Beat the Crowd and Wind Down on Jekyll Island
Imagine a crisp morning on the beach, the ocean breeze skimming your cheek, a warm freshly-brewed cup of apple spice cinnamon tea in your hands, and the distant sound of seagull chatter. As summer fades away, the traffic on Jekyll Island slows, allowing nature and the few lingering vacationers to settle into the tranquility of the Golden Isles.
Though Jekyll Island retains its splendor throughout the changing seasons, crowds tend to dwindle after Labor Day. If temperate weather suits you, visit Jekyll Island in the fall and take advantage of the light foot traffic. Practice your swing at one of Jekyll Island’s pristine golf courses. Oleander Course holds the reputation for being the most difficult of the Jekyll Island green, with 6,521 yards of playable land and 18 holes. For something more family friendly, visit Pine Lakes Course, which boasts a mix of natural vegetation and fresh cut green.
Nature lovers will marvel at the changing colors of the island marsh. As summer meets autumn, the coastal and freshwater vegetation loses its vibrant green and melts into a butter yellow. Birds begin their fall migration patterns around this time and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of a traveling flock resting on the southern tip of Jekyll Island on its way down south. Volunteers on the island track these migration patterns by placing bands on the birds’ legs at the beginning of fall. If you’re curious about different bird species on the island, visit the Bird Sanctuary at the Jekyll Island Campgrounds where you’ll see warblers and buntings. For a more natural bird watching experience, take a self-guided tour amongst the marsh and around the perimeter of the island. You will see colorful birds like the Red Knot and the Oriole.
If you and the family are interested in learning more about nature in the Golden Isles, you’ll have to venture off Jekyll Island to Brunswick for CoastFest. Brunswick is just a 20-minute drive from the island and hosts the annual festival on October 2nd at the Mary Ross Waterfront Park. This free festival offers live entertainment and activities that educate kids and their keepers about local wildlife, natural resources, and climate science.
Perhaps the best way to enjoy fall on Jekyll Island is to eat! Enjoy seasonally fresh shrimp and oysters at The Wharf Restaurant or order your surf n’ turf at Zachary’s Riverhouse. For your longer fall stays, be sure to visit Jekyll Market for some Love Shack BBQ and chicken wings. Sugar fiends will be happy to know that Jekyll Market also hosts A Sweet Shop Named Sprinkles, which serves ice cream, fudge, popcorn, and other gourmet goodies.
Visit Jekyll Realty and book your serene fall vacation. You will love our cottages and condominiums, but you’ll love Jekyll Island even more.
