Wonderful historic site that was a former rice plantation. The same family lived in the home for…read moremultiple generations and the last heir left the estate to the state of Georgia. Beautiful antiques, cool grounds, and amazing landscape. All left in It's original state. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and shared many interesting facts. Definitely worth visiting!

The history of this region is worth thinking about, but tough to see. Most of these sorts of…read moreplantations are long abandoned; the story of how this one fell into the hands of the state government is told, along with other context, on a half-hour tour of their small mansion. The tour starts on the hour, and having arrived shortly in advance, they told me to drive down a service road that said not to drive down on it so I could park at the house and make it on time. The tour content focuses on the family line that owned the house; there is some discussion of the people they owned early in its history, but a more detailed take on the forced labor system involved in rice farming is given in the museum back where one starts. It is a distinctive and difficult topic, but the films they play offer a relatively level-headed take. The area is very swampy now; I got outside of the house and thought to wander around and take pictures, but was immediately beset by flies. Fortunately, I had the luxury of my car. Seeing these places in person makes one wonder how anyone ever lived and labored here without modern conveniences. There's plenty of food for thought.

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.]

I had the pleasure of going on a sunset cruise on the Darien River and was not disappointed. Paul…read moreand Kim were both professional and knowledgeable. They provide snacks, wine, beer and nonalcoholic drinks. Although I live in the community and have witnessed many beautiful sunsets there is nothing like experiencing them while on the water. The tour departed from the docks at Skippers Fish Camp and headed east to Fort King George. Paul shared the history of the river and Fort King George. I saw a bald eagles nest and two eagles. The tour then heads back towards the west to see the sunset. I highly recommend the sunset tour. Paul and Kim also do nature tours. I'll be booking one soon.

My teenager and I went on a walking tour through Bonaventure Cemetery last week and really enjoyed…read moreit. The tour was focused on the women of Savannah who now reside in Bonaventure and it was nice to hear new stories and different perspectives. Marcia was a fun tour guide, had lots of energy, and was very knowledgeable. I definitely recommend this tour. I will be checking out their other tours in the future.

We loved our tour of the Bonaventure Cemetery with WiseGuys and our guide, Wayne. We learned not…read moreonly about those laid to rest in the cemetery, but also about local history. It was a nice day to enjoy the tour in a golf cart and being able to snap some nice photos. I definitely recommend WiseGuys!

Boat was clean. The staff was friendly, very entertaining…read moreand knowledgeable. I would highly recommend the tour.​

This is an amazing evening. It's a great time. We take appetizers and beverages. The crew and band…read moreis always top notch. We saw the Cumberland island horses and several deer. The sunset was gorgeous. It couldn't have been a better night. I would highly recommend to anybody.

It was a beautiful house, however it has burned completely to the ground by a person trespassing…read more There was no protection to keep people off the property. This was a great piece of history lost.

Tony and I traveled up the coast from Jacksonville FL to Darien GA. We located this home on Route…read more17, Butler Island Plantation. This is not the original Plantation house, this is referred to as the Huston House (second owners) Plantation was a Huge Rice Plantation owned by Major Pierce Butler, one of the founding fathers of USA. When he died property was handed down to his unwed daughter Frances Butler, over 436 Slaves sold in 1859 and this was considered the largest slave sale in American History. During Civil War, the plantation was abandoned. After Civil war attempts made to revive and reconstruct the plantation but it never happened. Sold in 1926 to Tillinghast Huston and turned into a Lettuce & Dairy Farm. Now it's owned and ran by State of Georgia Natural Resources. Free for use, you can walk around, picnic, and enjoy the area, even fish here!!

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!