Elegant Island Living 2020 Welcome Guide

2020 WELCOME E X P L O R E

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EVENTS AT TRACTIONS BEACHES ON THE WATER FOR THE BIRDS ON THE GREEN SHOPPING/DINING MUSIC ART RESOURCES ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME

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A world to explore, a vibrant community to come home to.

A lifestyle that embraces true independence, friendships, culinary celebrations and the safety of community. It’s time to enjoy retirement the way it’s meant to be.

Georgia’s Premier Life Plan Community

136 Marsh’s Edge Lane • St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 324-3028 • Marshs-Edge.com

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Every place is unique, but the Golden Isles are uniquely wonderful!

First, let me say, “Welcome to the Golden Isles!” The Elegant Island Living Media Group is honored to now have the opportunity to be your ambassador to the area by taking over the publication of this inroom hotel visitor guide and supplementary pocket guide found in all the hot spots around the island. I began Elegant Island Living more than 16 years ago with a vision to create a monthly magazine that would showcase the grace, beauty and lifestyle of my hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia. With these annual printed publications, the monthly magazine, a weekly newsletter, and dynamic social media and web content, we now hope to reach everyone who lives, works, and plays here.

Welcome to our beautiful home. With pristine beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, vast salt marshes, and miles of maritime forest, you have ample opportunity to experience nature up close and personal. Paddle alongside dolphins, visit some sea turtles, or watch the crabs scurry along the rocks.

We hope you join the long-standing summer pastime enjoyed by island families of packing up some toys, towels, and kids and driving to the beach. You’ll experience the thrill of playing in the ocean, building sandcastles, and enjoying time together. If you’re seeking a family adventure, look no further. Aside from the beaches, you’ll find many family-friendly attractions, historical sites, delectable restaurants, eclectic shopping and other recreational activities. From colonial cannons to golf courses, lunch under stately Live Oaks to sunset cruises, the Golden Isles have so much to offer.

This is a place where locals and tourists mix as naturally as shrimp and grits, so get out and explore.

Experience Southern hospitality island-style. Whether this is your first visit or your hundred-and-first, we hope you enjoy your stay. And be sure to pick up our sister publication, Elegant Island Living, for fun and informative reading, and up-to-date information about what’s happening while you’re here. Now, go put your toes in the sand and relax!

David Butler Publisher

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Celebrating 23 Years in Business 28 Market Street, Suite 124 | St. Simons Island

912.638.5100

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BE AN ISLAND INSIDER

Receive EIL Insider Exclusive offers from participating businesses in the Golden Isles right in your email or on your phone screen.

SAMPLES OF EIL INSIDER EXCLUSIVES*�

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Insider Exclusives are subject to change.

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If you are a business owner or decision maker in the Golden Isles and would like to offer EIL Insider Exclusives without any cost to your business, please email elegantislandliving.net the name of your business, phone number and an example of an EIL Insider Exclusive you would offer. We will be in touch!

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PUBLISHER David Butler PRODUCTION MANAGER Terry McCarthy 912.399.3699 EDITORIAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kathi Williams 912.399.8797

2020 WELCOME E X P L O R E

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SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Yolanda O’Hern 770.490.3348 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/SALES Julie Andrew 912.269.0476 ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE Dave Jordan 912.297.5270 GRAPHIC DESIGN Karen Keene

TABLE OF CONTENTS 12 About the Area 17 Events 23 Attractions 39 Beaches

The Elegant Island Living Welcome Guide is published yearly.

Reproduction of any photographs, artwork, or copy prepared

by Elegant Island Living Media Group is strictly prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. The advertisers and publisher are not responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. All electronic files submitted to Elegant Island Living Media Group become property of EIL ©2020 Elegant Island Living Media Group, P.O. Box 21763 St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522. All Rights Reserved.

SUBSCRIBE: If you would like to receive the Golden Isles’ premier lifestyle monthly magazine by mail each month, now you can! Sign up for a home delivery subscription by going to elegantislandliving.net and click on Subscribe. You can also sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter, EIL Insider.

45 On the Water 48 For the Birds 50 On the Green 56 Shopping & Dining

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION: 912.399.3699 or elegantislandliving@comcast.net

64 Music 68 The Arts

FOR DISTRIBUTION: elegantislandliving@comcast.net

70 Resources

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VOTED BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING, CLOTHING Elegant Island Living Readers Choice Awards 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday 12 – 5 p.m.

912.434.9600 3415 Frederica Rd. St. Simons Island Located next to Delaney’s and Sal’s

HANDBAG & SUNGLASSES BY GUCCI, TIBI DRESS, LOUIS VUITTON SHOES

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BOUT THE AREA

Harlan Hambright

Mild winter temperatures, warm Southern hospitality, the natural beauty of shoreline beaches, ever-changing marshes, and pristine maritime forests combined with historical sites, abundant wildlife and recreational activities have made the Golden Isles of Georgia a popular travel destination.

Made up of four barrier islands: St. Simons 12

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Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and Little St. Simons Island, and the adjoining mainland and port city of Brunswick, this year-round destination offers world-class accommodations and dining, easy beach access, golf courses and tennis facilities.

Intracoastal rivers and waterways and a vast ocean provide the perfect environment

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for boating, kayaking and paddleboarding.

Trails for hiking and cycling wind through majestic live oaks draped in Spanish moss and resurrection ferns, pines, palms and palmettos, magnolias and azaleas. History awaits at St. Simons Island’s Colonial-era Fort Frederica and picturesque lighthouse, and Jekyll Island’s Historic Landmark

BOUT THE AREA What Others Say About the Golden Isles: In 2018 and 2019, the Golden Isles was recognized by Travel + Leisure as one of the Top 10 Islands in the Continental U.S. The Travel Channel counted the Golden Isles among the Most Romantic Roadtrips and 10 Best Dolphin Sighting Destinations in North America. Golfweek named Golden Isles golf courses among the Best 2018 Courses You Can Play.

U.S. News & World Reports ranked us as one of the Best Summer Vacations in the USA. St. Simons Island and Little St. Simons Island both made Condé Nast Traveler’s list of 10 Best Islands in the U.S. (2018 & 2019). Coastal Living ranked St. Simons as one of the Best Places to Live on the Coast in 2018 and Southern Living called us one of the South’s Best Beach Towns in 2019.

USA Today named St. Simons Island one of the Best Coastal Small Towns in 2018 & 2019. Sea Island Resorts consistently receives Forbes Five Star ratings and Travel + Leisure ranked the resort among the World’s Best Hotels in 2014 and 2016.

Jekyll Island’s beaches have made top rankings in Money Magazine, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, TripAdvisor, People, and Southern Living in 2018-19. Brunswick was named one of the Prettiest Small Towns in Georgia by Southern Living in 2017, and its Fourth of July celebrations have received accolades from Fodors and USA Today.

St. Simons Island is one of a system of barrier islands off the coast of Georgia in the Atlantic Ocean. Together with Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island, the four make up the Golden Isles of Georgia. The Golden Isles are situated just east of the mainland port city of Brunswick, located 75 miles south of Savannah and 65 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida, and easily accessible by I-95.

District, once home to the “Millionaire’s Club” of the Vanderbilts, Pulitzers, and their contemporaries. Tourism is the area’s number one industry and continues to flourish. In 2018, a record-breaking 3.2 million visitors stayed in overnight accommodations and approximately 2.1 million day visitors greeted the area,

generating a total of approximately $2.1 billion in revenue.

St. Simons Island is the largest of the barrier islands, with a full-time population of 14,570.

The island is 11.5 miles long and 3 miles across at its widest point (roughly the same size as Manhattan). It adjoins via causeway Sea

Island, a 5.1 mile long and .5 mile privately owned island with approximately 400 full-time residents and an internationally acclaimed resort. Featuring Forbes Five-Star winning properties The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club, the Sea Island Resort offers exceptional amenities and three championship golf courses.

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LOCATED AT THE FOOT OF THE SIDNEY LANIER BRIDGE.

MENTION THIS AD AND RECIEVE A SPECIAL GIFT PACKAGE!

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Where Good Friends Meet Good Food For over 25 years, locals and visitors have been enjoying our casual, family friendly atmosphere and the finest island food, freshly made from selected ingredients. In 2019, Café Frederica was voted Best Lunch by Elegant Island Living Readers’ Choice Award Winners.

Come taste for yourself.

110 Sylvan Drive | St. Simons Island Call (912) 638.6777 | Open 7 days, 7:30-2 cafefrederica.com

Bring Back Flavorful Memories Nightly, Chef Tom Delaney lets his imagination and talent run wild, creating specials with ingredients ranging from ostrich or elk to fresh, locally-caught seafood.

Tom’s dishes are designed to pair with an extensive wine menu, ensuring a singular flavor experience.

open tues-sat, 11-2 p.m. | dinner 6-10 p.m., bar 5:30 until.

3415 frederica road, st. simons island | 912.638.1330 reservations definitely recommended

delaneysbistro.com

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Scan …

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List • Buy • UIDE Rent

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912.634.9995

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VENTS MARCH 3.7 Red Hot Rotary Chili Cookoff, Postell Park, SSI. Chili teams are bringing the heat in this annual spring culinary showdown. facebook.com/rotaryclubofglynn 3.13-14 Peaches to Beaches at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick.

