Courtesy GA State Parks
Sapelo Island
[ Georgia ]
Many travelers are familiar with the Golden Isles, a string of islands stretching along Georgia’s Atlantic coast. Less known, perhaps, is Sapelo Island, a nearby state-park island that is both an ecological preserve and a historic site.
“You have to take a ferry to Sapelo, and that increases the mystique,” said Kim Hatcher, public affairs coordinator for Georgia State Parks. “The Reynolds Mansion that belonged to the R.J. Reynolds family is there. Now it’s open to groups only for overnight stays. You get the house to yourself, and they provide the meals.”
Most groups that visit the mansion take a tour to see impressive elements such as the basement bowling alley and the numerous murals that decorate the walls. Hatcher also recommended spending some time on the front porch that overlooks live oak trees and the distant shore.
Groups can also visit the island on day trips, during which they can take a tour with park rangers or visit Hog Hammock, a small community inhabited by descendants of former slaves.
