What is the United States’ best island to visit? There are plenty of options, from the Florida Keys to Catalina Island in California, from Long Island to the islands that make up the state of Hawaii.
Fodor’s, a popular travel guide, set out to discover some lesser-known islands that could be the spot for your next getaway.
One Georgia island made the Top 10 list. That honor went to Jekyll Island.
“There are five distinct beaches on the island to check out. On Driftwood Beach, explorers will encounter ancient fallen trees which create a scenic, romantic backdrop,” the article’s author, Molly O’Brien, noted. “Visitors craving an active adventure can explore miles of bike paths, kayaking and paddleboarding tours, playgrounds, or the Summer Waves Waterpark.”
O’Brien pointed out the Jekyll Island Club Resort and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center as reasons to visit, too.
“In 1733, General James Oglethorpe named Jekyll Island in honor of Sir Joseph Jekyll, his friend and financier from England,” Jekyll Island’s website notes. “In the late 1800s, Jekyll Island became an exclusive hunting club for families with names like Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt, Pulitzer and Baker. The once private retreat is now part of The Jekyll Island Club National Historic Landmark District, one of the largest preservation projects in the southeast.”
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More than 70 years ago, the state established the island as a state park. While there are private homes on the island, the homeowners own the building, but they don’t own the land. The land is leased from the state of Georgia. The leases are long-term, with current leases expiring between 2049 and 2088.
Over the last few years, several new properties have joined the historic offerings on the island. The Westin Jekyll Island and Jekyll Ocean Club have opened in the last several years.
The island offers four golf courses, a 250-acre historic landmark district and 10 miles of beaches.
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