Looking for a bit of excitement, a taste of glitzy nightlife?

Jekyll Island isn’t for you.

If you’re interested in lowering your blood pressure, though, Jekyll- about an hour and a half south of Savannah- might be just the balm you need, a splendid destination for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

On Jekyll, the smallest of Georgia’s barrier islands, you can chase a little white ball through sand traps, play tennis, or glide along 20 miles of bike paths. If all that sounds too arduous, there are miles of beach where you can simply veg out, soothed by sea breezes.

Brunswick’s Ernie Williams was enjoying his own favorite low-key pastime Saturday, idly hanging a pole from the fishing pier at the island’s Clam Creek Picnic Area. His son, Trey, sat next to him.

“My daddy taught me to fish on Jekyll,” Ernie said. “Like his daddy taught him. Now I bring my boy out here.”

“Caught anything?”

“Not a (colorful adjective) thing,” he said, laughing. “Sure glad we don’t have to depend on this for supper.”

Folks have been fishing around Jekyll since roughly 2500 B.C., when small groups of hunter-gatherers started visiting the island. In the late 16th century A.D., the Spanish were impressed by the numerous right whales in the area and called the island Isla de Ballenas (”Island of Whales.”)

In the 1730s, General James Oglethorpe, interested in protecting Savannah against the Spanish in Florida, dispatched troops to build fortifications on St. Simons Island. After one of the soldiers, William Horton, was granted 500 acres of land by the colony’s trustees, he established residency on nearby Jekyll Island Sir Joseph Jekyll, a prominent Oglethorpe supporter in England). You can still see the ruins of Horton’s house, one of Georgia’s oldest structures, on the island’s north end.

Jekyll’s most prominent historical structure, however, is the Jekyll Island Club, founded in 1886 as a winter retreat for such mega-rich Northern industrialists as Marshall Field, J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer and William Vanderbilt. Surrounding the Queen Anne-style clubhouse, several of the club members built grand winter homes - their so-called “cottages” - now restored and open to the public. The clubhouse is now an upscale hotel.

In 1972, the Jekyll Island Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places; in 1978, the 240-acre district was elevated to National Historic Landmark status. Guided tours of the area are available at the Jekyll Island Museum on Stable Road.

Golfers will find three 18-hole courses on Jekyll (Pine Lakes, Oleander, and Indian Mound) and a nine-hole course (Great Dunes). Tee times can be made up to six months in advance. The Jekyll Island Tennis Center features 13 clay courts. Other activities include horseback riding through Jekyll’s maritime forests, kayaking, miniature golf, and the Summer Waves water park, where children can splash through 11 acres of refreshing rides.

For many folks, though, Jekyllis best absorbed in slow motion. Birdwatching is a popular pastime; the island has a sizeable yearlong population and serves as a resting place in the spring and fall for migrating species. Other visitors love to simply amble along the beach, collecting shells.

Some don’t even move that much.

Atlanta’s Kathy Williams and Bonnie Bell, for instance, spent most of last weekend nestled in their cozy beach chairs, gazing out at the Atlantic.

“Just the two of us and a little liquid refreshment,” Williams said.

“Sometimes that’s all a couple of girls need.”

Reprinted from Savannahnow.com

Tags: jekyll island beach, vacation
Posted in Beach Bummin', Bird Watching, Camping, Churches, History comes Alive, Horseback Riding, Just for Kicks, Just for Kids, Just the Facts, Kayaking & Canoeing | No Comments »

This is what the travelers on Yahoo think about Jekyll Island… Maybe you should post your own!

Live, Love and Enjoy!!
Last Visit: July 2004
Great for: Beaches, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Budget Travel, Family Vacations

Jekyll Island, Georgia is the island for me. This is a great vacation place. The beaches are not crowded. The scenic view is fantastic and your family can enjoy their family time together without worry.

