Best Ice Cream Shops in the Golden Isles: Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island, Georgia

You'll find several shops spread across Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island, Georgia. And you'll need to make several stops to cool off in the infamous south Georgia heat and humidity.

Here's a list of five of the best ice cream shops to get you started - plus a mention of one or two others you'll want to consider, too.

Best Ice Cream Shop on St. Simons Island, Georgia: Zuzu's

Zuzu's
119 Mallory St.
St Simons Island, GA 31522
(912) 638-8655
11am - 9pm daily. (May be some slight seasonal variations.)

Located on the "pier end" of Mallory Street in the charming Pier Village of St. Simons Island, Zuzu's has an ocean-front view of the sparkling water and the pier. Well actually, it's St. Simons Sound, but you get my drift.

Stop in for a cup or cone of hand-dipped ice cream and draw up a stool in front of the expansive window. You can people-watch as passersby envy your ice cream. Zuzu's couldn't ask for better advertisement than that and their ice cream is pretty good, too.

If you're a little shy and don't want to drip ice cream in front of everyone, there are plenty of booths where you can enjoy your ice cream and other members of your party can opt for a sandwich, salad, or cool drink. Maybe even one of Zuzu's fabulous milkshakes.

Or take your treat outside and on to the pier. But eat it quick before it melts!

Other contenders on St. Simons Island, Georgia:

Swimming Pool in Pier Village - Opening Summer 2009

They won't be serving hand-dipped ice cream but any cold treat - whether it is an ice cream sandwich or simply a Popsicle - will taste better in the beautiful brand-new "mini water park" that is anticipated for the Summer of 2009.

Nestled under the St. Simons Lighthouse and right on the water, the new pool facilities will include a lap pool and additional pool space perfect for lolling away floating on your back under the palm trees. There will also be a children's wading and fountain area, a miniature golf area and more. A playground and picnic area with cook-out facilities await just outside the gate.

I'm going out on a limb here but I'm assuming the snack bar won't leave out the ice cream.

Best Ice Cream Shop on Jekyll Island, Georgia: It's a Tie Between The Island Sweets Shop and Cafe Solterra

The Island Sweets Shop
Jekyll Island Club Boiler House
Landmark Historic District
Jekyll Island, Georgia
(912) 635-3135
Hours may be seasonal but open most weekends and during tourist season.

Enjoying a stroll on the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club is a pleasure whether you are a hotel guest or a Jekyll Island year-round resident. The beautiful grounds offer plenty of walking, jogging, and biking opportunities and a few ways to enjoy a refreshment when you are taking a break. Located in the Boiler House, a small building remaining from the days when millionaires and their servants strode these grounds, the Island Sweets Shop offers hand-dipped ice cream, fudge, and refreshing drinks.

There aren't any tables inside but you'll want to take your ice cream back outside anyway to share with the friendly squirrel who lives in the live oak tree to the left of the building. He would love it if you'd offer him a piece of your waffle cone.

Cafe Solterra
Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Open Daily 7am - 10pm
Cafe Solterra

Okay, it's not just about the ice cream and it's not even hand-dipped ice cream, but I'll bet you'll fall in love with this little cafe and come back over and over again. Cafe Solterra is the small, very casual restaurant located inside the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Well, sort of. You reach the entrance to the Solterra Cafe by walking along the porch of the hotel, cooled by leisurely rotating ceiling fans. Continue past the white wicker chairs and settees, then on past the round cafe tables with umbrellas until you reach the Cafe Solterra entrance.

You can eat inside, but, why? Haagen Dazs Ice Cream is sold here and you can enjoy a small container out on the porch overlooking the courtyard and fountain. Ahhhhhhh.

Other contenders on Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island Club Beach Pavilion
On the Atlantic Ocean
Open Daily (in Season) 9am - 5pm
Beach Pavilion

Located within a short car ride or possibly bike ride from the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is the club's Beach Pavilion. While extended stay parking is meant for hotel guests only, there is plenty of parking for anyone else to stop long enough to enjoy a hand-dipped ice cream cone along the beach. There are a surprising number of flavors normally available and several serving options for your ice cream.

Enjoy the dolphins playing in the water while watching from the picnic tables lining the Jekyll Island Club Beach Pavilion's deck.

Other snacks at the Jekyll Island Club Beach Pavilion include the typical beach hut food fare: hot dogs, chips, and cold drinks.

Best Ice Cream Shops in Brunswick, Georgia - Bruster's and Scoops

Bruster's
109 Merchants Way
Brunswick, Georgia
(912) 265-8800
www.brusters.com

Yes, it's the chain. But, if you're familiar with Bruster's you'll know you are getting great ice cream. Hand-dipped and plenty of flavors to choose from. This one is located at the Colonial Mall - the mall in Brunswick so it's easy to find and surrounded by shopping options as well as a multiplex movie theater.

Scoops
103 Village At Glynn Place
Brunswick, GA 31525
(912) 261-2628

Scoops just opened in the same spot previously inhabited by Baskin-Robbins. Not sure what happened to the Baskin-Robbins but it was a convenient spot to grab a quick cone of ice cream. After giving Scoops a few weeks to get acclimated we checked it out. Scoops serves hand-dipped ice cream made by the Ice Cream Club, a favorite brand among many patrons in Florida, Georgia, and other states. This store is cheerfully decorated in bright, happy colors. Ice cream cakes and cake accessories - particularly for kids cakes - are available for purchase.

We got there just in time to claim a couple of yummy scoops and a line of people materialized as we completed our purchase. I'm glad to not leave this new store off the list. The ice cream and service at Scoops were great and anybody willing to open a new ice cream store in the current economy certainly gets a nod from me!

So get a scoop at Scoops in Brunswick, Georgia. Scoops is located in a shopping center with Publix Grocery, Papa John's and several other stores and eateries, so you can easily grab a treat while running errands.

Sources:
Personal taste-testing completed by the author of this article.
Bruster's
Ice Cream Club
Jekyll Island Club Beach Pavilion, Jekyll Island, Georgia
Jekyll Island Club Cafe Solterra, Jekyll Island, Georgia