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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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Holidays
Length
6 days
Rating (4.76)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,299

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Itinerary
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. Read More.
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 )
3 expert-led lectures
6 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, please visit the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff. 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. 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.
Activity Note
Getting on/off shuttle, 30 minutes-1 hour of standing and walking through historic cottages and turtle center.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be provided in the Jekyll Island Club Victorian-era Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
An area expert will lead us through the public spaces of the Jekyll Island Club hotel, sharing stories about the various rooms, the woodwork, leaded glass, the people, and their pastimes. We will then visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to learn about the species and the center's rehabilitation and research efforts.
Lunch:
We will enjoy our meal together at the Jekyll Island Club.
Afternoon:
We will visit the Jekyll Island Mosaic museum and then board the tram to see and learn about the island’s National Historic Landmark District, where gilded-era millionaires spent winter vacations with family, friends, and each other.
Dinner:
We will enjoy our meal together at the Jekyll Island Club.
Evening:
We will end our evening enjoying the music and stories of a talented local singer/songwriter.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus
Breakfast:
Breakfast provided in the Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
We will depart for a field trip by bus to St. Simons Island to explore the neighboring barrier island's historical and cultural museums and sites.
Lunch:
We will enjoy lunch at a restaurant on Saint Simons, ordered from a select menu.
Afternoon:
After lunch, 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 meal together at the Jekyll Island Club.
Evening:
In a private banquet room, 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.
Activity Note
Minimal standing and walking today. Stepping on and off the tram.
Breakfast:
Breakfast provided in the Grand Dining Room.
Morning:
The hotel's pastry chef will provide us with all of the ingredients ready for decorating Christmas cookies. We will each receive a dozen cookies to decorate and take home. After cookie decorating we will be joined by a local expert who will teach us about the fascinating ecology of the barrier island.
Lunch:
At the hotel, we will have a special holiday high tea in grand holiday décor.
Afternoon:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most.
Dinner:
We will have a special Christmas Eve Dinner together at the Jekyll Island Club.
Evening:
Following dinner, we will take a ride on Jekyll's jolliest trolley to see more than a million lights beautifully displayed around the island's historic district.
Activity Note
Minimal standing and walking today.
Breakfast:
In lieu of breakfast, we will enjoy a wonderful Christmas Brunch later in the morning.
Morning:
We hope you enjoy waking up on Christmas morning in this beautiful location. An optional Christmas morning service is often held at the historic Faith Chapel if you would like to attend. Join us for a special Christmas Brunch at the the hotel.
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 enjoy our last evening together with dinner 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.
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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