9 Best Sights in The Coastal Isles and the Okefenokee, Georgia

Just north of Nanny Goat Beach, Cabretta Beach stretches along Sapelo's eastern shore, with its northern terminus at the outflow of Blackbeard Creek. This remote expanse of hard-packed sand is sometimes visited by fishermen or kayakers on their way to Blackbeard Island, and it's also the site of the Cabretta Campground, a group wilderness campsite that can be reserved via Georgia's Department of Natural Resources. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

For a firsthand look at the stunning effects of erosion on barrier islands, head at low tide to this oceanfront boneyard on North Beach, where live oaks and pines are being consumed by the sea at an alarming rate. The snarl of trunks and limbs and the dramatic, massive root systems of upturned trees are an eerie and intriguing tableau of nature's slow and steady power. It's been estimated that nearly 1,000 feet of Jekyll's beach have been lost since the early 1900s.

Bring your camera; the photo opportunities are terrific, and this is the best place to shoot the St. Simons Lighthouse. The snarling branches of submerged trees can make this a dangerous place to swim, however, so use caution in the water.

Restrooms and other facilities are at the Clam Creek Picnic Area.

parking (no fee); showers; toilets.

solitude; sunrise.

From the Dungeness ferry dock to the southern tip of the island, Dungeness Beach covers nearly 2 miles of pristine, remote coast. This wild stretch of sand attracts beachcombers (shark teeth are a sought-after find) and fishermen, who cast for redfish and flounder at the southernmost point, called Pelican Flats. Trails lead to Thomas Carnegie's historic estate, Dungeness, and this is also a good area to spot Cumberland's famed wild horses that roam the beach and inland areas here. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise.

The most expansive stretch of public beach on St. Simons is also one of the most popular in all of the Golden Isles. Entrances sit on either end of the beach: at the Coast Guard Station on 1st Street to the north and Massengale Park on Oak Street to the south. Between the two entrances, this ½-mile stretch of hard-packed white sand is vacation central, with calm, shallow water perfect for swimming, boogie boarding, or windsurfing. Plenty of parking is available, lifeguards watch the waves all summer, and drinking is allowed in plastic containers (no glass bottles). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; windsurfing.

Starting just north of the entrance road on South Beachview Drive, this 20-acre stretch of beach runs alongside Main Street and the convention center to South Dunes Beach at Glory Boardwalk (built when the final battle scene of the film Glory was shot here), next to the soccer complex. This is one of the most accessible beaches on the island, with parking at both ends and good shower-restroom facilities. The white-sand beach is backed by dunes, which are protected wildlife areas, while calm, shallow water, and a mild shore break make this a good spot to swim and play in the surf. It's the most popular beach for families on the island. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

A newer addition to Jekyll Island's beach facilities is this centrally located park next to the newly renovated convention center on South Beachview Drive. A beach deck and multiple dune crossovers provide access to the hard-packed beach, and a boardwalk offers beachfront bike parking. Facilities include ample parking, restrooms and changing areas, and a pavilion for local events and festivals. Amenities: parking; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

On the southeastern edge of the island, this beach sits at the heart of the rich ecological zones for which the island is known and protected. Naturalists with the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve use this beach as an outdoor classroom, sometimes bringing groups here for beach walks. Visitors can hunt for sand dollars and whelk shells along nearly 2 miles of sandy shore; bird sightings include blue herons, egrets, ospreys, bald eagles, and the occasional plain chachalaca. A 1-mile trail connects this beach with the historic R. J. Reynolds House, crossing five ecological zones along the way. Amenities: toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

Proximity to the ferry makes this beach fronting the Sea Camp campground the most popular beach among day-trippers, though with only 300 visitors allowed on the island daily, it's never very crowded. Hard-pack trails and a boardwalk allow short nature walks, and the beach has good beachcombing. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunrise.

Stretching south of Glory Boardwalk to the St. Andrews Picnic Area at the very southern end of the island, this narrow beach backs up to dense maritime forest, making it a quiet, secluded bit of coast and a great spot for wildlife viewing or beachcombing. At the picnic area, a short trail leads to a viewing platform overlooking the outflow of Jekyll Creek—keep an eye out for dolphins cruising near the shoreline. A memorial and memory trail honors the landing of one of the last American slave ships, The Wanderer. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: solitude.