Georgia
Spend Christmas on Historic Jekyll Island
Program No. 13410RJ
Celebrate Christmas on Jekyll Island, where you’ll enjoy world-class cuisine, explore the festively decorated National Historic District and learn the grand story of this “Golden Isle.”
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
4B 4L 5D
1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Jekyll Island, GA
2
Historic District, Jekyll Nature, Gullah Performance
Jekyll Island, GA
3
Free Morning, High Tea, Cookies, Eighty ocean Dinner, Carols
Jekyll Island, GA
4
Christmas Brunch, Dolphin Boat Tour, Present Swap
Jekyll Island, GA
5
Saint Simons Island
Jekyll Island, GA
6
Program Concludes
Jekyll Island, GA
At a Glance
Experience the splendor and history of Jekyll Island during the Holiday season! More than a century ago, many of the nation's richest families, such as the Rockefellers and the Pulitzers, discovered the serenity and beauty of the jewel of Georgia's east coast. It became the winter retreat for many wealthy families. Imagine Christmas through the ages as you venture inside the cottages in the National Historic District with some curators in period dress. Complement the program with dinners at the nationally renowned Jekyll Island Club Hotel and the Jekyll Ocean Club. Other highlights include presentations of the Gullah-Geechee culture, a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and holiday high tea.
Activity Level
Easy Going
Walking a few blocks per day and getting on & off a bus during the St Simon's field trip.
At the hotel, there are steps leading from the Bellstand to the veranda at the entrance (there is a handicap lift available). There are also 4 steps leading to the front desk. There is a gift shop at the hotel that has steps as well, which include 3 steps up and 3 steps down.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy an unforgettable Christmas Day brunch in the Grand Dining Room of the renowned Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
- Get into the holiday spirit on the Holly Jolly Trolley as we enjoy the festive holiday music, hear historic anecdotes, and see more than a million lights adorning the Jekyll Historic District.
- Spend an afternoon on the largest of the “Golden Isles,” St. Simon’s Island.
General Notes
Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Georgia Graves
Georgia Graves has developed and coordinates teacher training workshops on Georgia's sea turtles, shorebirds, marine mammals and coastal ecology for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of 26 such reserves in North America. Georgia leads nature and history programs and works with Georgia's sea turtle conservation project.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Georgia Graves
View biography
Georgia Graves has developed and coordinates teacher training workshops on Georgia's sea turtles, shorebirds, marine mammals and coastal ecology for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of 26 such reserves in North America. Georgia leads nature and history programs and works with Georgia's sea turtle conservation project.
JoAnn Buisson
View biography
JoAnn Buisson is a retired elementary school teacher from Boston, Mass. After college, she was employed as a nursery school teacher until 1981. She remained at home until 1994 in order to raise her children. In 1994, JoAnn accepted a position with a local elementary school as an art teacher, eventually retiring in 2014. Upon retirement, she moved to Jekyll Island with her husband. She continues her interest in the arts, taking several classes in pottery.
Suggested Reading List
(2 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Spend Christmas on Historic Jekyll Island
Program Number: 13410
The Jekyll Island Colony
During the Gilded Age, Jekyll Island, Georgia, was one of the most exclusive resort destinations in the United States. Owned by the most elite and inaccessible social club in America, a group whose members included Rockefellers, Pulitzers, Vanderbilts, Goulds, and Morgans, this quiet refuge in the Golden Isles was the perfect winter getaway for the wealthy new industrial class of the snowbound North.
In this delightful book, a companion volume to The Jekyll Island Club: Southern Haven for America's Millionaires, June Hall McCash focuses on the social club's members and the "cottages" they built near the clubhouse between 1888 and 1928. Illustrated with hundreds of never-before-published photographs from private family collections, The Jekyll Island Cottage Colony tells the stories of each home, the owners' connections with the island, and their interactions with one another.
Splendid Isolation: The Jekyll Island Millionaires Club 1888-1942
AN HISTORICAL NOVEL Untamed, and virtually unchanged since its discovery in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, Jekyll Island s history unfolds with the excitement and suspense of a fairy tale. Because so many of the world s greatest minds and bank accounts gathered together in virtual isolation for three months each year, history was made on Jekyll Island. A group of tycoons with surnames such as Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt, Pulitzer, Baker and others formed their exclusive Millionaires Club on this island hideaway the richest and most inaccessible club of that time. Between 1888 and 1942, Jekyll Island was open only to Club members families and their guests for hunting, relaxing and playing in luxurious ease. In this sweeping historical saga, you will discover the Millionaires joys, tribulations, and deeply guarded secrets told through the unique voices of four Club employees. In this true story of the island getaway that offered them sovereignty, discover how the decisions of these powerful men changed the face of world finances, business and politics as they built modern America.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
4B, 4L, 5D
)
1 expert-led lecture
6 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
5 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Jekyll Island, GA
Meals:
D
Stay:
Jekyll Island Club Resort
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. A bagpiper will herald in the season at the Jekyll Island Club Resort and then down by the Jekyll River. We will enjoy this special holiday treat each afternoon of Christmas week.
