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Georgia

Biking Exploration on St. Simons and Jekyll Islands

Program No. 2181RJ

Bike St. Simons and Jekyll Islands with experts, exploring a historic lighthouse, learning about coastal ecosystems and enjoying authentic traditions of Southern culture and cuisine.

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6 days

5 nights

11 meals

5B 3L 3D

Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Biking, Horton House, Clam Creek Marsh Walk, Sea Turtles

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Biking, Horton Pond, Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Museum

Jekyll Island, Georgia

St. Simons Island, Ft. Frederica, Christ Church, Lighthouse

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island South Dunes Nature, Elective Off-the-Path Ride

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Program Concludes

Jekyll Island, Georgia

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At a Glance

Set amid coastal marshlands of swaying cordgrass and studded with lighthouses, former plantations and Gilded Age mansions, the Golden Isles of Georgia mark not only the meeting of the coast and the Atlantic, but also of the native peoples, Spanish missionaries, African slaves and wealthy vacationers who have all played parts in coastal Georgia’s history. From the Tiffany window in Faith Chapel to the historic Jekyll Island Club to the lush maritime forest, take in St. Simons and Jekyll islands by bike.

Activity Level

Outdoor: No Sweat

Novice to intermediate cyclists! Bicycling 13-20 miles per day at 9 miles per hour, moderate pace, concrete bike paths, flat terrain. One-speed, land cruiser bikes provided, foot brakes.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

By bike, see a 200-year-old working lighthouse, Christ Church, Fort Frederica and cabins where enslaved people lived.
Bike to the marshes and learn about Georgia's expansive estuarine and coastal ecosystems.
Explore more than 20 miles of winding bike trails on Jekyll Island, former playground of the Rockefellers and Morgans.

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Fred Collins

Fred Collins has lived full time on St. Simons Island since 1971 and has been leading cycling rides on the island for a half-dozen years. With his family roots an hour away in Baxley, Ga., where his family lineage goes back to the Revolutionary War and Civil Wars eras, Fred is passionate about sharing his knowledge of the history of the area. He made his living in the banking and finance industry.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Fred Collins View biography

Suggested Reading List (8 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.

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Biking Exploration on St. Simons and Jekyll Islands

Program Number: 2181

Georgia Trilogy

by Eugenia Price

Freedom's Shore: Tunis Campbell and the Georgia Freedmen

by Russell Duncan

Rice Gold: James Hamilton Couper and Plantation Life on the Georgia Coast

by James E. Bagwell

Drawing from a wealth of information, particularly from primary sources such as diaries, letters, plantation records, etc., the author has recreated the story of James Hamilton Couper and his times into an exciting, interesting, and readable account. The work begins with an introductory chapter. The Georgia Coast, a land of sluggish rivers, murkey blackwater swamps, and studded with a string of islands, is the home of a special breed of people. The are as wild, reckless, exciting, beautiful, and contradictory as the land itself. Bagwell examines the Couper heritage, from kings, war, and intrigue in Scotland to their firm establishment on the Georgia Coast. As colonial times move into antebellum, the Coupers progress, especially with James Hamilton Couper of Hopeton Plantation. On his grand tour of Europe, many on that continent commented on the abilities and potential of this young man. Couper made quite a name for himself in the area of politics, plantation management, scientific agriculture, archaeology, and architectural design. In the sinking of the Pulaski, he was hailed the hero of the occasion. The publication of this volume will be a valuable addition to the history and culture of the South, especially Georgia and its coast.

The Jekyll Island Club

by Tyler E. Bagwell and The Jekyll Island Museum

In the late nineteenth century, some of the wealthiest families in America joined together to form the Jekyll Island Club. The Club operated for 54 years, from 1888 until 1942, and attracted an elite membership. The families of Cyrus McCormick, J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, and William Vanderbilt were among those who enjoyed the leisurely pace and recreational adventure of the Georgia coast. The Jekyll Island Club includes images of the architecture, clothing, transportation, and natural beauty unique to the island. This exquisite collection is sure to rekindle awe and wonder in the hearts of those who have visited the island, and will serve as a wonderful introduction for newcomers. The Jekyll Island Club is a fascinating look at a bygone period.

Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839

by Frances Anne Kemble

Jekyll Island Club, The (GA) (Images of America)

by Jekyll Island Museum

Jekyll Island: The Nearest Faraway Place

by unknown

Jekyll Island's undisturbed beauty, combined with its pleasant year-round weather and refreshing ocean breezes, provides a breathtaking backdrop for a variety of wonderful experiences. Located midway between Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida, Jekyll Island is approximately 5,700 acres and the smallest of Georgia's barrier islands. As a tribute to the Island's allurement, the Jekyll Island Authority has published Jekyll Island The Nearest Faraway Place, a coffee table book recognizing the inspired talent of residents and guests and their ability to capture unique perspectives of our cherished Island. During the period of March through September 2010, a competition was conducted to discover photographs of, and poems about, Jekyll Island. Scenic images and inspiring narratives portraying Jekyll's beach and marsh, sunrise and sunsets, wildlife, nature, historic landmarks, and views from above were sought for inclusion in this project. Submissions included 70 from Georgia, 17 from different states, 4 from Canada and 1 from the United Kingdom. Results of the competition were announced and the winning selections are featured in the commemorative publication. Copyright of the selected works and all rights to publish became property of Jekyll Island Authority. Jekyll Island The Nearest Faraway Place is now currently available at the Visitor Information Center, the Commissary, the Jekyll Island Book Store, the Jekyll Island Museum Store, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and Hattie's Books in Brunswick.

St. Simons Trilogy

by Eugenia Price

A compelling, vibrant saga of conflict, love, and a young man's search to fulfill his dreams. In this enthralling first novel of the St. Simons Trilogy, Eugenia Price shares the compelling story of James Gould, a young man with a passionate dream. Raised in post-Revolution Granville, Massachusetts, Gould could only imagine the beauty and warmth of lands to the south. It was there that he longed to build bridges and lighthouses from his very own design and plans. The gripping story unfolds as Gould follows his dream to the raw settlement of Bangor on the Penobscot River, to St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia, to lawless Spanish East Florida, and back—at last and finally—to St. Simons. Along the way, he encounters hardship, peril, failure, and success, but it is the unwavering love of Janie Harris, an especially beautiful and strong-willed young woman, that fulfills his deep need for someone who can share the dream and the life he has chosen.

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Biking Exploration on St. Simons and Jekyll Islands

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At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes

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