Dolly the Dolphin makes friends wherever she goes, and last night May 14th, 2008 was no different. Dolly and The Cow teamed up and gave away t-shirts, passes and prizes to most of the kids who attended the Chic-Fil-a site on St. Simons Island.
Be on the lookout for Dolly and The Cow at the Big Birthday Bash on May 31st, 2008! It will be an all day affair with mascots from all over and live entertainment, activities for kids and fireworks in the evening!

The 2008 Shrimp & Grits Festival Cooking Competition applications, rules and guidelines are now online at www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits.  Prizes for the amateur competition are 1st: $500, 2nd: $300, 3rd: $100.  Prizes for the Professional Competition are 1st: $1000, 2nd: $800, 3rd: $500.   Let’s get cooking!

Georgia’s coastal jewel offers a variety of saltwater angling opportunities

The Georgia Coast has changed quite a bit since my first visit almost 40 years ago, but Jekyll Island is still a laid back, slow-paced escape from the modern world. Although the planned revitalization of the island has caused quite a bit of controversy, I think it’s safe to say that Jekyll will continue to be an affordable destination for anglers wanting to spend time on a coastal Georgia barrier island.

Whether you’re expert or novice, fishing with your buddies or with the family, Jekyll has something for you. A public boat ramp and a full-service marina offer teh boating angler accesss to miles of tidal creeks, hundreds of acres of marsh, a nearby artificial reef and the Atlantic Ocean. The list of saltwater species available to the boating anglers is a who’s who of saltwater game fish - redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, flounder, tripletail, sharks, tarpon, king and Spanish mackeral, barracuda and cobia.

Read the full article from Georgia Outdoor News here.

Hello everyone,  I met a nice couple from Germany yesterday afternoon.  They interviewed me for a radio program they do in Germany.   It was a pleasure to talk of how wonderful Jekyll Island and the Golden Isles are for birding. 

Here’s the bird list!

Have a Great Day!

Lydia

The Jekyll Island Authority welcomed 12 travel writers participating in the 2008 Travel Media Marketplace sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.  The Georgia Department of Economic Development hosted the tour in order to familiarize writers from across the country with the beauty of the Georgia Coast.  Jekyll Island was their fourth destination and received rave reviews.  The writers enjoyed a Sunday evening reception at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center followed by a day of sightseeing and touring of Jekyll Island. All attendees enjoyed discovering the natural and historic beauty of Jekyll Island as well a relaxing night’s stay at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and lunch at the Jekyll Island Rah Bar.

The 2008 South Atlantic  Challenge is a one day invitational event for the top Goalie War competitors throughout the country. This event will feature exciting Goalie War action, play by play announcers, color analysts, music, entertainment, great food, prizes, fun interactive events and plenty of giveaways for the whole family.  Check out their website at http://www.goaliewar.com/

Once again the Summer Waves Street Team makes a splash! The team attended Relay For Life over the weekend and supported the great cause. Dolly the Dolphin was there along with Scute the Sea Turtle from The Georgia Sea Turtle Center. These two are local celebrities in the making…

Next Stop for the splashing duo- Opening Day of Summer Waves Water Park- May 1oth, 2008!

Bring mom to the beautiful beaches of Jekyll Island next Sunday, May 11, for a special Mother’s Day Island Treasures Hunt. Island Treasures are the unique and colorful glass globes, hand-crafted especially for Jekyll Island by artisans across the country. Volunteer “Beach Buddies” hide the celebrated glass globes on Jekyll Island’s beaches in January and February, for beachcombers to discover throughout the spring and summer. This year, in celebration and recognition of Mother’s Day, Beach Buddies will hide an additional 20 Island Treasures on Jekyll Island’s beaches for a special Mother’s Day Island Treasures Hunt. Twenty lucky moms will find and keep their own special Mother’s Day gift while beachcombing with their families on Jekyll Island.

To complete your Mother’s Day weekend, Jekyll Island offers a variety of affordable accommodations and activities sure to please mom. If mom isn’t among the 20 lucky finders, she can always purchase her own Island Treasure from the large assortment for sale at the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center or online at http://www.jekyllisland.com/islandtreasures. The gift shop at the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center also offers hand-crafted pottery, jewelry, purses, home decor and unique gifts for mom. For more information on Jekyll Island and the Mother’s Day Island Treasures Hunt, contact the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at 1-877-4-Jekyll or visit our website at http://www.jekyllisland.com.

Want to be a part of this year’s Beach Music Festival on Jekyll Island? August 15-16 is approaching quickly. Purchase your Friday night and Saturday night tickets (or VIP Lunch tickets for the FREE beach concert), at www.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival. See you there!

It is that time again! Summer is just around the corner and so is the heat! Families young and old alike will be looking for a fun-filled place to stay cool. Stayin’ cool, at Summer Waves Water Park, is what summer is all about.

For the past 20 years, Summer Waves has provided a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere for guests seeking a way to beat the heat. This year the park celebrates its 20th birthday, and while the park is 20 years old, it is looking younger than ever. Summer Waves’ maintenance teams have been busy during the off-season installing new equipment, re-surfacing slides and overall making the park experience better than ever!

Guests can look forward to a new and improved Natures Revenge water slide. The slide has been refinished to make the ride smoother and faster. More shading has been added throughout the park, including the Frantic Atlantic Wave Pool area. Parents and guests will also have the added benefit of new and larger lockers, renovated bathrooms that have antibacterial matting, and an updated First Aid Office in case of any small accident.

But the biggest improvement of all is the new attitude and focus on guest service and fun for all! This year you will see more of Dolly the Dolphin and all her friends as she celebrates a big birthday year. You’ll want to check the Summer Waves website to see all the exciting in-park events including karaoke events, Guitar hero contests, fireworks shows and more.

On May 31 Summer Waves will host a birthday celebration with Dolly the Dolphin. Visit the park for a character-filled birthday and fireworks after dark! Summer Waves will also have an Independence Day celebration on July 5 with fireworks, food, and fun. The Summer Waves season begins on Saturday, May 10th, and runs through September. Season passes are still available and can be purchased online. For more information, please visit www.jekyllisland.com/summerwaves or call 912-635-2600.