Top 5 Outdoor Activities in the Golden Isles

So, planning a trip to the Golden Isles of Georgia and want to experience what the amazing outdoors basically has on offer? The Golden Isles are really something else, with their unbelievable beaches, stunning marshlands, and a ton of interesting history to boot, the area happens to be something everyone should get out and experience. I’ll walk you through my absolute favorite outdoor adventures in this beautiful corner of the USA.

1. Kayaking Through the Marshes

The Golden Isles are very well-known for their expansive salt marshes, so really something everyone should check out, too it’s a great spot to get out on the water with a kayak! Picture this: you’re paddling through calm, winding waterways, the sun is shining, and tall spartina grass sways very gently in the soft breeze. That is something right out of a postcard. Many companies actually provide guided tours or rentals in case you need them; the views are truly amazing and pretty worth it. You can expect to see all sorts of cool wildlife, like herons, egrets, and maybe even a dolphin or two popping up for a visit.

Now, I remember one morning I headed out for a solo paddle near St. Simons Island and it’s almost a meditation when you are out on the water like that. It was just me and the marsh, completely calm and peaceful. Then, this curious otter swam right up to my kayak, gave me a look, and then just continued swimming along. Experiences like those happen to be something you cannot plan; it just is what it is and helps you connect with nature, it makes kayaking in the Golden Isles a memory that will last a very long time.

2. Biking on Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island actually has miles of super-well-maintained bike paths, which makes it a totally perfect place for a bike ride. You can more or less start at the northern tip of the island and pedal your way down to the totally famous Driftwood Beach, and very check out the old historic district on the way back. The island really offers a flat terrain, so in some respects biking is nice and easy for any fitness level. You’ll pass beneath really gorgeous oak trees draped with Spanish moss, and very catch glimpses of the ocean and marsh along the way. Renting a bike is surprisingly really easy with plenty of shops near the entrance of the island or at the hotels that may have bikes to offer you to rent!

Once, a bunch of my friends and I rented bikes and we were exploring the island and, of course, one of us ended up with a flat tire and it turned into its own little adventure. That happened to be a way to discover parts of the island that we wouldn’t see, if not for that silly inconvenience and basically enjoy the beautiful day and scenery and then, eventually, we came across someone who helped us fix the tire. These are things that might be a way of building camaraderie and certainly makes for a super fun story to share and tell later about a sweet day spent outdoors.

3. Exploring Driftwood Beach

Speaking of Driftwood Beach, this surreal spot on Jekyll Island is absolutely worth a visit, yet it is a playground for photographers and nature lovers alike. You’ll clearly discover fallen trees, weathered by sun and salt, and very scattered all along the shoreline that makes for almost a natural art installation and just creates an incredibly stunning scene, more or less especially at sunset or sunrise. It is that, you can just wander along the beach, snap some cool photos, and maybe search for shells and sand dollars, as well.

I really remember waking up super early one morning to catch the sunrise at Driftwood Beach, and this stunning golden light was hitting the driftwood sculptures. It felt magical, truly! Several photographers were setting up their tripods and people were walking and taking in the serene atmosphere of the coast. Moments like these just makes me really love the simple beauty of the beach, as a matter of fact, it really just brings peace and happiness and calm to a hectic life and it gives such satisfaction to see this raw side of our mother nature.

4. Fishing and Crabbing

If you love to fish or crab, the Golden Isles is something very cool! You could try your luck off one of the fishing piers, maybe book a fishing charter, or go crabbing in the tidal creeks. The area teems with sea life and plenty of fish of any variety and could bring good luck on just catching a good meal. You can always fish right off the beach, or deep sea fish where it is more common to come across the “big catch” that, of course, depends on luck of who is lucky that specific day. Be sure to get all the licenses needed so it might be that the authorities don’t pay you a visit!

Once I went on a fishing trip with my dad, that happened to be something I looked forward to for months. Although the weather wasn’t the best, more or less with some slight rain in the morning, it ended up being an awesome adventure anyway. The ocean was almost filled with plenty of Spanish Mackerel, that, fortunately, everyone on the boat caught enough for supper for their families and, luckily, dad got one of the larger ones. It might be something to remember where you see just being in nature creates the best environment for memories.

5. Birdwatching at Cannon’s Point Preserve

Cannon’s Point Preserve on St. Simons Island really provides this unique opportunity to step away for nature viewing and to travel in some history. This place actually has forests, marshlands, and waterfront views, and it offers an abundant habitat for so really several species of birds, too it provides trails to hike. It’s almost something really interesting because you can spot migratory birds depending on the specific time you visit.

One time, me and my mother packed a lunch and binoculars, and we were heading to the preserve in St. Simons Island where, to our surprise, we were welcomed by blue birds, herons, egrets, hummingbirds, and many of the local feathered species where in some respects that was very fantastic. It seemed we had entered into an sanctuary! The thing is that it made that something you can remember always by being away from it all, yet very feel so connected by just the serenity of nature!