Top Things to Do on Jekyll Island

At the end of the causeway, you'll step into another world, one that has rejuvenated visitors for generations. With its wide secluded beaches, stretches of green and graceful remnants of an illustrious past, Jekyll Island casts a gentle spell on all who visit. Play a round on Georgia's largest public resort course and experience Jekyll Island golf, take a gander at the state's only rehabilitation center for injured sea turtles, check out the Jekyll Island water park, or camp on Jekyll Island campground. Not to be missed: a leisurely tram tour of the island's National Historic Landmark District, once the enclave of Gilded Age denizens, and Mosaic, the Jekyll Island museum. Regardless of your preference for nature or culture, your interest will be piqued, your soul nourished, your escape complete. Begin planning your trip by viewing Jekyll Island hotels and Jekyll Island restaurants

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Must-Do Jekyll Island Experiences

Check out Jekyll Island Restaurants 

Dining on Jekyll Island is a more than unique experience. A variety of restaurants offer stunning, oceanfront views as well as the best of coastal cuisine. Uncovering Jekyll Island's culinary scene is a must when visiting Georgia's coast. Discover the eight best restaurants on Jekyll Island.

Couple dining at 24 Coastal Grill

Jekyll Island Camping

Adventure lovers will enjoy camping on Jekyll Island Campground. Stay under mighty live oaks and spend your time discovering the unique, scenic landscapes that the island has to offer. Fully immerse yourself in nature as you enjoy coastal activities. View our guide to camping on Jekyll Island.

Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum

Take a step back in time by taking a visit to the Mosaic Museum. Throughout its history, Jekyll Island is a place where people have imagined an alternative. The museum guides you through the island's rich cultural and natural history. In-depth and interactive exhibits draw you in, while stunning visuals and audio tell the tales of the island. 

Jekyll Island Mosaic Museum

Jekyll Island Golf

Golf is another popular activity on Jekyll Island. Golf on some of the country's most spectacular and widely acclaimed courses with lush, natural beauty and delightfully inviting year-round weather. Jekyll Island Golf Club is Georgia’s largest public golf course, with three 18-hole golf courses and a 9-hole Great Dunes course. 

Jekyll Island Annual Events

Jekyll Island is known for its robust lineup of vibrant annual events. Visitors come from all over to attend the annual Shrimp & Grits Festival and celebrate a dish that's iconic to the Golden Isles. The holiday season on Jekyll Island is also particularly special. Holly Jolly Jekyll is an annual event featuring Jekyll Island Christmas lights, a holiday parade, and a series of other holiday events.

Visit Driftwood Beach, Nature's Sculpture Garden

On the northern end of Jekyll Island, between the campground and Villas by the Sea Resort, you'll discovered gnarled ghostly shapes: tree trunks, some bleached by the wind and sun, their twisted branches outstretched toward the sky. Enjoy a picnic under one of these weathered sculptures, string a hammock or pose for a picture next to one of the massive old limbs. Driftwood Beach is dog-friendly and also serves as an ideal spot for stargazing or even exchanging wedding vows.

Sunrise on Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia

Uncover Unique Stained Glass

Louis Comfort Tiffany illustrated the biblical story of King David in brilliant stained glass at Faith Chapel's memorial to Frederick Gilbert Bourne, president of Singer Sewing Machine Company and Jekyll Island Club, who died in 1919. Faith Chapel can be visited daily between 12-4 p.m. Admission is included with the purchase of any Historic Landmark District tour or can be purchased onsite for $5/person. Learn more.

Delight in a Peaceful Pond

Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature - turtles, alligators, nesting birds - from the wheelchair-accessible observation deck of Horton Pond. Feeling adventurous? Learn about native flora, such as the tupelo trees on the surrounding .07-mile Tupelo Trail. Discover more nature & hiking trails. 

Jekyll Island Nature Trail in Golden Isles

Strike Up a Game of Croquet

Guests of Jekyll Island Club Resort can test their skill on the resort's croquet lawn or sit courtside while pros clad in white best one another at this genteel sport enjoyed by the leisure class for 170 years.

Cool off at a Water Park

Amid the peace and serenity of Jekyll Island is an exciting family attraction - Summer Waves Water Park. Known for its cool, refreshing waters, pristine surroundings, and amazing views of the Jekyll River, Summer Waves offers a variety of ways to beat the summertime heat. From lazy laps around Turtle Creek to high-speed thrills down Pirate's Passage, there's no limit to the special memories you'll make.

Take in all of the Glory at Glory Beach

After your wild rides, venture south to Glory Beach, a shooting location for the 1989 film Glory. Situated next to the Jekyll Island Soccer Complex, a vestige of the movie's production, Glory Boardwalk, allows you to traverse untouched dunes and freshwater pools, and on clear days, catch sight of Cumberland Island in the distance.

A long boardwalk to Jekyll Island's Glory Beach
Glory Beach Boardwalk

Jekyll Island Fun Facts

1. Jekyll Island is a 5,500-acre island with 10 miles of beautiful shoreline. Only 35% of the island is developed since the land is owned and protected by the State of Georgia.

2. You can experience what it was like to live on Jekyll Island as far back as the 1700s - Visit the Horton House or the Jekyll Island Historic District to get a taste!

3. Jekyll Island boasts over 20 miles of bike paths - making biking the best way to get around the island!

4. There are no traffic signals on Jekyll Island!

5. Jekyll Island’s Georgia Sea Turtle Center is the first of its kind in Georgia – and it focuses purely on natural preservation, including sea turtle research, rehabilitation, and education. You can even meet some patients when you visit!

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