barrier island – Wandering Dawgs

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #203 – Local Vistas

June 18, 2022Posted in Georgia, Lighthouse, PhotographyTagged Atlantic Ocean, barrier island, beach, Coastal Georgia, Favorite Place, Georgia Coast, home, Lens-Artists, Local Vistas, salt marsh28 Comments

The Georgia coast is about 110 miles long and includes 15 barrier islands, miles of salt marsh, the city of Savannah, historic towns, and beautiful beaches. Jekyll, St. Simons, Sea and Tybee are the only islands accessible by car. The rest of Georgia’s islands can only be reached by boat. Cumberland Island National Seashore and Sapelo Island can each be reached by ferry.

Tybee Island is Georgia’s northernmost barrier island. Just 20 minutes east of downtown Savannah, Tybee is a popular tourist destination with miles of beach, many fun restaurants, the tallest lighthouse in Georgia, and Fort Pulaski National Monument and Cockspur Island Lighthouse nearby.

South of Savannah, St. Simons and Sea Island are the next islands that can be reached by road. With miles of beach, a village area by the fishing pier, Ft. Frederica National Monument, and golf courses, St. Simons is a popular beach destination.

The southernmost island that can be reached by road is Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island was once the winter home for many of America’s wealthiest families. Visitors to Jekyll can see many of these historic homes, ride bikes on its many bike trails, and enjoy its beautiful driftwood beach. Jekyll Island is owned by the state of Georgia.

Most of Sapelo Island is owned by the state of Georgia and is one of the barrier Islands that can only be reached by boat. A ferry runs from near the town of Darien.

Ancient Live Oaks dripping in Spanish Moss, spring Azaleas, salt marsh, waterways, shrimp boats, fresh seafood, and wild life are all part of what makes coastal Georgia so special.

Many thanks to guest host Anne of Slow Shutter Speed for this week’s Lens Artists photo challenge #203:Local Vistas.

Lens-Artists #78: Special Spot Shots

January 8, 2020Posted in PhotographyTagged barrier island, beach, Coastal Georgia, Georgia barrier islands, Georgia Coast, Lens-Artists, Photo Challenge, Special Spot Shots16 Comments

For this weeks challenge, Ann-Christine has asked us to showcase a special spot. My special spot is a sandy beach.

I tried to pick a specific beach but couldn’t narrow it down to just one. Instead, I chose a few shots from some beaches here in my own home state of Georgia.

There are 15 barrier islands off the Georgia coast. Only four can be reached by road – Tybee Island, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and Jekyll Island. The rest can only be reached by boat. Some of them are undeveloped, some are managed by the state of Georgia, and one is a National Seashore.

20180916North-Beach-and-Lighthouse-(10) — Tybee Island North Beach at low tide

20200105-Tybee-south-end-(2) — Tybee Island Pier on a sunny January day on Tybee Island, Georgia

St.-Simons-2001-(18)-edit — Looking down on St. Simons beach from the top of the St. Simons Lighthouse

Going for a boat ride to walk on a deserted barrier island beach — This deserted barrier island beach can only be reached by boat

Sapelo Island is one of the barrier islands that is owned and managed by the state of Georgia. The island is accessible by ferry from Darien. You can see more photos from our visit there at Weekend Getaway on the Georgia Coast.

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(46) — Nanny Goat Beach on Sapelo Island

I can’t mention the Georgia barrier islands without including Cumberland Island, the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia.We spent a day there about 40 years ago but unfortunately, I don’t have photos from that visit. Cumberland Island is a National Seashore and can be reached by ferry from St. Marys. We’re hoping to make a return trip to the island this spring.

There is more information about the Georgia Department of Natural Resources website at Georgia’s barrier islands.

Many thanks to Ann-Christine for this weeks Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Special Spot Shots

Weekend getaway on the Georgia Coast

July 26, 2019October 18, 2020Posted in Georgia, Historic Sites, Lighthouse, RestaurantsTagged barrier island, Coastal Georgia, Darien Georgia, Georgia Barrier Island, Georgia on my mind, Hog Hammock, only in Georgia, Sapelo Island, Sapelo Lighthouse, Skipper's Fish Camp, Wandering Georgia18 Comments

Of the eight large barrier islands off the coast of Georgia, only four can be accessed by a bridge. Sapelo Island is one of the islands that can only be reached by water and visiting it has been on my bucket list for years.

Sapelo is the fourth largest Georgia barrier island. Most of the island is owned by the state of Georgia. The state owned portion of Sapelo is home to the RJ Reynolds Wildlife Management area on the north end of the island, the University of Georgia’s Marine Institute, and the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The remaining 434 acres is the privately owned community of Hog Hammock. Many of the 70 residents there are descendants of former African-American slaves. Today, some property owners live elsewhere and a few of the houses are managed as vacation rentals.

