Skip to main content
DESTINATION

Golden Isles

Fun Places to Go

If you've read Edith Wharton's oeuvre and seen the film “Somewhere in Time” more than once, you've connected with a golden era in American history. For nearly 50 years starting in 1888, the world's wealthiest families—Gould, Morgan, Rockefeller and a league of Gilded Age titans known collectively as the Jekyll Island Club—wintered annually on Jekyll Island. The remarkable 240-acre Jekyll Island Club Historic Landmark District is a time capsule of Victorian gentility, a destination where visitors can dine in elegant surroundings, play croquet on a tournament greensward or take a moonlight carriage ride under an oak canopy, as the Jekyll millionaires did more than a century ago.

Vestiges of Georgia's colonial and plantation periods hold their own beside gated communities, pro-designed golf courses, art galleries, shopping enclaves and local restaurants ranging from barbecue joints to bistros throughout St. Simons Island. A swath of beach hugging the southeastern tip is a beehive of things to do with kids, particularly in the good ole summertime. Here, a quaint village with shops and food places, a fishing pier and several maritime attractions set a hospitable tone for leisure travelers.

Danni1185/iStockphoto.com
Two private islands espouse exclusivity. Long a favorite retreat of dignitaries and celebrities, Sea Island and its iconic luxury hotel, The Cloister, offer amenities expected of a sophisticated resort plus naturalist-led activities ensuring full immersion in the pristine environment. But if you've ever dreamed of owning an island, a few nights on Little St. Simons Island might be as close as you get to living the dream without going to an act of purchase. Only 32 lodge guests at a time have free roam of this uncompromised, 10,000-acre private sanctuary, begging the question, is extreme islanding a travel type?

More Articles

THE VALUE OF TRIP CANVAS

Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas

Get Ideas from the Pros

As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.

Build and Research Your Options

Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.

Book Everything in One Place

From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!

BACK TO TOP