(This is the fourth story by this journalist in an occasional series revealing “Hidden America” — worthy travel destinations unknown by most Americans.)
America is blessed with many great beaches that offer sun, water, sand and scenic wonders. None are like Driftwood Beach on Georgia’s Jekyll Island.
Georgia's Driftwood Beach is a woodsy shoreline wonderland.
Located on the northern end of the island, about a 90-minute drive south of Savannah, Driftwood Beach is “an escape to another world,” according to the Jekyll Island Authority, which manages Jekyll Island State Park. On the beach, “ancient driftwood monuments line the waterfront, creating an unforgettable backdrop.”
The Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau, which promotes tourism to Jekyll Island and other Glynn County, Georgia, destinations, says, “Driftwood Beach will amaze you with the beautiful driftwood and trees that resemble a scene from another world. Gnarled and weathered trees are left behind from years of erosion. Driftwood Beach offers a wonderful location for photographs and is a very popular site for weddings.”
Georgia's Driftwood Beach offers a unique place to stroll or walk the dog.
Walking on Driftwood Beach, a former maritime forest, is a surreal experience. The tangled driftwood appears incongruous with the sandy beach, creating a bizarre, seemingly unreal, sight. Walkers must step over and around massive sections of fallen timber.
The Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau says Driftwood Beach is ideal for a picnic or stargazing late at night. The beach extends 1.3 miles from the Clam Creek Picnic Area to the Villas by the Sea Resort and Conference Center.
Some of the wood on Driftwood Beach rests in the water.
Parking at Driftwood Beach is free. There is, however, an $8 daily fee to access Jekyll Island.
There are six other main beach areas on the island. St. Andrews Beach Park includes the wanderer Memory Trail, which contains artifacts and tells the story of one of the last slave ships to arrive in Georgia. South Dunes Beach Park features an elevated boardwalk crossing 20-foot sand dunes and has an observation deck and a freshwater pond.
Unlike many beaches that were formed by wave patterns, Jekyll Island beaches are tide formed. The continental shelf extends far out from the island, causing oceanic waves to lose energy before reaching the shore. The result is shallow waters and small waves.
Such conditions are perfect for families with small children. Great Dunes Beach Park is the most popular family beach — a 20-acre park with picnic pavilions and play areas. There are also bocce ball and volleyball courts, restrooms and showers.
Georgia's Driftwood Beach can be a bonanza for photography buffs.
