http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html The Jekyll Island Turtle-Gram Blog keeps you updated on changes and additions to the Jekyll Island Family Adventures website, plus additional interesting tidbits. en-us Jekyll Island Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:20:48 GMT Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:20:48 GMT jekyll-island-family-adventures.com http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Favorite-Views-on-Jekyll-Island Jekyll Island is a wonderful place for experiencing nature, and great views are everywhere. Here are some of our favorites. <ul> <li>from Central Dunes Beach looking south down the beach <li>from Clam Creek point looking south down Driftwood Beach <li>from Driftwood Beach to the St. Simons lighthouse <li>from the fishing pier to the Sydney Lanier Bridge <li>from the bridge over Clam Creek across the marsh <li>from SeaJay's deck out to the Intra-Coastal Waterway <li>from the Causeway towards Jekyll Island (as you arrive at the island to start your Jekyll Island Family Adventure) <li>from just about anywhere towards the Jekyll Island Club Hotel <li>from the green of hole 5, Great Dunes Golf Course, towards the sea <li>from just about anywhere on the golf courses, across fairways and ponds <li>driving along Beachview, and gazing out to sea <li>standing on St. Andrews point and looking towards Cumberland Island </ul> These are some of our favorite views. How about yours? Nough said - Rick Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:59:43 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Spanish-Moss What's green, hangs on trees, and is one of the first signs that you're getting close to the coast? It is, of course, Spanish Moss. When we spy this cool plant (<i>Tillansia usneoides</i>) hanging around the live oaks of Georgia, we know we're almost to Jekyll Island. It's not really a moss. It's an epiphyte, a plant that grows on another without gaining nourishment from it. It gets its food from dust, and from dead cells off the trees it hangs from. Water comes from moisture in the air, including rain. The "moss" is also, believe it or not, in the pineapple family, though the only thing Spanish Moss and pineapples have in common is that they're both bromeliads. In the past, Spanish Moss was used for stuffing in bedding, until being replaced in the 1920s by foam rubber. It's highly insect resistant, and very resilient. It's also popular with wildlife. Parula warblers and some bats use it for nesting material. Spanish Moss likes to grow on trees with horizontal limbs, like the Southern Live Oak. That, and the fact that it needs high humidity, seems to keep the plant confined to within around 100 miles of the coast. I know one thing. There's plenty of the mossy stuff hanging around the trees of Jekyll Island. It's part of the background for our Jekyll Island Family Adventures. Nough said - Rick Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:06:34 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/historic-jekyll-island.html Historic District a must-see desitination on historic Jekyll Island Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:13:49 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Jekyll-Island-Beach-Romance The beach at Jekyll Island is the perfect place to find romance, or to rekindle an ongoing one. Here are a few tips for the perfect Jekyll Island beach romance. <ul> <li>leave the kiddies at home, or with a sitter. This is <i>your</i> special time together <li>for something special, book the <b>Presidential Suite</b> at the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-club.html">Jekyll Island Club Hotel</a> or the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-hotels.html">Beachview Club's</a> <b>Grand Luxury Suite</b>. Both come with hot tubs <li>walk hand-in-hand on Jekyll's <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-beach.html">Driftwood Beach</a>, recognized as one of the nation's most romantic beach destinations. <li>while you're at it, have <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/restaurants-for-kids.html">Cafe Solterra<a/> pack you a picnic lunch, complete with champagne, and enjoy a romantic beach picnic <li>lay back on a quilt on the beach, and count the stars <li>other great romantic restaurant choices - <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/blackbeards-restaurant.html">Blackbeard's</a> outdoor deck, overlooking the Atlantic, or the <b>Courtyard at Crane Cottage</b> <li>order breakfast in bed from room service - and use that "Do-Not-Disturb" sign liberally <li>a beach outing is a great excuse to rub suntan lotion on your loved one. <li>drive over to <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/family-beach-vacation.html">South Dunes Beach</a>, or further south to <b>St. Andrews Point</b>, where the beach is all but deserted. Stake out a spot on the sand. Watch the dolphins - or do other things... <li>the <b>Historic District</b> is a great place for romantic photography <li>for a great sunset stroll with your loved one, walk along the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-ga.html">Intra-coastal Waterway</a>, behind the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. </ul> These are just a few romantic ideas to wet your appetites for loving. I'm sure, with a dollop of imagination, you can think of lots more. Enjoy love on beautiful Jekyll Island! Nough said - Rick Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:47:07 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-guide.html This Jekyll Island Guide to Revitalization lets you keep track of ongoing island development Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:41:55 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jp-morgan-tennis-court.html Jekyll Island's JP Morgan Tennis Court Gets a Facelift to Stand-in Convention Center Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:19:43 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Beach-Music-Fest Heading to the island this weekend? You'll have a blast at the Beach Music and BBQ Festival, running from Thursday through Saturday. Watch out for construction activities on the left as you enter Jekyll Island. A few lanes of the Ben Fortson Pkwy. may be closed due to the on-going construction of the new Flash Foods and Dairy Queen. Have fun pigging out on BBQ and listening to great music on Jekyll Island this weekend. Wish I could be there. Nough said - Rick Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:26:01 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-golf-course.html This Jekyll Island golf course is only 9 holes, but Great Dunes is no push-over, especially for beginners. