ESSENTIALS

Getting there & around

British Airways and Delta offer nonstop flights between Heathrow and Atlanta, Georgia. Virgin Atlantic flies nonstop from Heathrow and Manchester. ba.com delta.com virginatlantic.com

Little St Simons and Jekyll Island are accessible by car, while car-free Sapelo, Little St Simons and Cumberland reached by ferry. Arrange tours of Sapelo and Little St Simons in advance. jekyllisland.com cumberlandisland.com littlestsimonsisland.com sapelonerr.org

When to go

Summer in southern Georgia can be busy and humid, with highs of 35C and summer storms. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures in the high 20Cs, with spring the best season for migrating birds and nesting sea turtles.

Places mentioned

The Grey. thegreyrestaurant.com Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant. goodtimesjazzbar.com

Footprints of Savannah Walking Tours. footprintsofsavannah.com

Sapelo Island Tours. sapelotours.com Georgia Sea Grill. georgiaseagrill.com Potlikker Farm. @potlikkerfarm Southeast Adventure. southeastadventure.com

Where to stay

The Marshall House, Savannah. From $150 (£111). marshallhouse.com Birdhouses, Sapelo. From $255 (£188). facebook.com/sapeloislandbirdhouses Lodge On Little St Simons. From $525 (£387), B&B. littlestsimonsisland.com Jekyll Island Club Resort. From $399 (£295). jekyllclub.com

Cumberland Island Camping. From $9 (£7). nps.gov/cuis

More info

Golden Isles. goldenisles.com Explore Georgia. exploregeorgia.org

How to do it

PURELY SOUTHERN USA offers the 13-night Coastal Georgia self-drive from £1,949 per person including flights to Atlanta, car hire and accommodation. purelysouthernusa.co.uk