Family Bicycle Adventures Along Jekyll Island's Bike Trails - the Only Way to Travel!On Jekyll Island, bicycle adventures are the perfect cure-all for the mid-week vacation doldrums. There's nothing that will brighten a kid's face faster than saying, "Hey, guys, let's hit the bikes and head on down to the Sweet Shoppe for a hunk of chocolate fudge." Before you know it everyone (including weight-conscious Dads and Moms) are pedaling for all they're worth, down to the Historic District for some decadent treat. Don't feel guilty, though. Your bicycle adventures are the perfect exercise for burning unwanted calories. Jekyll Island's 20 miles of bike trails, both paved and natural, invite you to explore. But first, before setting out on your bicycle adventures, you'll need a bike. If you didn't bring your own, there are venues throughout the island where you can rent bikes for the entire family. We usually bring our own bikes, but if you want to rent, try the Jekyll Island Bike Barn, located at the corner of Beachview Drive and Shell Road, next to the mini-golf course.
Choose your bikes here. They have road ready cruisers, most with knobby tires, no gears and brakes on the pedals. They're pretty smooth riders, but without gears they can be hard for older folks to pedal around the entire island in one trip - especially if you're riding up Beachview Drive and into a sea breeze. Note - Bicycle adventures are great, and trying to circumnavigate Jekyll Island in one trip can be done. But, like eating that fudge from the Sweet Shoppe, it's a treat better enjoyed in small bites. You can also get a tandem bike. Or a "surrey" bike, that seats four. Kids can get kid-size bikes. And if you have little ones too young to bike on their own, you can rent bike trailers that attach to a grown-ups bike and are towed along behind. Bike Barn Rentals also supplies helmets, toddler seats, and more goodies to outfit your families bicycle adventures. After deciding on the bikes, you can pay for them at the mini-golf kiosk. You can get your official exploration vehicle for anywhere from a few hours to a full day. For cruisers, per hour prices are $5.25. For a day, shell out $11.50. They also have a weekly rental rate of $49.50. Another good place to get bikes is at the Wheel Fun Rentals kiosk, located at the Days Inn and Suites. Their main operation is run out of here, and they supply cruisers, kid size bikes, multi-speed bikes, adult trikes, an assortment of trailers and tag-a-longs, as well as helmets and accessories. Wheel Fun also has branches in the Oceanfront Clarion Resort, Quality Inn and Suites, and Villas by the Sea Resort - but only offer cruisers at these locations. Cruiser prices range from $5.00/hour to $15.00/day to $40.00/week. If you're family is staying at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, you can get bikes right at the hotel. They mostly offer cruiser type bikes without gears, along with kid size bikes. If you're family is staying at the Jekyll Island Campground, the campground store offers bike rentals, also. Chomping at the bit to begin your bicycle adventures on Jekyll Island? Then let's get to it. Jekyll Island has 20 miles of "official" bike trails shown on their free trail map (you can get one at the entrance booth, at just about any store, or at the bike rental shops). It's easy riding, as most of the 20 miles are pretty much flat. The hardest thing you'll have to do is chose where to ride. The bike maps show 4 suggested routes. Of course, you can create your own bicycle adventures expedition - hey, that's what the freedom of bike riding is all about. Here's what we suggest:
You can discover bicycle adventures anywhere. Once, when I needed repairs done on my SUV, I took my bike with me to the auto repair shop in Brunswick. While grease monkeys worked on my vehicle, I toured Old Brunswick in style. The beauty of riding a bike is that you can leave the beaten path, the "formal" trails, and explore that overgrown road through the woods, that deserted beach, or the hidden nooks and crannies of Jekyll Island's secret places.
Return from Bicycle Adventures to Adventures Page
|
