Enjoy the uncrowded shores, or explore the area’s forests and marshes.
An added bonus: pets are allowed (if leashed) on this beach.
To catch the the best sunsets, head toSt.
Credit: bauhaus1000 / Getty Images
George Island State Parkat the northern tip of the island.
Groups can bunk in low-rise villas or choose from a few dozen oceanfront homes large enough for family reunions.
There’s a community playground too.
Credit: Visit Florida
(It is reportedly home to 10 types of endangered species.)
Getting there is easy.
The Deer Island Ferry runs to and from the island, and private boat charters are available as well.
Credit: Visit Florida
While the main beaches can get crowded during peak season, Corolla Beach offers a more tranquil experience.
It’s a prime spot to see the area’s wild mustangs.
Kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent as well.
Credit: Art Meripol
It’s also a great place for bird watchers, especially during spring and fall migrations.
Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway about 35 minutes south ofSt.
Three- to 4-foot boulders of compressed coquina dot the beach.
Credit: Cavan Images / Getty Images
Each rock looks as if it were sculpted by a trained hand.
At low tide, waves pound the rocky coast, making it better for strolling than swimming.
Tidal pools attract a variety of seabirds, from herons and egrets to willets and sandpipers.
Credit: Zhanen Mo/Getty Images
The park’s western edge features a majestic formal garden and a historic home under long-armed live oaks.
The bay side grows lush with the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
It’s hard to imagine you’re just a few miles west of the traffic on I-75.
Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund
Getting there is part of the fun.
On the island’s west end, explore Fort Massachusetts, which dates to 1866.
Ghostly tree skeletons rise from the sand, overlooking the St. Simons lighthouse across the St. Simons Sound.
Credit: Photo: Courtesy Florida Department of Environmental Protection
These trees died from erosion that has taken place over the last hundred to two hundred years.
you’ve got the option to ride horses on this beachThree Oaks Farmleads treks across Driftwood Beach.
Sunset Beach proudly preserves its undeveloped beachfront with wide setbacksthat means a spacious beach.
Beach camping is a popular activity in Mustang Island State Park.Credit: Witold Skrypczak/Getty Images
Popular for shelling, bird watching, and dolphin spotting,St.
Andrews State Parkhas a mile and a half of soft white sand that’s perfect for strolling.
Take the ferry to Shell Island for even more uninterrupted views.
Credit: Chris Moore / Getty Images
Credit: Photo: Art Meripol
Credit: Courtesy of Ship Island Excursions
Credit: Photo: Art Meripol
Credit: Photo: Courtesy Virginia Beach CVB
Credit: Photo: Courtesy of North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands
