St. Marys, Georgia

St. Mary's is the second oldest city in the United States. It sits aside the St. Mary's River, looking the part of a fishing village with a dash of charm-lovely Victorian homes, inns, restaurants, and shops.

St. Mary's sits on Buttermilk Bluff, the site of an old Indian village. Plans for the town emerged as early as 1767. The new town was laid out in 1788 and incorporated in 1802. Besides the British, early settlers included Acadian French deported for Canada. Industrialization began shortly after the Civil War with the establishment of a lumber mill.

Lang's Marina docks are roughly two miles up the St. Marys River at the end of the town waterfront. The marina office doubles as a seafood market and restaurant with the freshest seafood in town.

We unloaded our bikes to explore the historic downtown. We started at the St. Marys Submarine Museum, five miles from the King's Bay U.S. Navy submarine base.

Riding through cabbage palm and oak lined streets was a pleasant way to check out the Colonial, antebellum, and Victorian homes.

The Orange Hall Museum, so-named for the sour orange grove behind the house, was first started between 1826 and 1829, and through various owners, became an architectural showcase of Greek Revival style.

The First Presbyterian Church, built in 1808, is believed to be the second oldest church in Georgia.

We wandered into the 1788 Oakgrove Cemetery, where you can find much history of the area. It is believed that graves of veterans representing every war fought in and by America are there.

We carefully leave this very old cemetery undisturbed and head back to the marina.

A bike ride, fresh shrimp, and good weather. It doesn't get better than that.