Vendors offering locally made goods, food, family activities, music and more. discoverbrunswick.com 3.14 Turtle Crawl, Jekyll Island. Choose to participate in either a 5K, 10K, or 1 Mile Beach Fun Run/Walk to help support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. jekyllisland.com 3.21 Christ Church Frederica Tour of Homes. A 67-year tradition continues with visits to modern and traditional residences across St. Simons Island and Sea Island and historic sites such as Christ Church and the World War II Home Front Museum. christchurchtourofhomes.org 3.21-22 Spring Invitational Art Market, Postell Market, SSI. Local and regional artists and fine craft vendors offering their wares. soglogallery.com

3.27-29 Darien Blessing of the Fleet Festival. This three day fun-filled event celebrating the shrimping industry includes arts and crafts, food vendors, a YMCA 5K, children’s activities, a classic car show, nightly live entertainment and a marine parade. blessingofthefleet.com APRIL 4.4-5 Art in the Park at Postell Park, SSI. Glynn Visual Arts will celebrate its 25th year of this Annual Spring Art & Fine Crafts Market. glynnvisualarts.org 4.11 3rd Annual Jekyll Island Book Festival.

Designed for all book-lovers, the festival includes author presentations, meet-andgreets & signings, book and retail sales, and family-friendly fun. jekyllisland.com 4.25 Cassina Garden Club 14th Annual Tabby & Tillandsia Garden Walk & Market.

A self-guided tour of eclectic private gardens on St. Simons Island plus a Garden Market at the tabby cabins at Gascoigne Bluff. cassinagardenclub.org MAY 5.9 MayFair and the 82nd Blessing of the Brunswick Fleet, Mary Ross Waterfront Park. Marine parade with blessing, fun and

games for the kids, fabulous food, music, great family entertainment, and a variety of artists and displays. brunswickblessing.com 5.9-10 Mother’s Day Weekend Art & Craft Show, Postell Market. Local and regional artists and fine craft vendors offering their wares. soglogallery.com 5.25 Taps at Twilight Memorial Day Service, Neptune Park, SSI. Annual free community Memorial Day commemoration with keynote speaker and patriotic music.

JUNE 6.5-6 Taste of Gullah at Historic Harrington School and Cultural Center (Friday) and Georgia Sea Islands Festival (Saturday) at Gascoigne Park, SSI. Enjoy this two-day celebration of African American food, music, heritage and culture presented by the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition. ssiheritagecoalition.org JULY 7.4-5 Sunshine Festival, Pier Village SSI. Weekend art show, 5K & 1 Mile Race on the morning of the 4th, live music, followed by fireworks by the pier at dusk that evening.

7.4 Jekyll Island Independence Day Celebrations. The day includes a patriotic golf cart parade and fireworks viewed from the beach at dusk. jekyllisland.com 7.4 Brunswick Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at Mary Ross Park. Free family activities and old-fashioned games, watermelon slices, and fireworks at dusk. discoverbrunswick.com AUGUST 8.12 Sorry, kids, Summer Break is over!

Glynn County Schools are back in session.

SEPTEMBER 9.26-27 Art Under the Oaks, Postell Park, SSI. Glynn Visual Arts’ annual fall art and fine crafts show with kids’ (Continued)

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L O V I N G LY C R E AT E D 2 2 K G O L D L E A F.

St. Simons Island bracelets starting at $275 Charms starting at $55

SERVING THE SOUTH SINCE 1910

Shops at Sea Island

600 Sea Island Rd. #16

St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912.634.9060

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Dedicated to the great Dog Lovers who live and travel to St. Simons Island, one of America’s top beach communities & a great place to vacation with your Dog!

Stop by with your Dog and get a free dog treat and fres h water. WOOF!

Island Dog carries a huge variety of canine accessories, gifts, training products, toys and treats. Specialty collars, leashes, harnesses, outfits, gifts, toys, pet preservers, bandannas with an island flair!

Located in the Pier Village of St. Simons Island Open 7 days a week : Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. & Sunday 9:30 a.m. -3 p.m.

912.634-3855 or 912.506.9769 @islanddogssi

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islanddogssi.com • 412 Mallery Street • St. Simons Island

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VENTS creation station and more. glynnvisualarts. org OCTOBER 10.1-3 Firebox BBQ on the Bluff. Gather under the oaks at Gascoigne Bluff to enjoy some music and join this gathering of the finest pit masters in the land preparing some of the tastiest fire-cooked fare you’ll ever experience at this annual fundraiser for Firebox Initiative. And watch for other events hosted by Southern Soul Barbeque that week too. ssbbqfirebox.com 10.3 CoastFest at Mary Ross Waterfront Park, Brunswick. Georgia’s largest celebration of our state’s coastal natural resources with more than 70 interactive educational, environmental & resource organizations—a full day of free family fun! coastalgadnr.org 10.10-11 Annual Fall Art & Crafts Show Pier Village, SSI. Local and regional artists and fine craft vendors offering their wares. soglogallery.com 10.30-31 GA/FL Weekend – this is when things get crazy on St. Simons Island!

Batten down the hatches!

NOVEMBER 11.6-8 Shrimp & Grits Festival, Jekyll Island. The annual celebration of this coastal culinary creation includes cooking demonstrations, plenty of opportunities to taste, arts & crafts and Made in Georgia

market, live music & entertainment, kids’ activities, and more. jekyllisland.com 11.11 Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony, Mallery Park to the Casino Building, SSI. Annual community observance of Veterans Day. 11.16-22 The RSM Classic PGA Tour event hosted by Davis Love III at Sea Island’s Seaside & Plantation Golf Courses on SSI. In addition to the 4 rounds of the tournament, the week’s events include a charity bike ride, a Wiffle Ball classic with PGA Tour pros & their wives, a charity putting challenge, and a concert (performers have included Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, and Cole Swindell). rsmclassic.com 11.27 Brunswick Christmas Tree Lighting.

The annual day-after-Thanksgiving welcoming of the holiday season in Historic Downtown Brunswick with caroling, carriage rides and other family fun. discoverbrunswick.com DECEMBER 12.4-5 Annual Hofwyl Plantation Christmas, Brunswick. Two magical nights where guests are transported back to what the holiday would have been like at an 1850s Southern rice plantation, complete with candlelight tours, hot wassail, caroling, and a

visit from Santa. gastateparks.org/HofwylBroadfieldPlantation 12.5-6 Holiday Events. The first weekend of December is a very busy one in the Golden Isles. Pick up a December copy of Elegant Island Living to keep up with everything happening, visit our online calendar, and follow our social media.

12.24 Santa’s Christmas Eve Ride.

Marking the 80th year of a St. Simons Island tradition in 2020, Santa makes his Christmas Eve tour from the Village up to the north end of the island on vintage fire truck with an escort of volunteers and some stops along the way to hand out stockings and take last minute requests and photos before heading back to the North Pole to load up the sleigh.

Monthly Recurring Event: First Fridays in Historic Downtown Brunswick. Between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. on the First Friday of each month, shops along Newcastle stay open and offer refreshments and specials, galleries host exhibits and special events, and there’s live music in the squares and other venues in the historic district.

The information in this calendar is current and verified to be accurate at the time of printing, but may be subject to change.

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The Stables at Frederica provides an unparalleled equestrian experience as riders wind their way through the dunes and beaches of Sea Island.

Witness nature on a Golden Isle barrier island from the best vantage point - the back of a horse.

BEACH RIDES

BOARDING

MARSH RIDES

TRAINING

LESSONS

PRIVATE EVENTS

150 Frederica Stables Drive | St. Simons Island | thestablesatfrederica.com info@thestablesatfrederica.com | 912-434-4760 22

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TTRACTIONS From popular historic sites to places for families to splash and play, there is an abundance of attractions throughout the Golden Isles.

We invite everyone to get out and explore!

ST. SIMONS ISLAND AVENUE OF THE OAKS The double row of stately live oaks was planted in 1826 as the entrance to Retreat Plantation, one of several plantations that once existed on the island and grew highly coveted Sea Island cotton. Now they serve as the entrance to the world-renowned Sea Island Golf Club, home of The RSM Classic.

While visitors are welcome to stop and take photos of the beautiful arched tree canopy, access beyond the gate is only permitted to guests of Sea Island.

BLOODY MARSH At the Bloody Marsh Battle Site, located

just off Demere Road, markers detail the battle that took place there on July 7, 1742, when an outnumbered force of British troops halted a planned attack on Fort Frederica by ambushing and defeating Spanish troops. This battle decisively ended Spain’s claims to the territory of Georgia for good.

CHRIST CHURCH FREDERICA AND WESLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS Marked by the Wesley Oak in front, this lovely Episcopal church with an authentic Tiffany stained glass window is located on the spot Anglican priests John and Charles

Wesley preached before returning to England to found the Methodist Church.

The first church, built in 1820, was partially destroyed by Union troops during the Civil War. In 1884, Anson Phelps Dodge, Jr. built the present structure in memory of his late wife, who tragically became ill and died on their honeymoon travels—a story told in author Eugenia Price’s novel “The Beloved Invader.” Today the church has an active congregation and holds services on Sundays.

It is not open to visitors on Mondays. The adjacent cemetery has graves dating back to 1803, and several noteworthy island figures, including Eugenia Price, are buried there.