Dinner:
We will enjoy a meal at the Jekyll Island Club.
Evening:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Meals are served as a buffet and include a variety of options to meet most dietary needs and preferences. If you have a required dietary restriction that will be difficult to accommodate by self-selecting items from the buffet, a special plate (chef's choice) will be prepared for you. If a special plate is served, the buffet items will not be available in addition to the special plate. Please only indicate required dietary restrictions if you would like a special plate prepared for you. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Following dinner, we will enjoy the music and storytelling of local musician Thomas Schuyler.
Day
2
Historic District, Jekyll Nature, Gullah Performance
Location:
Jekyll Island, GA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Jekyll Island Club Resort
Activity Note
Getting on/off tram, standing for 20-30 minutes at a time, walking around the hotel
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be provided in the Jekyll Island Club Victorian-era Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
We will visit the Jekyll History museum, then board the tram to see the island’s National Historic Landmark District, where gilded-era millionaires spent winter vacations with family, friends, and each other. We’ll have expert commentary aboard the tram and make two stops in the Historic District.
Lunch:
We will enjoy lunch at the hotel.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we'll learn about Sea turtles that use the Golden Isles beaches for nesting. We’ll be joined by a local expert who will tell us about this threatened species and how people can help them survive. An expert will then lead us through the public spaces of the hotel, sharing stories about the various rooms, the woodwork, leaded glass, the people, and their pastimes. The stories are interesting and special to this National historic Landmark. Before dinner, we will meet several members of a local group dedicated to preserving Gullah language, song, and dance. They will share their heritage with us along with performing the ring shout, which is an expression of religious culture. It's African origins are apparent in ritualized, dance-like movements in a circle, call-and-response singing, and hand clapping. Ring shouting was widely thought to have died out but had actually continued all along in McIntosh County, just north of Jekyll Island.
Dinner:
We will enjoy our meal together at the Jekyll Island Club. As we are finishing dinner, Holiday Fireworks are scheduled to light the night sky at 7:00 p.m.
Evening:
After dinner, we will take an evening ride on the "Holly Jolly Trolley" to enjoy the beautiful light display through the Historic District.
Day
3
Free Morning, High Tea, Cookies, Eighty ocean Dinner, Carols
Location:
Jekyll Island, GA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Jekyll Island Club Resort
Activity Note
Getting on/off passenger van. For dinner, jackets or collared shirts and slacks are requested for gentlemen. Sunday attire for ladies.
Breakfast:
Breakfast provided in the Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Lunch:
At the hotel, we’ll have a special holiday high tea in grand holiday decor.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will enjoy the tradition of decorating Christmas cookies. A local bakery will teach us some tricks of the trade to make our cookies a work of art. As we are preparing to depart for dinner, we will enjoy the musical ambiance of Tim Atkins, Jekyll's strolling Christmas Bagpiper.
Dinner:
Christmas Eve Dinner at the fabulous Jekyll Ocean Club.
Evening:
After dinner, we will return to the Jekyll Island Club to gather around the piano where a musical guest will lead us in all of our favorite carols.
Day
4
Christmas Brunch, Dolphin Boat Tour, Present Swap
Location:
Jekyll Island, GA
Meals:
L,D
Stay:
Jekyll Island Club Resort
Activity Note
Minimal standing and walking today.
Breakfast:
In lieu of breakfast, we will enjoy a wonderful Christmas Brunch later in the morning.
Morning:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Lunch:
We will enjoy Christmas brunch together.
Afternoon:
We will enjoy an afternoon boating excursion in search of dolphins as well as other wildlife while admiring the scenic views of Jekyll Island.
Dinner:
We will have a special Christmas Dinner together at the Jekyll Island Club.
Evening:
Following dinner, we will enjoy an elective Christmas gift swap. If you choose to participate, gifts will need to range between $10-$20.
Day
5
Saint Simons Island
Location:
Jekyll Island, GA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Jekyll Island Club Resort
Activity Note
Getting on and off trolley, walking and standing at your own pace through the museums and free time.
Breakfast:
Breakfast in the Jekyll Island Club historic Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
This morning, we will depart for a field trip by trolley to Saint Simons Island to explore the neighboring barrier island's historical and cultural museum and sites.
