The top islands in the continental U.S. are a lot closer than you might think

From the Florida Keys to Martha’s Vineyard, the Outer Banks to islands off the coast of Washington state, numerous islands dot the landscape of the continental United States, and many of them provide a plethora of vacation activities.

Which group is the best for vacation-goers?

Travel + Leisure recently unveiled its World’s Best Awards. The awards honor the best in the travel industry as determined by readers’ experiences. Readers judged islands on activities, sights, natural attractions, beaches, food, friendliness and overall value.

Here’s the good news for Atlanta residents: You won’t have to travel far to experience the chain that earned the top spot. The Golden Isles captured the No. 1 spot on the list. Readers loved what St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island have to offer.

The King and Prince is on St. Simons Island.

“The four barrier islands draw wildlife fans keen to spot migrating North Atlantic right whales, swim with loggerhead turtles, and enjoy some of the country’s best bird-watching,” Travel + Leisure noted. “That’s not to say one has to rough it on these isles, which are known for extraordinary golf courses, restaurants, and five-star resorts, including the 265-room Cloister at Sea Island, which has access to five miles of private beach.”

Each island offers a distinct vacation experience.

Between St. Simons Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island and Brunswick, visitors will find a multitude of activities including the beach, a shrimp cruise, a historic lighthouse, gambling, dining and shopping.

St. Simons Island offers guests a laid-back vacation with a variety of accommodations, restaurants, beaches and activities.

Sea Island is world-renowned as one of the top resorts anywhere. Its resorts, spa and restaurants routinely earn five-star ratings from Forbes, Triple-A and others.

Little St. Simons features 10,000 intrusion-free acres of maritime forests and marshlands, seven miles of shell-strewn beaches and privacy. Thirty-two people is the maximum number of guests allowed to spend the night on Little St. Simons. Some nights, there are far fewer.

While most people are busy with work and school, thoughts of relaxing and enjoying some time away are never far off. Spring break is just around the corner! 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.

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

Jekyll Island offers an experience somewhere in between. It features fewer restaurants and hotels than St. Simons, but in turn, it’s quieter and a bit more relaxing for those who prefer plenty of room to roam on the beach.

Several other nearby islands made the top 15 list. Those include Hilton Head at No. 3, Kiawah Island at No. 5, Amelia Island at No. 6, Captiva Island at No. 9 and Sanibel Island at No. 11.