Two Georgia coastal treasures just earned national recognition as places worth hiding from your out-of-state friends.
๐๏ธ What We Know: Cumberland Island ranked 33rd and Jekyll Islandโs Driftwood Beach placed 36th in a nationwide survey of โhidden gemโ beaches. Travel site Frugal Flyer asked locals to name the beaches they secretly hope tourists never discover. Hawaii dominated the top spots, claiming three of the top six positions, while Georgia managed to sneak onto the list with its wild horses and ghostly driftwood forests.
๐ Why It Matters: As international travel prices soar higher than a seagull eyeing your sandwich, Americans increasingly seek affordable escapes closer to home. Cumberland Island offers 17 miles of pristine shoreline where wild horses roam free among Gilded Age mansion ruins. Meanwhile, Driftwood Beach transforms Jekyll Islandโs northern shore into what looks like Mother Natureโs sculpture garden after a particularly creative day.
๐งณ Whatโs Next: Summer travel season is in full swing, but these beaches remain relatively uncrowded even during peak times. Cumberland Island limits daily visitors and requires a ferry ride from St. Marys, essentially filtering out anyone not willing to plan ahead. Driftwood Beach remains most magical at sunrise, when only photographers and early risers witness its otherworldly landscape.
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B.T. Clark is the Publisher of The Georgia Sun and author of Principles Are Like Pantsโฆ You Ought to Have Some. Over two decades in journalism, he has served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc., earning multiple awards along the way. His work has appeared in newspapers across the state, including The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal.
- B.T. Clark
- B.T. Clark
- B.T. Clark
- B.T. Clark
