Barrier Islands - Georgia

During our visit in mid March the temperatures were cool, there were no bugs, and we fell head over heels in love with these charming, sleepy barrier islands. From what we understand they can get very crowded in the warmer months, and the bugs can get pretty bad. But, if you time your visit right you’ll love every minute of your trip! 

  1. Jekyll Island

    1. A beautiful barrier island to explore. There is an entrance fee to access the island.

    2. Multiple beaches with public access (listed North to South)

      1. Driftwood Beach - voted one of the 10 most romantic beaches in the US. Beautiful lines of driftwood line the coast.

      2. Ocean View Beach Park - mid island. Recent renovations.

      3. Corsair Beach Park - in between hotels, very close to shopping.

      4. Great Dunes Beach Park - most popular beach for families with all the amenities and games. 

      5. South Dunes Beach Park - elevated boardwalk over sand dunes, beach access and a freshwater pond with a floating platform for gators, turtles, and birds to rest.

      6. Glory Beach - a very wide beach with lots of dunes.

      7. St. Andrews Beach Park (see dolphins and migratory birds)

        1. On the southern tip of the island. Great place to watch the sunset.

        2. Walk The Wanderer Memory Trail (tells the story of America’s last known slave ship, the Wanderer.  The trail is along the banks of the Jekyll River where the ship illegally came ashore with more than 500 slaves).

    3. Multiple dining options. We ate at The Wharf, and it was great.

    4. Activities

      1. Sea Turtle Sanctuary: open 9-5 daily with a $10/person admission fee

      2. Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum: open 9-5 daily with a $9/person admission fee

      3. Landmark Trolley Tour - The Jekyll Island Club members created an exclusive Gilded Age island retreat for family and friends on this barrier island. The tour is 60 minutes and begins at the Mosaic Museum.  $20/adults (includes admission to the Mosaic Gallery and Faith Chapel)

      4. Summer Waves Water Park

      5. Jekyll Island Mini Golf near the Great Dunes Park

      6. Shop at Beach Village

      7. Tour the historic Faith Chapel 

        1. Tours are 12-4 daily, $5/person for walk up tickets. Admission is included with the purchase of any Historic Landmark District tour. 

        2. Open 10-12 daily for prayer and meditation, free

        3. Home of the famed Tiffany stained glass window.

      8. Hollybourne Cottage Tour: take a 75 minute tour for $20/adult

      9. Ranger Walks December - March, reservations required, $10/person

      10. Dolphin Tours - Jekyll Island Boat Tours

        1. 90 minute tour, $25/adult 

        2. ***We had a great experience doing this. We saw lots of dolphins, and learned a lot of fascinating history.

      11. Three Oaks Farm Horseback Riding

        1. There are several beach riding tour options. They are closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.

      12. Biking is a great way to explore.  Multiple bike rental options. 

        1. More than 22 miles of picturesque paths and trails to explore.  Paths wind around sand dunes, beaches and historic sites, while ancient oaks offer ample shade. 

        2. ***We really enjoyed our bike ride around the island with stops at several beaches.

        3. Biking • Jekyll Island, Georgia

          1. This has maps to download for the various areas. Or stop at the Visitors Center for a great map and a cute gift shop before you go into the fee area.

  2. St. Simon’s Island

    1. St. Simon’s Lighthouse Museum - you can tour it for a small fee. It looked absolutely beautiful, and the attached gift shop and visitor’s center were a lot of fun to look around.

    2. Drive through the Bloody Marsh Battle Site

    3. St. Simons Island | Local Eats, Lodging & Attractions

      1. Beaches are public on St. Simon’s Island

      2. Beaches on Sea Island and Little St. Simon’s island are private

    4. Restaurant suggestions from a local friend:

      1. Certified Burgers

      2. Fiddlers (good date night spot)

      3. Gnats Landing - causal American/seafood

      4. Crab Trap - best fried shrimp on the island

      5. Southern Soul BBQ

      6. CJ’s Pizza (always busy)

      7. Brogens - sports bar-ish, good for burgers

      8. Porch - pretty popular for fried chicken and southern sides. 

        1. ***We ate here and enjoyed it.  The cheesy grits were great!  Plus they have live music outside.

