I didn't know a lot about Sapelo Island - a barrier island off the coast of Georgia - until I took a trip there in October with six other photographers. I found out that Sapelo has a rich history of cotton plantations with wealthy owners and hundreds of slaves. Today, most of the island is owned by the State of Georgia and it is a state park accessible only by boat. The remaining part of the island is owned by parttime residents and descendents of the slaves which worked the plantations. Remains of the tabby structures where the people lived are still visible even though they are continually disintegrating due to the effects of nature. The mansion on the R. J. Reynolds plantation can be rented out and we were lucky enough to get a tour of the house. The most fascinating thing about the mansion is a playroom which is painted with circus characters and animals. The poolroom in the basement is decorated with pirate characters and includes a bowling alley and pool table. The University of Georgia has a research facility on the grounds and there is the shell of a greenhouse nearby.
Our group stayed in an older house on the grounds of a former cotton plantation--not as elegant as the RJR property, but comfortable, and our host made our stay a very fun weekend. The best thing about it was the fantastic view of the sunset and one night we even saw dolphins playing in the waterway. 
Much of the island was covered with pine forests, palm trees and live oaks with "beards" of Spanish moss. Grasses cover the wetlands and provide habitat for the many birds and other wildlife on the island. The lighthouse on the island is the second oldest brick lighthouse in the U. S. and was restored by the state in 1998. At that time, the original red and white stripes were repainted on the lighthouse.More photos of Sapelo Island are on my website: http://www.myrtiecopephoto.com/galleries/travel/year-of-travel/
