Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Every May, loggerhead sea turtles crawl up the island’s beaches to dig their nests (in 2024, a record-breaking 243 sites were found). The endangered species’ steady rebound in the state is largely thanks to the ongoing conservation efforts of this devoted research and rehabilitation facility. Behind-the-scenes tours of the hospital offer opportunities to learn about sea turtle care and treatment, as well as up-close encounters with patients and interactive exhibits about Jekyll’s coastal ecology. Ride With Night Patrol programs go even further, pairing participants with a field biologist to search for nests and freshly hatched young.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness
South Florida
Composed of marshes, waterways, and forests of tropica