Jekyll Island, Georgia - Georgia's exclusive island retreat

Jekyll Island, Georgia - Georgia's exclusive island retreat

By Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong

If your idea of a dream vacation is 1) near beautiful beaches 2) relaxing 
3) historically significant, then we highly recommend Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Jekyll Island became a winter escape for our country's wealthy families after it was purchased in 1886 and became known as Jekyll Island Club.  For more than a half century it was an exclusive retreat for  the most elite Americans including 
the Rockefellers, Morgans, Pultzers and Goulds.

For history buffs, the Jekyll Island Museum has three historic sites, the Horton House, the Wanderer Memorial and the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District which 
tell the stories of and give an inside look at the lives of those wealthy club members and their employees. The Jekyll Island Club House, which was built in 1887, is another one of the must-see historic attractions on the island.

The island has over 10 miles of unspoiled beaches. Don’t miss Driftwood Beach on the northern tip of the island.  Be sure to bring your camera. 

Fishing charters, kayak tours, dolphin tours and sailing trips are offered throughout the year.

For the visitor who likes to shop, there are many unique shops throughout the island. If you are a golfer Jekyll Island has the largest public golf resort in the entire state of Georgia 
with 63 holes on three 18 hole courses and a historic 9 hole course.

The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival  held 09/17/2010 to 09/19/2010 is a weekend celebration of two of Georgia’s most beloved foods, shrimp and grits.  The festival features a cook-off, shrimp boat tours, cooking demonstrations, book signings, arts and crafts vendors and a kid friendly fun zone.

The Georgia Coast Birding and Nature Festival held 10/07/2010 to 10/10/2010 has something for everyone from birding experts to the novice naturalist. Some of the activities include star gazing, outdoor field trips, nature walks for kids and much more.

Jekyll Island has a variety of hotels, resorts and rental cottages for all budgets and the Jekyll Island Campground has 206 campsites from tent sites to full RV hookups. 

If your idea of a perfect vacation is relaxing at a beautiful beach in a historic area where the wealthiest Americans once played, then we recommend Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Jekyll Island is a short drive from both Jacksonville, FL and Savannah, GA. Savannah offers an annual PRIDE festival in September and is home to Club One, its most famous LGBT bar/disco. Jacksonville hosts the RIVER CITY PRIDE FESTIVAL each October and has over half a dozen gay bars and restaurants.


By Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong. Copyright Sunny Harbor Publishing. Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com

Keywords: Jekyll Island, GA, Georgia, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong, Gay Travelers Magazine, RIVER CITY PRIDE FESTIVAL,