Georgia's 100 miles of coastline offers many treasured views. Here are four worth taking in

One thing Georgians don't take for granted is the more than 100 miles of coastline, fringed with spartina grass, where land meets sea in saltwater marshes.
Of the state's 15 barrier islands—from Cumberland Island on the south to Tybee Island on the north—only four are accessible by car. The rest remain minimally developed and largely wild, protected as state and national preserves with pristine beaches where sea turtles return each summer to lay their eggs, the heavy limbs of hundreds of years-old oaks bow gracefully toward the ground, and the nation's fraught history and equally hopeful ideals swirl in the brackish eddies where salt and fresh water collide.
This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking―and perhaps, underappreciated―views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure.
[ Most Treasured Views in America: National | West | South | Middle America | Northeast ]
From the busy Savannah River to the sun-bleached boneyards of old growth maritime forests, these four views are unmatched along the Eastern Seaboard―and all are within a day's drive if you live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama or Florida.
A short hike through scrubby marsh and undulating dunes leads to one of Georgia's most breathtaking sites: a sculpture garden handcrafted over centuries by wind, salt and water. Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach is the final resting place of live oaks and other trees that were around when Gilded Age families with names like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller 'wintered' at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club. Once tethered to the uplands, beach erosion and storms have liberated them from their sentinels, tossing them in gnarled heaps along the north end of the island where tides both soften and harden their resolve. The best time to visit this special place and take in the stunning views is at dawn, just as a fiery sun appears on the horizon; its reflection melting into the Atlantic. The view is both haunting and awe-inspiring, and because it changes daily, it is a reminder that all things—memory, time, stuff—are impermanent.
Buy a photo: Purchase select prints of Driftwood Beach and other treasured views
Things to Do: Ride bikes across the miles of trails that traverse the island, taking you from the grandeur of the Club to the peaceful sounds of tides along the shore; visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center where endangered Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, Green and Kemps-Ridley sea turtles get their strength back to be released into the ocean; take a kayak tour with the guides at the Tidelands Nature Center; then, cool off at Summer Waves Water Park.
Cost: Daily parking passes, $10
Details: I-95 to US-17 to the Jekyll Island Causeway to the northernmost end of Beach View Drive. Pull into a small sandy parking area on the west side of the road across from an unmarked trail, jekyllisland.com/activities/beaches/driftwood-beach
Like an Arch of Sabers, 400-plus oaks line the 1.5-mile road at the entrance of Wormsloe State Historic site, the former colonial-era estate of Noble Jones, a carpenter who traveled with Gen. James Oglethorpe in 1733 at the founding of Savannah. The tabby ruin of Jones's plantation is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. Most of the trees along the allée, called the Avenue of Oaks, date to the 1800s. Some of the trees are even older. But one of Savannah's most iconic and photographed views was in danger of disappearing until, in 2021, the Savannah Tree Foundation and the Rotary Club of Savannah partnered to plant 75 healthy oaks in place of those that had been lost to disease, storms and degradation due to car exhaust and other pollutants. Now, brides and nervous guys staging proposals will continue to have the picture-perfect backdrop of their dreams.
Things to Do: Grab (and split) a heaping roast beef sandwich and some black and white cookies from Rocky's NY Deli & Italian Catering in nearby Sandly; drive to 45 Diamond Causeway and have a picnic at Butterbean Beach, between the fabled Moon River and Skidaway River; stop in at Pin Point Heritage Museum, in the former A.S. Varn & Son Oyster and Crab Factory to learn more about coastal Georgia's rich Gullah-Geechee culture.
Admission: Adults (18-61), $12; Seniors (62+), $9; Youth (6-17), $5.75; Children under 6, $3.25
Details: Open Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (except Thanksgiving and Christmas); 7601 Skidway Road, Savannah, Ga.; 912-353-3023, gastateparks.org/Wormsloe
Due South: These are some of the most breathtaking views in the South. Take in our top picks
Meat Sweats: Ride with us as we sample some of Coastal Georgia's best barbecue joints
At eating and drinking establishments along the Savannah River's working waterfront, a ritual takes place every time one of the massive container ships makes its way to the port with the aid of a local pilot. Guests who dine in former cotton warehouses and carriage shops raise their glasses in salute and take another sip. When traffic is heavy, it's hard not to get tipsy. But the grit of weathered ships that have voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean and the grace with which they maneuver the narrow river channel is a site to behold and worthy of respect. The freighters' loud horns echo the past, anchor the present, and call to the future—reminders that Savannah's arms have been open to the world since its beginnings and that its future is tethered, in part, to some distant spot on the horizon.
Things to Do: On the one hand, you can explore the ancient and exotic at Plant Riverside District where dinosaur fossils hang out with massive geodes and crystals. You can catch a concert, browse baubles, dine waterside or sip near an Electric Moon. On the other hand, you can stroll the river walk to The Thompson Hotel for a pop-up dinner at Fleeting before a nightcap up on the roof at Bar Julian.
Admission: Free and open to the public at all hours
Details: Anywhere along River Street in downtown Savannah between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on the west and Eastern Wharf on the east, savannahswaterfront.com
The Forsyth Park Fountain has witnessed countless first kisses, prom group photos, proposals, elopements, buskers and en plein air artists more than any other Savannah, Georgia, landmark. To say it has played an important role in Savannahians' lives is an understatement. The elegant cast iron fountain, ordered from a catalog in the mid-1800s, was patterned after the one at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Covered with acanthus leaves, swans and tritons send falls of waters into a pool of that turns green every St. Patrick's Day. Visitors to Georgia's First City make their pilgrimage to the fountain and snap selfies with it to prove they were here. But they may lose their way in the coming months, when the city of Savannah will send the fountain off for some much-needed TLC—its first restoration in nearly 40 years.
Things to Do: On Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., more than 30 purveyors of fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef and pastured pork, cage-free eggs and fresh-baked goods line up on the south end of the park for the Forsyth Farmers Market; the Sentient Bean on Park Avenue serves up coffees, teas and vegetarian lunches and breakfasts; right next door at Brighter Day Natural Foods, pick up vitamins and a baked cheese sandwich with fresh avocado; and if you're still around at 4 p.m., grab a beer at American Legion Post 135, near the birthplace of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
Admission: Free and open to the public at all hours
Details: North end of Forsyth Park at the intersection of Gaston and Bull streets, visitsavannah.com/list/5-fun-facts-about-the-forsyth-park-fountain
Amy Paige Condon is a content coach, editor and reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at ACondon@gannett.com. Richard Burkhart is the visual journalist for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at RBBurkhart@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Enchanting excursions along Georgia coast with breathtaking views

