St. Simon's Island and its sister islands make up a string of small barrier islands known as Georgia's Golden Isles. Their beautiful beaches are considered the most pristine in the Southeast, with broad stretches of sand, gentle surf, and wind-sculpted oaks. Most all the beaches are kid friendly, with shallow water stretching for yards.

The entire shoreline around the Golden Isles is good for surf fishing, but snorkeling is limited due to low visibility. Since numerous rivers and creeks empty into the area, you won't find crystal clear water, but the beaches themselves are spectacular!

Many of the beaches on St. Simon's are private, adjacent to resorts and hotels, but there's a great public beach at Neptune Park. This large beach has a fishing pier, a playground, nearby shops and restaurants, a picnic area, and plenty of free parking. The historic lighthouse towers over the strand and is open for tours.

For a larger selection of beaches, take the short, scenic drive over the amazing marsh to Jekyll Island, within sight of St. Simon's. The main beach here, located at the center east side of the island, has restrooms, showers, a snack bar, expansive free parking, and bike paths. Boogie boarding and skimboarding are popular passtimes at this crowded beach.

For a rugged beach with huge pieces of limbs worn by the wind and water, check out Driftwood Beach at the north end of the island. The surf here is usually a little stronger than it is at other Jekyll Beaches, so it's usally the best place in the area for surfing. It's also a wonderful locale for photos.

The beach at Jekyll Comfort Inn is the best place to find sand dollars. Hundreds of these treasures wash up here, ranging from tiny quarter-size discs to some as large as your palm. Just walk along the edge of the surf and look for these gifts from the sea, or search higher on the beach for a mound in the sand and dig about three inches with your toe to reveal the sand dollar. Remember: the brown ones are alive, but the white ones are dead.

Another great beach is at Clam Creek Park on Jekyll, with a pier, restrooms, and picnic tables set along the creek under moss-draped oaks. The beach is just across the creek's foot bridge, and it's a great place to enjoy nature, away from the resorts and hotels. Some areas of this beach have steep drop-offs, so it might not be the best place for small children. Horses are available here for beach rides.

If you want total seclusion, head to Jekyll's South Beach. You'll find restrooms here, but seldom any people, other than maybe a couple of fishermen. This is the perfect beach for sunning in privacy since it's away from homes and hotels, and some of the best fishing on the island is here. Beach seining for shrimp and mullet and dolphin watching are also popular at South Beach.

For an unforgettable experience, take the ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore, where you'll see deer, wild turkeys, wild horses, and towering natural dunes. This is where John Kennedy got married! The ferry runs three times daily, so you can spend the entire day or a half day on the undisturbed beaches. Take along a picnic and snacks - you won't find fast food or restaurants on this beach.

Travel advice by our southern belle and beach beauty, Holle Abee.