The Jekyll Island Turtle Gram BlogWelcome to the Jekyll Island Turtle-Gram Blog, your VIP preview to upcoming Jekyll Island events and updates to the JIFA website. Just click on the orange button to subscribe to the RSS feed. Mar 8, 2010, Playing on the ClayJekyll Island - Let's face it. The older we get, the harder it is to recover from the games we play. For me, it's tennis. For some reason, I like hitting that fuzzy yellow ball around. I play ALTA and USTA, hit with a group of like-minded friends on Monday nights, and sometimes pick up a game here and there during the week, on top of rallying with Martha. I can still motivate pretty good around the hard courts while competing, but for the next couple of days I move like death warmed over as my worn-out, decrepit joints remind me of just how old I really am. That's hard court tennis for you. Give me a clay court any time. Clay courts are much more forgiving on the joints. The clay surface slows down the game, and gives old fogies like me more of a chance to keep up with the younger guys I seem to be playing more and more lately. Plus, some of my more devious shots (droppers, inside-out spin, weird slice) seem to just "die" on clay. I've found that teens and young guys just hate those type shots - they're used to meeting power with power, and sometimes don't know what to do with the "junk". That's why Martha calls me the "Junk Monkey". On your next Jekyll Island Family Adventure, grab the family and head over to the Jekyll Island Tennis Center, where they have 13 wonderful clay courts - and none of those joint-popping hard courts. Let pro Pete Poole introduce you to the joys of clay court tennis. Nough said - Rick Mar 3, 2010, Jekyll Island SeasonsJekyll Island - Coming off a brutal winter, it doesn't take much imagination to lean back and dream of warmer climes - like Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island seasons are pretty moderate. During an average winter, Jekyll is a great place to visit, especially if you live up north. It's always warmer on the island (that's why the millionaires liked it for their winter home). Spring can be finicky. I've been on the island in April when it was cold enough outside for a light coat and long pants; and other times, when it was as hot as summer. Speaking of summer - it's hot! But there's plenty of shaded nooks, cool breezes off the ocean, and sparkling swimming pools at the hotels to negate that heat. Ice cream or frozen yogurt helps, too! My favorite Jekyll Island season is fall. We like to travel down in October - the best month for Jekyll Island Family Adventures, as far as I'm concerned. The air is still warm, but with a hint of crispness to come. In reality, it's all good. Jekyll Island is the right vacation destination in any season. Nough said - Rick Mar 1, 2010, The Jekyll Island Causeway, Your Portal to AdventureThe Jekyll Island Causeway is your route to your own private island getaway! Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Jekyll Island Causeway, Your Portal to Adventure" Feb 26, 2010, What's On Your Nightstand?Jekyll Island - If you're like me, you go on vacation not only to experience new adventures, but to unwind. And what better way to unwind than with a good book. Right now I'm reading a thriller by Paul Garrison titled "Sea Hunter", about a genetically engineered "killphin", a cross between a killer whale and a spinner dolphin. So far it's been pretty good. My taste runs to thrillers, suspense, fantasy and horror, and I stock up when we go to Jekyll Island. In fact, I've learned to always carry a book with me wherever I go. One good thing about leasing a vacation cottage on Jekyll - they're all owner-owned, and most owners have plenty of books in their homes, from the classics to the newest best-sellers. You can get an idea of the owners' personalities by how they decorate their rentals, and by the kind of books on their shelves. Some like non-fiction about Jekyll Island or the low country; others have esoteric tomes about philosophy or politics; then there are those who like biographys; and others have plenty of fiction on hand, including books for children. Books are the ultimate entertainment device. Relatively small, portable, easy to use, and inexpensive. Open a book, and it opens you to the discovery of worlds. My library card is one of my most prized possessions. You can take a book to the beach, and not have to worry about getting sand in it. Going on vacation soon? Don't forget to pack a book. Nough said - Rick Feb 23, 2010, Southern ComfortJekyll Island - When in the South, there are a few things that you can't do without. One is warmth. When temperatures drop, Southerners start getting antsy. Another is grits. What's a hash brown, anyway? But the one thing a true Southerner must have several times a day is - sweet iced tea. We drink it in place of water. With a slice of lemon or lime. By the pitcher full. In tall glasses or Solo cups. Making really good iced tea is an art. My grandma could do it. I can only make a reasonable facsimile of the stuff, but there are a few restaurants in my home town where I know I can get really good sweat iced tea. Some (like my wife) drink it un-sweetened. Seems like a sin, to me... Jekyll Island restaurants serve up some pretty good iced tea, and we always keep a pitcher in the fridge. Cause after a day outdoors in