Jekyll Island is an interesting and secluded spot off the southeast coast of Georgia. The entire island is a state park with an entrance fee. Once on the island, there are more than 7 miles of beaches.
Unlike some state parks, about a third of the island is actually developed with hotels, golf courses, houses and places to eat and drink. Though a third sounds like a lot of development, there’s a lot of space and you feel the two-thirds of non-development much more — which is exactly what they’re going for, intentionally limited by local ordinance.
A notable aspect of the island is its Driftwood trees along the coast.
There’s also a great beachfront spot called Tortuga Jack’s that nails the casual restaurant-by-the-beach aesthetic perfectly. There was even a five piece live band playing at noon on a Sunday.
Chips and salsa were provided for the table and I got the pollo tacos: “shredded, slowed cooked, perfectly seasoned chicken with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo & cheese.” The food is decent and the vibe is perfect. I’ve gone here on both my Jekyll Island visits and would gladly go again. I’d love to check out this place at night.
The island as a whole has a very calm feel, at least when I have visited in the spring. I’d be curious to see the island in the summer. It’s possible it picks up quite a bit.
Overall, it was really cool to visit Jekyll Island a second time. I almost spent the night here in 2021 and am still interested in the opportunity some day. I have a feeling it could be a pretty neat and quiet spot at night and I’d be interested in experiencing places like Tortuga Jack’s and maybe some other spots around the town in the evening. I wouldn’t mind a morning walk or run along the beach either!
