HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME
Sly & the Family Stone, 1969
End of the spring and here she comes back. Hi Hi Hi Hi there...
It’s been almost 50 years since Sly & the Family Stone sang about “them summer days, those summer days,” but the fun hasn’t dwindled in the least. We’re continuing our summer song playlist with music that captures the spirit of the season and all the activities the Golden Isles can offer.
FUN, FUN, FUN
The Beach Boys, 1964
And she'll have fun fun fun 'til her daddy takes the T-bird away...
Fun is what it’s all about and when you’re trying to beat the heat of a coastal Georgia summer day, playtime is more fun when there’s a pool involved! At the top of the “To Do” list is a trip to Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island. Open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through August 4, this family-friendly attraction offers the Turtle 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. There are also Swim-In Movies planned for June 2 (Despicable Me 3) and July 1 (The Little Mermaid), where you can grab and inner tube and watch one of these animated favorites from the Frantic Atlantic wave pool. Movies start at 8:30 p.m. and are free with the purchase of a Night Splash ticket. 2018 season passes are available for purchase online at jekyllisland.com. Daily general, junior, and senior admission, Night Splash and Two Day ticket pricing, and group rate information is available there as well.
On St. Simons Island, visit the Neptune Park Fun Zone Pool for a splash-tastic good time. Located next to the St. Simons Lighthouse, the Neptune Fun Zone Pool is open Mondays and Wednesdays through Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00-5:30 p.m., through August 11. The pool will be closed on Tuesdays. The park offers a wading pool and water gym with slides for kids, and a larger pool with zero-entry access and lap lanes. There are poolside loungers and an on-site concession stand. Daily passes are $8. 10-punch passes and season passes are also available. For more information, visit glynncounty.org or call 912.279.2836.
In Brunswick, there are public pools at Howard Coffin Park, Selden Park, and the YMCA. Get out there and make a splash!
Of course, the quintessential summer vacation family pastime is golf -- miniature golf, that is!
Picking up that putter and spending an evening in the cooling ocean breeze is a great way to wind down after a day at the pool. On St. Simons Island, there is an 18-hole miniature golf course adjacent to the Neptune Park Fun Zone Pool that is open year-round. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 2:00-8:00 p.m., Friday from 3:00-9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00-8:00 p.m. Rounds are $8. For more information, visit glynncounty.org or call 912.279.2836.
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 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $6.50 for adults and $5 for children 6-10 years-old. For more information, call 912.635.2648 or visit jekyllisland.com.
For more serious action on the greens, there are nearly 200 holes of golf on courses that are stunningly beautiful throughout Brunswick and the Golden Isles. Whether nestled among live oaks draped in Spanish moss or lined with marsh grass and estuaries that invite egrets, herons, and other coastal wildlife, you’ll find your natural surroundings as amazing as many of the layouts that have been designed by acclaimed golf course architects and renowned golf pros.
CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE
Jimmy Buffett, 1978
I like mine with lettuce and tomato...
Cheeseburgers certainly aren’t the only delicious culinary offerings in our Golden Isles
paradise, but if you’re craving one, there are some excellent choices around. Zuzu’s in Pier Village grills hand-pattied burgers and serves them up just the way you like them, whether a simple cheeseburger or one topped with chili, jalapenos, grilled onions, or guacamole. In keeping with our music theme, we recommend you try the “Penny Lane” with its crisp apple slices, crumbled bleu cheese, and bacon. Pair it with a side of French fries or sweet potato fries, or maybe start with an order of fried green tomatoes or roasted Brussels sprouts. Leave room for dessert because there’s an ice cream counter with a nice assortment of flavors to scoop for a cone, or you can always opt for a root beer float or hand-spun milkshake or malt.
If you’re more in the mood for a leafy lunch, chow down on one of Mullet Bay’s big and tasty salads while you enjoy their outdoor patio. Their seafood baskets are also a favorite of many island visitors. Other longstanding perennial favorites and island mainstays include Bennie’s Red Barn for steaks and fried chicken, and Barbara Jean’s for crab cakes and Southern comfort food. The oldest privately owned restaurant on St. Simons Island, in operation on the North end of the island since 1954, Bennie’s is a common dinner gathering place for returning visitors and they also offer a fantastic Southern Sunday Brunch.
For fine dining, look to Georgia Sea Grill, and Delaney’s Bistro. These popular spots never disappoint. Of course, the Georgian Room and the other restaurants at Sea Island Resort are incomparable and have earned their five-star ratings. Southern Soul Barbeque’s reputation precedes it with national media attention and raves throughout the South. Our recommendation: go beyond the barbeque, because their Friday prime rib, Sunday fried chicken, Monday Marleys and fried green beans might even be better than the pulled pork and brisket! For pizza, Sal’s Neighborhood Pizzeria and Ristorante Italiano has been the local champ as repeat winner of EIL’s Best of Readers Choice Award. If you are craving some sushi, the spicy tuna and dragon roll are a EIL’s staff favorite. Newer (a relative term when you’re on island time) restaurants you’ll want to experience are Del Sur, for their Argentinian influenced cooking style and fresh flavors, and Porch, the island’s new adventure in Nashville hot chicken and catfish. The indoor-outdoor casual setting complete with cornhole on the lawn at Porch is especially inviting for those with kids in tow!
