Best Kept Secrets/Jekyll Island, Ga

A travel journal to Jekyll Island by leakyoleboat

One of the last "unspoiled" destinations on the East Coast, this preserved historic site is a little known and mostly undeveloped island off the coast of Georgia. Jekyll Island offers what folks "used" to go to Florida for: great weather, natural beauty, and brief glimpses of the past.

  • 5 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
During the summer there is a great outdoor theatre that hosts professional actors and directors as well as students. The three productions rotate nightly and are all top-notch. As a family location, the first play of the year is a top-quality children's show--Charlie Brown, Schoolhouse Rock, and more. The other two plays are usually classics that continue to deliver the best in entertainment: Hello Dolly, Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, etc., coupled with a lesser known but equally entertaining off-Broadway favorite.

Winter guests find much activity here, and JI is a senior's delight. Ten hotels hold nightly activities open to the public that include cards, sewing, cooking, cocktail parties, golf outings, tennis outings, bingo, picnics, game nights, shrimp boils, tea tastings, wine tastings, and more. There are a couple of events every day so you never run out of things to do all winter, and most of them are cost-free to the guests, a real bonus for seniors wintering in the South.

Quick Tips:

Stay at the Villas by the Sea, an ocean-front condominium resort with full kitchens. Nestled under huge live oak trees with five boardwalk accesses to the beach, each one-, two- or three-bedroom apartment is individually decorated and you feel right at home the moment you walk in. Bring your own groceries; buy the four-day or annual parking pass as you enter the island so you can come and go freely to enjoy all the Georgia coast has to offer. Terrific optional vacation choice for a family.

Best Way To Get Around:

Located 7 miles off the mainland and reached by a causeway, this secluded island is known as a biking haven. There are fifty miles of bike trails that wind through moss-covered trees, along the marshes, and next to the beach. Bikes are available for rent at every hotel and most businesses on the island.

For boat lovers, you will find a class-A marina, and for private pilots, a well-maintained small airport.

Charming individually owned and decorated condominium apartments are on the beach, yet nestled under huge oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Each unit is fully self-contained, including dishes, pots, coffee makers, and toasters. There is a Tiki hut next to the oversized pool, five boardwalks to the beach, and a huge conference center on property for meetings, groups and weddings. The Riptides lounge provides the best entertainment on the island nightly, including karaoke on the weekends. Surf Steakhouse restaurant has the best steaks on the island. An oceanside gazebo is the perfect host of numerous oceanfront weddings.

The hotel certainly lives up to its three-star Mobil rating. Each unit is individually owned and decorated, but all are clean and very comfortable. See more at www.jekyllislandga.com

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by leakyoleboat on September 10, 2003

Villas By The Sea
1175 N Beachview Dr Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527
1-912-635-2521

Surf Steak House TheBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Surf Steakhouse"

Very romantic evening setting with soft lights and a live piano musician. Great service.

The food is excellent. I recommend the steak salad or the grilled tuna steak. They specialize in steaks and seafood; the house steak is a grand porterhouse. Nightly specials (not open for lunch). Breakfast is good and hot; order off the menu, not the buffet.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by leakyoleboat on September 17, 2003

Surf Steak House The
1175 N Beachview Drive Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527
(912) 635-3588

A summertime outdoor amphitheatre with three top-flight productions that rotate nightly. You can stay on the island a few days and see them all. Being a family island, the first production of the year is always a well-known children's presentation--What's New Charlie Brown, The Ugly Duckling, etc. Then there is always a top "Broadway" production--Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma, State Fair--and the third production is a top-quality off-Broadway show. All are professionally directed, acted, and presented in the cool of the evening under the stars. A summer must for the Jekyll Island visitor.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by leakyoleboat on September 17, 2003

Jekyll Island Amphitheatre
100 Riverview Drive Jekyll Island, Georgia
(912) 635-4060

Riptides LoungeBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The "in place" to be on Jekyll Island. Nightly entertainment, good drinks, friendly bartenders. Karaoke on weekends. Two 52" televisions for the sports fans. The gathering place on Jekyll Island...this is where the fun is.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by leakyoleboat on September 17, 2003

Riptides Lounge
1175 North Beachview Drive Jekyll Island, Georgia
(912) 635-3588

Quiet, peaceful, great weather, no traffic--not even any traffic lights--winter events daily, which are often free to the public. Golf, Tennis, Historic site, museums. Wonderful one, two and three bedroom condominiums with full kitchens: stay a month or stay all winter. You will find the owners of these units take excellent care. They are clean and well stocked. This is the life style you used to go to Florida for. Your rental often includes all utilities with cable and phone (no deposits to make), ready to move in.

Located on the beach but nestled among huge beautiful live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. This island used to be inhabitated only by millionaires but is now affordable to all.

WEEKLY AND MONTHLY RATES - EXCELLENT PRICES

About the Writer

leakyoleboat
leakyoleboat
Waverly, Georgia

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.