Georgia Coast Destination Guide February 2010
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Feature Of The Month
 

42nd Annual Blessing of the Fleet - Darien

April 16th - 18th, 2010

42nd Annual Blessing of the Fleet in Darien, GA
The 42nd Annual Blessing of the Fleet Festival in Darien, GA is packed with fun for the whole family and features the best seafood you’ve ever tasted. The festival features great music all weekend on in the most beautiful setting on earth. There is also at Street Parade, Boat Parade, 5K run, Miss Blessing contest, Art in the Park (juried), Classic Car Show, Kid’s Fishing Rodeo, Shrimpbox Derby, Children’s Activities, Carnival, Arts and Craft Vendors, Fireworks Display and the most wonderful food in the world, including Wild Georgia Shrimp. More about the 42nd Annual Blessing of the Fleet





Insider Tip
 

Cumberland Island Inn

Cumberland Island Inn
Whether you arrive by land, sea or air, our expert hotel staff eagerly awaits you. As generations of tourists have discovered, St. Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore – one of the largest unspoiled barrier islands in the world. The ferry to Cumberland Island is just minutes from our doorstep. Make Cumberland Island Inn & Suites your starting point for daylong adventures or spend time strolling the nearby downtown shopping district with its quaint shops and charming waterfront restaurants. Cap off your day with a refreshing dip in the pool, or enjoy a cocktail at our Island Lounge. More about the Cumberland Island Inn

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USA
Starr Tours Inc.
Click here for itineraries.
Contact Us
800-STARR-03

Collette Vacations
Click here for itineraries.
1.800.340.5158

AAA Auto Club South
Click here for itineraries.
1-800-222-6953

Tauck World Discovery
Click here for itineraries.
Contact Us
1-800-788-7885

Click here for a complete list of Tour Operators.

 
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Colonial Coast Ecotours
Click here for itineraries.
Contact Us
912 996 3531


Ginny Howell Tours
Click here for itineraries.
Contact Us
912-635-2697

Coastal Georgia Adventures
Contact Us
912-884-4223

Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah
Click here for itineraries.
Contact Us
912-233-0083


Coastal Georgia Charters & Tours
Click here for itineraries.
Contact Us
912-635-3152

Click here for a complete list of Local Area Specialists.


Accommodations
 

Brunswick & the Golden Isles Area Lodging
Comfort Suites Golden Isles Gateway
Courtyard by Mariott
Days Inn & Suites Jekyll Island
Hampton Inn-Brunswick
Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Jekyll Island Oceanside Inn & Suites
King & Prince Hotel & Resort
Village Inn and Pub - St. Simons

Darien-McIntosh County Area Lodging
Blue Heron Inn (Bed & Breakfast)

Kingsland Area Lodging
Comfort Suites
Country Inn and Suites
Hampton Inn Kingsland
Magnolia Inn
Sleep Inn & Suites

Pooler Area Lodging
Sleep Inn & Suites
Magnolia Inn
Holiday Inn Pooler

St. Marys Area Lodging
Cumberland Island Inn & Suites

Savannah Area Lodging
Best Western Promenade
Foley House Inn (Bed & Breakfast)
Inn at Ellis Square
StayInSavannah.com
Savannah Garden Inn
Quality Inn Midtown

Tybee Island
Ocean Plaza Resort
Desoto Beach Hotel


Reviews


The Blue Heron Inn Bed and Breakfast: Don’t Miss out on the Value

The Blue Heron Inn Bed and Breakfast: Don’t Miss out on the Value
How is a B&B such a great value? The following is from an innkeeper survey done by bedandbreakfast.com:
Everyone is looking for a deal these days, and there is no shortage of them at B&B’s. A complimentary – and often gourmet – breakfast is always included. Yet, there are lesser-known and equally worthwhile benefits to a B&B stay. [...] Read the complete article here.
The Blue Heron Inn offers all this and more including breathtaking views, individualized attention to your needs and quiet comfortable rooms for a good night’s sleep. What value are you looking for during your long awaited getaway? Can you put a price on relaxation and a renewal of the body, mind and spirit?
Need a little more convincing to try the Blue Heron Inn? See a few of our customer comments from the last few months below:
“Our stay at the Blue Heron was no less than fantastic! Your place is so wonderfully secluded, yet teeming with the company of all the water fowl in the tidal marsh and is near St. Simon's and Tybee, to mention a couple of places. Your hospitality AND FOOD were the most awesome. We will be back!” Read more Reviews here.

