JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. -- Driftwood Beach looks like something from a foreign land.
This wood-covered beach is on Jekyll Island, along the southern Georgia coast.
Massive live oaks and pines lay on their sides with their roots showing. Waves wash up against the fallen trees, creating a work of art. Lewis Turner and I were in awe.
Breanna Ondich is our guide on the beach. She’s a park ranger for Jekyll Island.
"It’s better to come out at low tide, of course," Ondich said.
That’s because the driftwood trees are completely exposed.
Ondich cautions as we duck under a huge branch, "Always watch your head! People hit their heads sometimes."
For what seems like miles, we walk as the sun comes up. It is beautiful.
Ondich said, "It used to be a maritime forest, so coastal forest. Slowly over time, this happened on a lot of the barrier islands. The sand gets carried away by the currents coming through, and the trees fall over, and they kind of get preserved and stay. All are structurally sound for you to hang out on and enjoy."
"This isn’t just a few trees scattered around to hang out on. They’re just as far as the eye can see! How big is this?" Lewis asked.
Ondich answers, "The beach itself is about 2 kilometers long."
Driftwood Beach has been a favorite for many people throughout the years.
"It’s [the vacation destination] been here throughout the club era. Late 1800’s until WWII," Ondich said.
And those trees just beg for someone to climb on top of them.
"This would be great to have a hammock way up here," I said to Lewis.
We even crawl under the branches and limbs and feel like kids in a childhood hiding place.
And then my hand hits something small and metal. It’s a little dog tag attached to one of the trees.
Lewis reads it, "It says 'Mike C. proposed to Suzy R. on this site June 14th, 2015.'"
We are enchanted.
“Mike C and Suzie R, if you’re out there, I hope it worked out. And if it didn’t, this short of a time, it’s probably for the best it didn’t," Lewis said.
Whatever the case, Driftwood Beach is indeed a natural masterpiece, created by water and wind. It’s a jewel of a discovery.