I live on the outskirts of towns… in the country, in a rural county that speaks to my heart and soothes my soul. I say that because I need isolation and quiet to recover from the world beyond my gates. God knows… But the nature and beauty in my “city” are a gift, and one I treasure deeply.

Right here in my county, I can hike at Laura Walker State Park. There are activities there too—craft fairs, food truck festivals, and informative lectures about nature. I’ve enjoyed all of these.

But the closest place to me that I’d call the best thing to do is a visit to Jekyll Island. It’s a state park—steeped in history and full of beauty.

The ocean laps its shores. There are fishing spots, miniature golf, and campgrounds. The Jekyll Island Club hosts dining and events, and the endangered sea turtle rehab center is absolutely worth a visit.

This island has attracted everyone from early settlers to the millionaires who first built the Club and used it as an escape. Today, it’s protected from overdevelopment because of its state park designation, a rare gift in a world that always seems to be expanding.

Ten miles of beaches, a maritime forest, alligators and deer, turtles and sea life, Jekyll Island is the kind of place where life seems to slow down. It gives you time to breathe deeply and simply be fascinated by the view.

It is Worth the trip if you travel. Jekyll Island, GA.