5 Fun Activities in Darien, Georgia, that Will Make for a Memorable Trip

Darien, Georgia, is a small town located halfway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia. You've probably seen pictures of its beautiful waterfront lined with shrimp boats. Do more than enjoy the view from afar. Here are five fun activities that will make your visit to Darien, Georgia, memorable.

Fort King George in Darien, Georgia
Fort King George was the end of the world, so to speak, for the British Empire in North America - at least from 1721 to 1732. During that time, the fort was the southernmost outpost. Established by Colonel John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell, the fort protected the area that was to become Darien and the rest of Georgia from Indians and the Spanish to the south. Another commander, General John Oglethorpe, an illustrious name in Georgia history, reestablished the fort and the settlement of Darien in 1736 with Scottish highlanders. In addition to a blockhouse constructed as an accurate replica of the original building, visitors can view barracks, cannon, tabby ruins, and a museum and film about the area as it grew to become Darien. In addition to special festivities throughout the year, the fort is open near Halloween. With the grounds lit only by torches, viewing the marsh through ghostly Spanish moss and walking past the graves of men who served and died at this fort is a haunting experience.

Sapelo Island near Darien, Georgia
Just an eight mile drive from Darien, you can take the ferry to tour historic Sapelo Island and lighthouse. Native Americans inhabited Sapelo Island as long as 4500 years ago and Spanish missionaries laid claim to it as well until 1686. By 1843, however, the island was firmly established as an agricultural island where sugar cane and cotton were grown to send down to the port of Darien. After the Civil War, many former slaves stayed on Sapelo Island and their Geechee culture is an integral part of the island today. Sapelo Lighthouse is the closest lighthouse to Darien. It was established in 1820 to direct ships to the busy port of Darien, Georgia.

View Two Rice Plantations near Darien, Georgia
Butler Plantation
Just across the Darien River bridge south of Darien is the site of the Butler Plantation. The house that now stands there is not the original plantation but look around and imagine the surrounding fields full of rice. This site is notable because it was the brief home of Fanny Kemble Butler who penned the work, Journal of a Resident on a Rice Plantation from 1838-1839. This journal can be found for free online and is a fascinating read while visualizing her rowing across the river to Darien, purchasing items in Darien's stores and interacting with the Darien townspeople. It has been speculated that Fanny Kemble Butler's journal, which was eventually published in London in 1863, enraged the public against the Confederacy and kept England from joining the Confederacy in the war. The land around the Butler Plantation site is open to hiking and birding.

Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
While no large pre-civil war plantations exist near Darien, visitors can get an idea of what a latter era rice plantation might have been like by touring Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation. Located on Highway 17 four miles south of Darien, the Hofwyl-Broadfield plantation house was built in the 1850's. When a rice crop was no longer an option after the Civil War, the plantation was converted in to a dairy. While most of the buildings are gone, the main house remains along with the majority of its original furnishings. There are no illusions of grandeur here; this is small house built to oversee a working plantation. A very nice museum and a film explain the workings of the plantation for visitors and the short nature walk to the plantation house through the live oak trees is a nice chance for kids to run off some energy.

Kayak Adventure near Darien, Georgia
Let the marsh, swamp, or ocean sweep you away to adventure on a kayak tour. Altamaha Coastal Tours is just one of several companies offering kayak and some bike tours in and around Darien. View wildlife up close, listen to the bull alligators call, and watch birds fish for food as you paddle along. Downtown Darien will seem a world away.

Waterfront and Downtown Darien, Georgia
Be sure to abandon your car and take a walk through the streets of downtown Darien. If you do you will be rewarded with some nice antique shops to browse, a lovely wine store, and the Painted Moon, a coffee and art house. Take a look inside the Georgia Marine Hardware Store if you are interested in fishing supplies. Other views include blocks of small, charming cottages and churches, old tabby ruins, and the picturesque waterfront where many shrimp boats can be seen. Stop by the Darien Welcome Center and pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour. A seven mile pedestrian and bike path is available for strolling.

Darien, Georgia is located just off I-95 between Jacksonville, Florida and Savannah, Georgia. An easy day trip from either city, Darien is alway worth a few days stay. Come in April to enjoy the Blessing of the Fleet. Or venture just a few miles from Darien to enjoy Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island. The McIntosh Chamber of Commerce located in Darien can direct you to all of these places and more.

Sources:
Kim Purcell, Fort King George, The New Georgia Encyclopedia
Buddy Sullivan, Sapelo Island, The New Georgia Encyclopedia
Jean Cleveland, Hofwyl-Broadfield , The New Georgia Encyclopedia