Jekyll Island Vacation

Cheap Jekyll Island Vacation

With gas prices rising along with everything else it’s more important than ever to find a cheap Jekyll Island Vacation.  The media has been pushing the idea of a “staycation” but you can do better than that.  You can have the vacation of your dreams on a budget you can afford.

How I saved money the last time was to rent a house rather than a hotel room.  A hotel room will run about 100 to 150 a day depending on what time of year it is.  A rental home will cost you about $400 for the week for a two bedroom while a three bedroom can be had for $600, further reducing the cost per person.

Another advantage of renting a house is that you will not have to eat out every night.  You can go grocery shopping at a grocery store in Brunswick and store a weeks worth of groceries in the fridge.  Brunswick has all the amenities of any other town, including Wal Mart, and you can pick up groceries and whatever else you might need.  You can cook in your rental house, grill out, eat cheerios for breakfast spending a dollar per person instead of 10 or 20 to eat in a restaurant.

Also, going to the beach is free of course but there are other free options.  You can go on a turtle walk, sponsored by the Sea Turtle Center.  All they ask is for a small donation.  You are not guaranteed to see a turtle lay her eggs but it is a good time.

There are many ways to cut financial corners on your vacation.  A cheap Jekyll Island Vacation can be yours if you just budget creatively.

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Jekyll Island Vacation Activities

There are lots of Jekyll Island Vacation activities.  There is of course golf.  Jekyll Island has three world class golf courses and people come from all over the country to try their skills on the Jekyll Island Links.  Weather conditions are favorable pretty much year round.  There is plenty of lodging avaialble on the island within walking distance of all the golf courses.  Many hotels on the island offer golf vacation packages that include room, food, and greens fees.

Some other great jekyll Island Vacation Activities are the sea turtles.  There is the brand new Sea Turtle center that opened just a couple years ago.  Inside you can find a series of exhibits that will teach you about the lives and hardships of sea turtles.  Several times a day there is a presentation on sea turtles given by one of the resident experts employed at the museum.  You can then go next door to te sea turtle hospital.  While these turtles are sick or injured, it is very sad, but it is also a good chance to see a loggerhead sea turtle up close.  Finally, the proceeds from all items in the gift shop go to the benefit of sea turtles which are in increasing danger from human encroachment on their matingg areas.  This are all great activities for kids too.

Another great Jekyll Island Vacation Activities are a trip to another island entirely, St. Simons island.  It is a quick trip down the road to some of the other golden Isles such as St. Simons or Sea Island.  There are even more activities on these islandds, including more food, more shopping.  It’s very much worth the trip.

Of course Jekyll Island has all the traditional Vacation Activities such as the beach and seafood.  There is miles and miles of beautiful beach to enjoy.  Be sure to get a tide chart because the most fun can be had at high tide.  The seafood, which I have gone on at length about on this sit, is amazing.  Check out the Rah Bar accross from another great Jekyll Island Vacation activities, the historic district.  Take a guided tour or just wander around the beautiful homes yourself, its very exciting to see how all those millionaires lived back in the day.

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Jekyll Island Vacation Rental Houses

One great way to spend a Jekyll Island Vacation is to rent a house.  There are many houses available on the island, ranging from single bedroom condos to some very nice three or four bedroom houses or even larger if you want to travel as a big group to the island.  One of the two relator offices on the island can be contacted to arrange to rent a house for a week at a very reasonable rate.
The first summer we went on a Jekyll Island Vacation, we had originally intended to travel with a larger group than what eventually wound up going.  We got a large house with three bedrooms.  It was gorgeous.  It had a decentralized floor plan with a huge living and dining area.  Almost every room in the house had patio access.  It was a great house to stay in for a week.  We had a lot of fun.  The owners of the house had some very nice furniture, a big tv in the living room, but who wants to watch tv when the beach is only a two minute walk away.  It was an amazing vacation experience.
The second summer we went on a Jekyll Island Vacation we rented a smaller house.  It was only three of us on this trip so we got a nice two bedroom.  We were on a tighter budget the second year so our house was a little further away from the beach, it was more of a four minute walk than a two minute walk.  The house and furniture were really nice and it had a gorgeous patio area.  A couple times deer came right up to the house.  It was an amazing experience.
When going on a Jekyll Island vacation, if you want to stay longer than a couple days, I can’t recommend highly enough that you rent a house on the island.  It’s cheaper and nicer than a hotel.  You can also buy groceries at one of the supermarkets in nearby Brunswick and store them in your refrigerator so you don’t have to eat out every night.  You can even grill out on the patio and get up close and personal with the local wildlife.  It’s a really great way to spend your vacation.