More about The Blue Heron Inn Bed and Breakfast


Reviews
 
Travel Professionals

I loved every minute of the trip to the Georgia Coast, and The Golden Isles was definitely a highlight. What a beautiful area it is! We thoroughly enjoyed our time there - had a good dolphin watch cruise and then went to the Jekyll Wharf in the evening, listened to music and ate outdoors. Beryl Tadgell, Ariel Travel


Online Traveler

Savannah is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in The United States. On a trip to Florida, my father, brother and I decided to stop in Savannah on the way to Florida. I had never been there and when we arrived, I was spellbound by the absolute beauty of it.
Virtual Tourist User

Travel Media

Bask on the sugary sands of Cumberland, Jekyll, Sea and St. Simons Islands; go sea kayaking; bike along island pathways; play golf and practice tennis; try turtle trekking and stargazing; relax at a spa or celebrate the sunset. Once the exclusive vacation retreat for the Carnegies, Cranes, Rockefellers, Morgans and Goulds, today the Golden Isles offer visitors more than 90 miles of pristine coastline and natural beauty plus the amenities offered by some of the world’s leading resorts, hotel properties and exclusive getaways. familytravelfiles.com


Online Traveler

If you stay on St Simons Island you must go to Jekyll Island and see Driftweood Beach. It is a site to see. Go south on route 17 and make a left to go to Jekyll Island, make a left onto Riverview Drive and a few miles up on the left park you car and walk toward the beach, you will not be disappointed! Make sure you bring your camera and plenty of film! Virtual Tourist User




Overview
 

Welcome to Georgia’s Coast


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Top 5 Must Do / Must See / Must Experience



Welcome to Georgia's Coast

From Savannah's cobblestone streets and city squares of the 1700's...to the historic lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic on Tybee Island...to the marshes and beaches of Brunswick and the Golden Isles of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island...the timeless sand dunes of Cumberland Island...the plantation era with remnants of the Gullah-Geechee culture still evident on Sapelo Island....and into the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, the coast of Georgia is filled with adventure, fun and discovery!

www.visitcoastalgeorgia.com


TO TOUR OPERATORS: The Georgia Coast Travel Association will be hosting a Familiarization Tour July 7th through 11th, 2010. YOU have told us this is when you can come so come visit this summer and tour in our air conditioned coach. Experience how we can help your business grow... The tour will start in Savannah and end in Kingsland. See and experience such sites and sounds as the Savannah Historic District, Bull River Cruise, Savannah Low Country, Tybee Island Lighthouse, Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, Savannah Theatre, The Pirates' House, The Crab Shack, Fort King George, The Lady Jane-Shrimp Boat, St. Simons Island Tour, St. Simons Lighthouse, Jekyll Island Tour, Blackbeard's, Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum, the Submarine Museum and the Woodbine Opry. Mark your calendar and email the GCTA for more information.


Must See
 

Mighty 8th Airforce Museum - Pooler

Mighty 8th Airforce MuseumThe Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum preserves for all Americans the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present. The Museum treasures and teaches these values for all generations. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum’s vision is to sustain our cultural heritage, support a lifelong character education, and to be a center of community engagement. Exhibits include the Prelude to WWII, the Battle of Britain, a Combat Gallery, an exhibition about the newer developments, such as jets, as well as the Memorial Gardens. More about the Mighty 8th Airforce Museum

Okefenokee Swamp Park – Waycross

Okefenokee Swamp Park – Waycross The Wonderworld of Okefenokee is a significant part of America's heritage, a beautifully preserved segment of what was here when America began. Headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Mary's Rivers, Okefenokee is a National Wildlife Refuge and an impressive recent addition to the National Wilderness System. Okefenokee Swamp Park is a convenient point of entry and a magnificent show-window for this natural wonderland. The park lily-decked water trails, with their miraculously reflective waters mirroring overhanging beauty, lead to all points in this vast wilderness of islands, lakes, jungles, forest and prairies. More about Okefenokee Swamp Park

