Life on the water in St. Marys
Between a Naval base, a barrier island and riverside experiences, St. Marys is a lively coastal community with recreational and historic appeal. Named after the river that flows over 120 miles along the Florida and Georgia state lines, St. Marys is a popular tourist destination where ships and ferries set out for the 17-mile-long Cumberland Island National Seashore. A major seaport in the 1800s, St. Marys is now home to the King’s Bay Naval Submarine Base, Camden County’s biggest employer, with over 9,000 active personnel. “It’s very well known,” eXp Realtor Ginny O’Quinn says. “It brings in a lot of jobs, and a lot of military families live in our community because we have that base here.” With waterfront attractions, A-rated schools and 19th-century architecture, St. Marys is a family-friendly community that retains its history and heritage.
Activities on the St. Marys River and Cumberland Island
Between the St. Marys River and Cumberland Island, the shoreline provides a number of recreational options, with boat ramps at Meeting Street and Howard Gilman Memorial Park. “Boating, kayaking, fishing, shrimping, crabbing — anything you can do in the water, it’s done here,” O’Quinn says. There's a dog and skate park at the Remembrance Park downtown, and the ferry ride to Cumberland Island takes about 45 minutes. Several campsites are available across the island's many beaches, salt marshes and forests, while tour guides lead visitors through the area's natural landscape. In St. Marys, Golfers can play Osprey Cove's 18-hole course, while history buffs explore the area's naval legacy at the submarine museum. Families can take advantage of the splash pad, water slides and lazy river at the St. Marys Aquatic Center.
Ranch-style and traditional homes by the riverside
St. Marys features a variety of homes along the riverside and farther inland, with traditional and contemporary homes mixing with ranch-style houses. “It’s a very small, quiet and quaint community,” O’Quinn says. “It’s not a very busy city at all.” Small homes with front porches and quarter-acre lots range from $50,000 to $200,000, while one-story ranch-style houses generally sell for $300,000 to $600,000. Larger two-story homes can have up to 1-acre lots and run from $600,000 to $900,000. A few split foyers with boat docks and river access can be had for between $1 million and $1.6 million.
Seasonal festivities and seafood festivals
Community celebrations take place in St. Marys throughout the year. Besides fireworks during the Independence Day Festival, there's a haunted history tour around Halloween, and the Christmas Tour of Homes marks the holidays. St. Marys Waterfront Park hosts a concert series that lasts from April to September, and October brings the St. Marys Seafood Festival.
Downtown markets, pubs and restaurants on Osborne Road
Most shops and restaurants are found downtown along Osborne Road. Retail consists of boutique shops, antique stores and salons, as well as a community market where shoppers can purchase handmade goods every Saturday. Fried shrimp and fresh catches can be picked up at St. Marys Seafood & More, and McGarvey’s Wee Pub serves ice-cold brews and Irish fare such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. Local dining also includes a variety of cafes, bars and bakeries, while the closest grocery stores are Winn-Dixie, Publix and Aldi.
A-rated schools in Camden County
St. Marys has multiple elementary schools in the Camden County Schools system, with St. Marys, Mary Lee Clark, Crooked River and Sugarmill elementaries all earning A ratings from Niche. Students can move on to middle school at either St. Marys or Camden, which score an A and an A-minus, respectively. Camden County High School was named an AP Honor School by the Georgia Department of Education and has an A-minus rating.
Highway travel across Florida and Georgia state lines
While the area is bikeable and walkable, locals and tourists alike often prefer to drive golf carts to get around town. Interstate 95 is around 6 miles west of the city past Kingsland, and it provides a direct route to Florida, over 4 miles south, and Brunswick, more than 35 miles north. The Southeast Georgia Health Hospital is situated on the west end of Kings Bay Road. The closest place to catch a flight is Jacksonville International Airport, over 25 miles south across state lines.
