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Jekyll Island Golf, Other Activities & Attractions

Jekyll Island golf courses are renown for their history and beauty. You can also enjoy biking, kayaking, boating, fishing and many more ways to explore this beautiful island and its attractions.

Jekyll Island Beach Access
 Photo by Hyku

Jekyll is a quiet island where visitors find a relaxing escape and natural coastal beauty, along with a few surprising activities for the kids, including mini-putt and a water park.

The unique historic disctrict and Georgia Sea Turtle Center offer exciting lessons in the history, culture and ecology of Jekyll Island.

Here are a few great ways to explore this beautiful island.


Jekyll Island Golf

Golf enthusiasts can enjoy any of the Jekyll Island golf courses which include three public 18-hole courses and one public 9-hole course.

  • Indian Mound: Named for the large oyster shell middens deposited by aboriginal tribes hundreds of years prior, this course winds through the island's beautiful lakes and marshes.

  • Oceanside Course: This 9-hole course offers 3 sets of teeboxes for a fun, yet challenging experience.

  • Oleander: Created in 1964, this local favorite sits only 300 yards from the ocean. Oleander features numerous par 4's and 5's and an added challenge sometimes posed by the ocean winds.

  • Pine Lakes: The longest of the four courses, Pine Lakes was originally designed and built in 1968 and renovated in 2002. The course meanders through maritime forests and undisturbed hammocks. Some claim Pine Lakes is the premier course on Jekyll Island. It also incorporates "Family Friendly" tee boxes, allowing players of all ages to compete evenly. Pine Lakes is the site of the annual US Kids Golf Jekyll Island Cup.

The Jekyll Island Golf Academy offers instruction, including private lessons, group & corporate clinics, short game schools, as well as 1 and 3 day commuter schools. You pick your dates for your school based on your vacation and the availability of instructors.


Jekyll Island Tennis

Tennis is another highlight on Jekyll Island. The Jekyll Island Tennis Center was selected by Tennis Magazine as one of the "25 Best Municipal Tennis Facilities" in the country. 13 fast-dry clay courts are tucked among the live oaks and pines. Seven courts are lighted for night play. Private and group lessons are available and if you'd like to play but don't have a partner, the Tennis Center will match you with a partner. Adult clinics, round-robins, and junior summer tennis camps are available. Tel: 912-635-3154.


Jekyll Island Biking

Jekyll Island Bike Path
 Photo by Hyku

Biking is one of the best ways to explore the island's lush scenery as well as points of interest like the historic district. More than 20 miles of pave trails wind through Jekyll Island and the hard-packed sandy beaches are excellent for bikes. Pick up a free bike path map from the Jekyll Island Welcome Center or the bike barn on Shell Road or at your bike shop (most will provide maps).


    » IMPORTANT TIP: Keep the bike shop's number with you as you ride. If you get a flat or need a repair while you're out, most places will come to you to fix it or bring you back to the shop. Check with the shop you choose when you rent to make sure they provide this service. You may not need it, but if you do, it can save your whole day!

  • If you are staying at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, you can arrange bike rentals at the front desk.

  • Bike rentals are also available adjacent to the island’s miniature golf course, batting cage and children’s playground. Tel: 912-635-2648.


Jekyll Island Kayaking

Kayaking through the island's salt marshes and estuaries is a highlight among Jekyll activities and a great way to explore the island's coastal habitat up close. Guests of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel can arrange tours through the concierge.

Kayak and canoe tours are provided by the Tidelands Nature Center which offers:

Jekyll Island Marsh
 Photo by MoultrieCreek
  • A three-hour guided tour along Jekyll Creek led by an experienced naturalist,
  • Canoe rentals for self-guided exploration of Jekyll Island’s Rixen Pond, and
  • Sea Kayaks for saltwater excursions.

To make a reservation, call the Tidelands Nature Center at 912-635-5032.


Dolphin-watching & Eco-tours

Glide through the maritime forest or get out on the water and meet the native Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins that live and play off the sea islands. Check out these charter companies for Jekyll Island tours that help you explore the Island's ecosystem:

  • Atlantic Water Adventures: Departs from Jekyll Harbor Marina. Offers a 90 minute dolphin watching tours as well as inshore, offshore, and night shark fishing.

  • Coastal Georgia Charters & Tours: Departs from the Jekyll Wharf Marina. Offers dolphin watching tours, hands-on, educational ecotours during which various species are collected and examined using trawl nets, and fishing charters.

  • Jekyll Island Fun Tours: Take a nature tour by Segway through the maritime forest on south end of the Island. Located at 50 Ben Fortson Pkwy. Tel: 912-635-9704.


Charter Fishing

Feel the thrill of fishing for Speckled Sea Trout, Red Bass, Flounder, Whiting, King and Spanish Mackerel, Shark, Tarpon and more in the teeming waters off Jekyll and St. Simons Islands. Here are a few companies that will be happy to take you out for a day at sea:

  • Atlantic Water Adventures: Departs from Jekyll Harbor Marina. Offers inshore, offshore, and night shark fishing. Also offers 90 minute dolphin watching tours.

  • Coastal Expeditions: Departs daily from the Jekyll Harbor Marina. Specializing in one on one, instructional treatment. Bait, tackle, fishing license, and ice are provided. Book in advance.

  • Coastal Georgia Charters & Tours: Offers partyboat, inshore and nearshore fishing, as well as dolphin watching tours and educational ecotours. Departs from the Jekyll Wharf Marina.

