Visiting the Jekyll Island Sea Turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center

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One of our favorite recent getaways was the long weekend we spent on Jekyll Island! The highlight was seeing the rescued Jekyll Island sea turtles. So, today, I want to share all about our morning spent visiting the Jekyll Island sea turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

I can honestly say that besides Driftwood Beach pictured below, this is probably the one other can’t-miss stop while visiting the island. Matt and I enjoyed it just as much as the kids did, so I can confidently say that it is fun for all ages!

Jekyll Island, Georgia

If you have not heard of Jekyll Island, Georgia, I want to take a minute to tell you a little bit more about what makes this barrier island special. Jekyll Island remains one of the last truly unspoiled coastal areas in the southeastern United States and that is because it’s actually a state park!

For 75 years, Jekyll Island has been a place for families to escape the hustle and bustle and simply enjoy quality time together. The island is home to more than a thousand acres of coastal forest and ten miles of beautiful shoreline. Likewise, it has earned its designation as one of the best-kept secrets in Georgia!

What makes it different?

Well, this part of the Georgia coast is still very undeveloped. You can walk along the coastline and rarely come across a structure. This is a contrast to other popular vacation destinations, such as 30A Florida, where beachfront properties line the coast.

However, there are a handful of hotels on the island and a small shopping district. A few restaurants dot the coastline and the bay. It’s just enough for a long weekend. There are so many fun things to do on Jekyll Island with kids.

If you are looking for a hotel on Jekyll Island, make sure to read this blog post about where we stayed. It also includes where I wish we had stayed instead!

Want to see it for yourself? I have an Instagram Story Highlight from this 3-night trip to Jekyll Island, where you can see everything we did firsthand—including seeing the Jekyll Island Sea Turtles!

Where is Jekyll Island?

Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s Golden Isles. Nestled along the coast in the southeast corner of the state, these barrier islands include St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island as well as Brunswick inland.

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While the other islands have a lot to offer for both tourists and local residents, they are not owned by the state and are packed with vacation rentals, hotels, and world-class resorts. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as there is so much to do, but a contrast to the slower pace that Jekyll Island offers.

Things To Do on Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is truly a place where you can spend your vacation enjoying the beach, sunbathing by the pool, riding along the bike paths, and going out to eat. Many people choose to forgo their cars and rent golf carts for their stay. However, those are more of a novelty, and cars/bikes work just fine!

Other than a little shopping and possibly some golf, there really are a few main “activities” that you will want to do when visiting this charming island.

First, you’ll want to visit Driftwood Beach and explore the grounds of the historic Jekyll Island Club Resort, including the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. We loved the Jekyll Island Club so much that we would probably choose to stay there next time (instead of the Holiday Inn Resort) because it is just iconic and so beautiful!

If visiting in the summer, you may want to add the Summer Waves water park to your list and possibly consider charting a boat from the Jekyll Harbor Marina.

You can click here to read my entire list of things to do with kids on Jekyll Island!

But today, let’s talk about why I think everyone should visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is Georgia’s only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility and a place where you can actually see how sick and injured Sea Turtles are treated. There are numerous opportunities for visitors to learn about sea turtles and see their rehabilitation firsthand. In addition to welcoming visitors and caring for sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has a research center focused on conservation and protecting native wildlife.

As with many things on Jekyll Island, this facility is operated by the Jekyll Island Authority and the state of Georgia. And they are kind enough to give you a virtual tour.

Click here to see the entire Georgia Sea Turtle Center so that you know what to expect before your visit!

Georgia Sea Turtle Center Admission Cost and Hours of Operation

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is open daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is $8 for children ages 4-12, $10 for adults ages 13-61, and $9 for seniors age 62+. Children 3 and under are free. You can purchase your tickets in person or purchase your Georgia Sea Turtle tickets online in advance.

All admission prices go toward offsetting operational costs, including sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts. And you also have to purchase a membership starting at $45 per year that comes with some added perks!

Georgia Sea Turtle Center Directions

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is located at 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527. As you can see in the map below, it is right next to the Jekyll Island Club Resort at the center of the island and near the East River. There is parking available on site.

Booking.com

Learning Center and Hospital for Jekyll Island Sea Turtles

Since its opening in 2007, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has treated hundreds of sick and injured sea turtles and has been able to return most of the animals to their ocean home.

