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St. Simon's Island offers sandy beaches. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )

About 100 miles of Georgia shoreline faces the Atlantic Ocean between South Carolina and Florida. The state extends west and north to the Appalachian Mountains. Small barrier islands lie just off the coast and feature some of the regions best beaches. State parks and mountain resorts also boast fine beaches at inland lakes. The best beaches often depend on individual tastes, but 10 of Georgias best include family-friendly ocean beaches to quieter areas popular with beachcombers. And one lies far from the ocean.

A few miles north of the Florida state line, Cumberland Island National Seashore (nps.gov) has 17 miles of beaches, and two of the states finest. Visitors travel by ferry to reach the island, enabling the park service to limit the number of people in the park. Sea Camp Beach sits near the southern part of the island and offers restrooms, swimming areas and camping. Campers also have access to showers. Stafford Beach is near a wilderness area and attracts beachcombers. High surf from storms produces treasures such as coquinas, disc clams, moon snails and sharks teeth.

North of Cumberland, a causeway allows access to the smaller Jekyll Island and features 10 miles of beaches. At the north end of the island, both swimmers and walkers explore Driftwood Beach, a beach that illustrates natures ultimate power. Over the years, erosion consumed trees and vegetation, leaving eerie stumps, root systems and driftwood. Stunning scenes make this a photographers paradise. Farther south, Central Dunes Beach attracts many swimmers and sun-worshipers to its wide, sandy beach. The more crowded beach is adjacent to many island resorts and hotels, and is popular with families. The Civil War movie Glory was filmed nearby.

St. Simons Island sits just off the coast from Brunswick, a large commercial center in southern Georgia. A causeway connects the city to the island. The most popular beach is at Massengale Park. The family-friendly beach offers swimming and water sports. The hard-packed sand allows bike-riding. East Beach attracts beachcombers and bird watchers. An adjacent Coast Guard facility includes the Coastal Encounters Nature Center. The center offers barrier island ecology walks and kayak excursions. Both beaches have restrooms and showers. For a quieter St. Simons experience, the private Little St. Simons Island Beach provides tranquility. Only 32 people stay on the island at any one time. Besides swimming and sunbathing, visitors can take naturalist guided turtle beach walks and other excursions.

Savannah lies just south of the South Carolina border, and Tybee Island serves as the citys beach. Recognized as one of Georgias finest beaches, its history goes back to when Savannah residents went to Tybees South Beach in their finest clothes for social activities. Today, traditional beach activities like swimming and water sports attract beach goers. South Beach also attracts visitors for its hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Although quieter, North Beach is great for beachcombers. A lighthouse near the beach helps direct sailors to Savannah Harbor. Beach walkers often see dolphins glide through the water.

Georgias best inland beach lies in far west Georgia at John Tanner State Park (gastateparks.org). The park features a lake with a large, sandy swimming beach. Other activities include boating, pedal boating, fishing and miniature golf. The park provides camping facilities, as well as lodging near the beach. Hikers may follow a trail around the lake through wooded areas.

Jeff Fulton is a writer specializing in business, travel and culture. He has worked in international sales, customer relations and public relations for major airlines, and has written for Demand Studios since May 2009. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Chicago.

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Ten Best Beaches in Georgia | USA Today