8 minute read
Little St. Simons Island
Brunswick
HISTORIC HOME PORT
-Ally Moline, co-founder of Silver Bluff Brewing
The gateway to the Golden Isles, Brunswick blends small-town hospitality with big-city aspirations. As one of the largest ports on the East Coast — dating to George Washington’s day — Brunswick upholds its nautical tradition while moving forward, as its four-year college and world-class healthcare facility attest. Venture to the city’s charming downtown (the largest historic district in Georgia), home to Victorian architecture, cozy shops filled with locally made goods, the Historic Ritz Theatre with its thriving arts scene, culinary experiences consisting of local seafood and produce, a brewery, and a distillery. Most heartwarming: the welcoming smiles of its residents.
Discoverbrunswick.com 912-265-4032
99
95 17
303 St. Simons Island Little St. Simons Island
Sea Island
17 Brunswick
520 Jekyll Island
Atlantic Ocean
WHO WAS SIDNEY LANIER?
Rising 486 feet over the Brunswick River, the Sidney Lanier Bridge carries four lanes of U.S. Highway 17, providing easy access to Interstate 95. At 7,780 feet, it is the longest spanning bridge in Georgia and the state’s tallest cable-stayed suspension bridge. It was built in 2003 to replace the original 1950s lift-bridge, struck twice by ships. In contrast to the conBorn in Macon, Georgia, poet Sidney temporary construction Lanier (1842–1881), carrying 95,283 yards of cubic concrete, 14,810,095 who was also a musician, author, and lawyer, found inspiration pounds of reinforcing in the landscape steel is the lyrical work of the Golden Isles. of the bridge’s namesake, 19th-century poet Sidney Lanier. His “Marshes of Glynn” is a paean to Glynn County’s abundant, graceful marshlands:
TIMELESS TOWERS AND FAIR SQUARES
To stroll through Old Town Brunswick is to travel back in time. Its 14 Signature Squares laid out among a neat grid of streets provide green spaces carpeted with grass, brimming with flowers and shrubs; some contain benches for a shaded respite, others, gurgling fountains and brick walkways. Adding to the charm of downtown is a wealth of Victorian architecture, from gabled, turreted houses with wraparound porches, to the ornate brick clock tower of Old City Hall, which does double duty as an event space. The Historic Ritz Theatre and quaint shopfronts round out the visual feast of Georgia’s largest historic district.
Glooms of the live-oaks, beautiful-braided and woven
With intricate shades of the vines that myriad-cloven Clamber the forks of the multiform boughs,— Emerald twilights,— Virginal shy lights,
Wrought of the leaves to allure to the whisper of vows,
When lovers pace timidly down through the green colonnades Of the dim sweet woods, of the dear dark woods, Of the heavenly woods and glades,
That run to the radiant marginal sand-beach within The wide sea-marshes of Glynn —
On the Waterfront
Set sail to or from Historic Brunswick, whose roots as a port city date back to its founding father, James Oglethorpe, also responsible for the town’s layout in symmetrical grids and picturesque squares.
Surrounded by four rivers and the Intracoastal Waterway, Brunswick was destined to become a seafaring city. Its nautical heritage informs the daily rituals of this peninsular harbor town — a colonial port of entry still considered one of the most productive on the East Coast. From a dockside bench, watch shrimpers, cargo containers, and pleasure boats coming and going, or hopefuls anticipating a date with Lady Luck aboard the Emerald Princess Casino. At Mary Ross Waterfront Park, discover a scale model of a World War II–era Liberty Ship, like the 99-plus vessels built in Brunswick’s shipyards between 1943–1945. Years prior, another tradition became part of the city’s fabric every Mother’s Day: Mayfair, or the Blessing of the Fleet, started by Portuguese fishermen asking their home country’s patron Saint Fatima for protection and a bountiful haul. Perhaps the best celebration of Brunswick’s bounty? Fresh shrimp served at one of several downtown restaurants. The salt life never tasted so good.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Life on the water is the water of life. “The coastline is science, management and culinary, a 100-mile stretch. Hopefully, the whole state can be proud of it. We want to balance it with development but maintain our identity.”
-Bryan Fluech
Thinkers and Tinkers
The University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant translates ideas into action to protect the Golden Isles’ seafaring legacy.
“ ou can’t talk about coastal Georgia without talking about shrimp and marshes,” says Bryan Fluech, explaining Y that the environment is tied to everything: “our history, the Gullah-Geechee community, science, management, culinary.”
