Jekyll Island » Beach Bummin’

Get Away Without Driving Far Being a Hometown Tourist is More Attractive As Gas Prices Rise

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Posted on RedOrbit.com: Wednesday, 28 May 2008, 18:00 CDT

By DAVID BAUERLEIN

Coping with higher gas prices used to mean finding other places to shave expenses on vacations — preparing some meals in a hotel kitchenette, for instance, instead of eating out.

But with gas fast approaching $4 a gallon nationwide, tourism officials increasingly see travelers adjust by choosing destinations closer to home.

“We understand that people may be cutting back on their vacations because of gas prices, so we’re really going to be focusing on local residents,” said Visit Jacksonville spokeswoman Lyndsay Rossman.

Visit Jacksonville has been running a “Residents Can be a Tourist in Their Own Backyards” publicity campaign that features discounts from local businesses through June 10.

Flamingo Lake RV Resort on the Northside has been using the same backyard catchphrase in its local advertising. High fuel prices “have really put a strain on our industry,” said Michael Fisher, marketing director for the resort. Still, he said people aren’t going to give up on their vacations.

“They’re still going to use their RVs but they’re not going to go as far,” he said.

Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in St. Johns County will give gas cards to Florida and Georgia residents who visit at least two nights in July.

The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council decided to tap its reserves to spend an additional $100,000 on marketing in the Jacksonville area. Gil Langley, managing director for the council, said Jacksonville, Atlanta and Orlando have always been the biggest markets for visits to Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach.

Even with high gas prices, he said he’s optimistic people are going to take their family vacations, he said.

“There are certain things in life that you hang onto no matter what, and I think people will always hang onto that,” he said.david.bauerlein@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4581TIPS FOR A GREAT LOCAL GETAWAYVacationing close to home might not seem like a break from everyday life. Here are some ways to boost the vacation experience:DON’T LET FAMILIARITY BREED CONTEMPT. “We have people from all over the world come to the First Coast for vacations,” said Gil Langley of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council. For instance, AAA gives its highest five-diamond rating for lodging to nine properties in Florida. Two are in Northeast Florida — The Ritz- Carlton, Amelia Island and the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.PLAN YOUR TRIP THE WAY AN OUTSIDER WOULD. Part of a vacation is the anticipation that comes from scouring guidebooks and putting together a daily itinerary. One advantage of vacationing close to home is you can do some advance scouting. For instance, you can see whether the bed-and-breakfast or beachfront rental home is really as nice as it sounds in the promotional material.REWARD YOURSELF FOR SAVING TRANSPORTATION MONEY. Eliminating tanks of gas and plane tickets will help your everyday household budget. But take at least some of the savings and upgrade your vacation memories by treating yourself to accommodations, meals, or vacation activities whose cost would usually make you think twice.UNPLUG YOURSELF FROM WORK. A recent survey by careerbuilder.com found 25 percent of workers expected to stay in contact with the office even while on vacation. Breaking fee of the e-leash is a good goal no matter where you’re going. But if you’re close to home, those workplace obligations will make it harder to feel like you’ve gotten a clean break from the usual routine.STAYING NEARBY10.5%The increase in the percentage of Floridians who vacationed in-state during the first three months of 2008 as compared to the same period last year, according to Visit Florida. That increase represented 1.2 million in-state trips.FOUR GREAT BACKYARD VACATIONSTo explore these tourist destinations along the ocean coast from Jekyll Island, Ga. to St. Augustine, you won’t need a full tank of gas.

JEKYLL ISLAND, GA.

This barrier island’s tourism roots go back more than 100 years, when wealthy Northeastern industrialists made it their playground. The island has 10 miles of ocean beaches, extensive bike trails, and a historic town center.

In the tank: 150-mile round-trip from Jacksonville. Gas would cost $28.50 at 20 miles per gallon.

Deep pockets: AAA gives three-diamond ratings to Jekyll Island Club Hotel ($189-$453).

More affordable: Quality Inn and Suites ($129-$179) and Days Inn and Suites ($120-$220 for “June Sizzling Rates”) both get two- diamond ratings.

Dining: Mobil Travel Guide’s five-star rating system cites five restaurants, led by the Grand Dining Room at Jekyll Island Club Hotel with three stars. Others are Blackbeard’s and The Surf Steakhouse (each with two stars), and Zachry’s Seafood and Latitude 31 (each with one star.)

Eco-tourism: Jekyll Island Campground ($20-$31) has 206 spaces.

Activities: Summer Waves ($16-$20), Georgia Sea Turtle Center ($4- $6), 63 holes of golf (some hotels include 18 holes in their room packages).

