Jekyll Island: Coast, Nature and History

Jekyll Island combines a largely unspoiled coast with maritime forest, an exceptional history and a wide range of experiences. The island is part of the Golden Isles and is managed as a state park. Those looking for a vacation rental or vacation home on Jekyll Island can therefore tailor their trip to their own interests: coastal landscapes, wildlife observation, historic sites, sporting activities and family-friendly offerings are among the destination’s many different sides.

Experience the Coast and Nature Mindfully

The coastline stretches for 10 miles and is characterized at Driftwood Beach by old, monument-like pieces of driftwood. At South End Beach, visitors can observe flocks of shorebirds and seabirds. Several public beach access points are accessible to people with physical disabilities and may provide free beach wheelchairs. In addition, the water at the beaches is tested once a week year-round.

Away from the beach, the natural environment is also diverse. Jekyll Island encompasses more than 1,000 acres of maritime forest. The 0.7-mile Tupelo Trail forms a loop through several maritime plant communities. At Horton Pond, a wheelchair-accessible observation platform offers views across the entire pond.

Historic Traces and Cultural Insights

The Jekyll Island Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1978. Its history spans from around 1738, the period associated with the Horton-DuBignon House, to the late 19th century, when Jekyll Island became an exclusive hunting club for families such as the Rockefellers, Morgans, Vanderbilts, Pulitzers and Bakers. Tours of Faith Chapel highlight depictions of animals, terracotta grotesques, and Tiffany and Armstrong stained-glass windows.

A Landmark Trolley Tour travels through the 240-acre Historic District. It includes admission to a historic cottage as well as access to the Mosaic Gallery and Faith Chapel. The Wanderer Memory Trail uses interactive exhibits to tell the story of the Wanderer and the more than 400 enslaved Africans who were brought to Jekyll Island by ship. In connection with the arrival during the Middle Passage, the trail has been recognized as a “Site of Memory” by the UNESCO Slave Route Project. The Poulain Du Bignon and Du Bignon Burying Ground, with the graves of several members of the du Bignon family, and a historic plaque about “The Spanish on Jekyll Island” are also cultural points of interest.

Active Days and Special Experiences

More than 24 miles of roads and trails are available for bike rides, leading through dunes, along beaches and past historic sites. The Jekyll Island Tennis Center is a public tennis facility with 13 Har-Tru clay courts. The Great Dunes Course reinterprets Walter Travis’s 1927 course with sweeping views of the coast. Jekyll Island Mini Golf offers two 18-hole courses with different levels of difficulty.

At the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, visitors can learn more about sea turtles and observe their rehabilitation through interactive exhibits and experiences. Another program begins with a short presentation and then continues with a guided nighttime beach walk, during which participants learn about sea turtle nesting behavior and search for nesting animals. Tidelands offers kayaking tours, coastal ecology programs and nature walks. During a ranger-led walk by Jekyll Island Conservation, visitors can observe an active bald eagle nest; the history of a historic trail and the plant communities found there are also explained.

Options for Different Days of Travel

Even when interests vary, the range of options remains extensive: Jekyll Island Boat Tours offers dolphin tours, private group tours, shared shrimping ECO tours and sightseeing tours. Summer Waves Water Park ranges from leisurely rides on Turtle Creek to fast descents on the Rattlesnake Racer. Family-friendly activities, including horseback riding excursions, are offered at Driftwood Beach. The annual Turtle Crawl supports the important work of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center through the Jekyll Island Foundation.

For culinary experiences, the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival takes place in the Historic District. It features dishes with shrimp and grits as well as offerings from food trucks. The Jekyll Island Arts Association also organizes free monthly exhibitions at the Goodyear Cottage Gallery in the Historic District. Those arriving by vehicle should note that a parking fee is charged for all vehicles entering Jekyll Island.

Other Places in the Area

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Jekyll Island, you can find Sea Island, Country Club Estates, St. Simons Island and Brunswick here.

For the broader travel overview: Glynn.