Lunch:
We will enjoy lunch together at a restaurant on Saint Simons Island, ordered from a select menu.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will enjoy some free time on your own to explore Saint Simons Island Pier Park where you'll find local artists, shopping, the SSI lighthouse, and more. We will continue by bus to additional Saint Simons historical and cultural sites.
Dinner:
We will enjoy our last evening together with dinner at the Jekyll Island Club.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Jekyll Island, GA
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11 AM.
Breakfast:
Breakfast in the Jekyll Island Club's historic Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future.
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MEALS
13 Meals
4 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Dec 22, 2024 - Dec 27, 2024
- Dec 21, 2025 - Dec 26, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 17 Reviews
Sort By:
"Spend Christmas on Historic Jekyll Island" was an excellent program. The island is beautiful, and was decorated with lights and lovely colors. The outings were informative and interesting, the food si A+, and we had an excellent leader. My husband is somewhat mobility impaired, and he was able to get around well. Highly recommended!
— Review left January 4, 2024
This was our first Road Scholar program and we enjoyed it but were surprised at a few things. Don't overdress. We took way too many clothes that were dressier than appropriate. This was a very casual group. Be aware that there are steps everywhere, a few at a time. You will need to go up and down several small sets of stairs to get from one place in the hotel to another. Also, you will frequently be going inside to outside to transfer from one part of the building to another. Be prepared. The people are lovely, particularly JoAnn, the leader, and the speakers and entertainers she brings in. The hotel is lovely and very well decorated for the holiday. The food was a little below our expectations and all served buffet style with repeat meals and limited options. The feeling of family among the participants made this a special Christmas holiday program.
— Review left December 28, 2023
We just returned from Christmas at the Jekyll Island Club. I highly recommend this trip. The program, the tour leader, the hotel accommodations, and the island itself make for a perfect experience.
— Review left December 27, 2023
I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in visiting and learning about Jekyll Island. We had not been there before and found shared information enlightening and enjoyable. Every meal was outstanding!
— Review left December 27, 2023
This was up there with the best of the Road Scholar programs I have been on and most have been very good. The location and accommodations are stunning. It would be hard to find the equivalent anywhere else. It felt like stepping back into another more elegant and refined era.
— Review left December 27, 2023
Jekyll Island, GA at Christmas time is well worth the visit. The history is fascinating. The accommodations are beautiful and beautifully decorated. If the weather is supposed to be cold, take plenty of warm clothes(layers) as you will be outside on several occasions. Also, it is a bit drafty in the hall of mirrors where people come and go a lot.
— Review left January 10, 2023
Visiting Jekyll Island at Christmas time is a real treat. The decorations are stunning. The program was informative and relaxing. The resort is comfortable. If you are from the south, be sure to bring plenty of warm clothes if the weather is cold as it is an old building and the main corridor is opened many times.
— Review left January 4, 2023
We love to get away for Christmas and Jekyll Island is a lovely and restful place to be. The Jekyll Island Club has a very interesting history and is a nice property. Christmas lights were everywhere and there is a nice bicycle path around the island. Plenty to do in your free time. Would like to go back and visit on my own sometime.
— Review left December 28, 2022
I enjoyed my trip very much nd was thankful it was with road scholar. i learned the fascinating history of the island. Loved the naturalist with her trip to the beach to learn about shells and the Gullah singers were enjoyable.
— Review left March 21, 2022
What a wonderful way to spend Christmas! Beautiful accommodations, great food, and fun activities.
— Review left December 28, 2021
Awesome program Christmas at Jekyll Island Club. Would highly recommend to anyone. What a great way to spend the Christmas Holiday!
— Review left December 27, 2021
A lovely holiday experience in a stately historical inn. Staff are friendly and courteous and the seasonal decorations added a nice touch.
— Review left January 28, 2020
fun program and an awesome hotel. like going back in time.
— Review left January 5, 2020
Have fun in Jeykll Island and enjoy the Holiday Charm.
— Review left December 28, 2019
This is a delightful way to enjoy the holiday traditions of Jekyll Island - a special place with a rich history, culture and ecology! Despite our inclement weather, Cindy (program leader) and Georgia (instructor) as well as others who provided demonstrations, etc., provided a fabulous experience of learning and appreciating the local area. The Southern hospitality was in evidence everywhere with smiles, personal attention, and plenty of good seafood! This program is well described as 'easy' activity, but there's enough free time (and plenty of space) to increase your activity level if needed and there are some accommodations for those who may need them.
— Review left December 28, 2019
A lovely way to spend Christmas!
— Review left January 13, 2019
This is a delightful way to spend the Christmas holiday in an historic and truly beautiful setting with a pleasant array of easy activities and a bunch of interesting lectures on various aspects of life on Jekyll Island.
The holiday lights are breathtaking and set the mood for a lovely experience.
— Review left January 1, 2019
