Find Your Serenity on Jekyll Island

by Rachel L. Miller

View of the sunset off the Intercoastal Waterway from Jekyll Island. (click for larger photo) Photo (c) 2001, R. Miller

It’s a quiet morning on Jekyll Island. The sun struggles to break through the wispy gray clouds high above, a scant trace of a salty breeze blows off the ocean and I look north, then south, trying to decide which way to walk.  

Slowly I smile, realizing I don’t need to worry about anyone seeing me (or more importantly, my hair, made wild by the Georgia humidity). There’s not a single person as far as I can see down the coast. 

After an invigorating run on the shore, I stop and listen. Each sound I hear is completely natural – the waves of the Atlantic calmly meeting the sand, the high-pitched cries of seagulls and the rhythmic beating of my heart.  My body relaxes as I stretch, taking off my shoes and socks and digging my toes into the cool, velvety soft sand.  Eventually, I make my way to the water’s edge, letting the wet sand quickly envelop my feet with a quiet slurping sound. And I’m still the only person on the beach. Ahhhh, this is heaven. 

This is the way Jekyll Island has always been for me. Having visited a half-dozen times since I was 12 years old, I’ve grown extremely fond of the island. Why? Besides having some of the most beautiful scenery (both man-made and natural), Jekyll is where I go to truly get away – it’s that relaxing.  

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel  Photo (c) 2001, Rachel L. Miller

The reason I believe this is simple: there’s not so much to do that you feel overwhelmed. If I want to be overwhelmed and stressed about what to do next, I’ll stay at the office and work, thank you very much. Only the most relevant activities remain constant on the island – strolling the beach, biking the island’s 22 miles of trails, playing a variety of public golf courses, indulging in a game of tennis on one of 13 newer clay courts. And my favorite activity on Jekyll Island: touring the historical district. 

Jekyll Island was originally an ultra-exclusive winter retreat for the crème de la crème of American society from 1886 to the early 1940s.  William K. Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Joseph Pulitzer and others flocked to the island, either building their own “cottages” (actually large, elaborate homes) or staying at the Jekyll Island Clubhouse (now the Jekyll Island Club Hotel), an American Queen Anne structure complete with verandas, bay windows and a gorgeous turret.

Now Jekyll is a destination for couples, conventions/business meetings and families looking to avoid the crowded chaos of neighboring Florida. And the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is still the center of it all – nestled among towering oaks draped in Spanish moss in the heart of the historic district on the island’s west side. With 157 guest rooms and suites, some of which are in the recently renovated Crane and Cherokee Cottages, the Club Hotel has a room to fit any budget.  And even though you may feel whisked back to the Victorian era by the detailed woodwork and decor, the hotel has the technology (voice mail and data ports in guest rooms) and conference space (8,500 square feet, to be exact) needed for a proper business meeting.

The Grand Dining Room (in the hotel) is something that just cannot be missed when visiting Jekyll, whether you go all-out and have dinner there or if you just have the morning brunch. One of my favorite places to linger with an iced tea, I adore people-watching in the understated elegance of the room with its large windows and views of the Intercoastal Waterway.  I just sit back and imagine the scene a mere century ago, when some of America’s most wealthy and powerful people gathered in this very room.

The Dubignon Cottage in Jekyll's historic district. (click for larger photo) Photo (c) 2001, R.L. Miller

Taking a narrated tram tour of the historic district is the best way to learn more about the Jekyll Island Club’s past (and that of its members). The 90-minute tours are offered daily and give great insight into what life was like for the wealthy families who vacationed in Jekyll back at the turn of the century (hint: it wasn’t too difficult).

Also in the historic district, you’ll find charming shops in which to whittle away your time (and money).  From classy souvenirs to garden accessories to sterling silver jewelry, there’s just about something for everyone. 

Now, to the beach! The Jekyll Island Club Hotel, the island's only lodging facility not on (or across the street from) the beach, is just a short drive or bike ride away. If you can’t bear to stay that far from the beach, there are plenty of other hotels from which to choose – my favorite is The Clarion Resort Buccaneer, where, still clad in pajamas, I enjoyed sipping my morning coffee on the balcony, taking in the ocean view.

A sand dollar found on the Jekyll beach. Photo (c) 2001, Rachel L. Miller

Walking the beach in Jekyll has since become a spiritual experience for me. When my feet touch the sands of Jekyll and I inhale the salty ocean air, I feel at peace. When I’m on a leisurely stroll through the former playground of the rich, watching a quiet croquet game on the lawn of the Club Hotel or exploring historic cottages, the usually busy, whirling thoughts in my mind are calmed. When I’m gazing out from the pier on the northern tip of the island and glimpse a trio of dolphins, I feel completely de-stressed. 

It may have to do with the fact that I have such an emotional attachment to the island – it may not. As cheesy and hopelessly sentimental as it sounds, a part of my heart will always lead me back to Jekyll Island – to its rustling palm trees, oaks with sweeping Spanish moss, golden sands soaked in sun, lush green golf courses and scrumptious fresh seafood – whenever I need to escape the stress of everyday life.

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