As associate director of Brunswick’s UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant (see “Caretaker of the Coast”), Fluech (pronounced “flick”) works with Golden Isles fishermen to sustain their rich heritage. “There are far fewer fishermen than 10 or 15 years ago,” the scientist observes, citing regulation, competition from foreign markets, and aging demographics as threats to the industry.
To address them, Fluech has connected watermen with younger generations at Darien’s McIntosh County Academy to “show high school kids that being a fisherman is a legitimate career.” He’s coordinated “thinkers and tinkers,” to implement turtle excluder devices on vessels and develop fishing gear that doesn’t interfere with right whale migration.
Collaborating with an anthropologist at Georgia Southern University, Fluech has also collected local fishermen’s oral histories, Boat Stories, and “created a story map to show their cultural importance to visitors.” Similarly, the Extension awarded a grant to Trail 17, a portion of the Georgia Grown Trail system highlighting locally produced food at culinary stops along Highway 17. “Exhibits about the fishing industry promote the seafood industry with history and culture and keep businesses going.” Fluech explains.
Awareness of food sources is part of and parcel of sustainable tourism, and in Fluech’s view, the responsibility of visitors and Golden Isles residents alike. Through another initiative, Trawl to Trash, he and a colleague distribute bags to kayakers and sport fisherman at outreach events. Made from old shrimp nets, the bags employ the fishermen who sew them and remind boaters to stow their trash. “Marine debris is something we’re all dealing with,” Fluech says. “It cuts across sectors —economic, cultural, touristic.” And yet, he believes the issue and others are “not insurmountable” if everyone takes simple steps: picking up pieces of trash on a beach walk; cultivating native plants in the backyard to mitigate flooding; participating in a community cleanup. “There’s never a shortage of ideas.” Fluech reflects, “Generally, people want to do the right thing.”
CARETAKER OF THE COAST
In 1970, the Georgia General Assembly passed the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act. That same year marked the formation of
the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, a liaison between academia and the Peach State’s seaside communities that safeguards the area’s unique ecosystems and bolsters coastal resilience.
Among the Extension’s projects: assessing flooding and storm water management in St. Marys and Tybee Island; rebuilding oyster reefs in Brunswick to sustain marine life and reduce erosion; and researching black gill, a parasite that afflicts shrimp in summer months. The organization’s legal program addresses local, regional, and state policies, while its education programs train future generations of scientists, who will collect marine and wildlife data, and perhaps most important, raise public awareness about preserving the richness and complexity of the coast.
Fine and Sandy
What’s a coastal vacation without a day –or two – at the beach?
The Golden Isles proudly showcases the premier beaches along Georgia’s pristine coastline. Does an exciting day at the beach with the whole family sound like your perfect day? Up for a swim or active beach fun in the sun and surf? Love to hit the sand with your pooch, find the perfect seashell or watch a spectacular sunrise or serene sunset? Beautiful beaches abound, whatever seaside excursion you choose.
DIFFERENT STROKES
Do your best backstroke at Great Dunes Beach or Massengale Park. Saddle up for horseback riding along Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach or make reservations at Sea Island for a private beach ride. At St. Simons’ Coast Guard Beach, practice your bocce moves, spike a volleyball, or rent a bike to explore with pedal power.
FAM TRIP
The beaches on St. Simons Island are ideal for families. Massengale Park has picnic areas, a playground, and restroom facilities. Coast Guard Beach boasts ample parking and a snack bar. And Jekyll Island’s Great Dunes has parking, restroom facilities, mini-golf, restaurants, retail and bike rentals.
SOMETHING WILD
Gould’s Inlet on St. Simons Island is aflutter with shorebirds. Jekyll Island’s Glory Beach lives up to its name —as the abundant wildlife suggests. Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island are also wonderful for wildlife encounters on a secluded beach.
FOUR-LEGGED FORAYS
Leash? Check. Waste bags? Check. Extra water? Check. East Beach, Massengale Park (St. Simons Island) Driftwood Beach, Great Dunes, Oceanview, and St. Andrews (Jekyll Island) are all pet-friendly. On St. Simons Island, between Memorial Day and Labor Day pets are only allowed before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
SWELLS AND SHELLS
Seashells — coquinas, spirals, and sand dollars — sparkle on East Beach, Gould’s Inlet, Driftwood, and St. Andrews. And with seven miles of untouched strand, Little St. Simons Island is a sheller’s paradise. Always inspect shells for living creatures residing in them; should you discover one, return it to the sea. It is illegal in Georgia to collect live specimens.
HEART AND SOL
Rise early with a spectacular sunrise on St. Simons’ East Beach or on Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach. Sigh in contentment as you watch a sunset on St. Andrews Beach, the only strand on Jekyll Island that faces west.