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:30:39 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/beach-horseback-riding.html Ride in the surf! Enjoy a beach horseback riding vacation on Jekyll Island. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:29:53 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Tennis-at-the-Historic-JP-Morgan-Tennis-Court Well, it's official. The <b>J.P. Morgan Historic Indoor Tennis Court</b> has been renovated into the first phase of the temporary convention center. I'm struggling with how I feel about that. The old court is located in the <b>Historic Center</b>, hard by the <b>Jekyll Island Club Hotel</b>, and has figured prominently in the Freeland family's Jekyll Island Family Adventures. Our boys basically grew up playing on that court. We'd play at least 3 or 4 times during our visits to the island. Why? Sometimes I wonder. There was that mystique, I suppose, of playing in a historic venue, where millionaires of forgotten years had played. Also, it was a great place to play when it was raining. But man was it hot inside! No air-conditioning, and few windows that would open. It was brutal to play the way we always wound up doing - all out, dog-eat-dog competitive tennis. And the court was concrete, not asphalt. <i>Slick</i> concrete. It was worse than playing on grass. After one of Josh or Scott's line-drive ground strokes, the ball would skid a yard before bouncing up, and it would be so low you'd have to almost kneel on the court to return it. But the speed it played really helped our game. And we were usually the only ones playing. Sometimes we'd draw a crowd, watching us through the doors (open for the breeze) as we rallied back and forth in the JP Morgan oven. But age and neglect did the old boy in. It got to where we couldn't play there when it rained anymore; the roof leaked too much. Then the Jekyll Island Club Hotel closed it down altogether, and we were heart-broken. The boys had grown up by that time, and didn't get to go to Jekyll as much as before. But after every trip Martha and I made, one of their first questions was, "Did you hit at the JP Morgan Court?" We could only shake our heads sadly. Even though renovation talk was bandied about for several seasons, it never happened - until the new convention center was planned. Then it was decided that the old court was a perfect venue for the temporary convention center. And I must admit that the JIA has done a fine job of revitalizing the venue. I'll be writing about it in detail soon. The rejuvenated JP Morgan Court will be in use as meeting and dining facilities until the new convention center is built. Then, who knows? Maybe they'll re-convert it back into a tennis court. We'd be first in line to play. Nough said - Rick Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:17:19 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Jekyll-Island-Reflections Random thoughts and warm, fuzzy memories from our great times on <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com"><b>Jekyll Island.</b></a> <ul> <li>Man, we're almost there! I can smell the ocean! Isn't this a great view from the top of the <b>Sidney Lanier Bridge</b>? <li>Hey, kids, lets walk down to the beach before we unpack. Slow down! Don't push your brother! And don't get your clothes wet...too late. <li>See the shrimp boats? And what's that big thing - a container ship? And...look, honey, over there! A pod of <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/bottlenose-dolphins.html"><b>dolphins</b></a>! <li>Break out the bikes, boy. The island is calling. Lets see, where to ride? Down to <b>South Dunes Picnic Area</b>, to feed the squirrels? Through the woods trail to check on gators in the pond? Man, I can't wait! <li>HO-ney...we don't have to pedal over the entire <i>island</i> in one <i>day</i>! My butt is <i>sore</i>...what, one more loop? ARGGG!!! <li>Let's go to the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/tennis-technique.html"><b>Tennis Center</b></a> and get Pete to set us up a doubles match. Maybe see some of our tennis buddies from times past... <li>God, it's hot! We've been playing for 3 hours! <i>What</i>? One more set? <li>Man, that nap was just what I needed. Glad we rented this cottage from <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/vacation-house-rentals.html"><b>Parker-Kaufman</b></a>. We've got pool privileges at the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-hotels.html"><b>Beachview Club</b></a>. We won't have to sneak in to a hotel pool like we used to. Ah, the good old days! <li>We got two starving kids here. How about <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/coastal-seafood.html"><b>SeaJay's</b></a> tonight? They got that low country boil, all you can eat. And Eddie Pickett and the Wharf Ratz are playing... <li>Want to walk beside the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-ga.html"><b>Intra-coastal Waterway</b></a>, let our food settle? Man, look at that gorgeous sunset... <li>Goodnight, boys. Sweet dreams. <li>Let's see - what to do tomorrow? Visit the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/green-sea-turtle.html"><b>Georgia Sea Turtle Center</b></a>? Frolic in the water at <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/summer-waves.html"><b>Summer Waves</b></a>? Have a <b>picnic</b>? Play <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-golf-course.html"><b>golf</b></a>? Go on a <b>kayak excursion</b>? The list is endless... </ul> What's an island lover to do? Nough said - Rick Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:26:10 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-causeway.html The Jekyll Island Causeway is your route to your own private island getaway! Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:38:59 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-georgia-hotels.html Three new Jekyll Island Georgia hotels at the forefront of island revitalization Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:03:30 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#A-Great-Sunburn-Reliever---NOT!!! In an earlier post, I talked about the pains of sunburned feet. Here's another sunburn story. Several years ago Martha & I were at Jekyll Island with a friend and his wife. My friend (we'll call him "Cherokee") was dark-skinned, like an Indian. While I was slathering on the sun block and wearing a shirt and hat, 'ol Cherokee was bragging, "I don't get sunburn, I'm (wait for it...) <i>dark skinned</i>!" Well, that evening Cherokee could barely walk he was so burned. He was miserable. We decided on an age-old remedy for sunburn - bathing in vinegar. After liberal application of the sour stuff, their whole room stank like vinegar - and he was still in pain. Evidently, vinegar doesn't work on sunburn. So much for home remedies. Here's some things that <i>will</i> work: <ul> <li>Use a broad spectrum sunscreen or sunblock rated for both UVA and UVB rays <li>Said sun stuff should have an SPF of at least 30. Depending on how long it takes you to burn without it (say, 10 minutes), that gives you a minimum of 5 hrs. protection (10 min. burn time x 30 SPF = 300 min. / 60 min./hr. = 5 hrs.) <li>If you swim or sweat, it'll be less <li><i>And</i> if you stay out the entire time, re-applying SPF 30 won't give you another 5 hours. You've already used up your 5 hours of exposure. It's 5 hours <i>total</i>, no matter how much you re-apply <li>re-apply after sweating or water play, and use a water resistant block <li>wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your scalp, and make sure to use sunblock to cover those "sensitive" areas - back of hands, behind knees, ears, nose, tops of feet <li>keep long-sleeved, airy beach wear close at hand if you feel you're getting too many rays </ul> Do the above, and you won't roast in the sun. But if you <i>do</i> get burned, forget the vinegar. Use tequila. But don't rub it on your body. Drink it. Pretty soon, you'll be feeling no pain. Nough said - Rick Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:44:04 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/diamondback-terrapin.html From the diamondback terrapin to the loggerhead sea turtle, Jekyll Island abounds with turtles Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:06:26 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-books.html Pick up thsee great Jekyll Island books for your vacation beach reads Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:59:38 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/cumberland-island.html Unspoiled Cumberland Island a wonderful day trip destination from Jekyll Island. Unspoiled beaches, wild horses and more. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:25:35 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Jekyll-Island-Beer I have a lot of loose stuff about Jekyll Island rattling around in my brain, but I came across something today that I didn't know. Jekyll Island has its own brand of beer - <b>Jekyll Island Beer</b>. Actually, it's a fictional beer. According to the website <b>TopTenz.net</b>, it was "created by <b>Independent Studio Services</b>, a company thats known as one of the largest suppliers of props for film and television". Jekyll Island Beer made the big time, appearing in an episode of <i>Lost</i>. Apparently, there's a big demand for fictional brands for television and movies, as producers can't always get the rights for (or justify the cost of) placing real products on their productions. How cool would this be - drinking Jekyll Island Beer on the beach at Jekyll Island. Mmmmmmmm...Jekyll Island Beer. Like to know where I could get my hands on a six-pack... Nough said - Rick Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:05:42 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/stunt-kites.html Flying stunt kites are a thrill for kids and adults alike. Fly a Dragon kite, Chinese kites, and more! Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:58:58 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/beach-music-party.html At Georgia's largest beach music party you can shag down with great music while pigging out with mouth-watering barbeque. Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:25:29 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Sunburn-and-Sandals Jekyll Island - It's an age-old theme. Teens seem to think themselves invulnerable. Nothing can hurt them. They tend to get brought down from their pedestals by harsh reality, which cares nothing for what teenagers think. If you think I may have some experience in the subject, well, you're right. I was that young and dumb teen once, too many years back than I want to remember. But you tend to learn life lessons - if you live long enough. One lesson I learned the hard way was that it's no joke to stay out in the sun all day without any sunblock - especially if you're white as the underbelly of a catfish. You <i>will</i> burn, son. Turning cherry red was bad enough. Doing it in the presence of girls was worse. I could survive getting sun burned on my shoulders, back, arms or legs. But try getting sun burned on the tops of your feet and toes. Then try putting greasy salve on those poor dogs. And <i>then,</i> put on your sandals. And <i>THEN</i>...walk on the beach, in the deep sand. Yeah, you're right. That sand sticks to your feet. It's like polishing your feet with sandpaper. Kind of (very) painful. And your girl keeps looking at you and asking, with the utmost concern, "Are you okay? Doe's it hurt? Just catch up when you can, we'll just be a couple hundred yards down the beach..." Ouch. So, all you teens out there. Learn from the old salty dog and don't sandblast your feet. Excess <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/beach-safety.html#sun">sun exposure</a> is no joke. As a friend of mine once said - "You live to learn in life's hard school." Nough said - Rick Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:46:51 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Life-is-Just-a-Tire-Swing If this post rambles on, forgive me. Martha and I were coming back from our in-laws house the other day after pigging out on hamburgers grilled to perfection. Josh and Vickie were there, as well as Vickie's brother Chuck and his wife and