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7 Unique Barrier Islands off Georgia’s Atlantic Coast (That Are Unlike Anywhere Else)


Out-of-this-world Coasts at the Peach State

Most Georgians don’t bother with the barrier islands beyond St. Simons or Jekyll. Some are tough to reach, others don’t have hotels, and a few are so quiet you’d think no one’s been there in years.

But if you skip them, you miss out on some of the best coastal experiences in the state. Here’s why you need to see these islands at least once.

Cumberland Island – Georgia’s Wildest Coastline

Cumberland is the closest you’ll get to an untouched Georgia beach.

No roads, no stores, no crowds. Just a 45 to 60-minute ferry from St. Marys drops you onto a dirt path where wild horses roam, and you can hike for miles without seeing another person.

This island also made history by being the venue of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

Jekyll Island – The Only Place with Drifting Trees

Driftwood Beach looks fake, but it’s real. It’s famous for these giant twisted trees stuck in the sand.

It was once an exclusive winter retreat for uber-rich families like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers, so imagine how luxurious and exclusive this coastal area is.

The beach changes every year as the tide pulls trees down, creating new formations. Low tide is the best time to visit since more of the skeleton-like branches are exposed.

Don’t expect to swim here. The water’s too shallow, and the current’s unpredictable.

Sapelo Island – Georgia’s Only Living Gullah-Geechee Community

You can’t just show up here. You have to plan a tour or know someone who lives in Hog Hammock, one of the last remaining Gullah-Geechee communities in Georgia.

The residents are descendants of enslaved West Africans who’ve lived here for generations. The island has an abandoned lighthouse built in 1820 and untouched beaches, but the real reason to visit is to hear stories from people whose families have been here for centuries.

Little St. Simons Island – The Least Visited But Most Preserved

Most Georgians don’t even know this place exists. It’s private land with only a few guest spots, so the beaches and trails stay pristine.

Guided trips take you through marshes filled with herons, spoonbills, and the occasional gator. The beaches here have no debris, no washed-up junk. Just miles of smooth, packed sand.

It is also a designated Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, hosting over 330 species of birds. If you want to see the Georgia coast before people ruined it, this is it.

St. Simons Island – The Best Spot for Kayaking

Most people stick to the lighthouse or the pier, but the best part of St. Simons is the kayaking. The waterways around the island cut through marshes filled with fiddler crabs and oyster beds.

At low tide, you can spot dolphins hunting in the shallows. The current changes fast, so you’ll need to time your trip or risk paddling against the tide all the way back.

It is also home to  Christ Church, Frederica, one of the oldest churches in Georgia, constructed in 1736.

Ossabaw Island – Where You Can Walk Through Georgia’s Past

Ossabaw is completely undeveloped, and you can’t get there without special permission. It’s covered in old tabby ruins. These are structures made from oyster shells dating back to the 1700s.

The island’s former plantation site still has slave cabins, and researchers study them to learn about the people who lived here. It’s also home to one of the biggest populations of wild hogs on the coast. If you visit, expect to see them everywhere.

Blackbeard Island – The Least Known National Wildlife Refuge

Nobody talks about Blackbeard Island, which is strange because it’s a federally protected wildlife refuge. It’s one of the best places to see loggerhead sea turtles nesting in the summer.

The beaches are empty because no one wants to take a boat out just to walk around. If you’re into birdwatching, you’ll find some of the rarest species in Georgia here, including bald eagles and painted buntings.

The post 7 Unique Barrier Islands off Georgia’s Atlantic Coast (That Are Unlike Anywhere Else) appeared first on When In Your State.



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