Across the street is the Wesley Memorial and Gardens, established in 1984, displaying a large stone Celtic cross amidst a sea of azaleas. In the spring, when the colorful flowers are in bloom, it’s a breathtakingly beautiful sight. 912.638.8683 ChristChurchFrederica.org EPWORTH BY THE SEA This Christian Conference and Retreat Center is nestled among the oaks on the river and is home to popular wedding site Lovely Lane Chapel and the Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum and Library. Call or visit the website for most current information and hours. 912.638.8688 epworthbythesea.org CANNON’S POINT PRESERVE Located on Cannon’s Point Drive on the North End, this 608-acre peninsula owned and managed by the St. Simons Land Trust boasts more than six miles of (Continued)

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Benjamin Galland

TTRACTIONS

river shoreline and salt marsh and is home to the last intact maritime forest on the island. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, visitors can bike or hike along trails and paths on the south end, take a break in the guest pavilion, fish or kayak at the waterfront, and stand among the forest canopy at the south-end observation tower. They can also walk or bike the two and a half miles to the north end, where the path is surrounded by undisturbed habitat and ends at the site of a former 18th century home. Here guests can climb another observation tower to view archaeological ruins of the former Couper Plantation, including outbuildings and slave quarters built in the early 1800s.

912.638.9109 sslt.org

the Live Oaks Garden Club to welcome butterflies and encourage every stage of their development. The butterfly garden has benches for seating and stationary butterflies painted by a local artist to represent the four most common butterflies that visit our island: the Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, Gulf Fritillary, and Painted Lady. The garden is always open, so everyone is welcome to stop by and enjoy this tranquil spot.

DEMERE PARK AND BUTTERFLY GARDEN This county park just off Demere Road boasts the island’s only skate park, a shaded playground, and a baseball/softball field.

At the front of the park is a rose garden maintained by the St. Simons Island Garden Council and a butterfly garden filled with milkweed and other flora and planted by 24

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FORT FREDERICA In the early 1700s, Georgia became the epicenter of a centuries-old conflict between Spain and Britain. In 1736, James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica to protect the southern boundary of the British colony. Named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, the military outpost consisted of a fort and town fortified with a palisade wall and earthen rampart. The fort’s location on the Frederica River allowed it to control ship travel. Colonists from England, Scotland and Germany came to Frederica to support the endeavor. Today, the archeological remnants of Frederica are protected by the National Park Service. Visitors can view a short film about the history of the fort and take self-guided tours through the archeological site. Open daily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

912.638.3639 nps.gov/fofr FREDERICA PARK Located at 2301 Lawrence Road on the North End of the island, this Glynn County park has a picnic gazebo, a children’s playground, a sports field, a fenced-in dog park, and the Alice Richards Botanical Trail.

The trail has 13 interactive signs highlighting the native plant species and“faerie houses” among the plantings to delight children of all ages. The park is open daily and has public (Continued) restrooms.

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Find it.

Love it.

Epworth.

A Conference, Retreat & Vacation Center Our gorgeous riverfront campus on St. Simons Island, Ga., is a coveted destination for groups, couples, and families in search of a peaceful environment and a chance to rediscover what’s truly important.

(912) 638-8688 | epworthbythesea.org 100 Arthur J. Moore Drive, St. Simons Island, GA 31522

LOCALS LOVE THE PIZZA! COME SEE WHY! Dine-In Buffet Carry-Out

Jef Hildebrand & Alison Stowe, owners 511 OCEAN BLVD., ST. SIMONS ISLAND TUES. – SUN.: 11:30 A.M. - 9:30 P.M.

912.434.9995 ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME

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See Newest Home Listings NOW!

SSIListings.com 26

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912.434.1962

Chris Moncus

TTRACTIONS

HISTORIC HARRINGTON SCHOOL CULTURAL CENTER One of the last two solely African American schoolhouses on Georgia’s coast, the oneroom school at 325 South Harrington Road was built in the 1920s for students of color.

This remained the educational center for the island’s African American children until desegregation in the 1960s and was also a cultural center and meeting place for the community. The old schoolhouse structure was restored and preserved and now serves as a cultural center. Open to the public 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

912.638.0341 ssiheritagecoalition.org/ historic-harrington-school

LIGHTHOUSE & A.W. JONES HERITAGE CENTER Climb 129 steps to the top of this fully operational historic lighthouse to enjoy a birds-eye view of St. Simons, neighboring Jekyll Island and the Brunswick mainland.

First built in 1810 by James Gould, the structure was destroyed by Confederate forces in 1862 to prevent the beacon’s use

by Federal troops. The current lighthouse and the red brick Victorian keeper’s dwelling were built in 1872. A variety of exhibits and a gift shop are located in the 10,000 square foot A.W. Jones Heritage Center adjacent to the lighthouse. Open Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday 1:30-5:00 p.m. Last climb at 4:30 p.m. 912.638.4666 coastalgeorgiahistory.org THE PIER AND NEPTUNE PARK Located in the “heart” of St. Simons Island, the Village on the south end, in walking distance from the Lighthouse, the pier is one of the first places most people venture when visiting the island. You’ll generally find people fishing, crabbing, sitting, and strolling there at virtually any hour. Beach access stairs allow you to walk the narrow strip of beach below the Johnson rocks when the tide permits. The park, named for Neptune

Smalls (read his story on the sign next to the pier), has numerous seating areas and benches, a playground for little ones, a large grassy lawn, a picnic area with grills. The brick Casino Building houses the library, a theater, and public restrooms. The Neptune Fun Zone is where to find the action in the summer, with a well-lit fenced playground with seating, miniature golf course, and pool complex. The pool area is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, offering a wading pool and water gym with slides for kids, and a larger pool with zero-entry access and lap lanes. Poolside loungers and an on-site concession stand mean parents can sit back and enjoy too. Group rates and season passes are available. The 18-hole miniature golf course adjacent to the pool is open year-round. Park hours (Continued)

Chris Johnson

JOHN GILBERT NATURE TRAIL The pocket park located mid-island at 2470 Frederica Road contains a path that passes in front of John’s Tree, an enormous, ancient live oak with branches that seem to extend to the heavens. The wooden boardwalk on the trail provides stunning views of the island’s famous marshlands. It’s a perfect place to walk dogs and share the vistas with children and guests or to stop and rest if traversing the island by bike.

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TTRACTIONS docent tours seasonally and the grounds with gardens are always open to visitors. The adjacent grounds of Gascoigne Park offer a disc golf course set among the beautiful live oaks, a boat dock, covered picnic pavilion, and public restrooms. It’s a perfect place to watch the sun setting over the marsh or to enjoy an early morning dog walk.

and days of operation change on a seasonal basis. For most up to date information, call 912.279.3720 (pool) or 912.279.3721 (golf) or visit glynncounty.org/funzone.

WORLD WAR II HOME FRONT MUSEUM The unique and multifaceted story of Glynn County’s home front role during World War II is shared through galleries of immersive

(Continued)

Chris Johnson

TABBY CABINS AND GARDENS AT GASCOIGNE BLUFF The two circa 1800s tabby slave cabins at Gascoigne Bluff were once a part of Hamilton Plantation. In 1932 the Glynn County Commissioners granted the Cassina Garden Club stewardship of the cabins and later deeded the property to them in 1950. Through the garden club’s efforts, the slave cabins, which represent an important part of this island’s past and the legacy of its people, were placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1988. Recently, the cabins underwent a historically correct restoration to their original structures. Today, they are open for

TREE SPIRITS Something else special and unique you’ll find on St. Simons Island are the tree spirits.

Although not all are on public property, there are approximately 20 “souls” carved on trees throughout the island. The work of artist Keith Jennings, with most completed in the 1980s, the spirits are all different and inspire many hunts to find them all. While according to legend, the carved images immortalize sailors who lost their lives at sea aboard ships once made from St. Simons Island oak (like the U.S.S. Constitution), Jennings says he’s just revealing the true soul of the tree. Stop by the Golden Isles Welcome Center at 529 Beachview Drive for a map detailing where you can find several of the tree spirits. Start with the mermaid right outside!

exhibits and interactive experiences in this museum developed by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and designed by Gallagher & Associates. The World War II Home Front Museum not only details an important chapter in Georgia’s history when residents of small communities in Glynn County worked together and sacrificed for the greater good, it tells the story of the brave men and women on America’s home front who supported those on the battlefields in the fight for freedom and democracy.

It illustrates the common American experiences of military recruitment, buying war bonds, food rationing, and blackouts, and highlights Glynn County’s significance as the location of three critical wartime facilities: an airship base, a radar training school, and a shipyard. Using primary sources, historical photographs, and extensive interviews, the museum recreates the NAS St. Simons radar training school as an interactive gallery. Allowing visitors to see if they have what it takes to become a Fighter Director, or to engage in other interactive experiences like testing their skill at plane spotting, or building a Liberty ship and joining its crew makes history come alive in a way that resonates with adults and children alike. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.

912.634.7098 coastalgeorgiahistory.org

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Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site

the height of the plantation era, Hofwyl-Broadfield was a prosperous 7,500+ acre rice plantation with 357 enslaved workers.

Owned by five generations of the same family from 1806 until 1973, HofwylBroadfield was left by owner, Ophelia Dent, as a memorial to her ancestors and those who worked the plantation. Named

one of the “10 Best Southern Plantations”

by USA Today, and holding a TripAdvisor “Certificate of Excellence,” HofwylBroadfield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operated by the Georgia DNR. The historic site offers guided tours of the 1850s plantation home and museum with a brief film, seven outbuildings, more than a mile of

trails, and scenic views of the centuries-old moss-laden Live Oaks. Hofwyl-Broadfield is also listed as a GEM attraction by AAA Travel and a site on both the GullahGeechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.