kids. We chowed down, drank beer, and Josh and I swapped out the guitar and played the blues and Buffett music. On the way home, I started singing Buffet's "Life is Just a Tire Swing", and I'll be dang if we didn't pass 3 tire swings within a couple of miles. So I started singing Pink Floyd's "Money", but nothing happened. Crap. Those tire swings (and maybe a little beer buzz - and Martha was driving, now) put me in a mellow mood, and we started reminiscing about some of the good times we'd had on Jekyll Island and other beach locations just chillin' to Buffett music. And then Sunday night we tuned in to his "Live From the Gulf Coast" benefit concert ("...some people think that there's a wo-man to blame, but we know - it's all B.P.'s fault..."). The old boy's still got it. Hope to see you all on Jekyll Island in October. Nough said - Rick Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:30:47 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/wildlife-viewing.html Wildlife viewing hotspots on Jekyll Island perfect for introducing kids to critters Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:40:49 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-attractions.html Active recreation opportunities are family favorites. Jekyll Island Georgia attractions include golf, tennis, soccer, and more, for kids and parents. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:15:43 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#5-Kid-Friendly-Activities-on-Jekyll-Island Jekyll Island - Summer's here in all it's steamy glory, and it's a great time to hit Jekyll Island's 10 miles of beach. For one thing, there are no tar balls - and hopefully we won't see any. With summer comes vacation from school for the kids, who've had months to store up energy just waiting to be expended on a Jekyll Island Family Adventure. Some of the things kids can do on Jekyll Island - <ul> <li>enjoy those previously mentioned miles of <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-beaches.html">unspoiled beach</a>. Build sand castles. Play in the surf. Ride a skim board. Hunt for shells. Fly performance stunt kites. Things to do on the beach are limited only by your childrens' imaginations. <li>Visit the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/green-sea-turtle.html">Georgia Sea Turtle Center</a> for a fun-filled environmental education centered around sea turtles. Kids can even role play, taking on a turtle persona at several interactive stations that subtly teach the stages of a turtle's life <li>Go on a sea kayak tour through the Tideland's Nature Center. Explore the Jekyll River, its tributaries, and Rixen Pond (watch out for leaping mullets). <li><a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/summer-waves.html">Summer Waves Water Park<a/> is a must-participate venue during the hot summer months. Ride water slides, enjoy the wave pool or the lazy river. There's something for kids of every age. <li>introduce a child to the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/catching-crabs.html">joys of crabbing</a> while catching dinner. </ul> These are only a few of the fun activities available on Jekyll Island. For more, visit our <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/family-summer-vacations.html">Adventures<a/> and <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-attractions.html">Sports and Recreation<a/> pages. Have fun with the kids on your Jekyll Island Family Adventure this year! Nough said - Rick Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:49:13 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#The-Waterfront Jekyll Island - Stroll the water front <ul> <li>at the Wharf, where you walk plank decking, old and worn, on your way to a seafood feast at Latitude 31 <li>down to the pier, where shrimp boats, excursion boats and other ships wait, cleated to the dock, for morning shrimp runs or evening dolphin tours <li>along the Intra-coastal Waterway, behind the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-club.html">Jekyll Island Club Hotel</a>, where overhanging palms and live oaks provide an oasis of cool shade <li>in the evenings, with the sunset painting the sky in kaleidoscope patterns of burnt orange, crimson and velvet purples <li>and enjoy comical pelicans roosting on the pier posts </ul> Stroll the waterfront <ul> <li>with your kids in tow <li>hand in hand with your lover <li>with your dog on a leash <li>or by yourself, savoring the ambiance of place </ul> No matter - while on Jekyll Island, take time to just Stroll the waterfront. Nough said - Rick Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:17:40 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Franklin-Pond-Chamber-Music Jekyll Island - Going to be on the island the end of July? If so, head to Mistletoe Cottage for a musical feast. If you like violin and cello music, mark your calendar for the <b>Franklin Pond Chamber Music Performances</b> at the Mistletoe Cottage in the Historic District on Jekyll Island, July 31st and August 1st. This summer music program for talented pre-college students will be on Jekyll Island with their mentors to perform beautiful string music as part of their training. The show kicks off with a Faculty Showcase Concert Saturday, July 31st at 7:00 pm, which will feature members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Sunday, August 1st, is the Student Showcase Concert, also at 7:00 pm. Saturday's tickets are $15.00 per person, and Sunday's are $10.00. Call the Jekyll Island Information Center for tickets at 1-877-4-JEKYLL, or you can get them at the door. Come on out and treat your ears to a feast of music! Nough said - Rick Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:08:42 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Funny-Boat-Names Jekyll Island - At the Jekyll Harbor Marina, you might find boats tied up at the dock with names like the following: <ul> <li>Knot Big Enuff <li>Ship Happens <li>Fishfull Thinking <li>Ta-Keel-La <li>Knotty Girl <li>Broke But Afloat </ul> I've always been impressed by the depths of boat owners' imaginations. I always liked "Miss Teak" for a boat's name (a play on Mystique). Perfect for a sail boat (especially as boats are considered feminine). Nough said - Rick Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:38:24 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-museum.html Millionaires and more! History comes alive at the Jekyll Island museum Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:42:06 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Celebrate-the-4th-with-Fireworks-on-Jekyll-Island Jekyll Island - Time for the 4th of July Celebration on our favorite island! Hear ye, hear ye! Come one, come all and celebrate our nation's independence. Share great food with friends and neighbors. Then lay back, relax, and take in the fireworks. