Weekend at Jekyll Island

 

 

When we fired up our portable home on wheels, we all couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. The weather was spectacular.

Along with our friends, DUKE and Rebel, we all packed up our families and headed north to the beautiful Jekyll Island, GA. SENIOR and I go camping there quite often, it has something for everyone and the kids love it. It is pristine, and frankly one of my favorite places to visit.

Between, 1886-1942 the island was the winter retreat for the wealthiest people in the country. Names like the Rockefeller's, JP Morgan, Vanderbilt’s, Macy, and Fields built cottage like mansions that surrounded the “Jekyll Island Club”. This was the center piece of the Island and membership was exclusive. For 600.00 a year only the wealthiest were allowed to join, and they kept the membership at only 100 families.
 





It was here that then President Theodore Roosevelt made the first transcontinental phone call. Then there was the secret meeting in 1907 and the creation of the “Aldrich Plan” which led to the creation of today’s “Federal Reserve”

Now the island and historic area is opened to the public and the once exclusive Jekyll Island Club is now a hotel.

In addition there is the campground, and fishing pier. And don’t forget the beautiful beach.

Campground Bird Sanctuary

 We all arrived Friday afternoon, and relaxed at the campground around a fire. Then Saturday morning it was breakfast and a visit to the campgrounds bird sanctuary. After that,  it was on the bikes for the 3 mile ride into the historic area where the homes are. You can close your eyes and imagine what it must have been like back in the 1900s.

 

 

We all stopped for ice cream, and us girls went in and out of the little shops while the guys kept the park benches warm.We also browsed the Island Museum, where on display are photographs and memorabilia of a by gone age.

Then more riding over to what is known as “Millionaires Village” this is where the mansions are. The architecture elaborate, they are reminders of a time long gone.

"Indian Mound" The Vanderbilt House

 

"Moss Cottage" Owned by the Macy Family

 

The sun was getting low and it was time to make the bike ride back to the campground. With the sun setting fast, we all got supper together. Each of us cooked for ourselves, but we all ate together. Senior and I did an awesome Beef Stew cooked outside on our Coleman stoves.

Rebel cranked up another roaring fire, and treated us all to a good Dutch oven peach cobbler... Mrs. Rebel topped off the cobbler for us with vanilla ice cream.

Which was the perfect ending to the perfect day with good friends, good food, wonderful weather, and a beautiful place to spend the weekend.

 

Jekyll Island sunset over the Intercoastal