Fun and Easy Ways to Get 10,000 Steps During Your Trip to St. Marys
There’s an exciting silver lining to the indulgences of the merriest season. If your New Year’s resolution is anything like millions of other Americans, you may be considering some form of exercise as the positive change you seek in 2023. Luckily, St. Marys offers an entertaining, one-of-a-kind experience when walking, running, biking, skipping, or marching towards those 10,000 steps. From trails and parks to historic districts, these easy strolls provide fit fun in St. Marys and beyond.
Self-Guided History Tours
One of the most appealing aspects of visiting St. Marys is the walkability of the historic downtown. Take a self-guided walking tour and immerse yourself in the beauty and significance of this fascinating locale. Established in 1787, St. Marys has history on every block. The highlights are endless; you could spend days learning the history and lore or simply take quiet moments to breathe in the majesty of its streets. Maritime-featured favorites include the fabled St. Marys River and the tranquil St. Marys Waterfront Park. Walk along the park’s boardwalk and pier or take a break on the waterfront swings; there are plenty of places here for a peaceful stroll.
If you want a learning focus on your self-guided tour, the St. Marys History Walk is a fantastic place to start. Head over to the corner of St. Marys Street and Bartlett Street to begin a 600-foot walking foray into St. Marys milestones. Two dozen interpretive panels will immerse you in some of St. Marys notable past highlights. Around town, you’ll experience numerous ornate churches (most of which you can enter), homes, and even an old grocery store, but don’t miss the wonder of the Big Oak Tree, the inspiration behind the Peace Garden, or pop culture born from the Toonerville Trolley. You may want to take your walking tour indoors, so don’t miss the Cumberland Island Visitor Center, and the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum. The places mentioned merely scratch the surface of everything to see while walking downtown, so turn this trek into many different on-foot excursions.
And if you’re taking the ferry to Cumberland Island download the official NPS app before you go! You’ll find the two-hour Dungeness Audio Tour, that guides you through the Dungeness Historic District with nine stops describing thousands of years of human history, and the 45-minute River Trail tour, where you’ll pass ten stops highlighting the many plants used by American Indians on the island.
Trails and Parks
People love to meander along St. Marys Waterfront Park, and rightfully so thanks to pristine tranquility. Yet visitors to St. Marys should also be aware that its trail and park offerings are rich and diverse. Take, for example, the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. Each season brings different birdwatching experiences and includes Crooked River State Park and Cumberland Island. Another trail adventure includes being inspired by WWII heroics in the form of patrol reports and artifacts at the St. Marys Submarine Museum, one of ten stops along the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail. On the other hand, if you like the variety of a multi-use path, wave to friendly cyclists and walkers alike on the 11-mile St. Marys Tabby Trail (a work in progress). For a more wooded environment, venture out to the Crooked River State Park trails and traverse the many routes. The state park features the Palmetto Trail, Sempervirens Trail, River Trail, Bay Boardwalk Trail, and Storybook Trail—and each walk is an entirely distinctive experience.
Park visits are just as distinct and rewarding as the trail systems in and around St. Marys.
The aforementioned headliner is the St. Marys Waterfront Park, and it bears repeating that there is nothing like a sunset stroll on its boardwalk. If you like venturing out with your furry friends, the Tommy Casey Memorial Dog Park has stationary agility equipment and benches inside a securely fenced area. Sweetwater Park, St. Marys Civic Park, and McIntosh Sugar Mill Park are also canine-centric and will keep you moving while entertaining your pup. With St. Marys’ trails and parks system, many unique exercise experiences are right in front of you.
Nearby Endeavors
While St. Marys alone has plenty to offer the exercise aficionado, there are several worthwhile walking trips worth visiting in neighboring areas as well. Disc Golf is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports in the country, and Kingsland’s Gum Branch has the perfect course for all skillsets. This means that the more novice you are at disc golf, the more walking steps you can accomplish while chasing down errant disc tosses. This 18-hole course in Kingsland is also pet-friendly, so Fido can easily help you track down Frisbees lost in the woods. In addition, nearby Woodbine sports a most unique hike! The Woodbine Riverwalk & Rail-Trail is a nearly 6-mile long scenic, paved walkway following along the old railway in town and provides the distinct experience of traveling by foot on an old rail line.
St. Marys—On Foot
Regardless of whether you’re working on your New Year’s resolution or simply planning a slightly adventurous vacation, St. Marys supports an abundance of opportunities to promote healthy living through tours, trails, parks, and activities. Spend the New Year in the serenity provided by St. Marys & Cumberland Island and make the most of 2023.
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