  • Creekside Charters: Departs from Jekyll Island. Offers inshore and nearshore fishing. Also offers fishy-fun for kids.

  • Offshore Charters: Departs from Jekyll Harbor Marina. Offers inshore, offshore, and night shark fishing.


Jekyll Island Horseback Riding

Explore the island the old-fashioned way! Ride along the beach with:

Driftwood Beach
 Photo by normanack

  • Victoria's Carriages & Trail Rides: Ride through the maritime forest, salt marshes and along beautiful Driftwood Beach. Rides leave from Clam Creek Road (across from the campground) on the north end of Jekyll Island. Note that they are closed on Sundays.



The Jekyll Island Historic District

Jekyll IslandHistoric District
 Photo by Hyku

This unique feature of the island is one attraction not to be missed during your stay! The 200-acre historic district is home to a collection of 33 buildings constructed by America's wealthiest families from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Some buildings are open for overnight stays and tours, or have been converted into shops. The Historic District also features cottages built by these well-do-to families near the turn of the 20th century.


Here are a few highlights and great ways to enjoy the Historic District:

  • The Jekyll Island Museum houses 7,000 photographs portraying the island’s heritage and artifacts from the Jekyll Island Club's heydays as well as from archaeological research conducted on the area's Native American and Colonial past. Tel: 912-635-4036.

  • Jekyll Island Museum Tram Tours are arguably the best way to see and learn about the historic district. "Passport to the Century" is a 90 minutes ride which includes entry into two of the historic cottages. Additional specialized tours available for groups include: Folklore, Rumor and Myth, Builders and Blueprints, Great Women of Jekyll Island, Pirates and Plantations, and more! Tours begin at the History Orientation Center (Historic Stables) located on the east side of the District on Stable Road.

  • Victoria's Carriages & Trail Rides: A more authentic way to explore the Historic District is via a narrated carriage ride. See the cottages of Rockefeller, Macy, Goodyear, Faith Chapel and many others. A hay wagon is also available for larger groups. Note that the carriage ride provider is closed on Sundays.

  • Jekyll Books at the Old Infirmary is a highlight of the historic village. With a different theme in each room, you'll find countless unique items and gifts.


The Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Loggerhead Turtle
 Photo by Coda

This Jekyll Island facility conducts Sea Turtle rehabilitation and offers educational programs about these magnificent creatures and Georgia's conservation efforts to protect them.

Tour the Center's sea turtle hospital and view the recovering patients! Check out the museum where exhibits teach conservation, rehabilitation, and the life of a sea turtle. Children will love Arribada Adventures – a program for you and them which includes hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration. Night time turtle walks along the beach educate visitors on Sea Turtle nesting habits and visitors may get to see a real Jekyll Island turtle crawl. The center offers a few events throughout the year so check their online schedule to see what's going on during your stay.


Tidelands Nature Center

This hands-on educational experience teaches visitors about the native flora and fauna of Jekyll Island. In addition to nature tours and kayak and canoe rentals, the Center's featured exhibits include:

  • Saltwater Exhibit – Live baby loggerhead sea turtles, crabs, baby alligators, freshwater turtles, tortoises, snakes, marine fish and more! Touch tanks, aquariums, saltwater marsh display, shrimp trawl exhibit, and more!

  • Reptile & Birding Display – Live Gopher tortoises, snakes and baby alligators. 'Birder's Corner' educates visitors on Georgia's coastal birds.

  • Outdoor Exhibit – Informational exhibits on sharks and manatees, a nature trail, a Gopher tortoise habitat and more! In August 2009, the Center added a new Nurse Shark tank.

The Center hosts regular events, such as Astronomy Nights, Summer Seining where you learn to cast a seine net, and a Coastal Explorers summer children's program. Check the Tidelands Nature Center's website on "news & events" for a schedule of what events are happening during your stay. At $2 per person, the Tidelands Nature Center is a treat for the entire family.

    » TIP: Be aware that the Center is open from 9am to 4pm during the week and only from 10am to 2pm on the weekends.

    Also note that the Center, as well as its gift shop and ice cream shop, only take cash and check – no credit or debit cards.


Kids Activities

In addition to the programs offered by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the Tidelands Nature Center, kids will love the mini-putt and waterpark fun on Jekyll Island!

  • Jekyll Island Miniature Golf - Located across from the Jekyll Island beach on N. Beachview Drive. Tel: 912-635-2648.

  • Summer Waves Water Park – 11 acres of rides, thrills, food, and excitement. The park consists of eight major water attractions. Older kids will get a kick out of the Pirates Passage, an enclosed speed flume that jets riders in darkness over three breathtaking humps. They'll cool off in the rolling waves pool or as they drift on an inner tube down the Slow Motion Ocean. A Kiddie Pool provides a carefully supervised water playground with slides and waterfalls in only 12 inches of bubbling water for younger visitors.

For more fun, family vacation tips and recommendations on Jekyll Island, click here! You'll find activities for families, plus Jekyll Island's rich history, interesting facts, and more.

Jekyll Island golf courses let you step back in time during your game, while the island's natural coastal beauty, historic sights, and fun for adults and children offer something for every member of your family. Relax, explore and enjoy this remarkable sea island.


Return to the Jekyll Island main page to discover where to stay and dine while you enjoy the Jekyll Island golf courses and the island's other activities and attractions.


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