Ophelia Dent Located at 5556 US Hwy 17N, Brunswick, Georgia; one mile east of I-95 exit 42 and eight miles north of downtown Brunswick

Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation OPEN Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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TTRACTIONS

JEKYLL ISLAND GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER A wildlife education and rehabilitation facility that offers the public a chance to learn about sea turtles and see rehabilitation in action with a host of interactive exhibits and experiences. See who’s swimming around at the hospital and, if the doc’s in the house, you might get to watch procedures too. Year-round indoor and outdoor programs, including seasonal turtle walks, are also available for guests of all ages.

Open Monday-Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 30

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p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. 912.635.4444 gstc.jekyllisland.com HORTON HOUSE HISTORIC SITE Located on Riverview Drive, outside of the “Millionaire’s Village” area, the walls still stand to this home built by William Horton in 1743 after an attack by the Spanish destroyed the original home. A popular spot for photographs, it’s one of the oldest tabby

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buildings in Georgia, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

JEKYLL ISLAND MINI GOLF Just across from the Atlantic Ocean and Great Dunes Park on Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island Mini Golf boasts two well-lit 18-hole courses, one for beginners and one for more advanced players. Play either or both! Hours are seasonal. 912.635.2648 jekyllisland.com (Continued)

WHETHER IT’S TO PLAY OR PARTY An affordable private club option in the Golden Isles

Photo by Bobbi Brinkman Photography.

The clubhouse can accommodate special events and groups up to 200 people and it’s a grand place for: • Weddings • Receptions • Class Reunions • Holiday Parties • Special Events & Occasions The course was designed in 1938 by Donald Ross and restored by Love Golf Design in 2007. Ross, a Scot who spent most of his life in the U.S., is considered by many to be one of history’s greatest golf course architects. In 1977, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Visit brunswickcountryclub.com Membership Inquiries: danhogan@brunswickcountryclub.com Special Event Inquiries: ambercuneo@brunswickcountryclub.com Unaccompanied Guest play is allowed on a limited basis.

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME Please call Dan Hogan at 912.264.4377 x 5 for more information.

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Office: 912.574.7183 • Cell/Text: 678-414-3616 The Premier Casual Concierge Rideshare Car Service of the Golden Isles of Georgia.

Book in advance. Call, use our app or book online at

www.edwardreservation.com

GROUND TRANSPORTATION • AIRPORT SHUTTLES CAR SERVICE • GROUPS • WEDDINGS • CONFERENCES

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TTRACTIONS Creek lazy river, a Splash Zone, Shark Tooth Cove, the Frantic Atlantic Wave Pool, and the Flash Flood, Thunder & Lightning, Force 3, Nature’s Revenge, and Pirate’s Passage water slides. Food and beverage concessions are available in the park from Larry’s Giant Subs. The park also occasionally hosts Swim-In Movies. Information about schedule, season passes and daily rates are available at jekyllisland.com.

JEKYLL ISLAND NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT The Jekyll Island Club Resort with its meticulously manicured front lawn suitable for croquet matches is the centerpiece of the Historic District once referred to as “Millionaires Village” for the prestigious members of the Club who built cottages there: Rockefeller, Pulitzer, Field, Vanderbilt and Morgan. Some of the cottages, villas, and other buildings remain and are open for tours. Faith Chapel, the Gothic revival style chapel constructed in 1904 exclusively for use by the members of Jekyll Island Club, Architectural features include gargoyles and lustrous hardwoods and brilliantly colored stained glass windows, one signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, highlight the interior. Visit for quiet contemplation at no charge from 8:0010:00 a.m. daily or schedule a tour at the desk in the Mosaic museum.

millionaires. Guided tours of the historic district and visits to Lovely Lane Chapel can also be purchased at the museum.

635.4036 jekyllisland.com/history SUMMER WAVES WATER PARK Open seasonally, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, this family-friendly attraction offers the half-mile long Turtle

WANDERER MEMORY TRAIL This memorial on the south end of Jekyll is a tribute to the enslaved passengers of the Wanderer, the last known slave ship to land in Georgia and one of the last known slave ships to arrive in the U.S. The trail rests along the banks of the Jekyll River, near the point where the Wanderer illegally came ashore on November 28, 1858, with more than 400 enslaved Africans on board. Interactive exhibits along the trail walk visitors through the moving true story of the journey from capture to freedom of Umwalla, a young African boy brought to America on the ship 160 years ago.

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MOSAIC, THE JEKYLL ISLAND MUSEUM The completely reimagined Jekyll Island museum at 100 Stable Road guides visitors through the rich cultural and natural history of Jekyll through in-depth and interactive exhibits for all ages, with stunning visuals and audio telling the tale of this magical island from midden piles to machinery and ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME

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TTRACTIONS BRUNSWICK HOFWYL-BROADFIELD PLANTATION Once a 7,500+ acre rice plantation, this historic site just off US Hwy 17N eight miles north of downtown Brunswick, operated by the Georgia DNR serves as a memorial to the Dent ancestors who owned the property and those who worked the plantation. Take a guided tour of the 1850s plantation home and museum and its outbuildings or simply enjoy the more than a mile of trails and scenic views, including a bird watching observation deck. HofwylBroadfield is a site on both the GullahGeechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.

Open Wednesday-Sunday 9:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. 912.264.7333.

MARY ROSS WATERFRONT PARK This waterfront park on Bay Street, at the end of Gloucester Street, features a covered pavilion and stage, farmers market (open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), public restrooms, and an outdoor musical playscape for children. At the Liberty Ship Memorial Plaza, there’s a scale model of a Liberty Ship, similar to those built in Brunswick’s shipyards during World War II. A popular event venue, the waterfront park is a perfect spot to watch the sunset or passing ship traffic from the busy Brunswick port.

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Shops at Sea Island • 600 Sea Island Road • St. Simons Island (912) 634-8084 • www.cloistercollection.com ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME

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TTRACTIONS If you’d like to venture beyond the Golden Isles and have a day to spare, here are some nearby places that we recommend visiting.

DAY TRIPPIN’ CUMBERLAND ISLAND Cumberland Island National Seashore is the state’s largest and southernmost barrier island, with access by ferry from St. Marys.

It offers The Greyfield Inn and over 17 miles of secluded white, sandy beaches and the Dungeness ruins where wild horses and other island wildlife roam freely. nps.gov/cuis

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Joe Loehle

LITTLE ST. SIMONS ISLAND Privately owned since 1760 and used as a family retreat from 1908 until opened to the public in 1979, this pristine barrier island is accessible only by boat (from the north end of St. Simons Island)and is a paradise for nature lovers with seven miles of untouched beaches and 11,000 acres of wilderness for exploration and relaxation. The Lodge on Little St. Simons offers day trips as well as gracious accommodations for no more than 32 overnight guests in six charming and comfortable cottages, superb family style dining and genuine Southern hospitality.

Debbie Britt

DARIEN AND SAPELO ISLAND Established as a port and outpost on the Altamaha River by Scottish Highlanders in 1736, this port city to the north is rich in history. Butler Island, Fort King George, Ashantilly Center, the Old Jail all offer glimpses of the area’s past, as does a walk along the waterfront to see the tabby ruins and the shrimp boats that dock there.

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a birdwatcher’s paradise and don’t be surprised to see an alligator or two. Take the ferry from the Meridian dock to visit nearby Sapelo Island, a National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the home of Reynolds Mansion, and the Sapelo Lighthouse. visitdarien.com

Recreational, naturalist-led activities include birding, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, bicycling, interpretive tours, beach combing,

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fishing and swimming. Once you’re here, you won’t want to leave! littlestsimonsisland.com

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We have a wonderful work ethic. We each have our own strengths and combine these to give you excellent service.”

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BOAT TOURS OF ALL TYPES From Jekyll Island Newest Boats in the Golden Isles!

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912.635.3152 366 Riverview Dr., Jekyll Island, GA • Book Online: www.captainphillip.com For private groups please call for reservations and times of departures ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME

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St. Simons & Sea Island’s Leading Real Estate Firm

DeLoachSIR.com | mobile app text SIR to 87778 912-638-0406 | 2901 Frederica Road | St. Simons Island, GA MMXIX Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Street in Saintes-Maries, used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated.

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EACHES

Chris Johnson

A favorite summertime activity in the Golden Isles is spending a day at the beach, but there’s no bad season to walk along the shoreline, whether you’re getting exercise, listening to the waves, watching the sun rise, or chasing sunsets.

Of St. Simons Island’s four miles of beaches, the most popular area is East Beach, with main access points at the Coast Guard Station (First Street access to East Beach), Gould’s Inlet (the northern-most access point on East Beach at 15th Street), and Massengale Park (1350 Ocean Boulevard). Coast Guard and Massengale access points have large parking areas and convenient facilities. Massengale has a shaded picnic area and playground. Jekyll Island boasts approximately ten miles of beaches.

There, you’ll find the center of the beach scene at Great Dunes Park in the middle of the island, where Ben Fortson Parkway meets N. Beachview Drive. Other beautiful beach areas on Jekyll that draw photographers and nature lovers are Driftwood Beach with its iconic otherworldly landscape, the pristine sand dunes and sea oats of Glory Beach, and the gorgeous sunsets at St. Andrews Beach. The beaches on Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island are private access only. Find your favorite spot and go put your toes in the sand!

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EACHES

Annaliese Kondo

BEACH SAFETY Lifeguards are only on duty from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily at Coast Guard and Massengale beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While they can provide assistance, you swim at your own risk. During this time, there is a Warning Flag system in place to notify visitors of hazardous conditions. The flag key is posted at main beach access sites. Please pay attention to the flags and do not swim in hazardous conditions.