Once you arrive at the Sea Turtle Center you pass through the gift shop and the learning center, and then you take a very short walk outside to the Sea Turtle Hospital located in a back building.

Here, you can see the current patients and read exactly why they are here and what needs to happen for them to be released. Throughout the day, employees talk even more in-depth about a specific turtle and also the efforts that the center is making to ensure that all turtles thrive in the future.

When we went, the talk was at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m., but I highly recommend calling them at 912.635.4444 the day before to ask when the talks will be during your visit. It would be a shame to miss one!

georgia sea turtle center jekyll island ga

We started our visit in the hospital section and then went back and spent some time in the learning center and I was impressed with how the two areas really tied together!

For example, in the sea turtle hospital, we heard about a turtle that was malnourished and had barnacles growing on it. Then, in the learning center, we played doctor, diagnosed illnesses, and figured out just how to treat the turtle in our example!

The learning center at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has several hands-on activities and staff members on hand to answer questions. There is even a window into the treatment room where you can actually see animals being treated. We didn’t see any animals in there, but someone told us that on the day prior to our visit, they had an injured bird in there being helped!

Watch Rehabilliated Jekyll Island Sea Turtles be Released

If you want to keep up with the Sea Turtle Hospital patients you saw during your visit, make sure to follow the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s Facebook page. They often post when they release turtles back to their homes!

I was actually just on their page, getting the link, and saw that Johnny Paulk, the saltwater green sea turtle, whose info I shared in a photo above, was released in late September. You can see the photo here!

In general, that Facebook page is a great resource. I would make sure to check it before planning your visit as they do close additional days from time to time and also post special events including turtle walks there.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center Behind The Scenes Tour

Want to learn even more about these fascinating creatures and the efforts being made to ensure their safety? Consider booking a behind-the-scenes tour during your visit!

Behind the Scenes tours are 45-minute semi-private guided tours of the staff-only areas. Behind the Scenes tours start with an introduction to the center and review behavior guidelines. The group is led to the hospital and food preparation areas to learn about veterinary and husbandry practices. Participants meet patients who cannot be seen from public areas. This tour does not include feeding, touching animals, or tankside access to sea turtles.

All participants must be at least 10 years old and wear closed-toed shoes. The $35 ticket price includes general admission for the day, so this is a very affordable way to make your visit extra special!

Click here for more information and to book your behind-the-scenes tour at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center!

Educational Programs and Scute’s School

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center offers a variety of interactive experiences and expert-led programs, as well as virtual field trips and a plethora of resources for educating and home-educating! Teachers can even book virtual field trips here!

If you click here, you can view all of the educational resources, including archived newsletters, and even download FREE lesson plans! This is such a great resource!

Georgia Jekyll Island Sea Turtles Gift Shop

As you enter and again as you leave, you will walk through the gift shop, which offers a wide variety of items, including souvenirs and some very cute Jekyll Island Sea Turtles T-shirts. And while you will find a much larger selection in the actual store, they do offer the option to shop the gift shop online.

GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER ONLINE GIFT SHOP

What To Do After Your Visit to the Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Center

We arrived at the Sea Turtle Center mid-morning and by the time we were finished, we were ready for lunch! I would HIGHLY recommend that you walk straight over to the Jekyll Island Club Resort to grab lunch and explore the resort and surrounding historic areas.

Lunch at the Jekyll Island Club & Explore the Grounds

Our family enjoyed a casual lunch at The Pantry, a counter-service, all-day cafe. Our sandwiches were great, and we enjoyed sitting outside and enjoying the day!

If you want to eat before your visit, the Grand Ballroom does service breakfast.

Or, opt for lunch or dinner at The Wharf. We ate there twice on our visit and loved it. It’s perfect if you are looking for semi-casual, full-service dining. Make sure to sit outside if the weather is nice! They are open 11:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. and have live music Wednesday – Saturday evenings from 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., so at least walk over there and check it out for later in the evening.

After you eat, make sure to walk around and explore the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club and the adjacent historic district. Tram and carriage tours are available, too!

Check out our other Georgia travel posts

Interested in more Georgia Travel blog posts?

Click here to view all of my Georgia blog posts, including everything from Wild Adventures in south-central Georgia, which is literally right on the way to Jekyll Island for us, to Tallulah Gorge State Park in the northeast corner of the state, and much more.