Learn more: www.jekyllisland.com or (912) 635-3636

Tags: georgia beach vacation, georgia coast, jekyll island beach, jekyll island vacation
Posted in Beach Bummin', Bird Watching, Camping, Diversions, History comes Alive, Just for Kids, Kayaking & Canoeing, Nature Connection, On the Water, Press Releases, Two Wheelin', Wild Georgia Golf | No Comments »

A Blast from the Past: 25 years and Counting

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

JEKYLL ISLAND PRESENTS- BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL ‘08

Jekyll Island, Ga. (May 28, 2008)—Get ready for the excitement! Jekyll Island Beach Music Fest ‘08 takes place August 15-16. Don’t miss out on the big news this year; Celebrating 25 years of fun in the sun, Jekyll Island is bringing back an old tradition with a FREE concert on the beach Saturday afternoon. If you love beach music, frat rock, R & B, and shag music this concert is just for you. The concert kicks off with the Rickey Godfrey Band at 12PM, followed by Second Chance at 2:30PM, and completed with headliners the Swinging Medallions at 4:30PM. Everyone is invited to this free party on the beach while listening to live performances complete with Corona beer and delicious food from various vendors.

However, if sitting in the shade is more of your idea of fun, contact the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center and sign up to be a Beach Concert VIP. VIP guests receive a free lunch catered by Straton Hall Caterers, snacks, desserts, soft drinks, and beer while relaxing under the VIP tent during the Saturday afternoon Beach Concert. Tickets are $50 and sell quickly, so purchase your’s soon.

To complete this rockin’ weekend, guests can enjoy Friday and Saturday evening concerts featuring the Swinging Medallions at the Jekyll Island Convention Center’s Atlantic Hall. In addition, golfers can start their weekend early with the annual Beach Music Festival Golf Tournament Friday morning. Tickets for the evening concerts and registration forms for the Golf Tournament can be found online at www.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival.

As a special bonus for shag club members, Red Bug Motors is also hosting a Thursday night Early Bird Party at the Jekyll Oceanfront Clarion Resort. Shag club members contact the the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center to reserve your tickets and for $5 per person come enjoy a pool-side cook-out and shagging to the great sounds of DJ Paul Spaulding.

So join your friends on Jekyll Island, August 15-16 and shag to great Beach Music all weekend. For more details visit www.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival or contact the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at (912) 635-3636 or 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: free concert, jekyll island beach, jekyll island beach music festival, Swinging Medallions
Posted in Beach Bummin', Festivalgoer, Press Releases, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Celebrate Mother’s Day on Jekyll Island with an Island Treasures Hunt

Friday, May 2nd, 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.

Tags: beach vacation, georgia coast, island treasures, jekyll island vacation, mother's day at the beach
Posted in Beach Bummin', Diversions, Festivalgoer, Nature Connection | 1 Comment »

Take a 3-Day Weekend on Jekyll Island

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Remember the Turner South network? Well they had this series called, “3-Day Weekend,” and they did one about Jekyll Island! Check it out!

Tags: , 3-Day Weekend on Jekyll Island, georgia coast, jekyll island georgia, jekyll island vacation
Posted in Beach Bummin', Bird Watching, Camping, Churches, Diversions, History comes Alive, Horseback Riding, Just for Kicks, Just for Kids, Kayaking & Canoeing, Nature Connection, On the Water, Serve it Up, Two Wheelin', Wild Georgia Golf | No Comments »

Unplug and Unwind on Jekyll Island

Friday, February 29th, 2008

Would you rather surf the ocean or the World Wide Web? Watch a movie or a campfire? Which do you think your children would choose? A Nature Conservancy-funded study showed that many of us would likely choose the movie or the Web. We’re more removed from nature than we have ever been in history. As a nation, we’re becoming more “indoorsy”, and that’s not a good thing.
The study reports that visits to U.S. national parks have been declining since 1987, after having risen for the previous 50 years. Researchers said that video games, home movie rentals, going out to movies, Internet use, and rising fuel prices explained almost 98 percent of the decline. The drop in attendance comes as our use of electronic media has risen - something that researchers call “evidence of a fundamental shift away from people’s appreciation of nature.”
“When children choose TVs over trees, they lose touch with the physical world outside and the fundamental connection of those places to our daily lives,” said Steve McCormick, President and CEO of The nature Conservancy.
Jekyll Island is an ideal place for you and your family to reconnect with nature. It has been and always will be a place of natural beauty and conservation because 65% of the island will always be in its natural state. Everything you need to reawaken your inner Thoreau is here-nestled safely and conveniently on Jekyll Island.
“We demonstrate our values in the way we allocate our time,” said Patricia Zaradic, an ecologist with the Stroud Water Research Center who worked on the study. “Research indicates that children who experience nature with a mentor develop an appreciation of nature as adults.”
Children who are led by their parents to experience nature firsthand also learn habits that support a healthy lifestyle. Spending time engaged in the natural world is far preferable to spending time parked in front of a television screen.
So leave your laptops for another day. You need not give up your video games for good. But you can unplug from this 21st century world, and give your attention to the beautiful, great outdoors and the diverse creatures living within it. Jekyll Island promises something special for every member of your family, regardless of age or interests. How many video games can say that?
Come and see what’s outside on Jekyll Island!
With 10 miles of unspoiled beaches, beach lovers have plenty of space to sunbathe, swim, walk or search for shells. You’re sure to see many live creatures as well, including hermit crabs and sand dollars. Preserve the Island’s shoreline environment by leaving these interesting beach dwellers just as you find them and take only a few of your favorite shells.
As a barrier island, Jekyll Island’s beaches are unique and ever-changing.

