Jekyll Island, Georgia

Once an exclusive getaway for America’s elite, Jekyll Island was purchased for public use in 1947 by the state of Georgia. Sixty-five percent of the island will never be developed.

Jekyll is the smallest of Georgia’s barrier islands. An Englishman first colonized Jekyll in the 1730s – you can feel the crumbling oyster shells of his tabby-constructed house, one of Georgia’s oldest structures.

We walked for hours along driftwood beaches and rode bikes on paved roads in the marshes. Damp from summer humidity, we were grateful for the shade of magnolias and oaks along seaside paths. Spanish moss sways from tree canopies, tickling this island with true Southern charm.

Loggerhead turtles lay eggs in the summer on white sand Atlantic beaches. If you don’t see turtles nesting at night, check out Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s museum and hospital, rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles.

One of the last slave ships to reach America landed on Jekyll in 1858. A moving memorial about slavery is located at a beachside picnic area.

Nearby airports are in Jacksonville or Savannah. For cottage/condominium rentals, we contacted Parker-Kaufman Realty.