This great video was sent in by a visitor Robin Diedrichs. Visit her blog!  Thanks for sharing, Robin!

For Thanksgiving we visited Jekyll Island in Georgia as we have every year for the many years. I thought I would post a slideshow here to share with family and friends as well as for those considering visiting Jekyll with kids. Jekyll is such a fun place to visit! Some of our favorite things to do are walk on the “driftwood” beach, take long walks around the island, drive around the island at night to see all the critters (deer, possum, raccoons, owls, armadillos), visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, eat at the Hotel, letterboxing, play on the playground by the putt-putt course, and as of this year visiting Cumberland Island. Check out my slideshow if you are interested in visiting this unique place!

Tags: , beach vacation, fun with kids on jekyll island, georgia beaches, georgia coast, jekyll island vacation
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After helping to educate more than 30,000 4-Hers and Jekyll Island visitors about wildlife conservation, Dylan the sea turtle moved from the Jekyll Island 4-H Center to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta in November 2005. While there, another 4.6 million people were able to see her and learn more about conservation.

See the UGA web page about Dylan . . .

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, jekyll island, sea turtles, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the university of georgia, tidelands nature center
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Check out our new commercial for Summer Waves Water Park!

Tags: florida, Georgia, jekyll island, theme parks, water parks, water parks georgia
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Chortles and shouts. Racing feet. Sticky fingers. These sights and sounds might seem unexpected in standard house museum environments. But this summer the Jekyll Island Museum aims to engage the youngest members of the community in the wonders of the past. So this July kids on Jekyll Island are having a hoot. Whether throwing atlatls, making butter, racing with barrel hoops, becoming stained glass artists, manning windmills, building bridges, searching for architectural wonders, or jumping on pony hops, they are discovering Jekyll Island’s historic district as an active learning environment.

This July, the Jekyll Island Museum offers children’s programs every Wednesday morning at 9:30 and 11:00 am. Designed for children 6-12, the 60-minute programs each shed light on the history of Jekyll Island.

Museum interpreters lead children and their adult companions on a guided learning adventure through segments on Jekyll Island’s past. Individual programs touch on a variety of topics including art, science, architecture, food, and games.

“The programs are a fun way to excite children at a young age about history,” says Phyllis Gaska, a former elementary school teacher on the Jekyll Island Museum tour staff. “They are very concrete, and hands on, and active.”

“Our children’s programs are designed to let kids ask questions, and touch things, and make things, and run around,” agreed Gretchen Greminger, the museum’s curator. “We want to give our younger visitors a chance to exercise their sense of curiosity and just have a great time.”

The Hands on History segments include the following:

Old-Fashioned Butter-Making Take a whirlwind tour of a late 1800s southern kitchen at Club Cottage. Inspect and handle original kitchen items from the museum’s educational collection for an object-based learning experience, before heading outdoors for a lesson in old-fashioned butter-making. July 2, 2008, 9:30 am.

Colonial Games Have fun learning the games the English, French, and African-American children of Jekyll Island might have played during the Colonial Period. July 2 & 30, 2008, 11:00 am.

Young Inventors’ Workshop Discover a few of the famous inventors who vacationed on Jekyll Island in the Club Era, then replicate the island’s experiment in “green energy.” Help your guide capture the wind, as you explore the story of Jekyll Island’s windmill. July 9, 2008, 9:30 am.

Club Era Games View rare archival images of Jekyll Island Club Members at play, then try the sports that were popular in their day. Explore the games and activities that both grown-ups and children a century ago liked to do for fun. July 9 and 23, 2008 at 11:00 am.

Architectural Scavenger Hunt Follow a series of clues, searching the historic district for notable architectural details, on this guided learning adventure with rewards for all. July 16, 2008, 9:30 am

Stained Glass Studio View two important works of American stained glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany, David Maitland Armstrong and Helen Armstrong inside of historic Faith Chapel. Be inspired to make your own masterpiece! July 16, 2008, 11:00 am.
Bridge Building Visit Hollybourne Cottage, a mansion built for Charles Stewart Maurice, a partner in a bridge building company. Discover how houses can be like bridges, learn about different kinds of bridges, and create your own bridge. July 23, 2008, 9:30 am.

Native American Life Jekyll Island has been a seasonal retreat for over 4,500 years. Learn about Native American culture on Jekyll Island, through such engaging supervised activities as atlatl target practice, pottery stamping, and bow drill fire-making. July 30, 2008, 9:30 am.

Program offerings are subject to change. Reservations are required. Admission for participants is $5 per person. Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Please call or visit the Jekyll Island Museum on Stable Road for details or for information about its other tour offerings, 912-635-4036.

The Jekyll Island Museum’s Hands on History programs provide children with the chance to engage in butter making and other lively activities in Jekyll Island’s historic district on Wednesday mornings in July.

Tags: butter making, jekyll island museum, kids
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Looking for a bit of excitement, a taste of glitzy nightlife?

Jekyll Island isn’t for you.