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge – Folkston

Okefenokee Wildlife RefugeIn southern Georgia and northern Florida you can find one of the oldest and best preserved freshwater systems in America. Native Americans called it Okefenoka, meaning “Land of the Trembling Earth”. Now this place, where earth, air, fire and water continuously reform the landscape, is preserved within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1936 to protect wildlife and for you to explore. The refuge is vast, with almost 402,000 acres of cypress forest, marsh, lakes and islands. Filled with alligators, sand hill cranes, red-cockaded woodpeckers and over 400 other species of animals, it is a wonderful place to learn about the wildlife of Georgia and Florida. More about the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge


Must Do
 

Okefenokee Adventures - Folkston

Okefenokee Adventures - FolkstonOkefenokee Adventures, nestled on the bank of the historic Suwannee Canal, is your embarking point into the Okefenokee Swamp. We have everything you need to make your exploration of the swamp comfortable and enjoyable. Accompany us on a guided tour of the Suwannee Canal, open marshes dotted with cypress Islands, and winding trails where alligators and turtles bask on the banks and sand hill cranes watch you drift by... We have all new canoes, kayaks and quiet four-cycle motor boats for rent. We love the Okefenokee Swamp and invite you to come and share this unique landscape with us. More about Okefenokee Adventures

Riverfront Dining at Skippers Fish Camp - Darien

Riverfront Dining at Skippers Fish Camp - DarienOn the banks of the Darien River, Skippers' Fish Camp offers not only an unequalled dining experience but also a glimpse into the pasts of Darien and the historic Colonial Coast of Southeast Georgia. Elegant views of the Altamaha bio-reserve; public boat slips; a public boat ramp; a floating dock just for canoe and kayak enthusiasts; and spectacular sunsets, as well as the best in casual seafood dining has made Skippers' Fish Camp the ultimate in riverside dining. The local shrimp fleet docks right at our backdoor and provides us with an abundant supply of fresh locally caught Sweet Georgia Shrimp. We take pride in using only the freshest ingredients when bringing our servings to the table. More about Riverfront Dining at Skippers Fish Camp

Submarine Museum - St. Mary’s

Submarine Museum - St. Mary’sSince its inception in the late 1800s, the submarine force has had a profound effect on America's war effort. Today's sub fleet is widely considered the most cost effective leg of our strategic defense system. Located in historic downtown St Marys, GA, the museum is a great place to learn about the "Silent Service". A wide variety of Submarine artifacts, memorabilia and information are available for viewing, and you can checkout the beautiful St Marys waterfront thru a real periscope. We are a non-profit organization. More about Submarine Museum


Must Experience
 

Obediah’s Okefenok - Waycross

Obediah’s Okefenok - WaycrossA homestead representing the frontier agricultural lifestyle maintained by an early settler at a time when industry and commercial growth was a concern. The park also displays zoological and biological knowledge obtained by this great swamper. He knew every plant and animal by name, sometimes only by given "swamp names." Serving as an educational reminder that every living thing has a place on earth, even the strangest of swamp creatures, the employees of Obediah's Okefenok share a respect for these animals and their habitats as shown and demonstrated throughout the exhibits therein. More about Obediah’s Okefenok

Crooked River State Park - St Mary's

Crooked River State Park - St Mary'sLocated on Georgia's Colonial Coast, this park offers cozy facilities in a beautiful setting. Campsites are surrounded by Spanish moss-draped oaks, while cottages are set near the river. A nature trail winds through maritime forest and salt marsh, and hikers may see gopher tortoises, fiddler crabs, herons and other coastal birds. The park's nature center features fish, snakes, turtles and other animals native to this part of Georgia. A boat ramp is popular with anglers who often take to the water before sunrise. Birding enthusiasts will enjoy the large bird blind that provides close views of painted buntings, redwing black birds and other species. More about the Crooked River State Park

The Pirates’ House - Savannah

The Pirates’ HouseSince 1753, The Pirate's House has been welcoming visitors to Savannah with a bounty of delicious food and drink and rousing good times. Situated a scant block from the Savannah River, The Pirate's House first opened as an inn for seafarers, and fast became a rendezvous for blood-thirsty pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas. Here seamen drank their grog and discoursed, sailor fashion, on their exotic high seas adventures from Singapore to Bombay and from London to Port Said. The entire family will enjoy Savannah's most intriguing restaurant. At the Pirate's House, our most precious treasure is our food, acclaimed for over three decades. More about The Pirates’ House