HELPFUL SSI BEACH RULES • Vehicles are prohibited on the beach.

Please DO NOT swim to visible sand bars because our tides change very quickly and submerge the sand bars completely by as much as eight feet of water. The differential between ocean levels at low and high tide here is one of the highest on the East Coast, so it is essential to know the times of the tide change. Even strong swimmers have difficulty when that change occurs and the rip currents swirl because the water can be moving as fast as ten miles per hour. You want to know when the tide is coming in so you can be well away from sandbars before then. The most current and accurate tide charts are available at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov or download an app such as Tide Alert (NOAA) – USA, My Tide Times, or Tide Charts. If you fish, the Fishing Points: GPS, Tides & Fishing Forecast app is a good one.

Rip currents, which are difficult to see and much more dangerous than undertow, are very common here. More than 100 people die annually in the U.S. from drowning in rip currents. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. If you are caught in one, don’t fight it. Do your best to swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the beach and then make your way back to the shore. If you can’t escape the current, tread water or float on your back. If you need help, do not hesitate to call out and wave your arms for assistance. Most importantly, stay calm. You do not want to exhaust yourself trying to fight the current and frantically attempting to swim back to shore. It’s best to allow yourself to float out in order to break the grip of the rip current and wait until you can make headway swimming parallel to the beach to try to make it safely to the shore.

• Fires on the beach are prohibited without a permit from the Glynn County Fire Department.

• Pets are not allowed on the beach from 16th St. (East Beach South) to Mallery St. (Pier) from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. During allowable times and in non-summer months, pets are permitted on any portion of the beach but must be within close proximity and under the immediate control of the owner/handler. If handler is unable to control pet via voice-command, a 10’ leash is required. Owners must clean up after their pets.

• Glass and hard plastic containers are prohibited.

• All beach areas on St. Simons Island are Trash Free Beaches, subject to a “carry in, carry out” rule.

There are no trash receptacles on the beach, so beach-goers are responsible for making sure all trash they generate is picked up and carried out to be disposed of properly in the receptacles provided in the parking areas or at home upon their departure.

Please plan accordingly. Additionally, it is unlawful to leave tents, tent frames, and chairs on the beach overnight. Any such items left on the beach overnight will be removed and properly disposed of.

Littering carries a fine of up to $1,000.

• I t is illegal in Georgia to collect and kill live animals from the beach, including sand dollars. If a sand dollar is brown/purple and has bristles, it is likely alive. Only take the white/grey, non-bristled skeletons. You’re welcome to load up on shells though, and might even find a shark tooth if you’re lucky!

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Take memories home with you and leave only your footprints behind.

Let us share

The Golden Isles with You

KAYAK TOURS | BOAT TOURS | RETAIL

SOUTHEAST ADVENTURE OUTFITTERS Since 1994

BOOK ONLINE southeastadventure.com | 912.638.6732 ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME 313 Mallery Street | St. Simons Island

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N THE WATER Here in the Golden Isles, ocean waves beckon us closer and there are miles of marshes around us to explore. The ways to take to the water while you’re here are countless.

A very popular choice for visitors and locals alike is to hop on one of the dolphin tours that depart daily from St. Simons and Jekyll Island, so you can get a chance to watch these playful marine animals fishing and frolicking in the waves. For the romantics, there are sunset cruises too, or maybe a twilight sail on a catamaran or an intimate evening escapade with wine and cheese aboard a luxury yacht. A unique experience for kids and families is a fun and educational outing on the Lady Jane shrimp boat, where you can trawl for shrimp and sort through the catch to see what comes in with the crustaceans when they pull up the nets.

If you want to get closer to nature and are feeling a little more adventurous, take a kayak tour through the marshes or on the Altamaha River or discover another barrier island by paddle. Southeast Adventure Outfitters is a great place to start. They’ve been offering kayak tours and boat trips for more 42

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While maybe not exactly Otis Redding’s “dock of the bay,” you’ll find that there are fishing piers aplenty in the Golden Isles.

Arguably the most popular are the St. Simons Island Pier, in the center of the Village, and the Jekyll Island Fishing Pier, near Driftwood Beach. Not just lovely sites for a daytime or evening stroll, they are also active hubs for fishing and crabbing. It’s no surprise that these are popular pastimes with such plentiful ocean bounty to be caught. You’ll see everything from shrimp boats trawling on the horizon at twilight to kids casting seine nets from the shoreline on the beach. On daytime walks down the St. Simons pier, families setting crab traps are happy to let you check out what’s in their bucket, and, at night, you can see some “sharkers” trying to reel in a big catch. If you want to know what’s biting, just stop by St.

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Simons Bait & Tackle on Mallery Street and ask. They’ll be happy to chat and you might get a greeting from Mr. Bird too. (Continued)

Annaliese Kondo

than 25 years and can help you find just the kind of experience on the water you’re seeking. Stop by the store in the Village on St. Simons Island or drop by the Brunswick dock next to Marshside Grill to talk to them about planning your adventure. We don’t get big surf here, but you’ll still find a devoted crew of wave catchers up at Gould’s Inlet in the mornings when there’s a forecast of some swells. But you don’t need waves to have fun on a board, a SUP (stand-up paddleboard) eco-tour is great way to enjoy the water, soak up some sun, and explore our waterways. Never been on a board? Not a problem! Friendly and experienced guides and instructors can help you get comfortable on the water in no time! Board rentals and fully guided tours are available on St. Simons and Jekyll.

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Benjamin Galland

N THE WATER THE RULES: Anyone older than 15 years old who fishes, crabs or seines in Georgia waters must possess a fishing license. Any Georgia fishing license is valid in Glynn County and the Golden Isles, allowing for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. If you’re going out on a charter, most charter licenses cover their guests, but be sure to ask whether you’ll also need to obtain a Georgia fishing license if you don’t already have one. Crabbing is permitted year-round, but peak months are from August through October.

With a fishing license, you can drop up to six crab pots from your boat or a dock. You may retain a maximum of one bushel per day or two bushels per day in the case of boats with more than one person. But just like in fishing, size matters: males must be at least 5 inches in diameter and peelers at least 3 inches. Fishing regulations vary according to the body of water you’re fishing, so take a few minutes to get familiar with the rules that apply where you’re planning

your trip. A comprehensive site for local fishing information, including license and regulation details, is coastalgadnr.org. For federal fishing regulations, see safmc.net.

Fishing charters are plentiful. Offshore, nearshore, and inshore, half-day and full day excursions are all available. Whether you’re looking to hook sheepshead or shark, sea bass or snapper, tarpon or tripletail, trout or tuna, there’s a captain out there willing to guide you and a boat to fit your fishing party. Some local restaurants, like Catch 228 in Redfern Village, will cook up your catch for dinner too, so you can enjoy a tasty reward for your day on the water. Talk to your charter captain or call the restaurant. Our local captains offer trips tailored to meet your needs so kids, families, and serious anglers can all enjoy a fishing adventure that will ensure that you leave with good memories of the Golden Isles, and hopefully also make you eager to (Continued) return.

The Marshes of Glynn

By Sidney Lanier

The world lies east: how ample, the marsh and the sea and the sky!

A league and a league of marsh-grass, waist-high, broad in the blade, Green, and all of a height, and unflecked with a light or a shade, Stretch leisurely off, in a pleasant plain, To the terminal blue of the main.

Oh, what is abroad in the marsh and the terminal sea?

Somehow my soul seems suddenly free From the weighing of fate and the sad discussion of sin, By the length and the breadth and the sweep of the marshes of Glynn.

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N THE WATER

Benjamin Galland

WATER LIKE SWEET TEA

Much to the surprise of many visitors, the seawater that surrounds the barrier islands appears brown due to stirred up sediment and tannins leached from decaying organic material, such as the Spartina grasses, leaves, and tree bark, that wash offshore from the swamps and marshes. Sedimentary deposits from the large rivers that flow into the ocean here make the sea floor near the shore muddy, rather than sandy.

Storms that churn off the coast often stir up that sediment, making the mix darker and more obvious, but the “sweet tea” color is a consistent trait of our waters, no matter the weather. While this might not be the pristine 46

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turquoise paradise of beach dreams, it’s not a bad thing either, because these nutrient rich waters are ideal for our wildlife. Fish, crustaceans, and other sea life are plentiful here. That attracts a wide variety of birds, and provides a healthy diet for other animals as well. A further testament to the goodness of our “sweet tea” brown water is the fact that locally-caught sweet white Wild Georgia Shrimp are known to have the best flavor and are in high demand in the seafood market. These shrimp are caught with nets right out of their natural environment off our shores and not farm-raised or altered in any way. So, if you’re disappointed in the

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way the brown water looks in your vacation pictures or wish we had the clear waters and white sands of the Gulf, we suggest you grab a table overlooking the water at sunset and order the local specialty of shrimp & grits or Low Country Boil. Take in the view of the shrimp boats on the horizon, with birds fluttering above and dolphins frolicking in their wake. Marvel at the beauty of the egrets and herons fishing in the marsh, and the pelicans perched on their posts, as if posing for the pictures you’re sure to take. And when you sip your sweet tea, consider whether you’d really rather trade that for a plain glass of water.

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OR THE BIRDS If you’re a bird lover, you’ve found paradise here.