If you’re interested in lowering your blood pressure, though, Jekyll- about an hour and a half south of Savannah- might be just the balm you need, a splendid destination for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

On Jekyll, the smallest of Georgia’s barrier islands, you can chase a little white ball through sand traps, play tennis, or glide along 20 miles of bike paths. If all that sounds too arduous, there are miles of beach where you can simply veg out, soothed by sea breezes.

Brunswick’s Ernie Williams was enjoying his own favorite low-key pastime Saturday, idly hanging a pole from the fishing pier at the island’s Clam Creek Picnic Area. His son, Trey, sat next to him.

“My daddy taught me to fish on Jekyll,” Ernie said. “Like his daddy taught him. Now I bring my boy out here.”

“Caught anything?”

“Not a (colorful adjective) thing,” he said, laughing. “Sure glad we don’t have to depend on this for supper.”

Folks have been fishing around Jekyll since roughly 2500 B.C., when small groups of hunter-gatherers started visiting the island. In the late 16th century A.D., the Spanish were impressed by the numerous right whales in the area and called the island Isla de Ballenas (”Island of Whales.”)

In the 1730s, General James Oglethorpe, interested in protecting Savannah against the Spanish in Florida, dispatched troops to build fortifications on St. Simons Island. After one of the soldiers, William Horton, was granted 500 acres of land by the colony’s trustees, he established residency on nearby Jekyll Island Sir Joseph Jekyll, a prominent Oglethorpe supporter in England). You can still see the ruins of Horton’s house, one of Georgia’s oldest structures, on the island’s north end.

Jekyll’s most prominent historical structure, however, is the Jekyll Island Club, founded in 1886 as a winter retreat for such mega-rich Northern industrialists as Marshall Field, J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer and William Vanderbilt. Surrounding the Queen Anne-style clubhouse, several of the club members built grand winter homes - their so-called “cottages” - now restored and open to the public. The clubhouse is now an upscale hotel.

In 1972, the Jekyll Island Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places; in 1978, the 240-acre district was elevated to National Historic Landmark status. Guided tours of the area are available at the Jekyll Island Museum on Stable Road.

Golfers will find three 18-hole courses on Jekyll (Pine Lakes, Oleander, and Indian Mound) and a nine-hole course (Great Dunes). Tee times can be made up to six months in advance. The Jekyll Island Tennis Center features 13 clay courts. Other activities include horseback riding through Jekyll’s maritime forests, kayaking, miniature golf, and the Summer Waves water park, where children can splash through 11 acres of refreshing rides.

For many folks, though, Jekyllis best absorbed in slow motion. Birdwatching is a popular pastime; the island has a sizeable yearlong population and serves as a resting place in the spring and fall for migrating species. Other visitors love to simply amble along the beach, collecting shells.

Some don’t even move that much.

Atlanta’s Kathy Williams and Bonnie Bell, for instance, spent most of last weekend nestled in their cozy beach chairs, gazing out at the Atlantic.

“Just the two of us and a little liquid refreshment,” Williams said.

“Sometimes that’s all a couple of girls need.”

Reprinted from Savannahnow.com

Tags: jekyll island beach, vacation
Posted in Beach Bummin', Bird Watching, Camping, Churches, History comes Alive, Horseback Riding, Just for Kicks, Just for Kids, Just the Facts, Kayaking & Canoeing | No Comments »

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 »

Download Your Fishing Guide here.

This guide contains information you need to know to fish in freshwater and saltwater in Georgia. Please consult fishing regulations carefully before you go fishing since regulations may vary on different bodies of water.

Some saltwater fishing regulations have been impacted by legislative changes that occurred after the time of printing. Details on these changes may obtained from the Coastal Resources Division of DNR at (912) 264-7218 or at http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/

Tags: Fishing on Jekyll Island, Georgia DNR Fishing Guide, jekyll island vacation
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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 »

We’re so glad everyone had fun at our 2nd Annual Geocaching for Island Treasures Event. Most importantly, we’re glad everyone made it home safe! Let me just say that we would NEVER put a cache–especially an Island Treasure out in the Marsh. We don’t want to endanger our guests! One treasure hunter thought for sure it must have been safe since it was for the event and ended up being rescued by our fire department. Thanks to our fire department!! I’m not sure what happened to our coordinates. I’m no expert with the GPS, but I pushed the button to get the coordinates, and it gave them to me. I apologize to those who were lost. It certainly was not intentional! : ) Below are the cache logs from the event! Hope you to see all of you next year. Bring friends! Maybe we’ll hide something else in the fall!

Cache Logs
March 4 by mountainclimbers (48 found)
We were hoping to view results of the day, thanks for the communications. We found a green orb that was very well hidden. We heard the story of the the “stuck in the muck” geocacher. Don’t let this discourage you form returning to Jekyll Island it is a fantastic place to vacation. Great fun and thank you to the organizers for making such great fun for us. Yes it was like the amazing race wasn’t it.

March 3 by JT & PJ Cole (558 found)
Another beautiful day on Jekyll Island. Did not find any orbs. Maybe I will ha