the summer heat, you got to stay hydrated. And nothing says hydration like a gallon of sweet iced tea. Nough said - Rick Feb 23, 2010, Kick Off Easter Fun at the Jekyll Island Easter Egg StrollLooking for Easter fun for young children? Check out Jekyll Island's Easter Egg Stroll Permalink -- click for full blog post "Kick Off Easter Fun at the Jekyll Island Easter Egg Stroll" Feb 22, 2010, Skim BoardingJekyll Island - I knew I was in for it when the boys came home with a skim board. "Come on, Dad," they said. "Let's hit the beach and try out this thing". For those who aren't in the know, a skim board is a thin, short surfboard wanna-be, used by athletic youngsters to skim the shallow, slick water just off the beach. Another definition is a Dad torture device. Of course, the boys were naturals. They ate sand a few times before finding their rhythm and the correct way to mount the board. The skim board is launched from the beach, into the shallows. You kind of run in a crouch, slide the board somewhat parallel to the beach as the surf is receding, and step on, one foot at a time. You don't jump on, as I found out the hard way, 'cause the sudden weight transfer (especially my weight transfer) causes the board to break surface tension and plow into the sand. The term the boys used for wiping out on the skim board was "eating sand". I developed a taste for sand that day. Don't think I ever got the hang of it, but I kept trying, to Josh and Scott's delight (and derision, I suppose). Still, the old man gave it a go. The best part was laying back on the sand, sipping a cold diet Coke, and watching my boys laugh and play in the surf. I learned a few things, though. Old bones don't recover as fast as they used to. And a ham sandwich tastes better than a beach "sand-wich" any day. 'Nough said - Rick Feb 19, 2010, Them SquirrelsJekyll Island - Squirrels have become a big part of our Jekyll Island Family Adventures. I know what you're thinking. Squirrels? Those funny rodent-looking things? You bet. We like squirrels. They're cute and entertaining, to say the least. I've written about Hungry Jack, the pirate squirrel, in a previous blog post and on my Cafe Solterra page. http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/restaurants-for-kids.html But other Jekyll Island squirrels have made a place in our hearts. We make it a point to visit our squirrel friends at South Dunes picnic area. They love peanuts, and Martha usually carries around a bag to snack on. Occasionally she'll "accidentally" drop one for the squirrels. They may be the fattest squirrels on Jekyll Island. You can see squirrels anywhere. They like the veranda at Cafe Solterra, and the deck at SeaJay's, where they can panhandle to their heart's content. Keep an eye out for those furry opportunists the next time you visit Jekyll Island. You'll get a kick out of their antics. Nough said - Rick Feb 17, 2010, An ApologyJust wanted to apologize for a glitch I noticed in our "Contact Us" form - it wasn't putting up our "Thank You" response page. I've corrected this, and the form should work fine from now on. Thanks, Rick Feb 17, 2010, Bottlenose Dolphins Live and Play in Dolphin Habitat off Jekyll Island CoastKids love bottlenose dolphins. Jekyll Island has great dolphin habitat for spotting the Atlantic dolphin. Feb 16, 2010, No-see umsJekyll Island - Springs a-comin', and it couldn't come any sooner if you ask me. I'm just about ready to move to Key West. I wish. But I'll be heading to Jekyll Island in April, and I can't wait. April on Jekyll Island is finicky. We've been there when it was so hot we thought it was summer, and at other times liked to have froze our butts off. You never know what you'll get. Wait til May, though, and I'll tell you what you'll get - sand flies. No-see ums. Those tiny insect pests that seem to be all wings and teeth. Cause they bite, and their bites are irritating, to say the least. I find them more irksome than mosquitoes. But don't let the lowly sand fly keep you from enjoying Jekyll Island. Bring the aloe and bug balm. Something with DEET in it works good. Find a spot where the breeze blows, and they'll be less of a problem. Hope to see you all on Jekyll Island soon! Nough said - Rick Feb 16, 2010, See Dolphin Pods and Wildlife on Jekyll Island Dolphin ToursSpotting dolphin pods off the coast are a kid's delight. Check out Jekyll Island dolphin tours. Permalink -- click for full blog post "See Dolphin Pods and Wildlife on Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours" Feb 15, 2010, Public Beach Access to Jekyll Island BeachesEasy public beach access points for Jekyll Island beaches. Great family beach fun, and dog friendly beaches, too. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Public Beach Access to Jekyll Island Beaches" Feb 12, 2010, Jekyll Island Airport. Perfect for Plane Travel to ParadiseArrive at Jekyll Island in style. Enjoy the convenience of flying into the Jekyll Island Airport. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Jekyll Island Airport. Perfect for Plane Travel to Paradise" Feb 12, 2010, Journey to Jekyll Island Ga by Inland WaterwayFor a different perspective, take the Intra-coastal Waterway route to Jekyll Island Ga and enjoy the beauty of the Eastern Seaboard. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Journey to Jekyll Island Ga by Inland Waterway"
|
