Things to do / Travel Guide
The southern region of Georgia and South Carolina is an adventure-land of outdoor activities, especially along the coastline. You can hike and bike along select spots all up and down the coast, from Georgia's Golden Isles to South Carolina's Charleston. There is practically no end to the kayaking and canoeing routes dotted amongst all the islands and inlets. The South Carolina coast is particularly famous for its scuba diving opportunities. As for fishing, there's offshore fishing aplenty, while inland you'll find numerous lakes into which to cast your line for best results.
Hiking and Biking in Georgia and the South Carolina Coast
Need to stretch your legs out during the long winter? Take a trip to the southern coast of Georgia for a hike around Cumberland Island. You won't be bothered with mountains and steep inclines here, as the only hills you'll encounter are sand dunes. The sand is powdery and comfortable on the feet, just perfect for long excursions. You'll see armadillos aplenty, as well as a fair share of the wild horses that roam the isle. You'll stroll along with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Cumberland Sound on the other. If you're especially sharp eyed, you may even spot the old ruins of abandoned (and, in some cases, burnt-to-the-ground) Gilded Age mansions, car wrecks from the 1920s, and old washed-up buoys in the sand.
The biker in you (or your family) will have a great time at the Georgia International Horse Park, near Atlanta, the first Olympic mountain biking course in the world. Developed for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, the park will push your biking skills to the limit. It's truly an endurance test, as the trail rises for over eight miles, climbing over 1,000 feet before leveling out.
Hilton Head isn't only a resort destination. It's also a great place for biking, as across the island there are over 25 miles of bike paths, which ramble all around the sounds and marshes. Also, in addition to bike paths, the sandy beaches of Hilton Head are firm and strong, making for the perfect experience for the cyclist who wishes to ride along the edges of the ocean waters.
Kayaking and Canoeing in Georgia and the South Carolina Coast
You can start your kayaking trip right in Atlanta itself, as the Chattahoochee River flows right through the city, and there are starting and stopping points all along the way. It's the perfect introduction to one of America's greatest cities. For a pleasant ride, surrounded by great live oaks draped with Spanish moss, the Ocmulgee River is another fun river to kayak down. It, too, is a 'city river', flowing as it does through downtown Macon.
The Georgia coast is an enchanting place to explore with your kayak, as you weave your way in and around the coastal barrier islands, spotting the unique regional wildlife and flora. Amidst the maritime, Spanish moss-covered forests of pine, juniper, bay, palm, and oak trees, you might see any combination of dolphins, alligators, feral pigs, raccoons, gray foxes, mink, and deer.
Lighthouse sightings are a highlight of kayaking in Charleston Harbor. In your meanderings, you'll have the chance to gaze at such venerable edifices as the Morris Island Lighthouse and Sullivan Island Lighthouse. From both of these you can also see Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. From the wide harbor, you can also see, of course, the great city of Charleston.
Scuba Diving and Fishing in Georgia and the South Carolina Coast
If you're a diver, it should interest you to know that South Carolina specializes in the creation of artificial reefs. The best diving point is probably Barracuda Alley, where, in the process of the planned sinking of an old 140-foot barge, a platoon of armored personnel carriers was accidentally sent down with the ship. Admire the developing coral, or ogle the barracuda racing by.
On a moonless night in 1942, a Dutch merchant ship, called the Hebe, collided with a British sub chaser named the St. Cathan. The wrecks of these two ships, around a quarter-mile apart, are a prime destination for advanced divers from all over. You can find artifacts, tropical and game fish, and even Sand Tiger sharks in the spring and fall. The visibility here is among the best in the region. This is just one more reason to make the South Carolina coast the destination of your next outdoors vacation.
Speaking of fish, a trip to Georgia and South Carolina simply wouldn't be complete without throwing your line in a few times – at least! The waters both inland and offshore are some of the best the South has to offer. Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair are skipping with bass, both of the striped and of the large and small-mouthed varieties. Off the Georgia coast, you can catch your own grouper and snapper, while off the South Carolina coast, you can play tug of war with an amberfish or a blue marlin.
Golf in Georgia and the South Carolina Coast
Golf is more than a tradition in Georgia and South Carolina – it's a birthright. Myrtle Beach is famed for its golf courses, and the best of the lot is arguably located at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. Host of many tournaments, the holes here will challenge, while the views will dazzle.
You can golf surrounded by the pristine marshes of southern Georgia just east of the great Okefenokee Swamp, at Osprey Cove. It's a peaceful course, with a unique layout that follows the natural characteristics of the land. What better way to round off an outdoors-soaked vacation than with a few rounds at Osprey Cove. Sounds good to us!
Outdoor Recreation in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, South Carolina, Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia
Outdoor-Sports-Recreation
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