2 Best Sights in The Coastal Isles and the Okefenokee, Georgia

A must-see on Jekyll Island, this is one of the few sea turtle centers in the country. This center aims to increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges for endangered coastal turtles—loggerheads, green, Kemp's ridley, and diamondback terrapin—through turtle rehabilitation, research, and education programs. The center includes educational exhibits and a "hospital," where visitors can view rescued turtles and read their stories. Sea turtles lay their eggs along Jekyll Island beaches from May through August. Several hundred rehabilitated turtles have been released into the wild since the center opened.

Start your visit here, on the mainland near the Sapelo Island ferry docks, where you can view exhibits on the island's history, culture, and ecology, and get helpful trip planning tips from knowledgeable staff. Check in advance to see if they are offering a bus tour of the island on the day of your visit. The sights that make up the bus tour vary, but generally include the old sugar mill, the airfield, the cemetery, Nanny Goat Beach, and the 80-foot-tall Sapelo Lighthouse. Built in 1820, it's a symbol of the thriving cotton and lumber industry once based out of Darien. You may also book a tour with one of the residents on Sapelo Island—staff can assist. To get to the visitor center and Meridian ferry dock from downtown Darien, go north on Georgia State Route 99 for 8 miles, following signs for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. Turn right on to Landing Road at the Elm Grove Baptist Church in Meridian. The visitor center is about ½ mile down the road.