Had a wonderful time stopping into the Queen Little town of St. Mary's. While we were here we…read morestopped by the submarine museum and loved it. So much history in one building. I feel like anyone could enjoy this place, but especially those who have been in the Navy. You have to check this place out!

I recall the first time that I visited this museum with my roommate was in 2019. Our first visit…read morewas amazing. There is so much Naval submarine history to learn about within this small museum. I found everything inside to be very fascinating because I'm a Navy and Army veteran, and I love learning about Naval history as well. If you're on active duty Navy, Navy Reserves, or retired Navy, then I highly suggest visiting this type of museum. I plan on visiting again this year as time and weather permits.

This place had a bunch of interesting artifacts and I believe it was free. They surprisingly had…read morebig things like horse drawn carriages. You can see everything in 15-30 minutes if you only have a little time, but if you are really interested and read everything, then I bet you could be engaged for hours. When we went they only allowed in a limited number of people at one time. If you have small kids you need to watch them closely so they do not break the artifacts.

What a wonderful museum to learn about the history of Cumberland Island and the surrounding areas!…read morePlenty of displays featuring some great finds and artifacts from the island! You can circle the building in chronological order and get your history on! It's open 1-4pm daily with free admissions- however there is a donation box near the front door. The collection covers the people and timeline of the island, great information about the trails and historic sites on the island. The ranger was happy to answer any questions too! Handicap accessible and there are restrooms open to the public- which is nice since most shops do not have public restrooms. Plenty of parking on the street too.

My family and I went on the Santa Express. We had young children with us and they loved it. We all…read moreagreed that the little preshow although meant to be part of the train ride it wasn't necessary. We were anxious to get on the train. We rode in the open car and loved how brisk the weather was. It made it feel like Christmas. The characters on the train were very friendly and came around to take pictures. The kids got served a lot of candy canes... lol! Overall it was a fun experience

Family of 4 with two children under the age of 5 went for the Halloween themed ride. I know it…read morewasn't going to be spookie so was even more excited. $20 an adult $15 for 5 yr old, that includes train ride for an hour!!! We have never been to St Mary's Ga, and never have been on a train before. Super pumped!!! We live an hour away. Got there @ 1:50 for our 2 o'clock ride... couldn't find where to park or pick up our tickets we ordered online! Started to freak out bc 10 mins prior of train leaving!!! We had to ask the tent venders beside the building where to go! We get in the dark building where consignment items everywhere! That doesn't bother me but we got lost,didn't know what the venders meant. But all the way up the steps inside the building was this lady in a dark area where we got our tickets. We get on the train which is open cart, now we can relax. We left right on time! The host of the whole train talked and talked and talked. Pirates looked cool, they board the train to slay the zombies. On the way to kill the zombies we listened to old and new music some good some bad. All "G" rated. Defiantly thankful to not listen to someone talk the whole time! Haha pirates walked around talking to kids. Passed out coins and stickers. After a 30min ride we stop at the "zombies section". The pirates got off to fight the zombies. One of the stunt guns broke which kinda messed the script up. They pushed threw haha. By the way...They aren't actors, they are all volunteers so thankful for their time! The pirates for our trip didn't slay the zombies. So we left one pirate to fight them off himself ((fix the gun problem)) lol We took off for our train ride again and we are now going back the way we just came. Only cool view is going over Burrell Creek I assume ((photo attached)). So we saw the same view twice. Which was behind homes and some businesses. I am making this review to let you know what to expect. They aren't paid actors. They are local residents of St Mary's volunteers. No crazy landscape to look at or landmarks while on train. We were facing the right side (if you look at train not on it). Us personally won't be going again. Again we live an hour away... after train ride there isn't much to do in city after that. Unless you love antique shopping!!! I have 2 young kids that break things lol so we drove to park a mile down towards the water. It killed time while we were figuring what else to do. I am happy to say my family rode a train though!!! ((Park= St Mary's Waterfront Park 100 W Saint Marys St Saint Marys, GA 31558))

If you're a history lover and in the area, you can't miss the Amelia Island Museum of History -…read morewhich is housed in the old historic jail building. THe museum itself isn't the largest but you'll be very surprised at just how much has gone down on this small island on the edge of the Georgia/Florida state line. If it's any indication of just how tumultuous this area was - 7 distinct flags have flown over the island throughout written history. From natives to pirates to Spaniards and Confederates and everyone in between - there's a lot more to Amelia Island than just million dollar beach homes and waterside dining. Admission is $10 for adults. Make sure that you arrive with enough time to enjoy one of the complimentary docent tours. It's included with your museum admission so to not take advantage is a big missed opportunity. The tour we had lasted over 1 hour and in that time our guide covered essentially most things you would learn from reading the exhibit displays but with added insight. As an added bonus, there is a parking lot attached to the museum and plenty of street parking as well. I'd recommend starting your Amelia Island vacation with a trip to the museum so you can appreciate the historical footsteps you're walking in while on the island.

Worth a stop if you want to learn the history of beautiful Amelia island !…read more The Amelia Island Museum of History offers a well done look at the island's past, from the Timucua Indians to Spanish and French explorers and even pirates. The exhibits are interesting and well presented, with videos and displays that make the history come to life ! There is a docent led tour, which is included with admission. Tours run Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., and they add great context and storytelling to the exhibits. Fun extras: there's a pressed penny machine for collectors and a passport stamps if you're tracking your travels. There's also a nicely stocked gift shop . Plan to spend at least 30 minutes here, though history lovers could easily stay longer depending on how much reading you want to do. Plenty of parking makes the visit even easier.

Fun little spot and great way to learn about the local history. Learned a lot we did not know…read more They have a little scavenger hunt that kind of prompts you into reading the history. Some cool artifacts, too. Kids would really enjoy the hunt, and we did, too. Fun spot to visit, especially on a cold rainy day (like we did).

I had a nice time visiting this museum. These guys are doing some great work. I had a personal tour…read moreand learned a lot about treasure hunting and the work that they are doing to preserve and document these underwater artifacts. I also learned a lot about their salvage vessel Polly-L. They use this vessel to find treasures from shipwrecks. The nice gentlemen that hosted me were very knowledgable and passionate about the work they do. I highly recommend making a stop in and checking out this museum.

Small but worth it…read more Learned all the footnotes about St Mary's. Whole trail is visible to its self. Would take less than 10 minutes to walk non stop. 20 when reading all the signs. Word of caution. Gravel is not friendly to disabilities or flip flops. No bathrooms here. 5 minute walk down the road to another park and bathrooms.

I discovered this while walking toward the pier. It's right next to the cemetery. To be honest-the…read morecemetery was the best part of this little side trip. The history walk was very small and it's rained the past few days so it was kinda swampy and wet. There were a few places I didn't want to go because of that. The cemetery, however, was really cool. Lots of old graves some with overgrown vegetation and tombstones from the lat 1800's.

This is a really cool area to walk around and explore while on Amelia Island. There are tons of…read morerestaurants, bars, gift shops, and art galleries within 50 blocks. The buildings have such beautiful architecture. They have a courthouse, post office, and a hotel that were built over a hundred years ago. The Palace Saloon is Florida's oldest bar. There is also a lighthouse nearby the district. My favorite thing to do was to grab a cup of coffee and walk in and out of gift shops. I also took strolls along the seaport and watched the boats go by. If you want to know more about the area, you can visit the Amelia Island Museum of History to learn more about its history. For food, there are plenty of dining options within the historic district. I highly recommend eating at the Salty Pelican. The Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

This has become my go to for bringing family and friends- the historic district is packed full of…read moregreat food, drinks, shopping and history. I'm still exploring and finding new businesses to fall in love with. I can say there is plenty I love about Amelia Island. Marlin & Barrel Distillery- Blueberry Lemon Zest Vodka Salty Pelican- tuna nachos AIBC- giant soft pretzel and excellent fish-n-chips Paisley Grace Makery- all your crafty needs Twisted Sisters - great home decor and gifts The Decantery- amazing craft cocktails in a lush bar The Principal's Office- fun twist on an old school! Bar in the principals office Timoti's- love their chowder and calamari Art on Centre- unique art from local artists Tasty's- burgers, dogs, fries and more Trailer Park Collectibles- my go to antique shop Cinnamon Bear Country Store (& Ice Cream)- gift shop and ice cream! The Spice & Tea Exchange- try the Florida blend Fort Clinch- for you history nerds And so many more businesses! Quieter than other tourist towns, just more laid back!

First, there is no other way to Cumberland Island, so it's this or nothing…read more Cost: 45.20 for a round trip with fees and all (you have to purchase a round trip, can't purchase one way). The ferry is basic, nothing fancy. On the way there, I rode up top, very windy and a little cool, but fine views (you face inward on top, toward the other row of passengers). On the way back, I rode on the second deck outside, less windy, views comparable, but you didn't have to look around like on top. You were already facing out toward the water. There is also an inside with booths/tables/benches and a food/drink bar. The staff here were so personable and fun. And very professional. They've been doing this a very long time. I felt safe while also having a great time. You have no other choice but to choose this ferry if you're wanting to go to Cumberland Island, but I'm totally okay with that.

In concert with the National Parks this trip to Cumberland Island was a good experience. The ride…read morewent well and as described the time of departure and return were good. Again, pretty vanilla but all was good. To make it more exciting they could offer beverages on the return trip as well a some food for the 45 minute trip back.

Definitely a cool find while I was in St. Mary's on business. While not overly huge, was…read morenonetheless pleasant and a great place to chill for a bit.

Highly recommend a Day trip to Cumberland Island, what a…read morebeautiful and magical place! The trip is awesome, you need to book the ferry in advance and there is a 15 dollars fee to enter the park, which you have to pay when picking up your ferry tickets, so be aware of if. The ferry ride was pleasant and not too long, about 40 mins, you need to pack and bring all your necessities with you to the island, so be mindful of your needs and prepare in advance. Once on the island there are multiple trails and the wild horses are everywhere in the Dungeness area. The beach is absolutely amazing, but note that in the summer time is not recommend to hike from Dungeness to Seacamp beach using the beach side itself, due to heat. Rather you should hike using the main road, which gives you plenty of viewing opportunities with the horses. Park rangers do a wonderful job stopping by and checking on visitors, offering rides and helpful direction, kudos to them. It's a wonderful day trip, plan accordingly and enjoy!

Pete and Jennifer of Up the Creek Expeditions are outstanding outfitters! They ensured we knew the…read moreideal time to leave St. Mary's to get to the confluence of the inter coastal and the river at peak low tide as well the correct time to leave Cumberland island on the return trip. This expert planning ensured we did not have to fight the tides in either direction! Their outstanding rental service and answering of any and all pertinent questions allowed us to reach and enjoy Cumberland island even during a government shutdown. I highly recommend their outfitting services to anyone interested in aquatic adventures or tours in the Cumberland island vicinity!

Pete took us out on the St Mary's Harbor tour. Unfortunately, we were late in the season to see…read morethe manatee and didn't get to see any dolphins. However, we had a blast paddling across to Florida and Pete is a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. We had a blast! We will definitely do this again! Donna and Randy from TN