Nice and laid back
Dana,
I used to live on St. Simons and it is a charming place to live/visit. You can stay at the Cloister, a ten star resort, but it is a bit pricey. Room rates are listed at $700 a night, but I heard that they are giving some deep discounts lately because of the slow market. Next in line is the King and the Prince hotel, right on the beach. There are a few other motels a little inland and they are all fine. The beach is not the best feature of the island; it is the marshlands between the island and the mainland. Sea Kayak tours are a must. The village area is small, but charming. It is also fun to go crabbing off of the adjacent pier. The restaurants are generally very good. There are several in the village. If it is still around, the Red Barn was great. There are even a few good restaurants on the mainland in old Brunswick village. Side trips to Jekyl, Cumberland and Sapelo Islands are a must. Each has its own charm. Check out Jamie Painter's posts on his trip to Jekyl. Don't expect any high rev action or frantic night life. Just a nice place to be. Also, an air tour of the area is beautiful from Savannah (also another great side trip, with a fantastic historic district) to Jacksonville.
Have fun,