Creating your own adventure on the island is easy, thanks to myriad ways to fill your days, from nature-centered activities to history highlights to focused beach time. Pick a morning activity to set the tone and see where the day takes you.
By Lauren Finney Harden
Early Morning
Sleep in: Part of the beauty of Jekyll Island is the ability to take things at any speed you choose. Practice the art of doing nothing and start your day when it suits you best.
Take a sunrise beach walk: Oceanview Beach Park is the perfect place to watch the day begin, thanks to its east-facing position. Stroll over from a nearby hotel or hop in your car and make the short drive to catch the start of a new day.
Get caffeinated: Golden Isles favorite, Wake Up Coffee Company, has a new location in the heart of Jekyll’s historic district. Start your day with handcrafted espresso drinks and homemade baked goods. Pro tip: Try the Turtle Mocha, which is whipped up with caramel and chocolate.
Mid-Morning
Explore history at your own pace: Horton House is one of the oldest surviving tabby structures in Georgia. Rent a bike from the Jekyll Island Museum and bike four miles to the north end of the island. Take a self-guided tour of the remains of the building, which was built in 1743 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wonder at wildlife: Head to ADA-accessible Horton Pond on the north end of the island to glimpse alligators, birds, turtles, fish, and more in their natural habitat at one of the best spots on the island to see animals in action. Tupelo Trail, a 0.7-mile nature trail, loops the pond for more immersion in the natural world. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
Hook a line: Gear up at Pier Road Outfitters before heading to the Clam Creek fishing pier on the north end of the island. Secure live bait at the Jekyll Island Fishing Center to try your hand at catching redfish, speckled trout, or sheepshead. Be sure to grab a year-long fishing license from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, which can be done online.
Late Morning
Support the sea turtles: Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the only education and research facility in the state devoted to the rehabilitation of sea turtles and other native wildlife like marsh-dwelling diamondback terrapins. Indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits and programming are appropriate for all ages, while a 45-minute behind-the-scenes tour is available for those over age 10.
Reflect on the past: Walk the Wanderer Memory Trail, which explains the story of one of America’s last known slave ships that illegally came ashore over 160 years ago on the banks of the Jekyll River with more than 400 enslaved Africans. Individual exhibits at this UNESCO Slave Route Project “Site of Memory” take visitors through the story of one young African boy as he goes from capture to freedom.
Get out on the water: Head to 4-H Tidelands Nature Center on S. Riverview Drive for a guided kayak tour, which begins on the salt marsh near Tidelands Pond. See egrets, herons, fiddler crabs, and potentially dolphins and manatees over two hours on the water. If you want to explore on your own, the nature center, which is run by the University of Georgia, offers a comprehensive self-guided tour.
Noon
Plan a picnic: Georgia Grown Signature Shoppe in the Historic District offers everything needed for a picturesque picnic. In partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the store has locally sourced goods such as fresh produce, refreshing sips from Montane Sparkling Water, and a sweet pick-me-up from Dillon Candy Company out of Boston, GA.
Feed a crowd: Red Bug Motors Pizza has been slinging handmade pies on the island for over a decade. Order local favorites like the Redbug, which comes with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and black olives, or twists on classics like the Hawaiian Overload. This island-inspired pizza comes loaded with ham, salami, red onions, pineapple, and green peppers. Take a seat in the Old English pub-inspired dining room, or head outside to the adjacent ADA playground to let kids burn off energy while you wait for takeout.
Satisfy with sandwiches: Local cult favorite Larry’s Giant Subs on Main Street in Beach Village has an array of beach-ready subs, salads, and New York-style deli sandwiches like corned beef on rye or pastrami to fill bellies before a requisite beach nap.
Afternoon
Nurture natural curiosity: Prioritize conservation and pick a naturalist program to dig deep into the island’s efforts. Options include a Ranger Walk to see bald eagle nests, Gatorology to get hands-on experience with one of nature’s most mystifying creatures, or a spot in the Snakes of the Southeast program, an up-close encounter where these misunderstood reptiles get the focus they deserve.
Browse boutiques and more: Acquire unique gifts at the District Shops in the Historic District. Peruse Pier Road Outfitters for outdoor essentials, North Pole South for a bit of Christmas cheer all year long, and J.P. & Co. Gilded Age Photo Studio for a step back into times past. 31•81, a Jekyll Island Lifestyle Shop, has upscale souvenirs from brands like Southern Tide, Comfort Colors, Smathers & Branson, Dune Jewelry, and more.
Be a beach bum: Head to Driftwood Beach, one of the world’s best and most photographed beaches. Ancient driftwood structures create an otherworldly landscape, perfect for photo ops, family play time, and contemplating life.
Dinner
Meal with a view: Book a table timed to sunset for a front-row seat to nature’s most spectacular show at The Wharf, walking distance from the Historic District. Complement it with peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters on the half shell, or a Lowcountry boil—all accompanied by live music.
Get social: Craft cocktails and local beers on tap bring the party to Founder’s Social on Pier Road. Pretend you’re a Gilded Age darling while you sip cold drinks and enjoy fast casual food in the outdoor bar and beer garden.
Eat and stroll: Fill your belly as you eat your way through Beach Village’s shops and restaurants. Start at Love Shack BBQ Shrimp and Yard Bird in Jekyll Market for barbecue or Corridor Z Kitchen & Cocktails for light apps like shrimp tacos and crab cakes. Head to McGarvey’s Wee Pub for a heaping serving of its award-winning butter pecan bread pudding topped with caramel and whipped cream. Walk it off by browsing Beach Village shops post-meal.
Evening
Hit a hole in one: Two 18-hole mini golf courses will delight both beginners and more advanced players at Jekyll Island Mini Golf. So will larger-than-life structures such as shark jaws and the Brontosaurus, which has stood ferociously since the course opened in the 1960s.
See stars: Grab binoculars, a blanket, and a star app of your choice to identify constellations and head to Glory Beach or St. Andrew’s Beach. These spots have optimal viewing, preferably on new moon nights or one to two days before or after, when the sky is darkest. Use a red LED flashlight from May to October to help preserve your night vision and keep any nesting sea turtles on their path.
Get sweet: Make a stop at Jekyll Island Sweets on Pier Road to grab an evening treat. Delight in old-fashioned confectionery items like fudge, chocolate-covered Oreos, chocolate turtles, brownies, and divinity, a light and airy Southern treat. If ice cream is more your speed, choose from more than a dozen housemade flavors in the ice cream parlor, (bourbon butter pecan and peach cobbler are local faves). If you’re lucky, you can catch a candy-making demonstration.