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

USA Today

3 days ago

• USA Today

'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly?

'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly? Show Caption Hide Caption Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue celebrating Pride Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue organizing and celebrating Pride, although some corporate support dwindles. LGBTQ+ travelers are taking extra precautions, especially in the South, due to a perceived increase in hostility. Resources like IGLTA, Everywhere is Queer, and LGBTQ+ friendly travel advisors can help travelers find inclusive spaces and plan safer trips. Despite challenges, experts and travelers emphasize the diversity of the South and encourage researching destinations and engaging with local communities. When Madeline Gregg and her wife, Bryn, drive to Florida for vacation, they consider more than just road safety. In certain parts of the South, the 33-year-old certified sex educator said, it feels less risky for her to get out and pump gas while her wife, who is transgender, stays in the car. 'We don't even have to talk about it anymore,' she told USA TODAY. 'It's just assumed.' The couple has also learned which businesses have family or gender-neutral bathrooms conveniently located along the route from their home in Louisville, Kentucky, including in states with restrictive bathroom laws. Even in the Melbourne, Florida, area – where they typically visit three to five times a year and Bryn's family has a beach house – they are cautious about showing public displays of affection. 'We want to enjoy where we are, and if we draw more attention to us, we probably won't enjoy it as much,' she said. As a native Kentuckian, Gregg is accustomed to those kinds of precautions. However, she is among a number of people who have found traveling in the American South more fraught as the federal government targets the LGBTQ+ community. Even within the region, though, LGBTQ+ visitors' experiences can vary widely. Here's what to know when considering a trip to the South. 'I don't know how we should behave' While the South is varied and diverse, the region tends to be less LGBTQ+ friendly than some other parts of the country. Six of the lowest-ranked states on Out Leadership's 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, which gauges the impacts of government policies and attitudes towards the community, were in the Southeast. Gregg said there were previously some areas where the pair felt they had to be more aware during their Florida road trips, but after the 2024 presidential election, it was 'vastly, vastly different.' 'People were more inclined to say things,' she said. 'A lot more stares.' She remembers a passerby even made a disparaging remark about gender identity while they were walking their dog in Florida. The couple has only been to Melbourne in the last six months. The Greggs are not the only ones. Omie, who makes travel content with his fiancé, Davey, under the moniker Traveling Boyfriends, similarly feels a 'level of paranoia' when visiting the region more now than ever before. The 34-year-old said the couple visits the South at least once a year for work or to see friends and family. They asked to be identified by only their professional names due to privacy and safety concerns. They spend much of their time abroad, but are based in Chicago when they're in the U.S. 'Driving from Atlanta to Charleston, you go through places that you're just like, 'I don't know how we should behave,'' he said. 'Like, you have to almost act as friends. You have to look over your shoulder in some ways.' Davey echoed that. The 37-year-old, who is originally from England, said visiting New York comparatively 'feels very, very open, very accepting.' 'It doesn't feel to me like that mentality changes depending on whatever the political sway of the country is at that moment,' he said. 'The South is just not as familiar and feels more uncomfortable. It may be (that) part of that, if I'm being honest, is a bit of ignorance, because I don't know it as well … but also because ... there are stories almost every day of some level of more integrated hate around these parts of the U.S.' Tips for traveling in the South Even so, there are plenty of inclusive spaces to be found. 'The South is incredibly diverse and very nuanced,' said Andy Knowles, a travel advisor with Fora Travel based in North Carolina. He said travelers have to make their own risk assessments before visiting a destination, and recommended doing 'as much research as you feel comfortable doing' on the front end. Getting to know the legislation on the books is a good idea. 'You can't dictate the entire state's sentiment based on their laws, but I think that that is a pretty good starting point,' Knowles said. A queer-friendly travel advisor can help walk clients through the planning process, too. John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) suggested connecting 'with local LGBTQ+ groups or trusted travel networks, and choose accommodations and services known for their inclusivity and care. This way, you can focus on enjoying your trip and feeling truly supported.' Travelers can find a database of accommodations on IGLTA's website. Knowles also noted that Expedia has an 'LGBTQ welcoming' search filter. Gregg recommended reaching out to tourism boards or following them on social media. 'The whole reason that they're there is because they want people to come, so they want you to feel as safe as possible in their city,' she said. She and her wife have also used the Everywhere is Queer app to find welcoming businesses. Once there, they have asked for their recommendations, as well. LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the South Knowles said there are some 'really magical destinations for LGBTQ, travelers' in the region, including popular cities like Key West, Miami and Atlanta. 'New Orleans is, generally speaking, very diverse, very LGBTQ friendly, even in a state that's typically not,' Knowles added. He also recommended Savannah, Georgia, which has a thriving arts scene and more of a gay presence than some other Southern cities. Omie and Davey enjoyed a May trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. Tanzella also highlighted places like Tampa and Dallas, which 'have built warm, welcoming communities with year-round events and genuine allyship.' He advised travelers to look for 'signs of genuine commitment' from destinations, such as those that support LGBTQ+ events and community organizations and have clear anti-discrimination policies. 'Truly inclusive destinations don't just talk the talk during Pride Month, they show up year-round,' he said in an email. Still, during an April trip to San Francisco, Gregg was struck by the affectionate public displays of couples and the widespread use of rainbow flags. In contrast, she and her wife took down their pride flag back home in Louisville because passersby yelled slurs when the couple sat on the porch. 'It's extremely normal for us, but until you experience traveling to other places, you don't really realize how in the closet and how quiet you have to be in public in the South,' she said. She emphasized, however, it's important not to generalize, and attitudes and experiences can vary widely – even by neighborhood. 'I will say that the South has its stereotypes,' added Knowles, who was born and raised in California and moved to Asheville about three-and-a-half years ago. 'And I would just say, do not write off an entire region of the country based on some of the headlines that we see.' Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@