Literally hundreds of species of birds make their home in the Golden Isles. From shorebirds and gulls to wading birds and waterfowl to woodpeckers, owls, and birds of prey, you can see a wide variety of our islands’ feathered inhabitants virtually any time of year. Herons, wood storks, egrets, roseate spoonbills, painted buntings and bald eagles are some of the popular species commonly seen. Because of the area’s large and diverse bird population, five of Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding Trail sites are located in the Golden Isles. The Birding Trail extends from Savannah and Tybee Island and continues south to St. Marys and Cumberland Island National Seashore with a western leg reaching Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. More than 300 species of birds (75% of the total species of birds seen in Georgia) have been spotted at the 18 sites along the trail. The birds you see will depend greatly on when and where you visit,

with some birds here year-round and others being migratory travelers stopping here to winter or on their travels further south.

Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation on Hwy 17 just north of Brunswick is the northernmost site on the Birding Trail. The nature trail that runs from the visitors center to the edge of the marsh is a great place for birding. Look for bald eagles, colorful painted buntings, and yellow-throated warblers here. The site on St. Simons Island is on East Beach at Gould’s Inlet, where the best birding can be done around the afternoon high tide.

Oystercatchers and black skimmers are fun to watch darting in and out along the shoreline. While not among the Birding Trail sites, the St. Simons Land Trust’s Guale Preserve and Cannon’s Point are also excellent for birding. Remaining Golden Isles sites are along the Jekyll Island Causeway, overlooking the vast expanse of marsh, and on Jekyll at Driftwood Beach and South End beach. A tip from the locals: make sure to make a trek over to Horton’s Pond too.

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Beyond the Colonial Coast Birding Trail, Little St. Simons Island is renowned for its birding. Recommended by the staff of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as one of the best places for bird watching in the United States, more than 300 species of birds have been recorded on the 11,000-acre private island. Naturalist-led tours feature many of the island’s best viewing areas, complete with a rookery and bald eagle nests. Day trips are available and during Spring Birding Days (April 30-May 8, 2020), special promotion packages are offered that include excursions with guest ornithologists highlighting the abundance of species that flock on the island during spring migration. For information, visit littlestsimonsisland.com.

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N THE GREEN

Mild weather year-round and the breathtaking natural beauty of the Golden Isles make golfing here an inviting way to spend time outdoors. The area offers 189 holes of golf in classic 18-hole, 9-hole, and links courses for your recreational pleasure. If you enjoy watching golf, it’s also a great place to check out a tournament.

The Golden Isles is not only home to some of the top golfers in the game today and some of the country’s most spectacular and widely acclaimed courses, it has a storied history with the “gentleman’s game.” The area’s first golf course was built by the millionaire members of the Jekyll Island Club in 1898. According to USGA records, the architect was Willie Dunn, Jr., a Scot who was close friends with founding Club member W.K. Vanderbilt and 50

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John D. Rockefeller. In 1910, Donald J. Ross designed a “new and improved” course on Jekyll Island, where the Oleander course exists today. He also designed the course at the Brunswick Country Club, which was restored to its former glory by Love Golf Design, and is considered one of the top courses in the state.

When Howard Coffin bought Sea Island and the old Retreat Plantation on St. Simons UIDE

Island in 1926, his intent was to create an “elegant playground” for the elite. He hired venerated course designer Walter Travis to construct the Plantation Course. The course opened in 1927 to enthusiastic acclaim and put Sea Island on the map as a golf destination. Three years later, golf legend Bobby Jones shot the Plantation Course record of 67, which stood for 28 years until Sam Snead undercut it by a jaw-dropping

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4 strokes. Travis was commissioned by the Jekyll Island Club following his success with Plantation and built the Club a course that opened in 1928. The historic Great Dunes course holds the remnants of Travis’ work.

These courses firmly cemented the Golden Isles legacy of great golf courses conceived some of world’s greatest course designers.

Other course architects leaving their mark

in the area with challenging layouts have included Colt and Alison, Clyde Johnson, Dick Wilson, Joe Lee, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and, most recently Davis Love III, and Mark Love. Fantastic courses plus top-notch practice facilities and worldrenowned instructors have drawn countless well-known professional and amateur golfers from around the world to play, compete, learn, and even live here. Don’t be surprised

if you find yourself rubbing elbows with 2015 British Open Champion Zach Johnson picking up lunch or catch Team USA Golf Olympic bronze medalist Matt Kuchar at a school fundraiser. Our favorite Ryder Cup Captain has even been known to grab ice cream with his granddaughters from time to time.

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GOLF COURSES ST. SIMONS ISLAND AND SEA ISLAND The King and Prince Golf Course, Home of the Hampton Club 18-hole public course (6,462 yds., par 72). 912.634.0255 hamptonclub.com

BRUNSWICK Brunswick Country Club 18-hole course (6,802 yds., par 72) – open to members and offering limited guest play. 912.264-4377 brunswickcountryclub.com

Sea Palms Golf Club 18-hole public course (6,477 yds., par 71). 912.638-3351 seapalms.com Sea Island Golf Club Open to members and resort guests only. Three 18-hole courses: Plantation (6,671 yds., par 72), Seaside (6,657 yds., par 70), and Retreat (6,735 yds, par 72). 855.645.0280 seaisland.com/golf JEKYLL ISLAND Jekyll Island Golf Club Three 18-hole public golf courses: Pine Lakes (6,700 yds., par 72), Indian Mound (6,469 yds., par 72), and Oleander (6,521 yds., par 72), plus the 9-hole public Great Dunes course (3,229 yds., par 36). 912.635.2368 jekyllisland.com 52

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Heritage Oaks Golf Club 18-hole public course (5,820 yds., par 72) on Oak Grove Island. 912.280.9525 heritageoaksgolfclub.com

(Continued)

find

your way back...

...to a new tradition.

Year after year, their footprints appear on our sandy shores. They don’t return for the expected. They don’t stay for the same routine. They want to leave their prints on natural beaches, wander trails winding beneath wild canopies.

Join them in the adventure. Find your way back. jekyllisland.com

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THE RSM CLASSIC In October 2009, the inaugural McGladrey Classic PGA TOUR event, hosted by Davis Love III, brought professional golfers from around the nation to compete on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club. Now renamed The RSM Classic (for its title sponsor RSM US LLP), this Official PGA TOUR FedExCup Event takes place annually in November, on Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside and newly redesigned Plantation Courses on St. Simons Island. The tournament is hosted by the Davis Love Foundation, which was established by 54

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2017 World Golf Hall of Fame (and now 2019 PGA of America Hall of Fame) inductee Davis Love III for the purpose of contributing to the well-being and progress of society by supporting both national and community-based programs that focus on children and their families.

The tournament is an eagerly anticipated occasion on the island. There are family-friendly events like a Wiffle Ball Challenge, free Community Day, and a Charity Putting Challenge, scheduled during week leading up to the tournament.

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headlined in past years by artists like Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Cole Swindell. The scenery and typically mild weather make it a fun course to walk, and the play has been competitive, with the winner determined more than once in an exciting final round play off. There are ample volunteer opportunities and many people from out of the area come to the Golden Isles to work the tournament and see some of the world’s top golfers in a laid back setting offering the finest Southern hospitality.

Learn more at rsmclassic.com. It’s a great time to plan a trip here!

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Located on Demere Rd. opposite Home2 and McKinnon Airport in Aviator Plaza

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HOPPING/DINING A handy guide to some local lingo and lore to help you navigate the island.

LOCAL LINGO

Causeways and bridges are not the same thing. A causeway is a raised road or track across low or wet grounds. The F.J. Torras Causeway is the road connecting St. Simons Island to the Brunswick mainland.

It is named for it’s main engineer, who also served as Brunswick’s city manager for more than 30 years. There are two bridges on the causeway, the Back River Bridge and the Mackay River bridge. The Jekyll Island causeway connects Jekyll Island to the Brunswick mainland, and is near the foot of the Sidney Lanier Bridge.

The large cable-stayed bridge spanning the Brunswick River was named after poet Sidney Lanier who penned the poem “Marshes of Glynn.” When you hear “There’s a wreck on the causeway,” it’s likely the Torras Causeway they’re talking about. Please watch your speed, don’t drive distracted, and make sure all loads and trailers are secure. When people talk about “the bridge,” it’s generally the Sidney Lanier Bridge to which they’re referring (even if they call it “the bridge to Jekyll”).

Demere is pronounced dem’-ree, not dehmare as the French might say it. The street is named for Captain Raymond Demere who arrived on the island in 1736 and played a key role in pre-plantation history.

Frederica has four syllables: fred-eree’-kah. This was the name bestowed on 56

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the fort on the north end of the island to honor Federick Louis, Prince of Wales, on September 26, 1735.

Mallery or Mallory? There’s some confusion about the spelling of name of this road in the Village. It seems the definitive answer can be found in 1890 records regarding the first residential land development project on St. Simons Island: King City. Virginia Lord King Nesbet owned half of Retreat Plantation, with her brother, Mallery Page King, held the remaining half in trust for his three daughters.

He had a portion of Retreat land along St. Simons Sound, from Mallery Street westward to the current Sea Island Golf Club, laid out into streets between Page Avenue and Butler Avenue and divided up into homesites and a larger commercial site reserved for a hotel.

The King City streets were named for family members and other close island families.

Page Avenue was named for his grandfather, Butler and Lord Avenues were named for his brothers, then Floyd, Cuyler, Georgia, Florence, and Virginia for the King children, and Hamilton, Frazer, Wylly, and Gould for the other island families. Thus, it stands to reason that the street that began it all was named after its creator.

