Purchased for $125 000 in 1886 by a consortium of East Coast millionaires, Jekyll Island served as a winter playground for the nation's captains of industry until World War II intervened. Popular with golfers and the wealthy, the island is still a natural paradise boasting a combination of marshland, great oak forests, dunes and long white sandy beaches. This relaxing, family-friendly spot is ideal for swimming (even if the water is not very clear), cycling, horse-riding, Stand-Up paddle boarding and kayaking.