Forbes

3 days ago

• Forbes

Stunning New Golf Course At USA Today's Best Golf Resort In America

July 4th is America's birthday, and American golfers are getting a great present this year. For the past several years, Big Cedar Lodge in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks has continued to improve and expand its golf offerings, to the point where for the first time, back in April, USA Today readers voted it the nation's Best Golf Resort for 2025 (as a longtime but not current USA Today contributor I was asked to be one of several panelists on the nominating committee but did not vote in the competition). Just a month later, the crew at Forbes Vetted named Big Cedar the 'Best Golf Resort in the U.S. for Families' and one of the nation's '8 Best Golf Resorts.' But those awards, as impressive as they are, both came when Big Cedar 'only' had five courses. On July 4th weekend it will officially open its sixth and most unique layout, Cliffhangers, which has been 'soft' opened for limited preview play the past few weeks, and I was able to go and see it. Here is your first look at a stunning new golf course at USA Today's best golf resort in America. There are more than 38,000 golf courses on earth, making it extremely hard to do anything in golf course design that has literally never been done before. I have not played every course, but I have been covering golf travel, courses and design in deep detail for over 30 years, and I have played many of the very highest rated ones on every inhabited continent. So, I am pretty sure that the third hole at Cliffhangers is the only one on any course where golfers tee off from inside a cave and hit their tee shot through a waterfall cascading over the mouth of the cave to a green far below. There's a course in Idaho with a movable island green in a lake that changes locations daily, an ocean island hole in Mexico you have to take an amphibious cart to putt out, and a 19th hole in South Africa that requires a helicopter to reach the clifftop tee. Cliffhangers instantly joins this pantheon of crazy, unforgettable, one-of-a-kind golf. Or as Big Cedar Lodge owner Johnny Morris calls it, 'Adventure Golf.' Morris is the founder, owner and CEO of outdoor retail giant Bass Pros Shops (which also owns outdoor retail giant Cabela's) and has been called 'the Walt Disney of retail' for his elaborate, theatrical and sometimes interactive in-store displays, which involve everything from live alligators to fishing boats docked in the water—inside one of the world's largest pyramids. Morris is famous for his vision, for seeing things others do not and then sparing no expense to turn them into reality, and the 4,600-acre Big Cedar Lodge resort is his personal pride and joy. He grew up in this part of the Ozarks, loves it, and want you to love it too, and he has done a tremendous amount of work to make sure that happens. While his other courses have involved the world's most famous designers (more below), Cliffhangers was the work of Morris and his son John Paul, who looked up at the precipitous, rocky, cliffside terrain and thought what no one else would: why not build a golf course there? 'This is golf on the edge—literally,' said Morris. 'We wanted to create something that celebrates the natural wonder of the Ozarks while delivering an unforgettable adventure for every golfer.' John Paul added, 'Cliffhangers reflects everything we love about nature, adventure, and golf. It's wild, fun, and unlike anything in the game of golf today' He is right about that. Golfers traverse steep cart trails and drive through creeks, past waterfalls, and through the signature cave. And Johnny Morris so wants visitors to go home with a hole in one as a memory that he built extra tee boxes on holes one and ten and greens fee include a shot from each so you get 20 bites at the apple. That's because Cliffhangers is a par-3 course, which as traveling golfers know, is all the rage in golf right now. The best resorts, from Pebble Beach to Pinehurst to Bandon Dunes, along with Streamsong, Cabot Citrus Farms, Sand Valley and many others have been rushing to introduce new par-3 courses, but none of those are as memorable as Cliffhangers, which is meant to be super fun for both the most seasoned golfers and those new to the game (though with all the water features it is entirely possible to lose more balls here than on one of the resort's three championship eighteen hole courses—all of which are ranked in the nation's Top 100 You Can Play by Golf Digest). Also, while many of the new short courses popping up across the country are only nine holes (or random ten or twelve), this is 18-20, the full deal. Not your usual golf course cart path. Big Cedar Resort Like most of the current crop of par-3 courses, born from the tradition of pitch and putt layouts, holes are on the shorter side and I got through Cliffhangers hitting northing more than an eight iron. But the visual variety is staggering, with an island green, peninsula holes, huge elevation changes, and exposed rock and water everywhere—it is built into and on top of cliffs, after all. The cave tee box and waterfall combo make three an instant de facto signature hole, but really just about every hole out here could be one. I mean, just look at the pictures. All of this overlooks Payne's Valley, my favorite course at Big Cedar and a drop-dead visual stunner with more lakes, more greens, more waterfalls, and beauty as far as the eye can