Get the Best Family Activities
Little St. Simons Island Those who crave solitude will find Little St. Simons Island to be an ideal destination. This northernmost Golden Isle is accessible only by boat. For many years it was a private retreat, but today a limited number of guests (no more than 30 at a time) are offered the opportunity to explore the isolated beaches and marshlands that surround its 10,000 acres of unspoiled woodlands. Interpretive nature and wildlife tours, horseback riding, canoeing, beach picnics and fishing are activities available to visitors. Accommodations are rustic but elegant. For information on day or overnight trips, call (888) 733-5774.
Jekyll Island The southernmost of the Golden Isles, Jekyll Island was purchased in 1886 by a group of wealthy families as a private retreat. By 1900, The Jekyll Island Club membership was reputed to represent over one-sixth of the world’s wealth. Today, the island’s opulent past can be revisited with a tram or walking tour of the Historic District, where many of the restored Club structures and members’ cottages are open for tours.
Although elegant retreats were once the sole lodging on Jekyll Island, today, those looking for more modest accommodations will not be disappointed. Options range from first-class resorts to campgrounds.
A stroll along Jekyll’s seemingly endless beaches will reveal why the rich and famous were so drawn to this island. The white sand and gentle surf are soothing to body and spirit. Although it would be tempting to spend an entire vacation relaxing on the beach, the island offers plenty of other interesting activities to take part in.
Nightly, from June to mid-August, The Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Project offers guided beach walks. These excursions offer opportunities to see nesting loggerhead sea turtles. For more information, call (912) 635-2284.
The Tidelands Nature Center (912-635-5032) gives visitors an up-close look at varied types of local marine life. Interesting creatures abound in the touch tanks and aquaria. Walking tours are also offered.
Those who wish to investigate the island’s intricacies at their own pace will enjoy exploring 20 miles of paved bike paths, which traverse salt marshes, maritime forest and beach, as well as the island’s National Historic Landmark District. Bike maps are available at the Jekyll Island Welcome Center (877-453-5955).
Thrill seekers will have plenty of wet and wild fun at Summer Waves (912-635-2074), the island’s 11-acre water park, where attractions range from a supervised water play area for toddlers to speed flumes for the big kids.
And if those activities aren’t enough to fill an entire vacation schedule, opportunities to golf, shop, fish and play tennis can also be found on Jekyll Island.
Georgia’s Golden Isles offer an ideal family getaway package: history, diversity, solitude and adventure, all perfectly wrapped in sunny beaches. For further information, call the Visitors Bureau at 800-933-COAST (2627) or visit www.bgivb.com.
