The Coastal Isles and the Okefenokee

Georgia's coastal isles are a string of lush barrier islands meandering down the Atlantic coast from Savannah to the Florida border. Notable for their subtropical beauty and abundant wildlife, the isles also strike a unique balance between some of the wealthiest communities in the country and some of the most jealously protected preserves found anywhere. Until recently large segments of the coast were in private hands, and as a result much of the region remains as it was when the first Europeans set eyes on it 450 years ago. The marshes, wetlands, and waterways teem with birds and other wildlife, and they're ideal for exploring by kayak or canoe. Though the islands have long been a favorite getaway of the rich and famous, they no longer cater only to the well-heeled. There's mounting pressure to develop these wilderness shores and make them even more accessible.

The Golden Isles—St. Simons Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and Jekyll Island—are the more developed of the coastal isles, although by Georgia law Jekyll is only able to develop 35% of its land. (Jekyll's future, at this writing, was in dispute as developers pushed for revitalization and residents and activists resisted.) Although Little St. Simons Island and Sea Island cater primarily to the wealthy looking to get away from it all, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island are diverse havens with something for everyone from beach bums to family vacationers to the suit-and-tie crowd. Though it has only a few hundred full-time residents, Sea Island is one of the wealthiest zip codes in America.

Generally unmarred by development, the more remote Sapelo Island and Cumberland Island National Seashore, with their near-pristine ecology, are alluring for anyone seeking an authentic getaway. Both are excellent for camping, with sites ranging from primitive to (relatively) sophisticated. Noncamping accommodations are limited and require booking well in advance. Miles of untouched beaches, forests of gnarly live oak draped with Spanish moss, and swamps and marshlands teeming with birds and wildlife combine to make these islands unique. The best way to visit them is on either public or private guided tours.

Each of the six coastal isles described offers a different experience. Sapelo, Little St. Simons, and Cumberland are the least developed and most ecologically intact of all the islands. With their broad range of wildlife and pristine little-used beaches, they're perfect if you want a real getaway. Visiting these isles requires some advance planning: they're only accessible by ferry or private launch, and Cumberland and Sapelo have limited services. Brunswick and most of the Golden Isles are more complete vacation destinations, with a broad range of lodging, dining, and entertainment options. Though they're more developed and more easily accessible, they still offer the best of what Georgia's coastal isles are all about: natural beauty, beaches, and a slower pace of life.

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, 60 mi inland from St. Marys near Folkston, is one of the largest wetlands in the United States. Spread over 700 square mi of southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, the swamp is a trove of flora and fauna that naturalist William Bartram called a "terrestrial paradise" when he visited in the 1770s. From towering cypress swamps to alligator- and snake-infested waters to prairielike grasslands, the Okefenokee is a mosaic of ecosystems, much of which has never been visited by humans.

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