  3. Cumberland Island National Seashore 

    1. Cumberland Island National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)

    2. Take the Cumberland Island Ferry to get there - it’s a 45 minute ride.

    3. St. Mary’s is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man and nature. Natives, missionaries, enslaved African Americans and wealthy industrialists all walked here. Cumberland Island is also home to over 9,800 acres of Congressionally designated Wilderness.

    4. Bring the food and water that you need. There are only 2 spots to refill water bottles.

    5. Cumberland Island National Seashore | BIKING |

      1. Biking is a popular activity on Cumberland Island National Seashore and the only way to see the northern half of the island for those on day trips. The ferry has room for up to ten private bikes per trip for a fee, and you can reserve a spot when making a reservation for the ferry ride.

      2. At the Sea Camp Ranger Station you can rent bikes, but they only have about 24 bikes available, and about 150 people can ride the ferry. So be on the morning ferry, and one of the first people off the boat and to the bike stand to get a chance at a bike.  

      3. Biking is allowed along Grand Avenue, the main park road that runs from the Dungeness ruins in the south to The Settlement in the north, approximately a 20-mile ride. From the Dungeness mansion until just north of the Stafford mansion and cemetery, you are free to ride on any of the side roads unless they are marked as Private Property. Most such roads lead to the beaches on the Atlantic Coast. You can ride your personal bike on the beaches between Dungeness and Sea Camp, but rental bikes are not allowed on the sand.

    6. Land and Legacies Tour: Departs daily, shortly after the 9:00 am ferry arrives. You’ll be back to take the 4:45 ferry.

      1. $45/person

      2. A 30 mile van tour to the north end of Cumberland Island starting at the Sea Camp Ranger Station. Visitors get to see both cultural and natural landmarks, including the remains of Robert Stafford’s plantation and cemetery, Plum Orchard Mansion, Cumberland Wharf, the Settlement, and First African Baptist Church. This is a rugged five- to six-hour trip that is open only to visitors who take the 9 a.m. ferry to the island or who are campers already staying on the island. The tour does not include time at the end of the day to explore the beach.

        1. Plum Orchard Mansion: free tours on the hour, 45 minutes long.  Access by foot, bike or the Land and Legacies Tour

        2. Wild Island

          1. Between visiting historic landmarks, get a glimpse of the wilder side of the island. Under a canopy of Spanish moss, single lane roads cut through the wilderness, showing the truly rugged side of one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the Atlantic coast. The island has one of the largest maritime forests remaining in the United States.

  4. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

    1. While this isn’t a barrier island, the road trip inland will not disappoint you! This experience was one of the highlights of our trip!

    2. The swamp is considered the headwaters of the Suwannee and St Mary’s Rivers. It provides a beautifully preserved segment of what was here when America began. It provides habitat for threatened and endangered species such as red-cockaded woodpecker, wood storks, indigo snakes, and a wide variety of other wildlife species. It is world renowned for its amphibian populations that are bio-indicators of global health. More than 600 plant species have been identified on refuge lands. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has 353,981 acres of National Wilderness Area within the refuge boundaries. In addition, the refuge is a Wetland of International Importance because it is one of the world’s largest intact freshwater ecosystems. 

    3. Two areas to explore

      1. Okefenokee Swamp Park offers boat tours, train rides, interactive exhibits and animal encounters. More touristy.

        1. Various packages at different price points offer a combination of a boat ride, train ride, nature show, and exhibit entrance.

      2. Okefenokee Adventures is in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. They offer guided boat tours as well as boat rentals, kayaking, hiking trails, and camping excursions. More natural and adventurous options. 

        1. You can rent a tandem kayak, canoe, or Jon Boat (up to 6 people).

          1. ***We rented a Jon Boat. You can pick up as early as 8 am and you can have the boat for up to 6 hours. The “trails” on the water are well marked and easy to follow. We saw over 100 alligators while we were out on the water, and the Spanish moss and beautiful scenery made this one of the highlights of the trip. 

        2. Bike rentals are available or you can bring your own bike. There are 7 miles of paved road to explore plus access to hiking trails.

        3. The Visitors Center is open to tour until 4 pm. There is also an old homestead to explore.

Want to visit Savannah or Atlanta while you’re in Georgia? Check out my research on those areas as well!

https://www.eyewandertravel.com/savannah-georgia

https://www.eyewandertravel.com/atlanta-georgia