Jekyll Island, GA

We’ve visited Jekyll Island a couple of times now, and it’s one of those places we’re always happy to return to. While it’s officially a Georgia state park, it’s unlike any other state park we’ve visited. At one time, the island served as a winter retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families, including the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Vanderbilts. In the 1940s, the state of Georgia purchased the island and made the decision to preserve much of its history, leaving many of the original structures in place.

Today, Jekyll Island is a really interesting mix of old and new. Along with the campground you’d expect at a state park, the island also has private homes, hotels, shops, restaurants, and even the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. It all somehow works together and gives the island a unique, lived-in feel while still staying true to its past.

We came back to Jekyll this year for one very specific reason: the annual Island Treasure Hunt. Every January and February, workers hide plastic globes all over the island, and if you find one, you can trade it in for a beautiful, handcrafted glass float. While we weren’t lucky enough to find a treasure this time, we had a great time roaming the island, revisiting favorite spots, and enjoying being back in a place that never seems to lose its charm.

Even without a glass float to take home, Jekyll Island once again reminded us why it’s one of our favorite stops—and why we’re already looking forward to the next visit.