see. Another person who previewed the course in advance was golf personality Lauren Thompson, host of The Morning Drive on The Golf Channel. She said, 'I've played many great courses around the world, and Cliffhangers is unlike anything I've ever seen. It's breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly challenging, and the best thing to happen to golf in years.' Years. Aerial view of the new Cliffhangers course. Big Cedar Resort The resort is so big that it has an extensive free shuttle system to move guests around, as lodging options include a hotel, lakefront cabins, rental homes, a safari-style glamping resort, and new luxury golf cabins out at the Mountain Top clubhouse by Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers. I rode to dinner in a shuttle with a group of retired bank executives who had been doing an annual golf trip together for 31 years, and had been all over the place, to many regions and golf resorts. They told me they had just played Cliffhangers and one of them confided, 'It was as much fun as any 'real' course I have ever played.' I loved it too, and it is a perfect short 20-holes to get in before tackling one of the bigger courses at Big Cedar, because in addition to getting you in a great mood, it will help dial in your short game, as the fast bentgrass greens are similar in speed to those on the full-sized layouts. Short courses do not need to have grass this good, but Morris does not cut corners, and those playing Cliffhangers even get to stop into the fancy Payne's Valley halfway house during their round, where all the snacks are free, including the signature premium bison hot dogs, from a herd he raises in a nature reserve near Big Cedar. I recommend you try to make a morning tee time at Cliffhangers before a round at Payne's Valley, for a near-perfect day of golf. As good as it is, golfers are not likely to make a trip to Big Cedar just to play the new par-3 layout, but they might be curious how it became the Best Golf Resort in the U.S. So here's the Big Cedar golf overview in a nutshell. The highest rated course in Missouri is Ozarks National, by the legendary design duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The second highest rated course in Missouri is Payne's Valley, the 19-hole effort by Tiger Woods. It is the only public eighteen by Woods in the country, and it is fabulous. I think the magazines always favor Coore and Crenshaw designs, but I firmly believe the Woods course is even better. I played it the day it opened in 2019, I have played it since, and wrote this story here at Forbes, 'Tiger Wood's First Public U.S. Golf Course is Awesome.' It is fun, extremely playable, has some great risk/reward holes so it appeals to all caliber players, and it is visually stunning. It is telling that they sell more tee times at Payne's Valley than on any other course. The third highest rated course in Missouri is Buffalo Ridge, a Tom Fazio design that has bison grazing next to its fairways (not the ones that make the hot dogs). All three eighteens are ranked in the Top 100 in the U.S., a feat only a handful of resorts have ever achieved. On top of this, the facilities, service and conditioning are first rate, and the concept of standout Midwestern hospitality is very much evident. Big Cedar also has caddies, forecaddies and extensive practice facilities, including a putting course inspired by the Himalayas in St. Andrews, Scotland and designed by 8-time Major Champion Tom Watson. Then there are two stunning 'regular' par-3 courses, not shortened versions, but all full-length holes, up to 221-yards. The Gary Player designed Mountain Top is a walking-only 13-hole stunner carved through rock formations and rolling terrain. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Top of the Rock 9-holer is the only par-3 course ever used in competition in a PGA Tour sanctioned event, the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf, which used to be played here and on Buffalo Ridge. These par-3 courses are so good that you could make a trip to Big Cedar just to play them and Cliffhangers, though I would not pass up the 'big' courses. But as one-shotters go, both Mountain Top and Top of the Rock are as good as anything I have seen on earth. Golf Magazine finally added a ranking of short courses to its more famous Top 100 in the U.S. and Top 100 in the World lists, before Cliffhangers. It ranked the 25 Best Par-3 Courses in the World, but unlike the Top 100, courses were not ranked in order, just the best 25. The vast majority are at the world's top ultra-private clubs, like Augusta National, Pine Valley and the Olympic Club. Less than ten of the world's courses on the list are public, and both Mountain Top and Top of the Rock made the cut. That means until Cliffhangers opens July 4th, every one of the five golf courses at Big Cedar has made the most important 'Best' lists in the industry, and that is no coincidence. In addition to the stunning new golf course, for fishing fans, Big Cedar Lodge sits right on 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake, host of a professional bass tournament and renowned as one of the best fishing spots in the country. Being owned alongside Bass Pro Shops, it is no surprise that Big Cedar has two different state-of-the-art marinas equipped with the newest boats and gear, and it is arguably the best freshwater fishing resort in the country as well, though USA Today does not rate those. Yet.

