PHOTOS: See Georgia's secret beach

While most people are stuck at home because of COVID-19, thoughts of relaxing and enjoying some time away are never far off. So, today on wsbtv.com, we're checking out Georgia's secret beach.

Today, we're off to Little St. Simons Island, off the coast of Georgia. The Lodge on Little. St. Simons Island plans to reopen on May 14.

Ten thousand intrusion-free acres of maritime forests and marshlands, seven miles of shell-strewn beaches, this extraordinary natural sanctuary -- among the last of its kind anywhere -- is how Little St. Simons Island welcomes guests to this virtually untouched island.

The island prides itself on providing guests with unique and absorbing experiences in the company of the experienced and gifted naturalist staff. And it's those experiences that a trip here revolves around, the trips with naturalists. The staff typically offers several different exploration trips a day that bring the island to life.

And tops on the list is seeking out wildlife.

These are photos of the wildlife on Little St. Simons Island. They were taken by Britt Brown, Naturalist with The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. http://brittleebrown.wix.com/photography

Little St. Simons Island is on the Georgia coast, one of the state's barrier islands. And although it shares a name with its larger counterpart, St. Simons Island, that's where the similarities between the two end.

"It's very different from the normal St. Simons experience," Little St. Simons Island guest Joel Richardson said. "(St. Simons) is much more commercial, certainly it's beautiful with lots of the beach and everything, but this is much more laid back, much more personal experience than what you would experience on St. Simons."

Thirty-two people is the maximum number of guests allowed to spend the night on Little St. Simons. Some nights, there are far fewer.

"I've never been on a private island before where only 32 people can come and stay and so, it's been wonderful," guest Kimberly Lindman said. "One night, (my husband and I) went out and explored on our own and we were out in the middle of nowhere, with no one around us, just the two of us."

It's the outdoor adventures and experiences that people visit Little St. Simons for. There is a beach here, and it's certainly available for use, but if simply sitting on a beach all day everyday is what people are looking in a vacation, that misses what Little St. Simons specializes in. A visit to Little St. Simons is all about nature, wildlife and food.

Rates start around $500 per night, but that includes accommodations, three daily meals, all drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, unlimited use of island activities and recreation gear, tours with naturalists and the boat transfers to and from the island.

There's a main lodge that serves as a gathering place for meals with a couple of guest rooms in it. There are several other cottages tucked among the oaks around it. There are no televisions or phones in guest rooms.

"It was worth every penny of the trip," guest Ingrid Richardson said. "And it gave (my husband) and me a time to be outdoors. It was relaxing,rejuvenating and restorative."

Here are some more photos from Little St. Simons Island.

“It’s hard to explain if you haven’t been here,” guest Kim Holiday said. “You can see it, you can look at it, but until you actually get here and have the experience, I think it’s a little difficult to explain. Me, personally, I think it’s better than Disney World. I love it. I’ll be back. It’s a really fantastic place.”

Here are some more photos from Little St. Simons Island.

"We're hands on," chef Paula Garrett said. "We create it, we create the dish, we create the recipe. It's not that you can just come up and get the recipe because a lot of times, it's in our head, it's in our heart and we're constantly changing that."

Here are some more photos from Little St. Simons Island.

Here are some more photos of Little St. Simons Island. They were taken by Britt Brown, Naturalist with The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. http://brittleebrown.wix.com/photography

Check out these spectacular images of some of the inhabitants of Little St. Simons Island that she has captured while working as a naturalist there.

Here are some more photos of Little St. Simons Island. They were taken by Britt Brown, Naturalist with The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. http://brittleebrown.wix.com/photography

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