Earlier this month we decided to get away for a weekend and go to the beach. We've not traveled in southern Georgia yet, and we decided to go to Jekyll Island for a weekend. I had been there once when I was a kid, we stopped there for brunch on the way back from a bowl game in Jacksonville FL if I remember correctly.
We chose Jekyll because it's a relatively quiet island. There are a few public golf courses on the island and a handful of homes, but mostly it's just hotels along the coast and the historic Jekyll Island Club and Inn on the sound side. Most people on the island ride bikes, or use electric
mini-cars (similar to golf carts) to get around. There isn't even a gas station on the island. We thought it would be fun to stay at the Inn, and bike around the island and enjoy the view.
Much of the north part of the island is protected and part of a national park, and once there we were surprised to find so much history. The island was developed in the early 1900's by the captains of industry - the Carnegies, Pulitzers, J.P. Morgan, etc. Many of these investors built these beautiful "cottages" on the north end overlooking the sound. They all pitched in and built a big club house for entertaining in the middle of the estate. The club house now serves at the Inn and they use most of the cottages for events, restaurants, or museums. We stayed at the Inn and really enjoyed exploring all the social rooms and gathering spaces. They have a dining hall where the idea for the federal reserve was conceived.
The weather was kind of cold and rainy, but we braved it anyway to take advantage of the bike paths and beautiful scenery anyway. There were a few other brave souls out there with us, and it was kind of nice to feel like we had the island to ourselves. In the end, it was a really relaxing weekend, which was the goal. We'll have to go back in the summer though!
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