PREVTAGS: PRIVATE ISLAND, LOGGERHEAD TURTLES, GATORS, MINT JULEPS
Reachable only by boat, 15-square-mile Little St. Simons is one of the few undeveloped barrier islands off the southern Atlantic coast. That means it's prime habitat for river otters, gators, tricolored herons, and bald eagles. The same family has owned Little St. Simons—about two hours south of Savannah—for more than a century, and they take their southern hospitality seriously. The daily happy hour (mint juleps!) is sacrosanct, and meals like hipotle-and-brown-sugar-grilled pork are served family style in a century-old hunting lodge. Only 32 guests means you're left largely alone to sea-kayak the placid waters of the tidal rivers, swim in the gentle Atlantic swells, walk the seven miles of empty beach, or watch loggerhead turtle hatchlings with one of the lodge's six naturalists. $450 per night for double occupancy; littlestsimonsisland.com
Off Little St. Simons
Photo: Photo by Chip Litherland