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel Beach Pavilion is the place to be. The hotel celebrates the old-fashioned Southern way, with a huge, family style buffet at the Pavilion. The buffet will be served from 5:00 8:00 p.m. What's on the menu? <ul> <li>Low Country Boil <li>BBQ Pork Sandwiches <li>Cole Slaw <li>Potato Salad <li>Fruit Salad <li>Watermelon <li>Corn on the Cob <li>Baked Beans <li>Dinner Rolls <li>Chefs Cobbler </ul> The price for this feast is $19.00 for adults, and half price for children under age 12 - sounds like a deal to me. After stuffing yourself silly, the Pavilion offers the perfect viewing platform for the Jekyll Island fireworks extravaganza. And, deja vu. Across the sound, the fireworks on St. Simons Island are the perfect counterpoint to Jekyll Island's show. So come pig out, shoot the breeze with your neighbors, enjoy the fireworks, and relax on <i>your</i> Georgia jewel, Jekyll Island! Nough said - Rick Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:01:26 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Tabby-(Not-the-Cat!) Jekyll Island - Drive down Riverview Drive past the airport and you'll see the <b>Horton House ruins</b> on the right side of the road. Made from concrete, no? Well - no. Actually, the Horton House and other buildings from the period in the Southeast were constructed from <b>tabby</b>. Tabby is a kind of cement. It was first made in the early 1500's by coastal Spaniards, who burned shells to extract lime, and then mixed the lime with sand and shells. This concoction was poured in wooden molds and shaped to form durable tabby walls and pillars. According to the <i>New Georgia Encyclopedia</i>, true tabby is made of equal parts lime, water, sand, oyster shells, and ash. Tabby was used for constructing foundations, walls, floors, roofs, columns, and other structural elements. It dried to a hard finish, and was generally a grayish-white color (with variations according to the materials used). It was - and is - extremely durable. The depletion of materials, especially the <i>middens</i> (shell piles created by the Indians), and the introduction of Portland cement, led to the decline of tabby as a building material. Jekyll Island's millionaires used a combination of tabby and Portland cement in the construction of several of their "cottages", which can still be seen today in the Historic District. Nough said - Rick Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:50:58 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#10-Things-I-Love-About-Jekyll-Island Jekyll Island - Summer has arrived (early, it seems), and it's hot and time for the beach! Here are 10 things I love about summer on Jekyll Island (not necessarily in any particular order). <ol> <li>Big Cookies at Cafe Solterra <li>Wharf Ratz bluegrass Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/coastal-seafood.html">SeaJays</a> <li>Sunsets over the Intra-coastal waterway <li>Turtle Walks with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center <li>Riding bikes all over the island (and in the rain!) <li>All the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/beach-wedding-ideas.html">weddings</a> happening on Jekyll Island during this time of year <li>Dolphin schools plying the waters off South Beach and St. Andrew's Point <li>Feeding the squirrels at <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/romantic-picnics.html">South Dunes Picnic Area</a> <li>Fudge and ice cream from the Sweet Shoppe, in the Historic District <li>Walking hand in hand with Martha on Driftwood Beach </ol> These are some of my favorite things about Jekyll Island, but there are many more. Hope you can develop your own list during your Jekyll Island Family Adventure. Nough said - Rick Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:27:58 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/walking-for-exercise.html Walking for exercise is a great way to experience Jekyll Island's scenic beauty. Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:27:35 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-soccer.html Enjoy exciting Georgia Soccer at the Jekyll Island Soccer Complex Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:00:19 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Sounds-of-the-Sea Jekyll Island - OK - show of hands. Who hasn't held a conch shell up to their ears to listen to the sea? I suspect most all of us have. My grandmother used to have a selection of conch shells, and we kids were fascinated by the sounds of the ocean emanating from them. Nowadays, I'd much rather lay on the beaches of Jekyll Island and listen to the real thing. Some of my favorite sea and beach sounds - <ul> <li>the lazy, comforting rhythm of surf brushing the sand <li>seagulls crying on the wing <li>the wind sifting through the sea oats <li>children's laughter <li>the pop of a bottle cap as it's pried from a frosty bottle of Corona <li>the forlorn horn call of a distant freighter, somewhere on the horizon <li>the familiar creak of a worn beach chair <li>the rumble of thunder off in the distance <li>the soft crunch of sand under bare feet </ul> Hope all these sounds have stirred your memories and are making you long for the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-beaches.html">the beaches of Jekyll Island!