Segway PT® Tours Open on Jekyll Island!
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009By Beth Burnsed, Event Marketing Coordinator
A new outdoor exploration opportunity has been added on Jekyll Island. Locally owned and operated, Jekyll Island Fun Tours is now offering guided SegwayPT ® tours of Jekyll Island’s maritime forest. Visitors are able to learn about an important eco-system while enjoying a novel, eco-friendly mode of transportation.
“We are excited to welcome this new activity to Jekyll Island,” said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “Jekyll Island Fun Tours has done a great job of providing a nature-based education opportunity while utilizing a mode of transportation that is both environmentally friendly and intriguing.”
Popular around the globe, the Segway® Personal Transportation (PT) is a self-balancing two-wheel device designed to go anywhere in a safe, efficient manner. The first of its kind, the Segway PT runs on batteries and is a zero-emissions form of transportation. SegwayPT technology enables the Segway PT to work seamlessly with the operator’s body movements.
The Jekyll Island tour begins with a safety video and then a hands-on familiarization with a Segway PT. After orientation, riders enter the maritime forest. Jekyll Island’s maritime forest is an environmentally rich home to numerous species of plants and animals. Riders can get an up close view of the plant life from their Segway PT via the natural paths that run through the forest. A trained guide gives descriptions and explanations of species found in order for visitors to understand the ecological importance of the salt marsh and maritime forests.
Tours depart from the Jekyll Island gas station parking lot at 50 Ben Fortson Parkway. They run between 1.5-2 hours including the training time. All tours include training and helmets. Tour participants must be 16 years or older with weight limitations from 100-250 lbs. Call 912-635-9704 for more information and tour departure times.