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Jekyll Island Hotels

There has never been a better time to take a Jekyll Island Vacation.In 2006, three Jekyll Island Hotels were torn down to make room for newer and more modern hotels as part of a larger plan to redevelop the island.  In addition a lot of the hotels on the island have recently undergone extensive renovation as part of the effort to make Jekyll Island Hotels more modern and better able to accomodate the increasing number of visitors.  Most of the hotels avaialable on the Island are right on the beach, a notable exception being the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, however if you are staying there your primary concern is probably not beach access.

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is a marvel from another age.  Complete unlike all other Jekyll Island Hotels, this hotel is rated among the top 500 resorts in the world.  Located near the Jekyll Island historic village, you will live as Carnegie and Morgan lived 100 years ago.  It is a fantastic location for a wedding or your honeymoon or, if you have the means, a retreat from your regular life.   There are three restaurants on the premisis, all offering fantastic dining options, as well as being in walking distance from the Jekyll Island Wharf, with the Rah Bar and Latitude 39.  There are numerious vacation packages available the bed and breakfast package and the romantic fantasy.

Other Jekyll Island Hotels include the Quality Inn and Suites located within walking distance to both the beach and all three 18-hole golf courses on the island.  The Beachview Club is a brand new luxury hotel, located right on the beach.  It offers luxury suites with a private patio and a beautiful ocean view.  The Oceanside Inn and Suites is newly renovated and the rooms are very nice.  It too is right on the beach and also features the Sandbar and Grill which has a fine bar and serves three meals a day.

There are other jekyll island hotels too.  While I won’t get into them here I will say that one gotcha I’ve discovered is the rock wall along the north end of the island.  A lot of hotels will say that they are beachfront but instead you have a giant rock wall between the beach and the ocean.  So always make sure you find out exactly where on the island your beachfront hotel is located.

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Jekyll Island Sailing and Other Ocean Excursions

On Jekyll Island sailing is a great activity. No Jekyll Island vacation is complete without a trip onto the water. Not just sailing, there are all kinds ways to see the ocean up close. There are many activities in the along Coastal Georgia. You can spend the day fishing, sightseeing, or Dolphin spotting. There are many types of fish to catch including Tarpon, Whiting, Red Drum, and Sea Trout to name a few. Or, if you are into the seamier side of things you can go on the casino cruise.

There are a couple options if you wish to take a dolphin tour but my recommendation on Jekyll Island sailing. Several private sailboat owners offer charter tours along the coast of Georgia, leaving from the Marina on the bay side of Jekyll Island, for a very reasonable fee. Some dolphin tours are on a power boat that holds 40 people but that is not nearly as fun as taking off on a sailboat, feeling the wind, and the absolute terror as the skipper tilts into the wind and you fear falling over the edge. Its an experience that can’t be beat.

If catching fish is more interesting to you than just looking at them, then on Jekyll Island sailing might not be for you. However, there are plenty of fishing opportunities to find. The island’s many knowledgeable fishing captains know all the best spots to find a wide variety of fish. Spend a relaxing day among beautiful scenery and catch the best fish of you life. Jekyll Island’s waters are teeming with all kinds of fish and the freshest seafood is the one you caught yourself.