Neptune Park, despite its view overlooking the ocean, was not named to honor the god of the sea. It was dedicated to the memory of Neptune Small (1831-1907), a man

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born into slavery on Retreat Plantation.

He served Thomas Butler King and accompanied his sons into battle during the Civil War. When Henry Lord Page King was killed in battle in 1862, he located and retrieved his body from the battlefield and accompanied him to Savannah, where a temporary burial location was secured until the area was once again safe after the war. Although he been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, Small returned to the front to serve the youngest King son until the surrender of the Confederate troops in 1865. Small then returned to Savannah to accompany Lord King’s body back to his final resting place at Christ Church Cemetery on St. Simons Island. The Kings granted Neptune a parcel of property on their land where he lived as a free man. Today, the park rests on what used to be part of that property.

Redfern is one word and was not named for any scarlet leaved botanicals, but for a young pilot named Paul Redfern.

Redfern departed Sea Island in his StinsonDetroiter monoplane “Port of Brunswick,” on August 25, 1927 in an attempt to make a solo non-stop flight from here to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. If he succeeded, he would break Charles Lindbergh’s distance record by 1,000 miles. His solo flight time would have been more than 50 hours compared with Lindbergh’s 33.5 He tragically never made it to his destination. His plane was last spotted 200 miles off the coast of South America.

The Village means the shopping and dining area near The Pier (this is the one islanders refer to when they say that) close to the lighthouse on the south end of St. Simons Island. You may also hear it called Pier Village. It does not refer to Redfern Village, the mid-island hotspot for shopping and dining.

The Official D BRAN

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(4 Retreat Place, St. Simons | Also sold at The Yello Canary)

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UIDE 3301 Frederica Road • St. Simons Island • (912) 638-3470 • evelynetalman.com

HOPPING/DINING There’s something for everyone when it comes to shopping and dining locally. Fresh seafood, handmade treasures, unique art, nostalgic sweet treats, and so much more awaits your discovery.

There are too many shops and restaurants to provide a comprehensive list, so we’re simply going to give you an overview of areas of interest and some of their offerings.

On St. Simons Island, it’s the Village by the pier that attracts most visitors. The “heart” of the island, this quaint little shopping and dining area is within walking distance of the lighthouse and has plentiful parking along the streets and in lots near the pier and near the brick Casino Building and Neptune Park Fun Zone area. If mom wants to browse the shops while dad keeps the kids entertained, there are playgrounds and benches in the shade or overlooking the ocean, and a few shops where they can grab an ice cream cone to enjoy while they wait. Here, you’ll find eclectic

shops offering everything from fair trade jewelry and goods, handmade home décor, monogrammed fashion accessories and gift items to beach essentials, local art, honey products, and outdoor gear. Dining options include classic Southern cooking, pizza, fresh seafood, local farm-sourced goodness, burgers, breakfast fare, and more. Worried about your beach attire? Don’t. Island casual is the theme here, and shorts and sundresses are perfectly acceptable just about everywhere.

If you venture farther north on Frederica, you’ll find Redfern Village, another area packed with a variety of boutiques and restaurants. A popular area for visiting college students and pro golfers alike, popular dining choices here offer oysters, sushi, Mexican, and more. In the shops, you’ll find women’s fashion and jewelry, cute clothes for kids and tweens, book heaven, and home décor, among other things. Continue north on Frederica to discover The Shops at Sea Island, and just across Sea Island Road, the

Shops on Market Street. From Lilly Pulitzer to Tibi, designer fashion is readily available here. You’ll find current trends and classic looks for men, women, and children. Toys, greeting cards, whimsical gifts, skin care and

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pampering products are all at your fingertips.

Italian cuisine, fine dining, burgers and milkshakes, and grab-and-go food are options.

Historic downtown Brunswick, with its “center” located at Newcastle and Gloucester streets, offers quaint local shops, some fantastic restaurants, art galleries, and pocket parks in its signature squares. Downtown Brunswick was declared a Main Street City by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1986.

Jekyll Island has eclectic shops with gifts, Georgia-made products, art, jewelry, and more in the historic district. In Beach Village, you’ll find a wider array of stores, including clothing boutiques and casual restaurants. If it’s dining on the water you want, it’s hard to beat the sunset view from The Wharf. For something completely different, treat yourself to High Tea in the Jekyll Island Club Resort’s Grand Dining Room, a delicious experience that calls to mind the golden era of the Club and its millionaires.

Take your time. Explore at your leisure. We think you’ll like what you find. If you don’t have time to do it all, don’t worry – you can always come back.

Chris Johnson

Annaliese Kondo

Beyond these shopping areas, there are dozens of other terrific shops and boutiques located on Frederica and Demere and other spots around the island. Quaint coffee shops

and off-the-beaten-path eateries are some of the real treasures here. In addition, the island has two major grocery stories, drug stores, and hardware stores for your everyday needs, as well as furniture stores, paint stores, kitchen and bath, flooring, and more if you’re tackling major projects. If you want big box stores, you’ll have to head across the causeway to Brunswick or beyond.

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Fly directly to the warm heart of Georgia’s Golden Isles.

With daily jet service on Delta between Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK) and Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport (ATL), you can land just minutes from all the pleasures and treasures of the Golden Isles.

Private and charter flights can make Brunswick Golden Isles Airport or St. Simons Island Airport their destination.

Rental cars are available at both terminals. www.flygcairports.com

Brunswick Golden Isles Airport-BQK It’s easy going.

www.Delta.com

PASSIONATE ABOUT COMMUNITY & CLIENTS CHANDRA KENDALL is a lifelong Glynn County resident celebrating 29 years as a licensed REALTOR® who specializes in residential, resort, and investment properties. She has received numerous awards throughout the years and is respected and praised in the real estate community. Just take a look at her reviews on Zillow.com.

Chandra co-founded Coastal Georgia Honor Flight and, in 2017, was the first civilian awarded the Outstanding Community Service Award

by The Veterans Council of the Golden Isles. Chandra is a valued member of Sotheby’s team of elite real estate professionals and is eager to put her experience to work for you and your family.

Chandra.Kendall@sothebysrealty.com DeLoachSIR.com | 912.258.4233 912.638.0406 | 2901 Frederica Road | St. Simons Island, GA

912.258.4233

©2019 DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty. All rights reserved

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The Premier Local Magazine YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO PICK UP A COPY

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Elegant Island Living is a monthly magazine devoted to the finer lifestyle on St. Simons Island & Sea Island, Georgia.

Complimentary copies can be picked up at select locations throughout St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island and Brunswick. Mail subscriptions available at elegantislandliving.net. Media kit with advertising rates and deadlines also available on the website. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest too.

Be sure to check out the EIL Insider Exclusive program.

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USIC A poet once said, “The earth has music for those who listen.”

It certainly isn’t hard to find on St. Simons Island, and we’re not just talking about the symphony of crashing waves.

From amateurs testing their skills before an audience on open mic nights to Grammy-award winning artists in our backyard, we have a rich local music scene if you just know where to look. For those of you who might need a guide to find the music that moves you, we’re here to lead the way.

Monday nights at Palm Coast Coffee Café & Pub mean Open Mic Night. This musical showcase is not only popular with budding

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performers but also with veteran musicians who want to jam with others. Things are pretty quiet around town on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but veteran performer Joey Thigpen from Backbeat Boulevard currently has a standing gigs at Tortuga Jack’s on Jekyll Island Tuesday evenings and here at Demere Grill on Wednesday. He’s been known to have some excellent guest musicians sit in with him from time to time too. Thursdays are for weekend pre-gaming.

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Tony and Beth Adams have a running gig at The Tree Bar at Bennie’s Red Barn, and know how to get the crowds up and dancing. The Pub at Village Inn has live music every Thursday-Saturday.

Other local venues like Brogen’s South, ECHO at the King and Prince Beach & Golf

USIC

Resort, Mellow Mushroom, Mullet Bay, and Sea Palms also host music on Thursdays.

Every Friday and Saturday, there are AT LEAST a dozen local venues hosting live music. St. Simons Island locations include all of those listed above, as well as Bubba Garcia’s, Catch 228, Ember, Gnat’s Landing and Mullet Bay. Popular Brunswick venues include Moondoggy’s, Tipsy McSway’s, Toucans Ale House, Zachry’s Seafood & Steaks, and The Study speakeasy at Reid’s Apothecary, where you have to before 4:00 p.m. to get a password for access.

On Jekyll Island, Tortuga Jack’s and The Wharf are the live music mainstays, but the Beach House, Sunrise Grill, The Westin, Hampton Inn, and Zachry’s Riverhouse often host music,

including daytime sets on the weekends. On Sundays, treat yourself to brunch and some tunes at Golden Isles Olive Oil or Bubba Garcia’s in Redfern Village. Coastal Kitchen offers evening music to wind down the weekend. Of course, some of this seasonal, and schedules may be altered during winter months or impacted by inclement weather.

During the week, if you’re looking for dining ambiance instead of a night out at the bar, you’ll find talented performers tickling the ivories at Georgia Sea Grill and NANCY on St. Simons, and in Jekyll Island Club’s Grand Dining Room. There’s musical entertainment happening offshore too. The dulcet tones of smooth crooner Tony Adams are what you’ll

hear most weekends on board the Emerald Princess II Casino boat.

“But what KIND of music is out there?” you might ask. Our local bands truly run the gamut from classic rock, 90s covers and jazz to Southern blues and country. We can help you find where the music you like is being played each week in the “I’m With the Band” blog. This comprehensive and frequently updated list of when and where the live music is happening each week is available at elegantislandliving.net. We also keep guides to local artists and music venues there. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates.