For your convenience, public showers and restrooms are located at several sites and picnic areas.
Here is a bird lover’s paradise. A vast variety of birds make the island home. In addition to those, the island serves as a resting place in the spring and fall for migrating species on the Atlantic Flyway. The island has been designated an “Important Birding Area (IBA)” by the Georgia Audubon Societies. It is one of 18 sites along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail and boasts several significant birding sites: near the Welcome Center on the Jekyll Island Causeway; at Clam Creek on the northern side of the island; and at the “Glory” beach near the Jekyll Island Soccer Complex. New birding platforms are scheduled for construction at Driftwood Beach and the St. Andrews picnic area.
With 206 campsites available on 18 wooded acres, Jekyll Island has something for everybody– from tent sites to full hook-up to pull-through RV sites. The campground offers a long list of amenities, including restrooms, showers, pay phones, laundry and a full-service store with food, ice, bait, propane, supplies and bike rentals. Daily rates are available year round. For guests wishing to stay a bit longer, the campground offers a week-long special: stay six days and the seventh is free. Monthly stay rates are available November through March. Other times, a 14-day camping limit may apply.
The Georgia 4-H Tidelands Nature Center offers hands-on exhibits for the kids as well as guided nature walks and kayak or canoe tours. Guided activities include nature walks, Historic District Landscape Tours, and Turtle Walks (from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center), offered from May through August).
On a guided nature walk, you will spend a couple of hours to walking the beach, maritime forest or marsh with an experienced naturalist.
Explore the area by kayak or canoe on a three-hour guided tour of the local salt marshes and estuarial waters. Learn about wading birds, fiddler crabs, marsh grass and dolphins. There’s no better way to observe birds, fish and other coastal creatures in their native habitat.
Both canoe rentals and kayak tours are available March through October. Sea Kayaks, a more maneuverable and stable relative of the traditional kayak, also are available for saltwater excursions. Rentals, instruction and guided tours are available by calling (912) 635-5032.
Jekyll Island is perfectly suited for travel by bicycle. With more than 20 miles of paved trails, you can explore a broad range of scenery, from beaches to forests to Jekyll Island’s own Historic Landmark District and campgrounds. Free trail maps are available at the Jekyll Island Welcome Center.
Jekyll Wharf and Jekyll Harbor Marina are two points of access to the many water activities along coastal Georgia. Spend a day sightseeing, dolphin spotting or on a sailing tour.
For the fishermen, the island’s knowledgeable fishing captains know all of the best spots to catch a variety of fish, including Tarpon, Whiting, Red Drum, Sea Trout, Triple Tail, Spotted Sea Trout, Striped Mullet, Sheepshead, and Black Drum, just to name a few. Loggerhead sea turtles have found safe haven on Jekyll Island. Their nests, tucked among the dunes of Jekyll Island’s beaches, have made the island a major site for conservation and education. Sea turtle nests are marked and monitored by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. From May through August, female loggerhead turtles swim ashore, dig their nests and lay their eggs.
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, a $3 million center, includes a learning center, rehabilitation center and veterinary clinic, is the first of its kind in Georgia. The Center officially opened June 16, 2007. For more information about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and related programs, visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org
Jekyll Island has been a golf destination since 1898, when Jekyll Island Club members added the first course on the island near the present-day airport. Today, Jekyll Island boasts 63 holes of golf on three 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course, earning Jekyll Island the bragging rights as Georgia’s largest public golf resort. During course design of Pine Lakes Course, Clyde Johnston incorporated “Family Friendly” tee boxes, making this the only course in America that allows players of all ages to compete evenly.
Boasting 13 clay courts (seven of which are lighted), the Jekyll Island Tennis Center earned a spot among Tennis Magazine’s “25 Best Municipal Tennis Facilities” in the country. The Jekyll Island Tennis Center hosts six USTA-Sanctioned tournaments annually, as well as junior camps throughout the summer. Ongoing adult programs include clinics and round-robin tournaments, which are offered between October and March. The Center’s staff can arrange pick-up games for single players, as well as offer private and group lessons. Also available are rental racquets and ball machines, as well as equipment repair. Weekly, monthly and annual single-person and family memberships can be purchased as well.
For a totally different perspective, saddle up and experience Jekyll Island on horseback. Guided tours originate from the Clam Creek picnic area on the island’s north end, make their way though maritime forests and along the salt marshes, then return along beautiful Driftwood Beach. Reservations are required and can be made Monday through Saturday (weather permitting) at Victoria’s Carriages and Trail Rides at the Island History Center on Stable Road.
There are plenty of ways to unplug and unwind on Jekyll Island. If you need some ideas, just check out www.jekyllisland.com or our Welcome Center on the Jekyll Island causeway!