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Nature, History and Culture at the Historic Jekyll Island Hotel

Program Number: 19138RJ
Start and End Dates:
4/28/2013 - 5/3/2013; 3/2/2014 - 3/7/2014;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Jekyll Island, Georgia
Price starting at: $890.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: History & Culture Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 13; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Experience the Gilded Age days of Jekyll Island — playground in the sun for America’s elite. With the National Historic Landmark Jekyll Island Club Hotel as your base, learn the history of the island, from its colonization in 1735 to its heyday as a millionaire’s retreat. Historians lead you through lavish cottages and to view the Tiffany window in Faith Chapel. At the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, go behind the scenes to learn about sea turtle conservation.




Highlights

• Leave society and enter the natural world as you explore the amazing Okefenokee Swamp in pontoon boats and traverse the Swamp Walk.
• Study the barrier island dynamics and natural history during expert-led beach walks.
• Learn the history of the shrimp industry in Georgia, seine for shrimp in St. Simons Sound and enjoy a sample on board.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to one mile on daily field trips, some over uneven terrain; boarding a pontoon boat and shrimp boat.



Coordinated by Center for Educational Adventure.




Jekyll Island

One of Georgia’s southernmost barrier islands, Jekyll Island has a storied past. At the turn of the century, it hosted an exclusive club that attracted the likes of the Astors, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. Much of that world is preserved in a historic district near the riverfront. Today, the island is popular for golfing, fishing and kayaking.
Accommodations
Jekyll Island’s only four-star resort and National Historic Landmark.
Meals and Lodgings
   Jekyll Island Club Hotel
  Jekyll Island, GA 6 nights
 Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Type: Resort
  Description: The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is Jekyll Island's only 4-star resort and National Historic Landmark. Nestled amid live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, this Victorian landmark enjoys a setting of unspoiled natural beauty on Jekyll Island. The island is protected from extensive development by the state of Georgia and has miles of beaches and forest waiting to be explored. Here, millionaires wintered in scenic seclusion for decades, enjoying many amenities and privileges. The club was returned to its original elegance, highlighted by leaded art glass windows, ornate woodwork, and Rumford fireplaces. From its lofty tower to encircling verandas, Victorian charm still permeates the public areas and rooms once occupied by America’s wealthiest families. The Club's guest rooms and suites have been custom-decorated in a style befitting the elegance presumed by the original socialite owners. This historic hotel serves not only as lodging for the program’s participants; it is itself part of the course of study.
  Contact info: 371 Riverview Drive
Jekyll Island, GA 31527 USA
phone: 800-535-9547 x9126352600
web: www.jekyllclub.com
  Room amenities: iPod Dock Clock Radio, Color 32" LCD Flat Panel TV with Cable and DVD player, Iron / Ironing Board, Hair Dryer, High Speed Wireless Internet Service, Phone with V/M & Data Ports, In Room Safe, Refreshment Center, Coffee Maker
  Facility amenities: Concierge Services, Common/Public Areas, Accessible to Wheelchairs, Fax (For Guests), Complementary Coffee, Gift Shop, Room Service, Restaurant in Hotel, Pool (Heated Outdoor), Tennis (Indoor), Tennis (Outdoor), Fishing, Hot Tub, Bicycling sweeping verandas and Victorian architecture
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: $130 - $150 approximately Call the hotel for current price rate-912-635-2600
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: $130 - $150 approximately Call the hotel for current price rate-912-635-2600
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Program begins with Road Scholar check-in at 5:00 pm. Hotel check-in time is 4:00 pm. You will be staying at Jekyll Island Club Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
Road Scholar program ends by 10:00 am. Hotel check-out time is 12 noon. You will be staying at Jekyll Island Club Hotel the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Road Scholar Health & Safety Information form. Please send directly to the Center for Educational Adventure no later than 3 weeks prior to the program.
  Parking availability:
Parking is free of charge. There is a $5 entry fee each time you come onto the island. If you stay a week, you may get a discounted pass for coming and going. We provide transportation for all field trips.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Jekyll Island, GA
  Nearest city or town:  Brunswick, GA
  Nearest highway: I-95, Highway 17
  Nearest airport:  Brunswick, GA
  From End of Program
  Location: Jekyll Island, GA
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Jacksonville, FL or Savannah, GA to Jekyll Island

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Thrifty Car Rental Partner
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Travel Time:

 

One and one half hours 
 

Distance:

 

70 miles
   

For guests who require transportation to the Hotel from the airport, the hotel provides a shuttle service or car rentals at a reduced rate through Thrifty Car Rental Partner. Following hotel shuttle rates require a 72-hour notice for booking and/or a 24-hour notice for cancellation. When making your reservations, please provide all flight information including arrival and departure times, flight number and airline. Additional charges may apply for delayed flights. Rates quoted are one-way.

 

Brunswick, GA

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
A2B Transport
phone: 912-223-3271
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$30.00 for one person and $5.00 for each additional person with a max up to $50.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

20 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

10 miles
   

Advanced reservations required. They accept all major credit cards. There is a $5.00 fee for credit card use.
 

Jacksonville, FL

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
A2B Transport
phone: 912-223-3271
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$80.00 for one person and $5.00 for each additional person
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1 hour 25 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

77 miles
   

They require advanced reservations and accept all major credit cards. There is a $5.00 fee for credit card use.
 

Savannah, GA

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
A2B Transport
phone: 912-223-3271
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$100 for one person and $5.00 for each additional person
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1 hour 35 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

85 miles
   

Advanced reservations required. They accept all major credit cards. There is a $5.00 fee for credit card use.
 
Driving Directions
  I-95 to Jekyll Island By Land On I-95 take Exit 29 onto Highway 17/82 North for 6 miles to the Jekyll Island Causeway (State Road 520). Proceed on the Causeway East 6 miles to the Jekyll Island collection station ($5 park entry fee). Make the first left (U-turn) and move to the far right lane. This is Riverview Drive and takes you directly to the front of the hotel.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Arrival & Check-in, Registration & Orientation, Get Acquainted
(Sunday, April 28)
   
 Afternoon: HOTEL CHECK IN: You may check in beginning at 4:00pm. PROGRAM REGISTRATION: Please register with the Road Scholar program staff at our desk in the lobby beginning at 5:00pm. You’ll receive your arrival packet containing the most up-to-date schedule and program information that we’ll review during our orientation session after dinner.
 Dinner: Dinner will be in the Grand Dining Room. Beautifully restored in the Victorian mode, the Grand Dining Room features Ionic columns and gleaming white woodwork. Three handsome fireplaces, add cheer on a Winter's day, while in Spring, the lawns and the river seen through expansive windows frame the first blossoms of crepe myrtle and magnolia trees. The glow of candlelight and piano music create an atmosphere of romance and anticipation of the meal to come. (Jackets or collared shirts, slacks requested for gentlemen.)
NOTE: Meals have been carefully selected. If you have a special dietary request, be sure and contact us in advance. We will work with the kitchen to try and accommodate your request if possible but may not be able to provide for every request.
 Evening: ORIENTATION: You'll have an informative overview of the program to come plus an opportunity to meet the program staff and your fellow participants during an introductory get-acquainted session. We’ll review the updated schedule, answer any questions you may have, and cover responsibilities, safety guidelines, and emergency procedures. The remainder of the evening is yours to begin getting to know one another. (If you arrive late, please pick up your packet at the hotel front desk.)
Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances. In the event of any changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding!
The historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel is not just our base of operations but part of our course of study. So much of significance took place in and around here that you will be amazed. The hotel is also Jekyll Island's only four star resort and National Historic Landmark.
   
Accommodations: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: History of Jekyll Island & the Club, Millionaire’s Village
(Monday, April 29)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the Grand Dining Room.
 Morning: PRESENTATION & FIELD TRIP: A local historian will tell you all about the social history of Jekyll Island and the Club. Following the presentation, we’ll go behind the scenes with an expert guide for views not available to the general public. At the turn of the century, tycoons, politicians, and socialites flocked to Jekyll Island to revel in their own luxury and America's burgeoning wealth. Their exclusive club was described in the February 1904 issue of Munsey's Magazine as "the richest, the most exclusive, the most inaccessible club in the world." Its members included such luminaries as J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Vincent Astor, Joseph Pulitzer, William K. Vanderbilt. Other names on the roster included Macy, Goodyear, and Gould. You are staying in what was "their" exclusive club hotel.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Maritime Forest Walk An expert led trip through the live oaks and the maritime forest will give you a chance to see first hand the enormous trees and to learn of their importance to the environment.
 Dinner: Dinner will be at the hotel.
 Evening: PRESENTATION: The Okefenokee Swamp. Leaving society and entering the natural world, our expert will provide an overview and highlights of tomorrow’s field trip to the swamp. The Great Okefenokee Swamp is one of North America’s most unspoiled, fascinating and precious natural areas. It is the largest, intact and un-fragmented wetland wilderness swamp in North America. "Okefenokee" — what the Creeks and Seminoles called "Land of Trembling Earth" — covers approximately 700 square miles in the southeast corner of Georgia.
   
Accommodations: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Sea Turtles, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Beach Walk, Free Evening
(Tuesday, April 30)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the Grand Dining Room.
 Morning: PRESENTATION & FIELD TRIP: A local biologist, an expert on sea turtles, will prepare you for your field trip visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. At the Center, you’ll explore exhibits on sea turtle conservation, rehabilitation, and trace their amazing journey from egg to adulthood. Presentations by key staff will highlight Georgia’s unique coastal ecosystem and the mysterious world of these ancient reptiles. Going behind the scenes to the sea turtle hospital, you’ll be able to observe animals undergoing special treatment. You’ll also learn about the Center, its operations, and how it works to help save sea turtles.
 Lunch: Lunch will be on the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Led by a naturalist, we’ll take a beach walk to compare and contrast the north and south end beaches. Discussions will focus on barrier island dynamics, natural erosion and accreation patterns, human impacts, and possible solutions.
 Dinner: Dinner will be on your own tonight. There are restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. We will be happy to provide information to assist you in making a decision.
 Evening: This evening is free to pursue your own personal interests. There are numerous Jekyll Island Club Hotel resources available to you.
   
