What do you think of when you hear Georgia mentioned? Peaches. Atlanta. Braves. Coast? There is just over one hundred miles of Georgia coastline and every inch of it is packed with the good stuff. Beaches. History. Wildlife. Island resorts. Lighthouses. All in all, a great place to do some roaming.

Two highways parallel the Georgia coast — Interstate 95, for the traveler in a hurry to get from one location to another, and US Highway 17, a less-traveled byway that zigzags through the history of the region. It also zigzags across I-95 four times along those one hundred miles. So it does not matter whether you travel from the north or south, or if you start in the middle, the important thing is to arrive and enjoy this special place, the Georgia Coast.

Take it from the top — Savannah

Savannah's City Hall

You know you are entering Georgia when you cross the Savannah River. What can sound more Southern than a river and a city called Savannah? The best place to visit first is the Historic District of Savannah, which has been restored and preserved. Founded in 1733, the historic district contains about two square miles of significant buildings. Don't miss the "squares" scattered throughout the district, park-like settings located at many of the city's intersections. Each commemorates an outstanding person or event in Savannah's history. The city's founder, James Oglethorpe, laid the squares out in his original plan for the city as social gathering places and as central areas for fortifications. Large oaks draped with Spanish moss line the historic district's streets creating a picturesque atmosphere.

Savannah's waterfront is one of the most popular attractions in the city. It has restaurants, specialty shops, and arts and crafts galleries. The buildings along River Street were for years deteriorating cotton warehouses that in the late 1700s was the bustling economic center of Savannah.

The Visitor Center is the restored 1860s Central Georgia Railroad Station and now houses the Savannah History Museum. From here make your plans for tours to the historic district and the waterfront by one of the varied methods — carriage, bus, or by car.

Tybee Island is located on the Atlantic Ocean about eighteen miles east of Savannah. One of many islands along Georgia's coast, it is one of the oldest resorts in Georgia. It's a pleasant seaside community with excellent beach access. The center point of Tybee Island is the famous lighthouse and the museum. Make plans to visit, but check the schedules — it is closed on Tuesdays.

Moving on down — Midway and Darien

To leave Savannah, both highways US 17 and I-16 (back to I-95) can be reached from M.L. King Boulevard near the Visitor Center. The town of Midway, just off I-95 and on Highway 17, is about thirty miles south of Savannah and about twenty-nine miles north of Darien, the next stop down I-95. A pleasant byway along I-95 is the Midway Church, Cemetery and Museum. The building was originally built in 1756 as a Puritan meetinghouse. During the Revolutionary War it was burned but was rebuilt in 1792.

Darien is one of most picturesque villages along the Georgia coast and is just east of the I-95 Exit 10 on US 17. Also located in McIntosh County is Sapelo Island, one of a string of barrier islands along the coast. Sapelo is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and can be toured by guided tram. The ferry to Sapelo Island only operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and part of the year on Fridays.

Brunswick and the Golden Isles

Jekyll Island Historic District

Brunswick is the gateway to the getaway barrier islands of Jekyll, St. Simons, and Little St. Simons. Little St. Simons is privately owned and accommodates a limited number of guests annually; it's noted for its serenity and undisturbed beauty. The Brunswick Marina is situated on a bay accessible to the Atlantic, host to plenty of shrimp boats, and a great photo opportunity.

Tours of the Jekyll Island Historic District are informative on the island's rich past and are conducted from trams, horse-drawn carriage or by foot. Jekyll Island was the residence of wealthy visitors who used the island for winter homes. Sunbathing, boating, tennis, horseback riding, and golf are among the favorite outdoor activities on Jekyll Island.

Historic Cumberland Island

The last exit on I-95 before leaving Georgia gives the opportunity to see the historic town of St. Mary's, Cumberland Island, Kingsland, and the Okefenokee Swamp. St. Mary's is the southeastern-most town in Georgia. Orange Hall, the Welcome Center and Museum, is it's centerpiece. Across the street from Orange Hall is the First Presbyterian Church, built in 1808, and is the second oldest church in Georgia. At the end of town is the waterfront where the Cumberland Island Ferry takes passengers to the barrier island which is the home of many free-roaming wild horses, and Plum Orchard, a 1898 mansion built by the Carnegie family. The Greyfield Inn, built in 1901 by the Carnegie's, is an operating inn in the spectacular setting of the barrier island.

The Last Stop — The Okefenokee Swamp

Blooming Lotus in the Okefenokee Swamp

The Okefenokee Swamp is a landmark in southeastern Georgia. The swamp contains 438,000 acres, of which 396,000 make up the largest national wildlife refuge in the eastern U.S. The main East entrance to the Okefenokee Swamp is 11 miles southwest of Folkston. To get there from Kingsland, travel west on State Highway 40.

There are numerous activities available for visitors at the Okefenokee Swamp. Springtime is a favorite time for canoeing in the because the water levels are significantly higher. Boat tours into the swamp and a nine-mile-loop auto tour are popular and well worth the time.

Now what do you think when you hear mention of the Georgia coast? Beaches. Picturesque squares and River Street in Savannah, shrimp boats along Darien's harbor, the Golden Isles of Brunswick, wild horses of Cumberland Island, the Okefenokee Swamp. Picture-perfect and inviting in a way that only a southern state can be, the Georgia coast awaits.

For more information...

Online information: Visitors Centers: Savannah Area CVB 101 East Bay Street Savannah, GA 31401 912. 644.6401 1-877-SAVANNAH McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce P. O. Box 1497 Darien, GA 31305 (912) 437-6684 Brunswick & Golden Isles Visitor Bureau 4 Glynn Avenue Brunswick, GA 31520 (800) 933-COAST St. Mary's Convention and Visitor's Bureau 406 Osborne Street St. Mary's, GA 31558 (800) 868-2199 Attractions: Tybee Island Online P.O. Box 2833 Tybee Island, GA 31328 info@tybeeisland.com Tybee Island Lightstation P.O. Box 366 Tybee Island, GA 31328 (912) 786-5801 Midway Museum P.O. Box 195 Midway, GA 31320 (912) 884-5837 Waycross Tourism and Visitor Center (Okefenokee Swamp Park) 315-A Plant Avenue Waycross, GA 31501 (912) 283-3744 Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Folkston, GA 31537 (912) 496-7836