Sitting pretty off the coast of Georgia, Jekyll Island is a gorgeous place to visit and a great spot to get some peace and tranquility. The southernmost island in the Golden Isles, it is filled with beautiful sights and exciting things to do. It’s a wonderful family destination, with exciting and interesting attractions everywhere you turn, as well as some of the most unspoiled and attractive stretches of sand in the state.
Jekyll Island is around 5,500 acres in size, with over 10 miles of stunning shoreline. It has remained a peaceful, authentic, and natural destination, thanks to preservation efforts and protection by the State of Georgia. Development and construction is only allowed on around 35% of the island.
With historic landmarks, pristine natural landscape, and a quiet, calm atmosphere, Jekyll Island makes the perfect relaxing getaway. So if you’ve had to delay your main overseas holiday, push back your plans for a classic American road trip, or say no to cruising to Antarctica, why not give this gorgeous spot a try for a delightful weekend break? Here are the top things to do on Jekyll Island.
Bicycle Trails
The natural environment is a huge part of Jekyll Island’s charm, and one of the best ways to get up close to the natural beauty of the place, as well as get around the island, is by bicycle. There are over 20 miles of delightful bike paths and trails crisscrossing Jekyll Island, as well as no traffic signals.
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center
The Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island is the first and only education and rehabilitation centre of its kind in Georgia. Half museum, half hospital, it’s an inspiring place to visit and offers a great experience for families of all ages. You’ll be able to learn about turtles, their habits, habitats, and life cycles, as well as how they live in Georgia. You might also get the chance to see injured turtles who are cared for and rehabilitated here.
Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum
Jekyll Island’s main museum, Mosaic presents the history of the island, from the time of the indigenous Timucans, to more up-to-date modern history. Jekyll Island has a fascinating past – it was one of the four locations of the first transcontinental telephone conversation in 1915, and has always been a destination where wealthy, powerful people like Rockefeller gathered. At one point the entire island was a private club, where entry was solely for members, guests, and employees.
Landmark Trolley Tour
Jekyll Island is full of exciting historical monuments, beautiful architectural gems, and fascinating landmarks. The best way to see all of them in one go is on a Landmark Trolley Tour. This charming trolley bus ride takes you all around the island, while a knowledgeable guide explains the remarkable history of the place via the medium of the wonderful historical landmarks. You’ll see DuBignon Cottage, built in 1884 by John Eugene DuBignon, Goodyear Cottage, a Mediterranean Revival style centre for the creative arts, built in 1906 for Frank Henry Goodyear, and Crane Cottage, a mock European castle, built between 1917 and 1919, as well as many others.
Photo, Elan Smith.
Driftwood Beach
Located on the north side of the island, Driftwood Beach is a long, wide stretch of sand that is famous for its series, almost otherworldly beauty. Thanks to the driftwood and dead trees scattered across this gorgeous expanse of coastline, it is an intensely beautiful spot, and well worth strolling around in the early hours of the morning or just before sunset.
With some clear stretches as well it is a great beach in its own right, and kids will love the chance to clamber over the trunks and branches of the fallen trees, which create a natural adventure playground. Georgia’s climate means on warm, still days the bugs can be a bit of a nuisance, particularly in the afternoon, so we recommend visiting when there’s a bit of wind or early in the morning.
Horton Pond
A little oasis of peace, calm, and tranquility, Horton Pond is one of the jewels of Jekyll Island, and a true local favourite. One of the best spots on the island for comfortable wildlife watching, avid ornithologists and animal lovers will be able to find wading birds, turtles, and even the odd ‘gator here, all visible from the inconspicuous viewing shelter set in the trees on the edge of the pond.
While you can usually get your fill of nature from the observation deck, intrepid visitors may want to immerse themselves in nature to a greater degree, in which case a stroll along the Tupelo Trail offers a wonderful opportunity to see the flora of the island. Either way, the wonderfully peaceful atmosphere of this little slice of the natural world makes it a wonderful way to relax and unwind.
Horton House And DuBignon Cemetery
If you’ve taken Beachview Drive to taste the delights of Horton Pond, it is a great idea to combine your visit with a look at two of the most interesting historical spots on the island, Horton House and DuBignon Cemetery. Horton House is the oldest surviving building on the island, a remarkable structure (albeit now just the skeleton of its previous magnificence), and one of the oldest tabby houses in the entire state of Georgia.
Built in the 1740s by the first landowner on Jekyll Island, William Horton, it offers a fascinating glimpse into Georgia’s often overlooked colonial history. Over the road from Horton House sits the atmospheric and almost equally historic DuBignon Cemetery, the resting place of the DuBignon family who owned the island during most of the 19th century and lived in the house. It is a really interesting place to walk around, with some beautiful tombs and mausoleums, and offers another chance to really get to grips with the history of Jekyll.
A Dolphin Cruise
The seas around Jekyll Island are full of wonderful marine life, which makes getting out on a boat and exploring the ocean waves one of the best things you can do when visiting. Most excitingly, you will get the chance to see dolphins playing in their natural habitat.
A dolphin cruise takes you around the island, where you will encounter schools of dolphins jumping, playing, and swimming. These amazing creatures are not at all shy, and will likely come right up to the boat to say hi. Most of the boat trips take you right the way around Jekyll, as well as offering the chance to see a little of neighbouring Cumberland Island too. A dolphin cruise is a wonderful way to get a different perspective on the island, as well as to see one of nature’s most delightful critters right up close.
Photo, Mick De Paola.
Hit the Golf Course
Jekyll Island is a great place for golf lovers of all ages and abilities, with a great range of facilities ranging from simple minigolf courses for fun, all the way up to three Championship-level 18 hole courses. There are plenty of crazy golf, mini-golf, and putt-putt golf spots to pass the time with the family and younger kids, with the Shell Road facility a particular favourite. For more serious players, the Jekyll Island Clubhouse is Georgia’s largest public golf course, with 4 amazing courses to choose from.
Great Dunes is perfect for beginners and families who just want to enjoy a day out, a 9-hole course that isn’t too challenging yet offers great views and a few exciting challenges. The Indian Mound, Oleander, and Pine Lakes courses are rather more challenging prospects, Championship-caliber courses that are a great option for more serious, experienced golfers. Either way, there is something for every level of player on Jekyll Island.
Summer Waves Water Park
If you regularly go on vacation with a young family, you’ll know there is nothing quite like a good waterpark to provide a fantastic day out. Families visiting Jekyll will therefore be delighted to know that in Summer Waves Water Park, the island boasts a superlative example. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled high-speed slides like Pirate’s Passage and the crashing waves of the Frantic Atlantic to the more gentle delights of the Turtle Creek lazy river, the 11 acres of Summer Waves is a wonderful setting for a great day out with the kids.
Fort Frederica
Actually, on neighbouring St Simon’s Island to the north of Jekyll, Fort Frederica is a wonderful excursion to take for history buffs. Built in the 18th century by James Oglethorpe, Fort Frederica was designed to act as a fortification to protect the recently-established colony of Georgia from the Spanish territory of Florida.
In the 1700s, Georgia was disputed territory, and the main arena for conflict between the colonial powers of Spain and Great Britain, so the fort was a vital part of British America. It played a valuable role in the War of Jenkins’ Ear, preventing a Spanish raiding attempt into Georgia in 1742, and is now one of the most interesting historical destinations in Georgia, and well worth a visit.
