Memorial Day 2017: Top Georgia Beaches

Memorial Day weekend is right upon us, which means summer is just around the corner. According to AAA, more than 39.3 million people are expected to travel a distance of 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend, including 1.1 million Georgians.

“The expected spike in Memorial Day travel mirrors the positive growth seen throughout the travel industry this year,” Vicky Evans, assistant vice president for travel sales development with AAA, said in a news release. “So far in 2017, travel bookings with AAA in Georgia are up almost 12 percent, compared to the same period last year. Higher confidence, rising wages, and recent gas price declines have bolstered consumer spending, leaving many Americans with more money to spend on travel this Memorial Day.”

With traveling in mind, here are some great Georgia islands to check out this Memorial Day weekend:

1. Tybee Island: Tybee Island aka Savannah Beach, is a rustic getaway spot 18 miles away from Savannah. The beach's famously preserved history has made it a tourist destination in recent years. Visitors love to walk the three miles of uninterrupted sand, featuring salt marshes with birds and wildlife unique to the Georgia coast.

2. Jekyll Island: If you're enchanted with the natural beauty of undeveloped beachfront, Jekyll Island, the smallest of barrier islands in the state, is a paradise. Visitors can enjoy a host of wildlife-center activities, such as horseback riding and turtle habitat tours. As a bonus, you can visit the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, a 19th-century winter retreat for the rich.

3. St. Simon Island: Fans of historic structures have been flocking her for years because of St. Simon's historic lighthouse, which began operating six years after the Civil War ended. Other preserved structures include Bloody Marsh and several antebellum buildings. St. Simons has also become a shopping and dining mecca as new eateries have moved in.

4. Cumberland National Seashore: Georgia's largest barrier island features huge swaths of marchland and pristine maritime forests across its nearly 10,000 acres of protected wilderness. Visitors can tour the very spots where wealthy industrialists vacationed. Cumberland Island is also home to more than 9,800 acres of congressionally designated wilderness.

5. Little St. Simon Island: This little 10,000-acre island features seven miles of beach and 20 miles of wilderness trails for the explorer types. If exclusive lodgings are your fancy, check out the the Lodge at Little St. Simon’s Island, a 30-guest gem accessible strictly by 10-minute boat ride from the mainland.

"The expected spike in Memorial Day travel mirrors the positive growth seen throughout the travel industry this year,” Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, Travel and Publishing, said in a news release. “Higher confidence has led to more consumer spending, and many Americans are choosing to allocate their extra money on travel this Memorial Day.”

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