For a little slice of Vegas right on Jekyll Island check out the casino cruise. For a reasonable price you get dinner and five wonderful hours at sea to try your luck on the slots or at blackjack. Maybe you’ll walk away a winner or maybe not but you’ll have a great time. On Jekyll Island sailing is not all there is to do, you could hit it big on a casino cruise.

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Jekyll Island Restaurant

I’ve been to a Jekyll Island vacation many times over the years, I’ve eaten at several of the Jekyll Island Restaurants. While there are several types of food available, its an Island people, your best bet is the seafood. Every restaurant on the island has some kind of seafood speciality, whether it’s raw oysters or crab cakes. Most of the seafood on the island is fresh and delicious.

I’ve been to nearly every Jekyll Island Restaurant there is. Some are better than others but the good ones are very good. My favorite is the Rah Bar, located right on the dock of the bay side, withink walking distance of the Historic District. It has a very simple menu of oysters, shrimp, crab, or all of the above in their famous Lo’ Country Boil. They also have a fine collecting of beer and other spirits.

Right next to the Rah Bar and owned by the same guy is Latitude 31. This is a fancier place than the Rah Bar but it features a fantastic selection of seafood and has an excellent bar. The service is great, the staff is friendly and if you are looking for a nice dinner at a Jekyll Island restaurant this is a great place to go.

Another great Jekyll Island Restaurant is Zachry’s Seafood Restaurant. This a great family owned restaurant featuring local seafood and a good selection of terrestrial critters.

Seajay’s Waterfront Cafe & Pub is a restaurant that I have only eaten at once. It’s out of the way but they have an all you can eat Low Country Boil so it’s definitely worth the trip. I’m not the only one who thinks so as there is always a wait for a table. Seajay’s also features live music and a great view of the bay side of the island.

The big daddy of Jekyll Island Restaurant is the Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. It is a magnificent treat to go there and if you visit the island you owe it to yourself to go at least once. Its a very fancy restaurant but well worth the price. Like all restaurants on the island it features an amazing array of seafood expertly prepared by their chef. It is not to be missed.

One disapointing jekyll island restaurant would be Blackbeard’s Restaurant. Its true that it has a great view of the ocean from the patio but the food isn’t any good. The service was pretty bad as well. We only went once and had to wait two hours for a table to get served by a woman who was delighted to complain about her job for our benefit and the food was cold. The view failed to save the evening.

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Discount Golf Vacation on Jekyll Island

Golf has never been more popular, thanks to Tiger Woods, the aging of the post World War II generation, and the ready availability of many discount golf vacation.  Thanks to many new discount golf vacation options, there are now more golf courses avaiable than just five years ago.  There are many resorts devoted exclusively to a golfer on vacation.  Whenever my dad goes on vacation or even a business trip, he always keeps in mind his golfing options wherever he will be.  A great choice for golf would be a Jekyll Island Vacation

If you are thinking about taking a discount golf vacation and you are searching for the perfect course, one place to keep in mind is Jekyll Island, Georgia.  Jekyll Island is Georgia’s largets public golf club.  It is the best beach and golf vacation spot in Georgia.  It offers quality conditions to all levels of golfers.  It is a popular destination no matter what time of year.  There are three 18-hold golf courses and one historic 9-hole course, offering ploenty of variety in a luch, beach setting.  Villas by the Sea, an oceanside resort on Jekyll Island, offers discount golf vacation packages the include a stay in one of their luxury condos, green fees for 18 hols of golfing on your choice of course, golf cart rental, and breakfast.