USA Today

4 days ago

• USA Today

Nick Dunlap: Travelers Championship betting odds and preview

Nick Dunlap: Travelers Championship betting odds and preview The Travelers Championship is underway, and Nick Dunlap is in 71st position with a score of +6. Nick Dunlap has played in 27 events in the past year. He won one, and his average finish was 38th, with two top fives. Nick Dunlap odds to win the Travelers Championship PGA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 7:21 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Odds to win: +40000, bet $100 to win $40000 Dunlap's stats and trends Dunlap has not finished within five strokes of the winner or carded a better-than-average score in any of his last five appearances. He has an average score of +7 across his last five events. Dunlap hasn't finished inside the top 20 in his last five tournaments, with an average finish of 58th. He's qualified for the weekend in two of his last five appearances. Dunlap's recent results U.S. Open: 77-74 (+11) - Missed cut 77-74 (+11) - Missed cut RBC Canadian Open: 73-69 (+2) - Missed cut 73-69 (+2) - Missed cut the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday: 74-74-75-73 (+8) - Finished 44th 74-74-75-73 (+8) - Finished 44th PGA Championship: 78-72 (+8) - Missed cut How to watch the Travelers Championship Date: June 19-22, 2025 June 19-22, 2025 Location: Cromwell, CT Cromwell, CT TV Channel: The Golf Channel The Golf Channel Live stream: Watch LIVE with Fubo! ESPN+ is the new home of PGA TOUR LIVE. Sign up now to access 4,300+ hours of live coverage from 35 PGA TOUR tournaments this year.