You can enjoy looking for shells in the morning, fishing at the pier and then touring the homes of the rich and famous. At night, the island is so beautiful and you can ride in your car and see deer standing beside the road. The deer are so tamed that you can pull up beside them and they will just look right at you. At night, the marina is an enjoyable place to go watch the ships come in and the oysters at the bar are great.
The kids loved the Water Park and, if you spend the day there, by night all you want to do is lay on the beach and watch the waves because you are so tired. We always enjoy staying at the Jekyll Island Inn because it has the best pool and a bar close by the pool so we can watch the children.

But the best of all is going to Soccer Complex and taking the boardwalk to the beach. It is so nice on that side of the island. Not a lot of crowd and my husband and son can fish while my daughter and I enjoy the sum. We can go shrimping on the side and watch the shrimp boats come by. Also, we love to see the dolphins.
Jekyll Island is the place to relax especially when you only get one vacation a year and it is a place where you can live, love and enjoy the relaxing side of life.

“What A Wonderful World”
Last Visit: March 2005
Great for: Beaches, History/Culture, Nightlife, Budget Travel, Family Vacations

In January of this year (05) my sister and I decided to take a mini vacation. We had no where special to go, so we just pointed the car south. After a few stops and a few disappoints, we landed at Jekyll Island.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagine the beautiful experience we were about to have staying at Jekyll Island. The spacious beach, the promising sunrise, the peaceful sunset are all a soul needs to see what a wonderful world Jekyll Island is! One last note, 6 weeks later…the car was returning to my Jekyll Island sanctuary!

A Geeat Place for a Honeymoon!
Last Visit: September 2005
Great for: Beaches, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Budget Travel, Family Vacations

My husband and I went there for our honeymoon because my sister had recommended it to us. She had told us all this great stuff about it and she was defitinately right. The beach was amazing and we pratically had the whole beach to ourselves. We went the week of Labor Day and it was so uncrowded. We rented a 2 bedroom duplex through Parker-Kaufman that ended up being cheaper than a hotel room. We will defitinately be visiting again-only this time our three children will get to experience the beauty of Jekyll Island!

Jekyll Island Family Vacation
Last Visit: July 2005
Great for: Beaches, Scuba/Snorkeling, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Budget Travel, Family Vacations

This was the first year that we as a family went on a family vacation. My husband and I were celebrating our 4 year anniversary, and the kids being teenagers (18 & 16) all loaded up in the truck and headed to Jekyll Island. The whole experience was something wonderful.

The people were so nice! And the weather was sunny and hot, just the way we wanted it! We stayed in a duplex on the beach, and was up before the sun every morning looking for shells, then watching the sunrise. That was so spectactular! Renting bikes for the day and riding around the island looking at the sites, and the beaches that surround Jekyll Island was a wonderful treat. Then in the middle, when its hottest, we would go in and nap where it was cool for a couple hours. Then we were back at the beach. At night fall we would watch the moon rise, absolutely breath taking.The kids and I had never been to the ocean before, we had the best time ever. I happy my husband wanted to share his childhood memories with us while we were there, this is where he spent many summers with his family.Go and enjoy, make some special memories of your own.

One of my favorite vacation destinations
Last Visit: September 2005
Great for: Beaches, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Budget Travel, Family Vacations

I have been vacationing in Jekyll Island for many years. It’s a nice, quiet, and relaxing small island.
If you are looking for a touristy beach with lots of shops, resturaunts, and large resorts then this place is not for you. But, if you’re looking for a beach that’s never crowded, smaller hotels, and smaller local resturaunts then this is the place for you!

The scenery is beautiful. You can find your own corner of the beach during the off season and never see another person all day. They have horseback riding, bicycle rentals, dolphin and fishing cruises, nature walks, a great historic district, and much more. I’ve stayed at a few of the different hotels as well as the campground, and was very happy with the places I stayed. They also have house and condo rentals as well. There are also several other islands to visit near by, including St. Simons and Cumberland islands.
Jekyll island is located about 1 1/2 hours south of Savannah, and about 45 min north of Jacksonville.