</a> Nough said - Rick Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:39:15 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Remember Jekyll Island - God bless our soldiers who put themselves in harm's way to protect our freedoms and way of life. Take time to remember the patriots who gave their lives or were wounded in standing between us and harms way. My Dad, John Jackson Freeland, was a veteran, serving in both WWII and Korea. If I can be half the man he was, I'll be proud. Nough said - Rick Mon, 31 May 2010 15:45:03 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/about.html Find out about the folks behind Jekyll Island Family Adventures Wed, 26 May 2010 20:40:09 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Poor-Man's-Riches Jekyll Island - I just finished reading "Open", the biography of one of my favorite people, Andre Agassi. It chronicles Agassi's sometimes painful rise to the pinnacle of the tennis world. We all have tribulations in our lives, but some folks are just graced with the natural talent, intelligence, luck, or sheer gut tenacity to wrest a very lucrative living from life. Whether they're sports standouts, entertainment celebrities, business moguls, whatever - they have money. And you can't help but think that enough money, while maybe not capable of buying happiness, can't help but buffer some of the harsher realities of life. But even less fortunate folk (in a monetary sense) can reap treasures. <b>Jekyll Island</b> is one such, and offers many soul-soothing riches that you don't have to be rich to appreciate. Like <ul> <li)sunsets over the Intra-coastal Waterway <li>sunrises over <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-beach.html">Driftwood Beach</a> <li>walking <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/family-beach-vacation.html">South Dunes Beach<a/> with your lover, hand in hand, watching the dolphins frolic in the surf <li>enjoying your <i>kids</i>frolicking on the beach <li>great bluegrass music from the Wharf Ratz <li>pigging out at <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/shrimp-and-grits.html">the Shrimp and Grits Festival</a> <li>watching as <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/green-sea-turtle.html">rescued sea turtles</a> are returned to the sea <li>enjoying a slice of Key Lime pie on the deck at <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/coastal-seafood.html">Seajays</a> <li>and, like Agassi in his mid-thirties, beating younger folks on the clay courts at the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/coastal-seafood.html">Jekyll Island Tennis Center</a> </ul> There are many more riches to harvest on Jekyll Island, and the other nearby Sea Islands of Georgia. And you don't have to be a multi-millionaire to appreciate them. Oh, yeah - there's the historic district, and the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/jekyll-island-club.html">Jekyll Island Club hotel</a>, where past millionaires used to come in the winter to relax and play. So maybe even millionaires need a place to harvest riches other than the monetary kind. Nough said - Rick Wed, 26 May 2010 20:22:53 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Jekyll-Island-Beach-Village-Moves-Forward Jekyll Island - Jekyll Island's planned Beach Village and Convention Center took a giant stride forward with the JIA's selection of three new contractors to build hotels, stores and loft apartments as part of the island's revitalization. Jekyll Landmark Associates will build a 200 room convention center hotel; Phelps Development takes on a 140 room, mid-scale hotel; and Winding Road Development Company will build 40,000 s.f. of retail space, along with 60 loft apartments. Executive director Jones Hooks says, "We've met our deadlines, and we're moving forward." Finishing everything by the summer of 2012 deadline was a huge factor in selecting contractors. Jekyll Island Family Adventures is looking forward to the completion of this project - just don't forget the current retailers who've chosen to wait for their new space. The Jekyll Island Authority should do everything in its power to ensure these folks and their businesses are transitioned with as little trouble and loss of business as possible. Nough said - Rick Wed, 19 May 2010 22:18:56 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Jaws Jekyll Island - It was nineteen-seventy-something, and we were young, footloose and fancy free. And, like all guys, we loved to spend time on the beach. Because of the sand. The surf. The sun. Most of all, for the girls. We'd head to Jekyll Island, carloads of friends, and meet on the beach. Back then, we'd think nothing of pairing up and wading 100 yards out to sea. Off Jekyll Island, the Atlantic Seaboard slopes gently down for a ways before falling off into the deep. This was our "private" place, where we could talk, hug, kiss, and fool around (actually, nothing else ever happened - really!). We'd bounce around with the incoming waves, in water up to our necks, laughing and having a grand time, not a worry in the world... But then came 1975 - and the movie Jaws. Of course, you had to go see Jaws - it was <i>the</i> movie of the seventies, maybe. The FX weren't anything to write home about vs., say, Avitar. But it was state-of-the-art back then. That shark looked REAL! That, and suspenseful film making, made Jaws a really terrifying movie. Of course, we took the girls to see it - they'd scream and shiver and hug you tight as Jaws zipped in for another quick snack. We didn't really think anything about that 'ol killer shark, then. Till the next time we went to Jekyll Island, and hit the beach. Suddenly, that 100 yd. jaunt out to our "private" spot was not so appealing. The benign deep had become the sinister DEEP - no telling what was lurking out there. We just knew that every great white shark and their brothers were swimming around, just salivating for our sweet young flesh. Benign <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/bottlenose-dolphins.html">dolphins</a> gliding just off the beach became great whites in our over-heated imaginations. The air tour pilot we met one evening didn't help much when he told us, "Yeah, when I fly just off the beach, and look down at the swimmers and bathers, you wouldn't believe how many sharks I see, just slowly lazing around, swimming between them..." That did it for our little wading expeditions. We no longer ventured out onto the edge of the DEEP - we valued our extremities too much. Our expeditions ended calf-deep in the water at the edge of the beach, were we discovered the fun of wrestling with girls in the surf...but that's another story. So next time you go to Jekyll Island - or any beach - and that music starts playing in your head <i>(ba-BUM; ba-Bum; bum,bum,BUM,bum; bum,bum,BUM,bum...)