The three 18-hole courses are Pine Lakes Golf Course, Indian Mound Course, and The Oleander Course.  Pine Lakes was built in 1968 by Dick Wilson and was renovated by Clyde Johnson in 2002.  Two new lakes were added at the 7th and 9th greens and the size of the 4th and 18th greens were increased.  It features a set of Family Friendly tee boxes so the whole family can enjoy the afternoon on the links.  It is 6802 yards and has a par of 72.  The Indian Mound Course was build in 1975 by Joe Lee.  He created it with his trademark, strategically formed fairway bunkers.  It also offers beautiful views of the Island’s lakes and marshes by which I mean it has lots of water hazards.  It is a challenging addition to any discount golf vacation.  It is 6596 years and a par of 72.  Oleander course was built in 1964, also by Dick Wilson.  It is challenging, with numerous dog legs and par 5’s, and is located only 300 yards from the ocean making for some tough winds.  It too is a par 72 at 6679 yards.

The one 9-hole course is the Great Dunes Course designed by Walter Travis in 1926.  His goal was to build the best course money could buy.  It is a course that alternates simplicty and difficulty that can be enjoyed by a variety of golfers.  It is 6321 yeards and a par 72.

Jekyll Island is the jewel of Georgia.  It is the perfect place for a discount golf vacation and it is a magnificent golf resort on the oceanfront.  Jekyll Island is a national landmark, rich in tradition and full of modern luxury or a nice, quiet place for a family vacation.  If you are a golfer looking for a great discount golf vacation, then keep Jekyll Island in mind.

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A Jekyll Island Vacation

If you’re looking for a great vacation spot try a Jekyll Island Vacation on Jekyll Island, Georgia.  It has lots of activities, for kids, for grownups, it has fun for the whole family.  Located along the Georgia Coast among the Golden Isles, this is an ideal vacation spot.

Jekyll Island has a very colorful history, including the group of wealthy landowners such as John Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan who made up the Jekyll Island Club.  Today it is designated a National Park and a historic landmark.  It can be explored in order to uncover all the exciting attractions that make it such a great place to visit.

You can visit the Historic District on your own or take one of the guided tours available and gain insight from the knowledgeable tour guides.  See the impressive winter homes of millionaires from a different era.  You can explore the customs and habits of these out of the ordinary people.  Its a great chance to see how the other half lives.  All the homes have been painstakingly restored and they are centered around the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

Jekyll Island has ten miles of beautiful coastline to relax on.  You can lounge in the sun or swim all afternoon on a Jekyll Island Vacation.  In addition, the Georgia Audubon Society has designated Jekyll an Important Birding Area due to the large number of exotic and migratory bird species that populate the area.  Its always exciting to watch birds hunting for their breakfast while out on the beach.

Another fun thing to do is rent a kayak or a canoe and go out to explore the marshes on the bay side of the island.  You can either go on a guided tour and be shown all the sights of a fascinating ecosystem or you can head out on your own to explore this exciting world.  The Tidelands Nature Center is another great place where you can see creatures such as alligators, snakes, sea turtles, and hermit crabs.

Since Jekyll Island is a state park so much of the Island is undeveloped and you can find much to do such as wandering the dues, heading out on horseback and even chartering a sail boat.  However, it’s not all wilderness, as there are several golf courses, tennis courts, and stores.  Some people go just for the golf, as there are three great courses on the island.  There are also antique and specialty stores with many fine items unique to the island.

There are twenty miles of paved bicycle paths on the island making for a fun and healthy way to relax.  You can rent a bike from one of several spots on the island or bring your bikes from home.  This is a great way to spend time together as a family.  You can get to anywhere on the island using just the bike paths so you won’t even have to spend money on gas while vacationing on Jekyll Island.  Another family friendly activity is the water park on the island.  Take your kids and have a great time.  One other option would be to visit on of the other islands in the area.  Brunswick is the access point for St. Simons, Darien, St. Mary’s, Sea Island as well as Jekyll Island.

The best part of Jekyll Island is the number of rental properties available.  There are dozens of houses and condos you can rent for a week for much less than a hotel room would cost.  You will have a kitchen and several bedrooms and a living area so you will have lots of space and you can save on food by just stocking up on groceries for the week and cooking in so you don’t have to eat out every night.   And pretty much every house on the Island is just a short trip to the beach.  It’s great way for your family to spend its Jekyll Island vacation.

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