Beautiful
Last Visit: June 2005
Great for: Beaches, Family Vacations
This is the place to go if you dislike crowds and glitter. It is simple,down to earth and peaceful. You can enjoy your entire visit because it is so laid back. If you are really looking for R&R then this is the place. The surroundings are beautiful. Clean, safe, uncrowded.

IDEAL day trip if you live in GA, FL, SC
Last Visit:
May 2004
This is maybe the best kept secret in Georgia. I found this place while on a business trip, browsing travel brochures in a hotel in Georgia. I went there because I’d never heard of it. It’s a bit of a pain to get there by car, and as you cross the bridge it looks like the standard golf course/dog and pony show that draws suburbanites in the summer. The real treasure here is the historical grounds, where you see the country estates of the Vanderbuilts, Rockafellers, etc. Jekyll Island in the early 20th century was used as a hunting resort for the extremely privilaged, and much of the history has been restored over the years. It’s a great getaway for an afternoon or weekend.

WONDERFUL VACATION
Last Visit: July 2007
Great for: Beaches, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Budget Travel, Family Vacations

MY FAMILY AND I ENJOYED OUR RECENT TRIP TO JEKYLL ISLAND.WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME,WE WILL DEFINATELY VISIT THERE AGAIN.IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO VACATION WITH THE FAMILY.JEKYLL ISLAND IS VERY PEACEFUL,A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN FLORIDA.WHAT I LIKED THE MOST;IT IS FAMILY SAFE&FRIENDLY.NO BAR OR NIGHT CLUB ON EVERY CORNER.IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NICE VACATION THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO.BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE DOLPHIN TOURS.

Beautiful
Last Visit: May 2005
Great for: Beaches, History/Culture, Family Vacations
My husband and I visted Jekyll Island in May of 05 for our Annivary. Great place. Enjoy the carraige rides and walks on the beach.Very peaceful. Will return again this year!!!!

Tags: beautiful, carriage rides, dolphin tours, family friendly, family vacation, feedback, honeymoon, peaceful, secret, vacation, visitors
Posted in Beach Bummin', CU@SummerWaves, Two Wheelin' | No Comments »

Dear editors,
My love affair with Jekyll Island began in the hazy summer of 1960, when my brave mother drove four energetic children from Buffalo, New York to visit our grandparents who had recently retired to this exotic paradise. We had never even seen the ocean and were eager to experience every inch of the island. We were greeted by wild turkey and enchanted by the oaks draped with hanging moss. My grandmother drove us around in an old station wagon, past chain gangs clearing palmetto with huge scythes. We tiptoed through the dunes at night with flashlights, watching sea turtles hatch and scurry to the sea. We learned the names of hundreds of creatures and became hawk-eyed beachcombers, collecting irridescent pen shells and yellow coral branches and moon snails as big as my fist and skate purses and chains of coins that spilled tiny knobbed whelks at every shake. Grandmother knew the names and stories of every creature whose abandoned shells filled our pails. At low tide we squished through the muddy silt, and at high tide we rode the waves on inflatable rafts until we were dragged home for dinner. An alligator patrolled the drainage ditch along Beachview Drive, and wildlife were so plentiful that they came every night to Grandmother’s patio to feed - we watched, motionless, through the sliding glass doors as deer, raccoons, and possum gathered. My grandfather took us crabbing off the old lift bridge, and we bought shrimp right off the boats at the small dock in the old village. It was a magical adventure.
Over the years, my family has spent nearly every Easter vacation on this incredible island. The four children became six, who grew and married and returned with their own children and grandchildren. This past year, we celebrated with four generations (filling three cottages, a campsite, and a hotel suite) who love this island as much as my grandparents, Carl and Cecily Masters, did. I can’t imagine a more perfect legacy.
Sincerely,
Nancy

Tags: exotic, family, feedback, legacy, paradise, vacation
Posted in Beach Bummin' | No Comments »