Hi Reader,

Not all beaches are created equal, and that’s a good thing! The “perfect” beach depends less on the beauty of it and more on how you actually want to spend your time. Quiet mornings with coffee and jam packed afternoons? Bike rides and beach bars? Wide-open wilderness and beach strolls with your dog?

As two Georgia girls, we've spent a lot of time visiting beaches in the Southeastern USA. Here are some of the Southeast’s most beloved beaches and who they might be best suited for:

🌿 For nature lovers:

• ​St. Simons Islan​d, G​eorgia (pictured above)
  With its laid-back atmosphere and coastal charm, life on St. Simons Island unfolds at a leisurely pace and beckons visitors to embrace the simple pleasures of outdoor adventures. It's a fantastic destination for a shorter weekend getaway or a longer trip if you want to combine it with Jekyll, Savannah, or the Okefenokee Swamp. Amanda lived near St. Simons for a bit, and one of her favorite activities to do was renting a bike to look for the tree spirits carved into the trunks of oak trees.

🐶 For Dog Lovers

• ​Jekyll Island, G​eorgiaLocated within the Golden Isles of Georgia, Jekyll Island is filled with natural beauty and the perfect place to explore with your four legged companion! It's got a ton of dog-friendly restaurants and beaches. But Amanda's favorite place to take her dog at Jekyll is Driftwood Beach. This beach is famous for its hauntingly beautiful landscape of ancient oak and pine trees that drape across the shoreline. You and your pup will love navigating these massive natural driftwood sculptures with the ocean serving as the backdrop.

👉 St. Simons and Jekyll are great if you want fewer crowds, more wildlife, and a deep exhale kind of vacation.

🤸🏻‍♀️ For Families

• ​Hilton Head Island, South Carolina​
  Kayla goes to Hilton Head every year with her family at least once. It constantly gets ranked as one of the top beach vacation destinations for families in the USA, because it's brimming with activities for every age. Younger kids will enjoy activities like the Pirate Ship Cruise and Adventure Ship Playground while older kids may like renting bikes to ride along the network of bike trails that snake around the island. Despite having so many family-friendly activities, Hilton Head also offers plenty of fun things for adults to do too!

👉 Best if you want a lot of activities outside of the beach to entertain your kids + activities and delicious food for the adults to enjoy

📜 For History Lovers

• Charleston, South Carolina​
  Not a beach itself, but minutes from gems like Folly Beach or Sullivan’s Island. Spend mornings at the beach and afternoons wandering cobblestone streets, historic homes, and top-tier restaurants. One of Kayla's favorite restaurants in Charleston is Husk.
• St. Augustine, Florida​
  America’s oldest city pairs wide beaches with Spanish colonial architecture, forts, and walkability. It’s equal parts beach trip and cultural getaway—and consistently ranked among top U.S. beach destinations. There are so many incredible things to do here outside of the beach! Kayla went to St. Augustine with her family every year when she was growing up! Her favorite places for lunch are the St. Augustine Fish Camp and A1A Burrito Works.

👉 These spots are perfect if you want beach time + history + a vibrant food and culture scene.

🐚 For remote "hidden gem" vibes

• ​Cape San Blas, Florida​
  This is Florida's best kept secret in our opinion. Nestled in the panhandle, this quiet beach town has not yet been commercialized and isn’t overrun with tourists. It has the best sunsets we’ve ever seen and is definitely the most peaceful beach we’ve visited in Florida. We usually book accommodation on Jamaica Drive through VRBO, because then it's a short walk to the beach + a convenience store + one of the only eateries in the area.

👉 Ideal for travelers who want zero crowds, sunset walks, and love spending alll day at the beach. Because there's not much more to do there.

From our suitcase to yours,

Kayla & Amanda

​The Stickered Suitcase​

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