As temperatures start to rise and vacationers' plans for summer getaways are underway, people may be looking for a way to cool down in the blazing heat, and what better place to do that than at the beach? Some beachgoers may prefer their fun in the sun in popular tourist spots, but others might find their peace and relaxation away from the crowds.

LoveExploring compiled a list the 25 "best secret beaches" around America, "from little-known stretches of coast to quiet coves only reachable by boat." While several of the sandy shores are found in coastal paradises like Hawaii and California, two beaches on the list are right here in Georgia.

Coming in at No. 7 is Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, while Stafford Beach in Cumberland Island ranked No. 16 overall. Here's what the site had to say about these "beautiful" beaches:

"Georgia's Golden Isles are certainly well named, with gilded sand and dawn skies that cast soft orange light on the water. Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, the southernmost of a string of barrier islands, is particularly lovely and almost always blissfully quiet. The beach – often named one of the country's best – is strewn with bleached logs and backed by oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Pods of dolphins occasionally leap close to the shore, adding to the charm."

"Few people live on Cumberland Island, a salt-sprayed barrier island off Georgia's southeastern coast. Those who do are far outnumbered by the 200 or so wild horses who graze on dune grass and snooze on sandy beaches like the beautiful Stafford Beach. The beach and its campsite are reached via a 3.5-mile hike, which means fewer people to share the white, dune-backed sand, and ocean views. The island is also a nesting site for loggerhead turtles, and its 10,000 acres of wilderness have been designated a protected national seashore."

See the full list at loveexploring.com to read up on more of the best secret beaches in the country. You can also see our previous coverage of the Georgia spots named among America's "most beautiful mountain towns."

Stan Bell