But in central Georgias Golden Isles,Little St. Simons Islandoffers a rare coastal wilderness immersion within domestic borders.

But its the islands naturalist-led activities that make it an educational adventure.

Three photos showing surf, trees, and sky with the Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards banner

Pilot Teara Fraser inside a plane

A trio of watches, one each with a black, pink, and blue band, on aqua colored tiles

A woman holds a fishing net for recycling

A red and white plane on an ice field in Antarctica

A cabin in the Dutch forest, with a woman sitting on the deck

Aerial view of a guest resort in Sao Tome and Principe

An aerial view of a cruise port destination in Alaska

A group of people birdwatching on a raised platform

White tourist domes in the Antarctic landscape

A smiling pilot named Teara Fraser stands behind a wing of her plane

A group of people birdwatching on a raised platform

Birdwatching with a naturalist guide on Little St. Simons Island.Credit:Cassie Wright/Courtesy of The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

White birds in trees on a Georgia barrier island

You can watch for more than 300 species of birds on Little St. Simons.Phil Murdacco/Courtesy of The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

A yellow and green hunting lodge building under an oak tree on a Georgia island

The hunting lodge on Little St. Simons.Cassie Wright/Courtesy of The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island