Top Things to do in Georgia Coast
Top Hotels in Georgia Coast
- 1. Jekyll Island Club Resort
- 2. River Street Inn
- 3. The Marshall House
- 4. Homewood Suites by Hilton Savannah Historic District / Riverfront
- 5. Hyatt Regency Savannah
- 6. Mansion on Forsyth Park
- 7. The Inn at Sea Island
- 8. Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel
- 9. Best Western Central Inn
- 10. The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
Countries
10 Nature & Wildlife Areas in Georgia Coast That You Shouldn't Miss
The Georgia Coast offers myriad sights for the visitor, from Savannah's cobblestone streets and charming towns and islands, to historic lighthouses, sand dunes, plantation era sites and the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp. Island hop from Savannah to Cumberland Island. Camp on the Colonial Coast under Spanish moss-draped oaks. Take a riverboat tour of Savannah. Walk with wild horses on Kingsland's beaches. Encounter alligators in the Swamp. Golf among marsh grass. Let the Georgia Coast work its charm.
Restaurants in Georgia Coast
1. Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Accessible only by boat, this island refuge includes maritime forest, marsh and beach habitats used for birdwatching and fishing.
2. Okefenokee Swamp Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 542 reviews
Located in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the Okefenokee Swamp Park is a convenient point of entry and a magnificent show-window for the "Land of the Trembling Earth." The park's lily-decked water trails, with their miraculously reflective waters mirroring the overhanging beauty, lead to all points in this vast wilderness of islands, lakes, jungles, forest and prairies. Boat tours on original Indian waterways, wilderness walkways, Pioneer Island and native animals in their own habitat, all combine to weave a spell of pioneer American life. Headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Mary's Rivers, Okefenokee is a National Wildlife Refuge which covers nearly a half million acres.
Reviewed By DippingDot - Bluffton, United States
My husband and I visited Okefenokee NWR with friends on Feb. 8 and 9. There are a number of ways to enjoy the swamp. On our first day, we took a two - hour sunset boat ride from 5 to 7 PM. We saw birds, alligators and wonderful swamp scenery in the early evening and a glorious sunset over the waterways. Our guide from Okefenokee Adventures was extremely knowledgable about birds, alligators, plants and the history of the swamp. The reflections of the trees on the smooth water and the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees was like a painting. The next day (after an overnight in Kingsland) we walked the Chesser Island Boardwalk looking for birds. At the end of the Boardwalk is an observation tower from which we saw spectacular scenery and Sandhill Cranes feeding and later flying. The boardwalk is well constructed, wide and easy to walk. The total distance to the tower and back is 1 1/2 miles. After visiting the tower we stopped at the Chesser Island Homestead, a house and farm, where families lived in the 1800s. The docent there gave us a history of the homestead and of the families that lived in the swamp. The Bolt Visitor Center has a small shop and a film about the swamp. Okefenokee Adventures also has a small snack shop and store. They offer kayak and canoe tours along with their boat tours. We had a great visit to the Okefenokee and look forward to another visit in the spring.
3. Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
A 5,126-acre migratory bird refuge with vast expanses of marshes and tidal creeks.
4. Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
This site's 2,765 acres consist of saltwater marshes and opportunities for a variety of activities including hiking, fishing, hunting and bicycling.
Reviewed By katiemR4217ZC - Prairie Village, United States
Harris Neck is a fantastic excursion from Savannah. You could easily spend anywhere from half a day to multiple days here, depending on your interest. Be sure to get there shortly after sunrise for best wildlife viewing. Very well marked drive leads to many easy walking trails around ponds and near the river. If you’re looking for waterfowl, marsh birds, etc, this is the place for you! We also saw gators and raccoon!
5. Melon Bluff Nature & Heritage Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
6. Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Rich in natural history, this island's human history dates back 4,000 years and is made up of salt marsh, maritime forest, beach and dune areas.