Since you’re up early to catch those sunrises at the beach or over the marsh, be sure to grab breakfast while you’re out. Café Frederica has scrumptious daily specials like blueberry stuffed French toast to supplement the traditional favorites like Eggs Benedict, omelets, and pancakes. ECHO at The King & Prince can claim one of the prettiest views on the island and serves up a Sunday brunch with the option of a Bloody Mary bar or endless Mimosas for adults. Palmer’s Village Café is THE place for unique flavor combinations and fresh breakfast and lunch fare. Chef JB’s cooking will start your day with a smile!
This list is by no means exhaustive and touches on just a handful of island eateries. On Jekyll Island, you’ll find one of the best views in the Golden Isles at The Wharf Restaurant. Their Famous Fish & Chips or The Wharf Boil are always a big hit with diners. Bring back memories of the Gilded Age by taking High Tea in the Grand Dining Room at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Their Sunday Brunch is unbeatable. Brunswick has some delicious offerings as well, so go explore your dining options! There’s way more out there in our little slice of paradise than those cheeseburgers!
INTO THE MYSTIC
Van Morrison, 1970
Hark, now hear the sailors cry, smell the sea and feel the sky...
Here in the Golden Isles, surrounded by the ocean, sailing off into the mystic is such an inviting image. The waves beckon and there’s a world of wildlife around us to explore. The ways to take to the water while you’re here are countless. A favorite for kids and families is the always 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 in the nets. There are dolphin tours operating on Jekyll Island and St. Simons so you can get a chance to watch our playful marine animals fishing and frolicking in the waves. For the romantics, charter a boat for a sunset sail or enjoy a wine cruise aboard a luxury yacht. If you’re feeling more adventurous or want to get closer to nature, take a kayak tour through the marshes or on the Altamaha River or try a paddleboard ecotour. Southeast Adventure Outfitters is a great place to start. They’ve been offering kayak tours and boat trips for decades and can to help you find just the kind of experience on the water you’re seeking. Stop by the store in St. Simons Island’s Pier Village or drop by the Brunswick dock next to Marshside Grill to talk to them about planning your adventure.
If you’re looking for “the dock of the bay,” 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, which is the island’s “heart,” and the Jekyll Island Fishing Pier, near Driftwood Beach. While they make for a lovely site 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, from families setting crab traps at the pier to shark fishing there at night.
Fishing charters are plentiful. Offshore, Nearshore, and Inshore, half-day and full day excursions. Whether you’re looking to hook sheep head 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. Kids and families and serious anglers can all get a fishing adventure that will surely leave you with good memories of the Golden Isles, and hopefully make you want to return.
While we’re talking about seagoing matters and our marine creatures, another popular destination here with an important purpose and educational mission is the Georgia Sea Turtle
Center on Jekyll Island. A rescue and rehabilitation center, this active hospital is the only one of its kind in Georgia. Visitors can see current patients and learn about their injuries and any illness or disease that may affect them, watch feedings, and sometimes may get a chance to observe treatment by the staff. What’s a real treat is the opportunity to watch when rehabilitated sea turtles are released back into the ocean. Multiple releases are generally held in warmer months, so keep an eye on the GSTC and Jekyll Island Facebook pages for event information, as they normally post release information there, and visit their website at gstc.jekyllisland.com. Turtle Walk programs to discover nesting sea turtles also take place during summer months. Watching these wonderful creatures making their own journey to the beach and back into the mystic is magical.
SATURDAY IN THE PARK
Chicago, 1972
Slow motion riders fly the colors of the day, a bronze man still can tell stories his own way...
Our parks, historic sites, and extensive bike trails are another part of what makes the Golden Isles such a special place to visit. If you didn’t bring your bicycle, you can rent one so you’re able to take advantage of the great weather and avoid traffic. You can go just about everywhere on St. Simons Island on a bicycle, and Jekyll Island has fantastic bike paths that allow you to experience nature in a slower paced setting. From Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District, where you can visit the Jekyll Island Club Resort and the “cottages” of “Millionaire’s Village” as well as today’s quaint little shops, to St. Simons Island’s lighthouse and keeper’s cottage and historic Christ Church, the history of this area is well-preserved and ripe for exploration. Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island offers special programs with colonial reenactors, as does Darien’s Fort King George. Historic Harrington School on St. Simons Island is a new addition which tells important tales of African-American heritage on the island.