</i>, just remember - hop right in, the water's fine. Ankle deep. Nough said - Rick Wed, 19 May 2010 00:06:17 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/kids-swimming.html Kids swimming opportunities include pools, beach and water park on Jekyll Island family summer vacations. Tue, 18 May 2010 23:15:07 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Guests-in-Other-Folk's-Homes Jekyll Island - It's no secret that we like to stay in rental cottages while on Jekyll Island. And there's always a sense of discovery and adventure when we first walk into a home we haven't stayed in before, whether its a duplex unit or a beach home. You can tell a lot about the folks who rent out their vacation homes by the way they're decorated. Most, of course, reflect a nautical theme (more or less tastefully). Some are whimsical, others more dignified. Owners are good about stocking their units with books. Some leave books about the history of Jekyll Island and the low-country. Others leave general history or reference books about nature. Still others concentrate on fiction. Children's books, videos and games are great treasures for families renting homes on the island, and many owners provide a selection. Art ranges from hand made crafts in some units to generic paintings and stuff bought off the shelf at the five and dime in others. Many owners leave "memory" books for guests to sign and write about their stay. It's great fun to read these messages. Some are funny, others nostalgic. Some praise the home and island, others leave suggestions for improvements. But nearly all are heart felt. When you rent your Jekyll Island home-away-from-home, take a moment to thank the owners who make their vacation homes available to us, so we can all enjoy the Georgia treasure that is Jekyll Island. Nough said - Rick Wed, 12 May 2010 23:30:43 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Too-Much-Tennis? Martha and I went to Macon this weekend where Martha's tennis team played in the USTA State Tournament - 5 matches in 3 days. Now Martha's team is made up mostly of senior women, though they're not playing in the Senior division. So, for the most part, they wound up paired against women half their age playing for some pretty good teams. They actually did fairly well, finishing right at .500 for the weekend. Martha won 2 of her 5 matches, the last one a grueling singles match against a girl at least 25 years younger who could run everything down. Martha fought back from a set down and 0-3 in the 2nd set to win the match in a ten-point tie breaker. Needless to say, her team and I were cheering lustily for her (a men's team playing on an adjacent court said afterward, "We're sure glad Martha is finally through so y'all can quit cheering and we can concentrate!"). At the end of the tournament Martha (and the rest of the girls) were exhausted and nursing sore joints and aching muscles from all that hard-court tennis, but proud to have done as well as they did against the "youngsters". And I was proud to watch them. Martha said she's gonna take about a week off and not even think of tennis. I'll believe it when I see it. One thing we both agree on, though. Our senior bodies would much rather play on clay courts - much easier on older joints. We can't wait to get back to Jekyll Island, where they have 13 Har-tru clay courts at the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/tennis-technique.html">Jekyll Island Tennis Center.</a> Maybe I better work on my game a bit before I match strokes with Martha again... 'Nough said - Rick Mon, 10 May 2010 02:21:21 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Big-Cookies Jekyll Island - It's been an exciting and trying time these last few weeks as I struggled to get rid of the worst computer virus I've ever encountered. Just when I thought I had gotten rid of it, something else cropped up. But now things have been cleaned up and I'm once again running with the wind at my back and with sails billowing in the wind! Now I'm ready to lay back and eat a Big Cookie. You can find Big Cookies at Cafe Solterra, located at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. They're delicious, and almost as big as a pie plate (well, maybe I'm exaggerating, just a little). Big Cookies are the perfect comfort food, and there's nothing better than to lounge back in one of Cafe Solterra's plush veranda chairs, soak in the ambiance of the Jekyll Island Club courtyard, and nibble on a chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar, or oatmeal Big Cookie. Martha and I always buy several to take home with us, but sometimes they don't last that long! Here's to many more days of fun - and eating Big Cookies - on Jekyll Island. Nough said - Rick Mon, 03 May 2010 15:56:14 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Bad-Virus!!! Well, dang. I just got hit by a virus. If you're online and unlucky, you've probably seen those viruses that pop up and emulate a virus scanner themselves. They scream out "You've been infected!" and list about up-teen viruses, malwares, adwares and such that you can clean by clicking on their "virus scrubber." And you can't get rid of the sucker, it keeps popping up! My McAfee anti-virus didn't pick it up (I pay good money for McAfee - have to talk with those guys), so I downloaded a few my friends had told me about. Did a scan, and it started listing viruses - and then my computer shut down. What the...??? So I tried again. It ran, picked up the viruses - and something shut me down again. Now this is one bad dude virus, shutting down my computer like that. So I tried again - but, uh oh, my computer would no longer boot up. Don't tell me that virus locked me out of my own computer? So I took it to my computer guru, who scrubbed the virus out and somehow, through computer magic, I guess, got me up and running again. He said it gave him a little trouble 'cause it was a female computer. I stayed out of that one. Sometimes, I hate computers. Nough said - Rick Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:10:02 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#The-Spirit-of-Place What is the spirit of a place? What constitutes Jekyll Island's spirit? When I design a garden, I try to identify the <b>genius loci</b>, or the spirit of a place, the one thing about a site that seems to speak to me about what that