Reviewed By KMKJZ - Bethlehem, United States
We spent 2 1/2 memorable hours listening to and visualizing many aspects of the fascinating history of Sapelo Island as told by our guide, Iregene Grovner. Iregene is a 9th generation, direct descendant of the original Gullah Geechee who were seized from West Africa in the late 1700s to work as slaves on the sugar and cotton plantations. Iregene, one of the shrinking number of the Island's full time residents who live in Hog Hammock, brings both a wealth of personal knowledge and insight into every facet of the Island's rich culture. The tour included stops at buildings of the original plantations, the Island's lighthouse, the mansion of tobacco heir, R J Reynolds, the original graveyard, Behaviour Cemetery, Hog Hammock's General Store, two African Baptist churches and the community itself of Hog Hammock. While the Gullah Geehee Heritage Corridor extends from Charleston to Northern Florida, this is a treasure of Gullah history not to be missed.
7. Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,223 reviews
Reviewed By 159BarryD159 - Frankfurt, Germany
Although small, it is very enjoyable and educational and is definitely worth a visit if you are on Jekyll Island. The staff are wonderful and tolerate numerous questions. Be sure to be there for the "Meet the patients" or turtle feeding demonstrations, as they are something special and heart-warming to know that some injured turtles are being so well-cared for until they can be returned to the sea.
8. Oatland Island Wildlife Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 626 reviews
Due to the pandemic, timed entry reservations are required. Please visit: www.friendsofoatland.org/book-online to make reservations. Oatland Island Wildlife Center is a 175 acre environmental education center that includes a two mile nature trail through forest, salt marsh, and pond habitats where visitors can observe animals native to Georgia such as wolves, bobcats, birds of prey, alligators and cougars. Oatland also has a small barnyard area that includes a cow, donkey, and Ossabaw hogs. Visitors are encouraged to wear good walking shoes and bring insect repellant.
Reviewed By HBrent77 - Cambridge, New Zealand
Cool wildlife centre, incorporating an historical building and a cool nature walk around the marshlands. Has a nice/peaceful feel about it. The animal enclosures were also cool, especially the wolf area. I recommend visiting this Centre if you in Savannah.
9. Blythe Island Regional Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By NJSparky2
Beautiful, picturesque regional campground. It's quite obvious the local citizens and government take great pride in "their" park. This is a local very quiet campground that is filled with fisherman with boats. The $44 a night included full hook up, 30/50 amp with cable. The sites were spacious, shady, private, and had more than enough room for everyone and all their water toys. The marina and bait shop, complete with lift and ramp, is the definite main attraction here. Many campers were busy fishing and crabbing from the docks and obviously truly enjoying the best that Georgia has to offer. In addition to the tidal waters, there is also a freshwater lake that includes a swimming beach which is probably jammed packed with locals in the summer. The only drawback would be the ever present Georgia Gnats and the occasional whiff of the Brunswick Paper Plant but both weren't enough of a deterrent to keep us from visiting again.
10. Cannon's Point Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Cannon's Point Preserve is open to the public on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays 9am - 3pm. The non-motorized boat launch is open for launching from 9am - 1pm. There is a kiosk at the entrance to the Preserve where visitors will find maps and other information. On days when Cannon's Point is open to the public, there will be a volunteer on-site welcoming visitors. Cannon's Point Preserve has some of the last intact maritime forest on St. Simons Island and is rich in cultural and natural history. The peninsula has over six miles of salt marsh, tidal creek and river shore line that provide habitat for wildlife such as oysters, birds, fish, manatee and shell fish. On site visitors can view the ruins of a large plantation home, overseer's home, and slave quarters built by John Couper in the 1800s.
Reviewed By melissaaQ7050VS
Beautiful, easy 5 mile round trip hike (not counting the side paths) with a great destination point. We arrived to misty rain and cold but the tree cover kept us pleasantly dry until it warmed up for the day. The employees/volunteers were incredibly friendly and made sure to point us to the facilities before we took off on the hike. The ground was stable and the hike level. The signs posted were all very clear and there is really no chance of getting lost or disoriented here. The remains of the Cannon house at the end of the walk were impressive and fascinating. We really enjoyed this hike and the history that went along with it.
