Things were pretty gloomy here in Atlanta until we packed up the family and drove to sunnier skies in the coastal town of Jekyll Island. Located about 4.5 hours from Atlanta, when you arrive on Jekyll Island it feels like you’ve entered into another world. 

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, palm trees, live oaks, and some of the state’s most beautiful creatures I couldn’t have felt more closer to nature. Water soothes my soul and after a busy summer and our big transition this fall I think we all needed a break. Especially the two of us…Jekyll Island is the perfect family destination for us and includes lots of outdoor activities. With five active children, we love to let them rip and run in the great outdoors which means less screen time and more fresh air. On the island we enjoyed miniature golf (there’s also a full course on the island)…
And when I say miniature golf, we aren’t kidding. There are even “safe clubs” for the littlest family members. Look at that serious face.
It just so happened that our visit fell on my birthday! I never thought I’d enjoy spending my birthday fishing, but as they say there’s a first time for everything. The experience was particularly special to me because it was the first time my husband and children had ever been fishing.

For a second, I stopped to think “Could this be symbolic of my upcoming year? Could I be fishing in unchartered waters and bring to surface new ideas? An undiscovered talent? Or could it be symbolic of my quest for more rest and relaxation in the upcoming year. Only time will tell.

Here are some happy fishermen who were beyond excited about their newfound sport. Catch and release was the phrase of the morning.

The same afternoon, the twins and I took a wildlife walking tour guided by the Jekyll Island Park Ranger where they educated us on the native habitat. Back at home, the kids and I had just completed a unit on animal classifications. Here, they got an up close look at amphibians, reptiles, and birds that live on the island.

We encountered a crocodile resting in a nearby pond. I took this shot through the ranger’s telescope!

We hopped from activity to activity on bicycles or on this cute electric car from Red Bug Motors. You can rent a two-seater vehicle up to a six-seater vehicle for a large family like ours.

The latter part of the evening consisted of throwing rocks on the beach and discussing the days’ activities when we were back at the cottage.

Jekyll Island is unbelievably rich not only Georgia history, but also international history. The Horton House, the island’s first home still stands as a landmark, is an event venue, and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

And we also learned that Theodore Vail, the first president of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T), participated from Jekyll Island in the opening of the first national telephone line across the United States! The historic call took place right here at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

The entire weekend concluded with the Jekyll Island Rededication Ceremony where Georgia Governor Nathan Deal congratulated the Jekyll Island Authority and other pivotal agencies on the completion of a $198 Million revitalization effort that span across 10 years. It was a great honor to be in attendance and to also to hear the Georgia Mass Choir perform two selections for the ceremony. Oh Happy Day  it was!

This weekend will always be a treasured memory for our us. We love spending time together and experiencing, hand in hand, all of what our beautiful world has to offer. I publicly thank the Jekyll Island Authority for inviting my entire family to participate in the rededication weekend and for acknowledging the high priority we place on quality time with our young family.

We will see you again soon!

Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.