What to Do on Jekyll Island for the Perfect Vacation
The Wharf restaurant on the East River
We’ve got you covered on what to do on Jekyll Island, Georgia!
This island might be small, but it is PACKED with history and opportunities for family fun.
In fact, we love Jekyll Island and have returned again and again—so much so that we’ve stayed in just about every hotel on the island and explored every square inch.
Below, you’ll find inspiration to help you plan your Jekyll Island vacation. Your family will never want to leave!
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through these links, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
Portions of this post were written after a press trip to Jekyll Island. I’ve since visited 4 times on my own. All opinions are my own.
Updated 7/2022 | Written 10/2014
What to Do on Your Jekyll Island Vacation
1) Learn about the history of the island.
The original Jekyll Island Club
The thing I love the most about Jekyll Island is its incredible history!
A group of elite families turned this island into their winter retreat and hunting grounds during the Golden Age.
They built the Jekyll Island Club in the late 1800s and changed this island forever.
>> Read more about the Jekyll Island Club Resort history. <<
Today, you can stay in the Jekyll Island Club Resort and feel as if you’re at one of their 5 hour long dinners or mingling with the Astors and Carnegies.
The incredible property is worth—at least—a quick walkthrough on your Jekyll Island vacation, but I highly recommend a stay at the Jekyll Island Club Resort to really get a feel for this historic location.
>> Book your stay at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. <<
I also recommend taking the historic district tram tour as this will allow you to cover the entire district and not just the hotel.
The adorable tram appeals to all ages, making this one of the top Jekyll Island family activities!
2) Duck into the historic cottages.
Elsewhere on the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club Resort, there are the historic cottages that are open to the public.
The term “cottages” here is used loosely, as some of them have ten or more rooms, and are more than 3,000 square feet!
However, to the original residents, these buildings are cottages when compared to something like the Biltmore House, which club members the Vanderbilts lived in.
The cottages were built when the hotel's famous residents wanted a bit more room to spread out than the regular rooms in the original Club building could provide.
3) Explore the driftwood beach.
The author and her husband at Driftwood Beach
All the way north on the island is a gorgeous driftwood beach.
While it’s not well signposted, the beach is worth the trouble of finding it.
You’ll be treated to more than a mile of sun bleached, uprooted trees once you walk the short path from the road.
This isn’t the beach that’s best for swimming on Jekyll Island due to the strong, dangerous currents, but it is the PERFECT place to go for a long walk at sunset.
>> Learn more about the Jekyll Island driftwood beach here. <<
4) Shop and eat at the Beach Village.
The island has two distinct shopping areas.
PIN ME!
The first area is just past the roundabout on Main Street. This center is called Beach Village, and it has everything from gourmet snacks to souvenir t-shirts.
Beach Village is relatively new, and there are some great shops in it. For our picnic during our anniversary trip, we loaded up on freshly made salads and sides from Jekyll Market.
Tonya’s Treasures offers up personalized shirts and cups, as well as stylish resort wear.
If you get hungry, there are plenty of options.
Inside Jekyll Market is Love Shack BBQ, which serves up shredded pork sandwiches and fried shrimp.
We also enjoyed the Sunrise Grille, which had piled high stacks of nachos and live music in the evenings.
5) Get the perfect souvenir in the historic district.
Live oak trees in the historic district
Over in the historic district near the Jekyll Island Club, you can shop in the buildings that were converted out of the old cottages and Club support buildings.
Cotton and Copper has unique jewelry and gifts with a boho twist, while the Island House has local art, clothing, and books.
Don’t forget to grab some fudge or pralines at the Island Sweets Shoppe!
5) Take a bike ride.
While you could drive to all of these places on the island, the best way to get around is by bike!
If you’re staying at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, head over to Jekyll Wheels, which is just behind the Pantry shop.
Driving my trike to dinner
We rented from here on our last trip to Jekyll Island, and I loved my adult tricycle. It was so much fun to pack my picnic basket in the back and cycle around the island.
If you’re staying oceanfront, there are two other bike rental places that will be more convenient: the Jekyll Bike Barn on North Beachview Drive next to Jekyll Island mini golf, and the Beachside Bike Rentals on South Beachview Drive near the Days Inn and Suites.
Once you’ve got your bike, you’ll want to hit the trails!
Beachview Drive circles the entire island, and there’s a wide, paved sidewalk parallel to it.
You can also try the South Loop Trail, which provides a scenic route through the forest in the middle of the island.
6) Support conservation efforts at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Inside the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Learn about the sea turtles that call this part of the Atlantic Ocean home, and meet the people who are working hard to protect them.
Here, you’ll be able to see several sea turtles who are in rehabilitation. Most of the turtles here are eventually released to the wild when they’re strong enough.
Additionally, each visitor is given an interactive punch card that helps them learn about an imaginary sea turtle who might end up at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
It’s a hands-on way to show the effects of humans on the environment.
>> Learn more about our visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. <<
7) Visit Shark Tooth Beach.
This beach isn’t great for sun bathing, but it IS great for finding a fossilized shark tooth or two!
Ride your bike along the path from South Riverview Drive. The bike path turns to the right just below the lake near Summer Waves water park.
On the beach, sift through the sand between the oyster shells and the surf. You might find a shark’s tooth or a piece of ancient pottery!
8) Splash at Summer Waves water park.
Cool down with a day at this fun property. Located on the southern part of the island near the river, this water park has huge water slides, a lazy river, and a splash zone for little kids.
For the ultimate in relaxation, rent one of the covered, private cabanas.
No Jekyll Island family vacation is complete with out a trip here. Plan to go Monday-Thursday for fewer crowds and deals on the cabanas.
9) Catch dinner at the Jekyll Island Fishing Pier.
Fishing on the Jekyll Island pier | source
Make your way to the northern end of the island to this popular fishing spot.
You’ll also find this area is great for crabbing!
Get fishing tips and gear from the nearby fishing center to make your trip even better.
The property offers free grills for use if you’d like to cook up your fish or crab for your family.
Would you like to plan a Jekyll Island vacation?