Accommodations: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Full-Day Okefenokee Field Trip, Cook-Out, Boardwalk
(Wednesday, May 1)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the Grand Dining Room.
 Morning: FIELD TRIP: A full day of nature you won’t see anywhere else! We will depart early for a full day in the amazing Okefenokee Swamp. Led by expert guides, we’ll ride pontoon boats into the heart of the swamp via the Suwannee Canal, surviving principal waterway. This pristine wilderness comprises more than 438,000 acres and covers approximately 700 square miles. More than 230 species of birds, 600 plants, 49 mammals, 64 reptiles, 37 amphibians and 39 fish have been identified in the swamp — living in seven different habitat types.
 Lunch: Lunch will be a cook out at a landing in the swamp with peach cobbler and ice cream for dessert.
 Afternoon: Your afternoon continues as we traverse the Swamp Walk — a 3/4 mile wooden walkway that leads to a 50-foot high observation tower overlooking Okefenokee Swamp. The boardwalk winds through dense swamp growth, open prairie, and ponds before reaching the observation tower overlooking Chesser Prairie and Seagrove Lake. Sandhill cranes may be spotted year-round, as can many species of egrets and herons. Pig frogs are perhaps the most vocal animal along the boardwalk, but rarely seen. Birds such as Northern parula and Prothonotary warblers are warm weather residents and may be seen and heard. There is a place to sit half way if you decide you do not want to go the entire way.
NOTE: Be prepared for insects. Feeding wildlife is dangerous and forbidden. Do not disturb any animal.
 Dinner: Dinner will be in the Grand Dining Room.
 Evening: After an exciting day, you've earned a well deserved free evening. You may want to experience more of what the Club has to offer, or massage those aching muscles!
   
Accommodations: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Shrimp Trawl-Dolphin Cruise, Game of Croquet, Evening Entertainment
(Thursday, May 2)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the Grand Dining Room.
 Morning: Transferring to Brunswick, we will board the shrimp trawler “Lady Jane” for a study cruise. You’ll learn about the life cycle of this tasty and economically vital delicacy and the history of shrimping in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, And you’ll actually see how it has been done for generations.
As we cruise along the waterways banked by the Marshes of Glynn — made famous by Sidney Lanier’s poem — you’ll likely spot egrets, pelicans, seagulls, and dolphin. Entering St. Simon Sound, the captain will order the crew to drop the shrimp net over the stern. The crew will tell you about the types of shrimp they catch and of course lots of sea stories. While we are dragging the bottom for shrimp, dolphin often follow the net to pick up an easy meal. They are very curious and will hang-around until we empty the net anticipating additional morsels. As we bring in the net, you will see many different varieties of fish, crabs, and what shrimpers called the "by-catch". In addition to shrimp, the crew have brought up (and, of course, released) stingrays, squid, jellyfish, and shells. We'll put our catch on display where everyone can help identify it. By now, the dolphin are usually joined by seagulls and brown pelicans!
The crew will take some of the shrimp just caught and boil them on the spot. That's as fresh as you will ever get! The entire field trip is done in protected waters...so no need to be concerned if your "land-lubber" system is not quite up to the motion of the ocean. Should Mother Nature decide to test us with a Blowing Noreaster, we'll just traverse the rivers and creeks where those tasty little crustations love to hide out.
 Lunch: Weather permitting, we'll have a picnic lunch under the beach pavilion....or eat at a popular island restaurant in case of rain.
 Afternoon: EXCURSION: This afternoon we’ll enjoy a game of croquet. Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport, which involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court. The lawn of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel will be your playing area. It is loads of fun and anyone can play the game.
 Dinner: Dinner will be in the Grand Dining Room.
 Evening: EXTRACURRICULAR: We’ll enjoy some of what’s going on at the hotel. Or, if nothing is scheduled, we will bring in our own entertainment.
   
Accommodations: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Coastal Birds, Wrap-Up Farewells, Program Concludes
(Friday, May 3)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast will be the Grand Dining Room.
 Morning: PRESENTATION: An expert on coastal birds will tell you about indigenous and migrating species. Then we’ll review what we’ve seen and learned as we wrap up a wonderful week of exploration and discovery and say farewell to new-found friends. Hotel check-out is at 12 Noon. We hope you’ve enjoyed this learning adventure and will join us for other exciting Road Scholar programs with the Center for Educational Adventure. Best wishes for all your journeys!
   
Accommodations: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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