Things to Do in Wilmington Island

Nestled in the salt marshes of northern Wilmington Island, Bull River Marina is an ideal launch pad for exploring the region’s natural splendor. Experienced captains offer tours that find them steering their prow through the bottlenose-dolphin-inhabited waters off the shores of Savannah. Additionally, Bull River's captains lead crabbing and fishing charters that search the waters for everything from kingfish to sharks. The seasoned fishermen provide passengers with all the bait, tackle, and licenses they need to wrest trout and flounder from the refrigerators of submarine captains.

Anyone active in Savannah’s theatre community in the 70s and 80s would likely have encountered Tom Coleman III, a director who began his career at the Savannah Young People’s Theatre. He produced and directed more than 200 shows in the ensuing 35 years, culminating in the founding of the Savannah Community Theatre. The company often produces shows by local playwrights, along with a weekly, pirate-themed murder mystery dinner show.

Crystal and Johnny Mindedahl host riders of all ages and abilities on Rocking M Ranch’s 60 acres of rolling pastures, beyond which lie miles of historical forests and trails. The ranch takes extra care to comfort its horses, and neighs of contentment echo through the 14-stall barn and across the competition-sized arena where students can refine their horsemanship throughout the year. Instructors tailor each lesson to accommodate individual goals, helping beginners gain comfort and advanced students work toward competitions with tutorials in grooming, safety, saddling, and horse anatomy. In addition to lessons, Rocking M Ranch regularly hosts day camps for children and teens. These camps pique kids’ interests with riding lessons, games, and traditional farm activities, such as playing with pet goats and churning butter from an original Nintendo.

The licensed guides at Madison Tour Company reveal the sights and stories of Savannah during scenic horse-drawn carriage rides through its city streets. As guides expound on Southern and colonial history, tour takers soak up Savannah's natural and manmade marvels, from mossy live oaks and magnolias to majestic mansions and film sites, such as the bench where Tom Hanks ate chocolates. Special carriage rides—decked out with balloons and decorations—are available for events such as weddings and birthdays.

While tutoring students in the art of kiteboarding, Mike Campanaro and John Mapel of AOK Watersports are able to call upon a lifetime of wave-taming experience in a bounty of extreme sports, including power-kiting and windsurfing. Though the dedicated instructors specialize in kiteboarding, they also offer equipment, lessons, and rentals for activities such as land-kiting and paddleboarding. Two-hour land-kiting courses help beginners glean basics for handling kites or taking midnight shifts as bird walkers.

Tucked under the shade of tall trees, the wood-paneled cabins at River's End Campground & R.V. Park provide a rustic home away from home for vacationing guests. Located only a short distance from the beach, their proximity allows guests to take calming trail walks to the waterfront while still maintaining a comfortable distance from Poseidon’s incessant midnight crying. Tent and RV sites also run throughout the natural landscape, many of which feature full hookup capacity with water, electric, and cable access. In addition to fishing and beach activities, River’s End offers an onsite shop for camping necessities, whereas free WiFi access accommodates those who would like to check the online profiles of their new squirrel friends.