In search of buried treasure, the real stuff? Legends persist along coastal Georgia as to just where Edward Teach (a.k.a. Blackbeard) stowed his bounty. Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge is one logical candidate. The expansive enclave of salt and freshwater marsh, 3,000 acres in all, is dotted with sand dunes, and suffused by native wildlife.
That’s the island’s true treasure. If you’re into birding, hiking, or just want to leave the madding crowd behind, you could do a lot worse than this pristine stretch of southern coastline.
Another treasure – one under constant pressure from the way we treat this planet – is the humble sea turtle. Journey to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island and see how these threatened marine reptiles are cared for and rehabilitated.
See exhibits on sea turtle conservation. Journey with them in their amazing metamorphosis form egg to adulthood. Sea turtles love to nest on Jekyll, and have for years. Enter eyes wide open and come away a deeper understanding the connectedness of it all.
If you’re in search of subtle treasures, kayak or canoe down the Suwannee River, the mythic waterway forever immortalized in southern song by Stephen C. Foster. 15 minutes away from Stephen C. Foster State Park, in what passes for downtown Fargo, Georgia, is Suwannee River Outfitters. It’s a one-stop shop for outdoor gear and boat rentals, and a place you also might consider bedding down before you take that trip Way Down Upon The Suwannee River. The outfitters have just opened a new four-room lodge replete with all the comforts.
This stretch of coastal Georgia isn’t for everyone. You’ve got to dial back the tempo of your daily life, shed tired old city skin and step out of time – if only for a while. Agree to that part of the bargain and this slice of the south could just change the way you look at things.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: USFWS)
