Explore Nature and History: A Family-Friendly Experience on Jekyll Island

“Duck,” I shouted to my son, who pedaled his blue-colored cruiser bike a few feet behind mine. I’d rounded a corner on the dedicated cycling path and ridden into a curtain of Spanish moss hanging from an ancient oak. The lacy light green moss brushed my forehead, but given his height, Callum would get a mouthful if he didn’t hunch over the handlebars.

We were exploring Georgia’s Jekyll Island on 24 miles of paved bike paths that encircle and cross the 7-mile-long island, where many trees in the more than thousand acres of maritime forest are adorned with wispy Spanish moss.

Alongside part of the trail, we watched statuesque snow-white egrets hunt in salt marshes fed by the Atlantic Ocean. Jekyll Island has some of the most expansive salt marshes on the East Coast of the USA, and these areas are vital habitats for birds, plants, reptiles, and mammals. 

We travelled to Georgia’s most accessible barrier island to experience the renowned Southern hospitality and protected natural environment, but we quickly became interested in the island’s rich history.

Our destination was Horton House, the skeletal remains of a 1743 home and one of Georgia’s oldest surviving tabby buildings. We read that tabby or natural cement is made by burning oyster shells to create lime and mixing in sand, crushed shells, and water. This mixture is poured into construction forms to build structures.

After sipping water stored in the basket of our cruiser bikes, we turned back towards our hotel, the historic Jekyll Island Club, to return our bicycles before a croquet lesson and more immersion into the island’s storied past.

Horse-drawn carriages began delivering America’s elite to the Jekyll Island Club when it opened in January 1888. This exclusive retreat for some of the country’s wealthiest and most influential families represented one-sixth of the world’s wealth at that time. Club members, including J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, and the Vanderbilts, typically spent the winter season on Jekyll, soaking up the sun, swimming, golfing, hunting, and playing croquet.

The Jekyll Island Club closed in 1942 when members left the island due to World War II. The State of Georgia eventually purchased the island in 1947.

After a $20 million restoration to its original grandeur, Jekyll Island Club reopened as a historic hotel in 1987, offering guests a taste of Gilded Age glamour and an intriguing American history lesson. As tourism expanded on the island, so did hotels and amenities, but in a controlled manner. Development is limited to 35% of Jekyll Island, and the remaining 65% is preserved in its natural state.

In addition to preservation, and conservation and rehabilitation efforts are evident on Jekyll Island. We spent an afternoon learning about and observing turtles at Georgia’s only sea turtle education and rehabilitation center, located in the renovated power plant on the grounds of Jekyll Island Club. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center cares for sick and injured turtles and returns most of them to the ocean.

The 10 miles of beaches on Jekyll Island are critical habitat for loggerhead sea turtles. Sea turtle hatching season typically is from August through October. This is the best time for nature lovers to potentially watch turtle hatchlings emerge from their nest and crawl down the sand and into the ocean.

Bottlenose dolphins are another creature living in the ocean surrounding Jekyll Island. We joined a sunset dolphin cruise on St Andrews Sound departing from the pier at the Jekyll Island Club. Shortly after our departure, the captain slowed near a freshwater source where manatees often drink. We watched and waited, but sadly, the manatees weren’t thirsty. Before too long, a group of dolphins, including a mother, her calf, and her nanny, began trailing our boat. We learned that calves nurse for three years and stay with their mother for six years, along with another single female who helps out.

On our last full day, we paired our nature-rich experiences with more of the island’s intriguing history. After exploring Mosaic, the Jekyll Island Museum, we hopped on an apple-red trolley pulled by a matching tractor for a guided tour of the Landmark Historic District and a peek inside a few of the refurbished buildings.

Spread over 240 acres, the Historic District comprises 34 historic buildings, including the Jekyll Island Club, Faith Chapel, and cottages constructed during The Club era. Cherokee Cottage, built in 1904 with tall windows framed by elegant green shutters, was a favorite. We were thrilled to discover the fully refurbished cottage contains 10 guest rooms and is bookable as a private luxury retreat or as individual guest rooms.

We heard more about the island’s compelling history before returning to Mosaic. “Hope to see you again soon,” exclaimed Ray, our Historic District tour guide, as we stepped off the trolley at the end of the tour before adding, “Everyone returns to Jekyll Island.” After five days on Jekyll, we feel like Ray is right.

Good to Know

Jekyll Island Club Resort includes two sister properties. The Jekyll Island Club, located in the Landmark Historic District, and the beachfront Jekyll Ocean Club, an all-suite property with Atlantic Ocean views, opened in 2017. Jekyll Ocean Club is located on the other side of the island and is a scenic 6-minute hotel shuttle ride away.

Jekyll Island Club has been a Historic Hotels Worldwide charter member since 2013.

Jekyll Island is about a one-hour drive from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and 90 minutes from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV).