Oceanside Inn & Suites on Jekyll Island, Georgia is home to 10 miles of unspoiled beaches that are perfect for a variety of things to do, such as sunbathing or swimming, for leisurely walks or invigorating jogs. Perhaps best known for their natural bounty, Jekyll Island’s beaches offer shell collecting for vacationing guests young and old. Many live creatures abound as well, including hermit crabs and sand dollars. Though it is tempting to collect these interesting creatures, you can help preserve the shoreline environment by leaving them as you find them, and by limiting your “catch” of shells.

Almost immediately, you will notice the vast variety of birds that make this island home. In addition to the year-round population, Jekyll Island, GA serves as a resting place in the Spring and Fall for migrating species on the Atlantic Flyway. It is such a significant habitat that it has been designated an “Important Birding Area (IBA)” by the Georgia Audubon Society.

Jekyll Island, Georgia is also is one of eighteen sites along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail and features several significant birding sites: near the Welcome Center on the Causeway; at Clam Creek on the northern side of the island; and at the “Glory” beach near the Soccer Complex.

The Jekyll Island Tennis Center hosts six USTA-Sanctioned tournaments annually, as well as junior camps throughout the summer. Ongoing adult programs include clinics and round-robin tournaments, which are offered between October and March.

The Center's staff can arrange pick-up games for single players, as well as offer private and group lessons. Rental racquets and ball machines are available, as well as equipment repair to guests at the Oceanside Inn and Suites. Weekly, monthly and annual single-person and family memberships can be purchased as well.

The Tennis Center is located at 400 Captain Wylly Road, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527. The full service pro shop is open 9am to 6pm, daily. Evening and night play can be booked with a reservation by calling during business hours. For more information or to make reservations, please call (912) 635-3154. Or email the tennis center at tennis@jekyllisland.com.

The Jekyll Island Soccer Complex, with its solid reputation for the quality of its playing surface and the unique ocean-side atmosphere, has become a fast favorite among soccer enthusiasts. Home to the Golden Isles Soccer Association, the Soccer Complex hosts a variety of exhibition and tournament matches from fall through spring and soccer camps in the summer.

In addition, the United States Soccer Federation conducts its prestigious National Coaching School for regional candidates, and many soccer programs make Jekyll Island Soccer Complex the home of their team training camp.  Call Kevin Udell about dates and availability for the soccer complex at 912-635-4157.

Reservations are required and can be made Monday through Saturday (weather permitting) at Victoria’s Carriages and Trail Rides at the Island History Center on Stable Road.

There’s no better way to observe native birds, fish and other coastal creatures in their natural Georgian habitat.  Rentals, instruction and guided tours are available for more information call 912-635-5032. 

The Tidelands Nature Center offers a three-hour guided tour along Jekyll Creek, where an experienced naturalist leads visitors through the island’s salt marshes and teaches about the various flora and fauna along the way.

For self-guided exploration of Jekyll Island’s Rixen Pond, canoe rentals also are available through the Tidelands Nature Center.

Both canoe rentals and kayak tours are available March through October. Sea Kayaks, a more maneuverable and stable relative of the traditional kayak, also are available for saltwater excursions.

Maritime Activities
Just off Jekyll Island, Georgia’s shores along the Intracoastal Waterway are the Jekyll Wharf and Jekyll Harbor Marina – two points of access to the many water activities along Coastal Georgia. Make the Island your gateway to a fishing paradise or just a heavenly day of sightseeing or Dolphin spotting. The island’s knowledgeable fishing captains know all of the best spots to enjoy world class fishing, including Tarpon, Whiting, Red Drum, Sea Trout, Triple Tail, Spotted Sea Trout, Striped Mullet, Sheepshead, and Black Drum, just to name a few.

Choose from a variety of fishing trip options, from near shore/inshore fishing to party boat trips and much more! Packages include bait, tackle, and fishing license. Explore the Golden Isles' Premiere Fishing Charter 912-635-3152.

Fishing Information    

Dolphin Tour Information

From May through August, under cover of darkness, a silent drama is played out on Jekyll Island's beach. Female loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta-caretta) swim ashore, make their way across the sand, dig their nests and lay their eggs. Designated a threatened species by state and federal law, loggerhead sea turtles have found a safe haven on Jekyll Island. Their nests, tucked among the dunes of clean, white beach, have made the island a major site for conservation and education.

Sea turtle nests are marked and monitored by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Please help us protect the sea turtles. Do not disturb the nests. If you see a nest being disturbed or find a nest that has not been marked, please note its location and call the Georgia Sea Turtle Center at (912) 635-4444.

The ambitious, $3 million center – offering an outstanding, museum-style learning experience and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center and veterinary clinic – is the first of its kind in Georgia. For more information about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island and related programs, visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

To book a group tour of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, call the Education Coordinators at (912)-635-4076.