Hotel at a Glance: Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Originally imagined as a tony hunting club for the nation’s Victorian elite, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel now hosts a new generation of guests looking for a relaxing escape to Georgia’s barrier islands. Traditional rooms reflect the hotel’s era-hopping charms, with Victorian-style furnishings and flourishes coexisting beside modern amenities including flat screen TVs and wireless internet.

• Take a dip in the outdoor pool, or watch the ocean waves from the hotel’s private beach pavilion.
• Eat well at the hotel’s many dining establishments, which range from an elegant full-service restaurant that once welcomed Rockefellers and Vanderbilts to a convivial pub showing the latest sports. This deal includes a $20 daily dining credit at the Grand Dining Room, the Courtyard at Crane Cottage, the cafes, the pub, or the pool bar.
• Outdoor sports: Croquet and tennis have been offered at the hotel since it opened in the 19th century. You can also go golfing, take a horseback ride, or rent a bike (additional fees apply).
• Pamper yourself with an in-room massage, or a trip to the hotel’s salon and spa (additional fees apply).
• Notable awards: In addition to a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, the hotel was also honored as one of Travel & Leisure’s top 500 resorts in the world. The resort is also a National Historic Landmark, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jekyll Island, Georgia: Kayaking, Golf, and Pristine Beaches

Situated 75 miles south of Savannah, Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s famed Golden Isles, a quartet of barrier islands that hug the Atlantic coastline. Jekyll Island was once the exclusive winter playground of wealthy families including the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Pulitzers. You can catch a glimpse of their stately summer cottages by touring the Jekyll Island Historic District.

Today, visitors flock to the island to kayak through salt marshes, embark on chartered fishing tours, or play rounds at the island’s four golf courses. The popular Driftwood Beach on the north shore is a prime spot for watching birds and collecting seashells.

The area’s tidal creeks attract a plethora of wildlife, including dolphins, fiddler crabs, and shorebirds such as egrets and herons. The island is also home to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, a hospital for ill and injured sea turtles. The public is welcome to tour the facility and learn about ongoing conservation efforts.

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