place is all about. To me, Jekyll Island is about <b>nature</b>. It's not a big spring break destination, like Panama City Beach or Cancun. Nor is it an exclusive rich-mans paradise like Caba St. Lucas or the Cloisters. And it's not wall to wall development with shopping centers, hotels, and traffic everywhere like St. Simons or Hilton Head. Nothing against these places. They're exciting in their own right, and have much to offer. But, thankfully, Jekyll Island is not these places - it's unique in its own right. For me, Jekyll Island revolves around nature. It's surrounded by water, with the Atlantic ocean on one side, the Intra-coastal Waterway on the other. Bordered by a vast <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/salt-marsh-ecosystem.html">salt marsh ecosystem</a> (the famed Marshes of Glynn). Shaded by maritime forest and ancient live oaks. And home to many species of wildlife and plant life. Deer aplenty, as well as raccoons, squirrels, alligators, and too many bird species to mention, as well as dolphins, sharks, and too many <i>fish</i> species to mention. All just outside your door. Jekyll Island's caretakers recognize the unique qualities of this enchanted island, and are taking steps to develop conservation guidelines to guide future development and protect Jekyll's spirit of place. By law, only 35 of the island can be developed, leaving 65 wild for the average Georgian (and average out-of-state visitors) to enjoy to their hearts content. The new conservation guidelines can only enhance what was wisely put in place years ago. Jekyll Island already provides outstanding nature education through the Tidelands Nature Center (affiliated with the University of Georgia), and the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/green-sea-turtle.html">Georgia Sea Turtle Center,</a> as well as guided nature walks and excursions by private companies. Come to Jekyll and lose yourself in the wild. And define your own meaning of Jekyll Island's genius loci. Nough said - Rick Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:12:22 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/types-of-birds.html So many different types of birds, so little time. Jekyll Island perfect for watching beautiful birds. Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:15:33 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#What-You-Can-Do-With-a-Burned-Leg Jekyll Island - One summer we came to Jekyll Island and stayed in our <a href="http://jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-vacation-rentals.html">favorite marsh front home.</a> We'd been there a day, and Martha had gone to the store for some victuals. I decided to surprise her with a pitcher of sweet tea. I found a Pyrex pitcher in the cupboard, placed it on the edge of the counter, put in tea bags, and poured in boiling water. CRACK! The pitcher (which was NOT Pyrex) exploded, and boiling water cascaded over my left thigh. I grabbed a towel, soaked it in ice water, and immediately applied it to the burn, and kept it there til Martha came back. We looked at it - ugg. Blisters and red skin. And pain. Martha wanted to take me to the hospital, but I was mad - at that stupid pitcher, and at me for being an idiot. So I decided I wasn't going to the hospital. I was going to the Jekyll Island Pharmacy and doctor myself. I wasn't about to lose any vacation time. At the pharmacy, I limped gingerly to the counter and asked the pharmacist, "Got anything for this?", and showed him my boo-boo. "Man, you need to go to the hospital," he said, echoing Martha's sentiments. Of course I refused (further cementing my idiot status) and asked him what I could do for it. He pointed me to the Aloe jell, and sterile bandages. Back home, we concocted a bandage that was part inspiration, part desperation. First I applied Aloe jell liberally. Then overlaid a matrix of sterile bandages - but the secret was to manipulate them so that there was about a 1/4" air space between the burn and the bandage. Then I taped the whole contraption down, and viola - I was fit to go. And go I did. I did everything I've always done on the island. Rode bikes, went fishing, walked the Historic District. And changed the bandage every evening. The worst part was the first night - I couldn't really get comfortable with even a sheet pressing down on the burn (had to sleep on my back, of course). After that, though, it was gravy. After 3 days I removed the bandage completely. The blisters were pretty much gone, lots of dead skin and new, sensitive skin. I figured it would scar, and it did - but barely. I can't even tell now it was ever burned. I wouldn't recommend doing as I did (being mad and an idiot isn't real cause to refuse medical help). But, hey - I'd worked hard for my vacation, and I'd be darned if I wasn't going to enjoy every blasted minute of it! Nough said - Rick Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:30:49 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-indians.html Georgia Indians. Coastal tribes lived, loved and died on Jekyll Island. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:25:32 GMT http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/Jekyll-Island-blog.html#Conservation 65. 35. What do these numbers mean? It's the percentage of undeveloped land (65) to developed land (35) on Jekyll Island. By law, Jekyll Island can only have 35 of its available land in development. The other 65 is to stay wild. Any revitalization or new development must be within that 35, built on the footprint of previous development. And this is what makes Jekyll special, and separates it from other islands like Tybee and St. Simons. You can come to stay at Jekyll Island on a budget, and enjoy great flocks of roosting birds; see wandering deer just about any time of the day or night; watch raccoons romp; and stroll through cathedral maritime forest. Jekyll Island's conservation ethic is reflected in the experiences if offers its visitors - the Ga. Sea Turtle Center, Tidelands Nature Center, turtle conservation, kid programs, and more. So come on down to the island, and check out the <a href="http://www.jekyll-island-family-adventures.com/georgia-outdoors.html">Wild Side</a>, tooth and claw - well, maybe not the tooth and claw part. Nough said - Rick Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:59:31 GMT