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Southern Secluded Isles: 11 Sun-Drenched Spots to Soothe Your Soul
by Carrie Miner
 Jekyll Island
TNearby Jekyll Island, which can be accessed by the Jekyll Island Airport [09J], is another family favorite retreat off the Georgia coast.
Historically, this hidden coastal paradise was the exclusive hunting retreat for some of the nation’s most prominent families including the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. Today, visitors to the island can enjoy the refined elegance at the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel while exploring the island’s many natural treasures.
Protected from development by the State of Georgia, the majority of the island remains in its natural state with 10 miles of unspoiled beaches and untouched stretches of maritime forests. The sheltered refuge of Jekyll Island offers a multitude of outdoor activities including beachcombing, swimming, surfing, fishing and biking.
For an up close look at the waterways, you can rent a kayak or a canoe and paddle up Jekyll Creek or along the placid waters at Rixen Pond. Another option is to rent a sea kayak and explore Jekyll Island’s estuarial waters.
For a more adventurous approach to water sports, kids and adults alike can slip and slide away the afternoon at the Summer Waves water park. With three 18-hole Oceanside courses and a historic 9-hole course, the island rates as Georgia’s largest public golf resort.
Other favorite activities include tennis, charter fishing, crabbing, dolphin tours, sunset and dinner cruises, carriage rides, historic district tours, horseback riding, shopping, bird watching and nature walks.
St. Mary's – Cumberland Island
Located just south of the Golden Isles, Cumberland Island National Seashore is the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia and is accessed from historic St. Marys and the St. Marys Airport [4J6].
With 17 miles of secluded, white sandy beaches, Cumberland Island ranks as “One of America’s Ten Best Beaches” and the island’s protected salt marshes, seashore and maritime forests are home to sea turtles, wild turkeys, wild horses, armadillos and shore birds.
The Greyfield Inn, which was built in 1901 by the Carnegie family, provides a quiet retreat for visitors seeking relaxation and solitude. Guests at the graceful oceanfront resort are treated to gourmet cuisine, Victorian elegance and direct access to the wilderness island.
Protected from development, Cumberland Island offers a tranquil setting and relaxed exploration. Here you can while away your days birding, swimming, biking, hiking, kayaking, fishing and boating. And at the end of the day, you can relax on the shaded porch of the turn-of-the-century mansion while watching the sun set over the horizon.
Fisher Island
For a taste of luxury and grace, a visit to the Fisher Island Hotel & Resort is the ticket. The resort is located on the private 216-acre Fisher Island, which can be reached by ferry after putting down in Miami at either Opa Locka Airport [OPF] or Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport [TMB].
This sophisticated destination ranks as Miami’s “Best Hotel” according to Zagat’s Survey and the Spa Internazionale is listed as one of America’s “top ten spas” by Town & Country magazine. Originally developed in the 1920s as the private winter estate of William and Rosamund Vanderbilt, Fisher Island is now a world-renowned sanctuary for elite travelers.
Amenities at the exclusive Fisher Island Hotel & Resort include a marina and yachting center, a grand slam tennis facility with 18 tennis courts, a championship golf course, sophisticated shopping, a mile and a half of pristine beaches as well as some of Miami’s finest restaurants and lounges.
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