Beyond the regular weekly music scene, we are also lucky enough to have fantastic music brought in by concert associations like Golden Isles Live! (goldenisleslive. org) and the Island Concert Association

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USIC (islandconcertassociation.org), concerts by the Coastal Symphony of Georgia (coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org), and performance series concerts booked

by Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association at The Ritz Theatre (goldenislesarts.org). These range from opera performances to tribute shows to classical virtuosos. We urge you to check their websites for upcoming concerts.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated and widely popular music experience on St. Simons Island is the summer concert series. We’re home to two different series: A Little Light Music, presented by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, which takes place on the lawn of the lighthouse, and the concerts in Neptune Park presented by Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association.

A Little Light Music concerts are held on select Sunday evenings May through September at 7:00 p.m. on the oceanfront lawns of the St. Simons Lighthouse when the tide is just right to bring a breeze. These concerts are the biggest and best “block party” where you’ll find all of your friends and neighbors. Picnic dinners accompanied by your favorite beverages are encouraged.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and settle in for a musical evening with friends under the stars. For details and information about scheduled performers, ticket prices and dates, see stsimonslighthouse.org.

Golden Isles Arts & Humanities Association will also continue its tradition of bringing outstanding concerts by the sea to St. Simons Island in the summer. Local

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artists and great regional musicians will have the crowd dancing in Neptune Park.

More information about dates, scheduled performers and ticket prices can be found at goldenislesarts.org.

Also keep your eye out for concerts at Rainbow Island hosted by Sea Island. Some incredible artists have performed there including Amos Lee, the Indigo Girls, Marshall Tucker Band, and JJ Grey, as well as some fantastic tribute acts. We’ll let you know if any concerts there are on the horizon! Another musical event to watch for is the annual concert during November’s RSM Classic, which always brings in a big name.

Stay tuned!

Also happening November 15th in Brunswick’s Old Town

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will be PorchFest, a free afternoon live music extravaganza with 40+ musical acts performing on various porches downtown.

This will be the third year for the event and it just keeps getting bigger and better. Save the date and plan to join the fun.

If all of that information doesn’t convince you that we have a local music scene that is alive and well, you’ll just have to come out and hear for yourself. Bookmark the Elegant Island Living website so you’ll have the I’m With the Band blog and the events calendar at your fingertips, and follow the I’m With the Band social media accounts.

We’re passionate about music and want to make sure you don’t miss a beat.

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ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING WELCOME UIDE 67 imbermedical.com Follow Us on Imber Medical

RTS The cultural scene here goes beyond live music, encompassing a large community of artists and artisan creators. In addition to painters, potters, sculptors, woodcrafters, and jewelry makers, we also have prolific writers and talented stage performers.

On St. Simons Island, Glynn Visual Arts (glynnvisualarts.org) is at the heart of the art community, with a main gallery on Skylane Drive, and space in the Visitors Center on Beachview. They offer more than a dozen exhibitions annually by local and nationally celebrated artists, three major art festivals, and a variety of classes and creative opportunities for adults and children. ArtTrends Gallery (arttrends. gallery) is an artists’ co-op displaying and selling eclectic works by local artists.

They co-host periodic “Art Crawls” that urge visitors to stop in and visit these and other participating galleries. Anderson Fine Art Gallery (andersonfineartgallery. com) is a destination gallery for the finest in original representational paintings with a gallery roster that includes an outstanding group of professional and emerging artists and offers landscapes, still life and some non-representational works. For more than a decade, the gallery has sponsored workshops taught by professional artists from across the country brought here to instruct follow painters. Other galleries on the island include Wallin Gallery, Parker Gallery, and The Art House.

In Historic Downtown Brunswick, you’ll find the arts well represented in the“SoGlo” district. The Ritz Theatre is home to Golden Isles Arts & Humanities (goldenislesarts. org) and the Wilcox Gallery, which features touring exhibits, local and regional artists and student art. Exhibit opening receptions with the artists coincide with First Friday in downtown Brunswick. GIAHA also offers classic movies concerts, theatre and dance performances and more. Art Downtown’s SoGlo Gallery (soglogallery.com) presents exhibits by local artists in the gallery and seasonal outdoor art festivals on St. Simons Island. The Brunswick Stewdio, Gallery on Newcastle, and Sawgrass Artist Market are a few other spots where you’ll find works by local artists on display and for sale.

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Goodyear Cottage in Jekyll Island’s Historic District is the home of the Jekyll Island Artists Association (jekyllartists.com). JIAA presents monthly exhibits and maintains a gift shop of consigned works by members.

Every March, they present a 3-day art festival. Also keep an eye out for seasonal shows by the Coastal Photographers Guild and the Georgia Coastal Artists Guild.

For community theatre, The Island Players (theislandplayers.com) have been bringing the stage to life with a variety of productions since 1956. The oldest community theatre in the Golden Isles, their annual season offers four shows, including a musical, plus a Young Peoples Summer Workshop in July. Everyone is not only invited to attend their performances in the St. Simons Casino Theatre, but also to audition or join the production teams. The Brunswick Actors Theatre (soglogallery.com) is an intimate 111-seat theatre in SoGlo Gallery on Newcastle St. that hosts six annual main stage productions from February to December. Tickets include desserts and coffee/tea and the shows are always a treat.

S

ome of the most beloved features of Georgia’s Golden Isles are the extensive bike paths, the canopy-draped hiking trails, and the numerous green spaces, parks, and preserves on St. Simons Island. More than 1,000 acres on the island have been protected by the St. Simons Land Trust, an accredited member of the national Land Trust Alliance.

This includes Cannon’s Point Preserve, with its 608 acres of undeveloped wilderness, intact maritime forest, and more than six miles of peninsula shoreline on the north-end of the island. The 258-acre Guale Preserve features Polly’s Trail in the center of the property and Janet’s Trail at the waterfront. And across the island are protected areas that provide intimate access to historic, cultural, and environmental features and memorable experiences for birders, hikers, bikers, kayakers, photographers, and all nature lovers.

As the Land Trust marks its 20th anniversary this year, we celebrate the residents, businesses, and visitors who have helped to create a culture of conservation on St. Simons. To learn more about the many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed on Land Trust properties, please call or visit our website.

912.638.9109 • www.sslt.org

CANNO N’S PO I NT PRESE RV E

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ESOURCES Enjoy your stay! Here are some important phone numbers you might need.

Emmanuel Baptist 1047 Demere Rd., 912 638.3852 First African Baptist 5800 Frederica Rd., 912 638.5539 First Baptist 729 Ocean Blvd. 912 638.3337 Frederica Baptist 1700 Frederica Rd., 912 634.2833 Frederica Presbyterian 150 Delamotte Rd., 912.634.2240 Golden Isles Presbyterian 48 Hampton Point Drive, 912.638.2563 Holy Nativity Episcopal 615 Mallery St., 912 638.3733 GLYNN COUNTY POLICE In case of Emergency call 911

St. Simons Airport 115 Terminal Way, SSI, 912.368.8617

Headquarters 157 Public Safety Blvd., Brunswick 912.554.7800

POST OFFICE 260 Edwards Plaza, 912.634.0054 LIBRARY 530 Beachview Dr # A, 912.279.3750

Island Substation 1965 Demere Rd., 912.279.2891 Non-Emergency Dispatch 912.554.3645

GROCERY STORES Harris Teeter 600 Sea Island Rd., 912.638.8100

GLYNN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT 121 Public Safety Blvd., Brunswick 912.554.7779

Winn Dixie 220 Retreat Village, 912. 638.4805

GLYNN COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL 4765 US-17 N, Brunswick, 912.554.7500

CHURCHES ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND Christ Church Frederica 6329 Frederica Rd., 912.638.8683

VISITOR CENTER 529 Beachview Dr., 800.809.1790 AIRPORTS Brunswick Golden Isles 295 Aviation Pkwy, Brunswick, 912.265.2070 70

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Lord of Life Lutheran 2801 Frederica Rd., 912 638.4673 Lovely Lane Chapel 100 Arthur J. Moore Drive, 912.638.8688 St. Simons Presbyterian 205 Kings Way 912.638.2220 St. Ignatius Episcopal Chapel 2906 Demere Rd., 912.638.8683 St. Paul Baptist 2700 Demere Rd., 912 638.4460 St. Simons Community 2700 Frederica Rd., 912.634.2960 St. Simons United Methodist 624 Ocean Blvd., 912.638.3317

Christian Renewal 6530 Frederica Rd., 912 638.4918

St. William Catholic 2300 Frederica Rd., 912 638.2647

Church at Frederica 6520 Frederica Rd., 912.634.2960

Wesley United Methodist 6520 Frederica Rd., 912.634.1412

You May Be on Vacation, But Our Doctors Aren’t.

Whether you’re suffering from a minor illness or injury or a medical emergency, Southeast Georgia Health System delivers fast, exceptional care. Walk into a nearby Immediate Care Center or visit one of our hospitals in Brunswick or St. Marys.

For locations and more information, call 855-ASK-SGHS (855-275-7447) or visit SGHS.org.

Love the Beach Life?

Join Our Team!

If you love living the beach life, we’re looking for dedicated professionals to join our family. Opportunities are available for doctors and nurses, as well as administrative and support staff.

Sign-on bonuses may be available.

Visit careers.sghs.org to learn more or to apply. © 2019 SGHS

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JEWELERS Serving the South Since 1910