice and clearly love their volunteer jobs. We had our little one with us and they could not have been more nice. Completely doted upon him and made us feel right at home. They were also very helpful in providing suggestions for local attractions and restaurants. Don't miss out on the gift shop with lots of onion related Christmas gift ideas!

Had fun making homemade marinara sauce with a 5 gallon bucket of your tomatoes. What is the best…read moreweek to come get tomatoes?

While I have small gardens in my backyard we always visit to get bulk for canning. The variety is…read moregreat and staff friendly. Love going every year.

Played mini golf it was very cheap so that was good but it looks abandoned the turf/carpet is all…read moreripped up and overgrown vegetation the water looks like it hasn't ran in a couple years dead leaves and rocks all over the course. you can still make some fun out of it but really needs serious improvement.

Went here on a date a week ago. The only good thing about this experience was the company I was…read morewith. OVERPRICED! $68 for an hour of bowling, mini golf and $10 arcade cards. Bowling was fun, however it was so hot, we were literally sweating, i'm not sure if the AC was broken or what but it was terrible! Drink machine was broken and took our money. Employees were on the rude side. MINI GOLF IS A JOKE!! Ripped carpets, nasty ponds of water, overgrown shrubs. It honestly looked like an abandoned golf course. An absolute joke! The arcade was a waste. Games are out of order or either broken. There is no outdoor go-carts anymore. Just FYI. This place used to be very nice but it is not anymore and I will not be back.

This was the first time I went to the event and our first trip to Jekyll Island. Less than 1.5 hr…read moredrive from JAX, this was an easy day trip. Festival admission is free, but there is a daily parking fee for the island, which was $15 on the day of the festival, $5 more than on a non-event day. The festival is held in their historic district. The roads are blocked off. I love that it's set up this way. It's way less chaotic, and visitors don't have to deal with trying to avoid both vehicles and crowds. Vistors staying off-island can park at designated spots at the airport and take the shuttle to the festival. We brought our bikes and parked our vehicle at Great Dunes Beach, which was less than a two miles bike ride to the festival. The festival was incredibly well organized and clean. There was a hand washing station and both porta potties and restrooms are located throughout the festival. There were ample tables and chairs set up. Lots of shaded areas. If you wanted to eat picnic style, bring a blanket. There was plenty of lawn space. Lots of food vendors and other options even if you're not a shrimp and grits fan. We were there on a Sat between 11 am - 3 pm. It's less busy in the morning, but the vendors we visited were very efficient, so even if the lines were long, they moved quickly. We thought the food prices were reasonable for the portions. For beverages, you should walk around first since a can of pop/water can range from $2-$5. Same with the beer. There were two main places selling beer for $7/ticket. But if you want a Budlight, you can get one at the Snack Shop of $4. There are live music, tons of festival merchandise, and local crafts & food for purchase from the Artist Market vendors. There are also permanent shops such as Cotton & Copper & Doc's Snack Shop located on the festival grounds. If you've never been, it's definitely worth checking out and not too bad of a drive from JAX.

Once a year for 3 days Jekyll Island has their Shrimp and Grits Festival! Artist, food/alcohol…read morevendors, non-profit and tourism information set up along the inter-coastal. There are bands set up in 3 locations and they estimate 45,000 people come. It cost $12 to drive on the island and then parking is just a school bus ride away from a parking lot. We brought our bikes so we found parking and biked in; our preferred mode. We bought shrimp/grits from Jekyll Island Club resort, said to be best of show for $12 but they had all kinds of food-pizza, burgers, hotdogs, Latin Fusion, ice cream, cookies, funnel cakes etc. we then biked down to beach and saw some cool kites.. Something good they have done here is build a large walking/biking path at the ocean to get people out and about!