We spent Friday night in Darien so we wouldn’t have far to go for our early Saturday morning ferry. We enjoyed a delicious fried shrimp and crab cake dinner Friday night at Skippers Fish Camp on the Darien waterfront. During our after dinner walk beside the water we spied 3 baby alligators on the banks of the river and a manatee behind a shrimp boat.

20190720-Darien-Iphone-(4) — Darien Waterfront

On Saturday morning, it didn’t take long to get to Sapelo Visitors Center from Darien. After purchasing our tickets for the Sapelo Ferry we learned a little about the history of the island from the interpretive displays and enjoyed the views from the deck.

20190720-Spelo-(1) — View from the Visitor’s Center on the mainland with Sapelo Island in the distance.

The ferry departed at 9:00, right on schedule. Pelicans were busy diving for fish as we made our way to the island.

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(2) — Ferry Boat on the mainland waiting to take passengers to Sapelo Island

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(7) — Georgia salt marsh viewed from the ferry to Sapelo

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(15) — Sapelo Lighthouse as seen from the ferry

Our guide Yvonne Grovner took us around the island in a small air conditioned van. Yvonne grew up on Sapelo in the Hog Hammock community and told us many interesting facts about the island. We went from paved roads to narrow dirt trails as we traveled around the island.

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(20) — Behavior Cemetery on Sapelo Island

20190720-Sapelo-IPhone-(2) — Tabby ruins on Sapelo Island, Georgia

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(33) — Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island, Georgia

We climbed the 77 steps to the top of the Sapelo Lighthouse.

20190720-Sapelo-Island-(42) — Sapelo Lighthouse, Georgia

Our last stop before returning to the mainland was Nanny Goat Beach. It was a Saturday and there were a few people enjoying the white sandy beach. Our guide told us sometimes on weekdays there is no one else there.

20190720-Sapelo-IPhone-(21) — Nanny Goat Beach, Sapelo Island, Georgia

If you are planning a visit to Sapelo Island, you must make reservations for the ferry in advance. Reservations are also needed to take the tour. If you would rather explore on your own, golf carts and bicycles are available for rent. A few homes are available for rent and group camping is available. Reynolds Mansion can also be rented by groups.

More information about visiting Sapelo Island can be found at Visitors Center – Sapelo Island

My favorite place on Earth

March 27, 2018April 8, 2018Posted in Birds, Georgia, Nature, Sunrise, SunsetTagged Atlantic Ocean, barrier island, beach, Favorite Place, home, salt marsh, Wordpress Photo Challenge39 Comments

I’ve had many people ask about my favorite place and the answer is always the same.

There is no place else on earth I love more than my little peace of paradise here in coastal Georgia. This is where our children grew up and where Henry and I are growing old together. I have the best friends and neighbors anyone could ask for and there is beauty every where I look.

20170210Moon-Rise-at-North-Beach-(58) — Full moon rising over the Atlantic Ocean

Sunset in Coastal Georgia — Sunset over the Salt Marsh

Want to go to an uninhabited barrier island? A boat or kayak will get you there.

20170514Boat-Ride-(9) — Boat ride on one of the many creeks

We had the island all to ourselves — We often are the only people on one of the uninhabited barrier islands

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are a common sight in the waters.

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin near Tybee Island, Georgia

Let’s not forget the birds.

Roseate Spoonbill fishing in Georgia tidal creek

20160125Great-Egret-Plumage — Great Egret

20151022Juvenile-Ibis-(1) — Juvenile Ibis

20110925Birds-(104) — Wood Stork and Egret

Whether you cook it at home or eat out at one of the many great restaurants nearby, there’s nothing better than eating fresh caught seafood.

Fresh Georgia Blue Crabs Caught, Cooked, Cleaned and eaten on Halloween, 2015 — Fresh Georgia Blue Crabs straight from the creek to the pot.

I love to travel and always enjoy our wanderings. Every trip ends the same way. I know I am almost home when I start smelling the salt marsh and seeing the creeks and marsh as we drive the last few miles.

No matter where you may roam, the best part is coming home – anonymous

Adventures with Grandkids

June 2, 2016June 4, 2016Posted in Georgia, PhotographyTagged Adventure, barrier island, Coastal Georgia, DiscoverWP, Family, Memorial Day, salt marsh, Weekly Photo Challenge15 Comments

One of the greatest joys as a grandparent is seeing our grand children’s excitement as they experience new adventures.

Our daughter is visiting us this week with her two children. At 12 and 10, they are our two oldest grandchildren. They live 400 miles away, surrounded by the Appalachian mountains, so coming to visit Nana and Papa near the beach is always an adventure for them.

On Memorial Day, we beached our boat on a deserted barrier island after a boat ride through rivers and narrow winding creeks surrounded by salt marsh. The adventure brought back fond memories for our daughter and made new memories for the grandkids. It is a ride we took on many weekends when our daughter was growing up and we are so happy we could share the experience with her children.