Contact Info
 
Georgia Coast Travel Association

Ginny Howell
Executive Director
Georgia Coast Travel Association
1825 Glynn Avenue, Box 42
Brunswick, GA 31520
Tel: (912) 635-2698
Fax: (912) 635-2699
Cell: (912) 577-1799
Email: gcta.exdirector@yahoo.com
Internet: www.visitcoastalgeorgia.com


Attractions & Activities

Activities
 

River Street Riverboat Cruises - Savannah

River Street Riverboat Cruises - Savannah
Stepping on a riverboat is like stepping back in time to an age where life moved more sedately and style and elegance were priorities. Take a break from the everyday and indulge yourself with a riverboat tour. Both the 600 passenger Savannah River Queen and the 600 passenger Georgia Queen are climate-controlled, so you can step inside from those humid Savannah days to cool off or head out onto the open-air third deck for fantastic sightseeing tour along the Savannah River. Discover the perfect cruise for your getaway!River Street Riverboat Cruises More about the River Street Riverboat Cruises


IN THE NEWS
 

"A Day on the Water in Coastal Georgia" by Captain Micheal Neal

A Day on the Water in Coastal Georgia
It’s time again to make a Christmas list! Or for those who are politically correct, a Holiday list. Being politically incorrect, here is my Waterman’s 2009 Christmas wish list.
[...] I want the Tybee Island Marine Science Center to have the gift of reaching its goal in building a new center [...]. I would like the Riverkeeper organizations to have the gift of clean waters and healthy ecosystems in their respective watersheds. I would like the State Parks and Fish and Wildlife Refuge Systems to have the funding to care for and to be able to share these treasures with the public. I also wish for people to realize we need to take care of this wonderful place we call home – Coastal Georgia.
Like the typical Christmas wish list there are a lot of “I wants.” What I really would like is for all of us to be able to enjoy a day on the water, doing the activities we enjoy, sharing time with loved ones.
I hope you get all the presents you have on your list and have a Merry, Merry Christmas, or Holiday Season for those so inclined.

Click here for the whole column and many others by Captain Micheal Neal.

Captain Michael (Mike) Neal, owner/operator of Bull River Cruises, boater, and naturalist, has been exploring the waters of Coastal Georgia for the past 10 years. You can contact Mike at Bullrivercruises@aol.com.

More about Bull River Cruises


Resources
 

























Discover Georgia's Coast



A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary
Along the Georgia-Florida Coast


Press Releases

Georgia Innkeeper wins 2009 Great Innkeeper Idea Fair


Upcoming Events At The Georgia Coast
January 2010 - April 2010

Darien Blessing of the Fleet
Savannah Tour of Homes & Gardens
Port Wentworth Collard Green Festival
Waycross Swampfest
Waycross Shriners All Night Gospel Sing


Brunswick Area Attractions

Coastal Georgia Adventures
Credle's Adventures
Emerald Princess Casino Ship
Fort Frederica
History, Mystery & More
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
Oak Grove Island Golf Course & Country Club


Brunswick Area Restaurants

Blackbeard's


Darien Area Attractions

Preferred Outlets of Darien
Fort King George
Colonial Coast Ecotours
Waterfront Wine & Gourmet
Ashantilly Center
Sapelo Island


Darien-McIntosh County Area Restaurants

Skipper's Fish Camp


St. Marys Area Attractions

Crooked River State Park
Cumberland Island National Seashore


Folkston Attractions

Okefenokee Adventures
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Stephen Foster State Park


Waycross Area Attractions

Okefenokee Swamp Park
Lakes at Laura Walker Golf Course
Laura S. Walker State Park


Liberty County Tourism

Fort Morris Historic Site
Fort Mc Allister


Savannah Area Attractions

River Street Riverboat Company
Bull River Cruises
Dolphin Magic
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
Savannah Theatre
Fort Pulaski
Skidaway Island State Park


Savannah Area Restaurants

The Crab Shack
The Pirates' House


Driving Directions

www.Mapquest.com


 
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