iles of beaches and a variety of wildlife – including wild horses, alligators, sea turtles and even donkeys originally imported fro Sicily – can be glimpsed at this national park. The ruins of the Dungeness Mansion, once owned by the Carnegie family, remain a popular stop on the Island.
Jekyll Island, Georgia: Situated just south of St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island was once an aristocratic winter playground, hosting such families as the Morgans, Pulitzers, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, all of whom were members of the famed Jekyll Island Club. An estimated one-sixth of the world’s wealth was controlled from the Island during the millionaires’ reign, leading to concern during World War II that too much wealth was concentrated in one place. The “Millionaires’ Village” has been restored to offer a glimpse of the opulent lifestyle that once characterized the Island and is open for daily tours.
Ossabaw Island, Georgia: At 43 square miles, Ossabaw Island is one of the largest barrier Islands and is accessible only by water. Ancient Indian shell mounds offer evidence that the Island was once a favorite Indian hunting and fishing ground. Early Georgia colonists planted indigo on the Island and, some years later, cotton. Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the Island’s moonlight beaches each summer. Part of the Island is a wildlife refuge, devoted to the sea turtles, and is closed to the public.
Sapelo Island, Georgia: Just off the coast from Meridian, GA, Sapelo Island has been home to the Gullah, sea island descendants of freed slaves, for generations and hosts some of the most intact Gullah communities in the Lowcountry. The Island also has an elegant French provincial home that was once part of the estate of tobacco millionaire R.J. Reynolds and now serves as a marsh and estuary research laboratory.
St. Simons Island, Georgia: St. Simons Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway at Brunswick and is approximately the size of Manhattan. Once the site of Spanish missions and English fortifications, St. Simons hosted may Sea Island cotton plantations after the Revolution and became one of the most prosperous of the sea islands. Built in 1736 by General James Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah, Fort Frederica is one of the largest British forts in North America. A number of resorts and hotels make the Island a popular vacation destination.
Tybee Island, Georgia: Located 18 miles east of Savannah, Tybee Island is one of Georgia’s oldest and most historic seaside communities. Connected to the mainland by US 80, the Island hosts thousands of sun-worshipping visitors annually. The Tybee Island Lighthouse – completed in 1736 by General James Oglethorpe, destroyed by a storm and rebuilt in 1773 – offers spectacular views of the Lowcountry.