Our parks also embrace the natural beauty of our surroundings. Visit Gascoigne Park on St. Simons Island to relax under a canopy of live oaks laden with Spanish moss as you overlook the river passing by. Head up to Frederica Park on the North end of the island to walk the nature trail and visit the quaint fairy houses (a popular spot to find SSI Rocks!) or take your pooch to the fenced dog park there for some playtime. There’s also the John Gilbert Nature Trail and Cannon’s Point Preserve to visit and view pristine nature and the birds and wildlife that inhabit it.
In Brunswick, there’s Mary Ross Waterfront Park with its Farmer’s Market and Liberty Ship monument for a pleasant Saturday morning stroll. And many take advantage of the sweeping view of the marshes and pack a picnic to sit and watch birds at Marshes of Glynn Overlook Park. The Lanier Oak is nearby and it’s not hard to imagine what inspired poet Sidney Lanier to write “The Marshes of Glynn” as he took in these same surroundings.
SOAK UP THE SUN
Sheryl Crow, 2002
I'm gonna soak up the sun, I'm gonna tell everyone to lighten up...
A favorite summertime activity in the Golden Isles is spending a day at the beach. On St. Simons Island, popular beaches are Massengale Park (1350 Ocean Boulevard), the Coast Guard Station (on First Street access to East Beach, at the Maritime Museum), East Beach and Gould’s Inlet (the northern-most access point on East Beach). On Jekyll Island, you’ll find the center of the island’s beach scene at Great Dunes Park in the middle of the island, where Ben Fortson Parkway meets N. Beachview Drive. Other beautiful beach areas that draw
photographers, nature lovers, and sunset seekers are Driftwood Beach, Glory Beach, and St. Andrews Beach.
On St. Simons Island, there are beach services available to set up chairs and umbrellas and provide bikes and water equipment. If you aren’t using a service, we recommend you stop by Pelican Market (across from Crabdaddy's and The Crab Trap) for all your beach needs. From wagons to chairs, beach bags, towels, and toys for fun in the sun, as well as sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats for protection from harsh rays, they have it all. Their wide selection of snacks, cold beverages, sandwiches and other lunch options will keep your appetite satisfied as well. And don’t forget a scoop of ice cream or two before you head home!
THE TIDE IS HIGH
Blondie, 1980
The tide is high but I'm holdin' on...
Please take a moment to review some information about rip currents and tide changes from us if you plan to spend time on our beaches. Many people don’t realize how significant the tide changes are here in the Golden Isles. We like our island visitors and don’t want to see you in dangerous, and sometimes deadly, situations caused by a lack of knowledge. Lifeguards are only duty from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily at the Coast Guard and Massengale beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While they can provide assistance, you swim at your own risk.
First, please do NOT swim to visible sand bars, our tides change very quickly and submerge
the sand bars completely by as much as six to 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 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 be well away from sandbars before the tide comes in.
Also be aware that rip currents, which are difficult to see and much more dangerous than undertow, are very common here. More than 100 people in the U.S. die annually from drowning in rip currents. Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. If you are caught in a rip current, don’t fight the current. 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.
SCHOOL'S OUT
Alice Cooper, 1972
No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks
Once school’s out for summer, you’ll be looking for a variety of activities both inside and out to keep the kids entertained until August. Luckily, there are plenty of summer camps and workshops, vacation bible school programs, drop-in field trips, and other opportunities for children and youth to make the most of those 75 days of summer vacation (Sorry, kids, it’s not really 104) before “school comes along just to end it.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia offers a summer program filled with field trips and allows for drop-ins (apostiveplace.net). Kids have opportunities to explore the world beyond our planet with The Chapel’s Space Camp (thechapelministries.com) and to connect with others at age-specific Camp Connect programs at Epworth by the Sea (campconnectumc.org). They can express their creative self with visual arts in Kreative Kidz Art Summer Camps, Puppetry, Comics and Sequential Art Camp, Clay & Collage Camp at Glynn Visual Arts (glynnvisualarts.org) or through drama, music, filmmaking and more at Summer Performing Arts Camps at The Ritz (goldenislesarts.org). They can receive golf instruction from a PGA Professional at The King and Prince Golf Course’s Junior Golf Camps (kingandprince.com) or through the First Tee of the Golden Isles Golf Camp (thefirstteegoldenisles.org). There are also educational camp opportunities at Frederica Academy (fredericaacademy.org), the College of Coastal Georgia’s Kids in College Camp (ccga.edu), and Golden Isles College & Career Academy (flashmedia.glynn.k12.ga.us). They can take a walk on the wild side at Camp Jekyll 4-H Camp (jekyll4h.org) or Sea Turtle Camp (jekyllisland.com). Tennis, soccer, horseback riding, dance, martial arts, sailing, cooking, are some other camp opportunities for children and youth.
GTC Glynn Place and Island Cinemas will be showing family-friendly movies on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in June and July for its Summer Kid Show Series. For only $1.50 per person, and with $1.50 drinks and $1.50 popcorn available, it’s a steal! Doors open at 9:15 a.m. and the movies start promptly at 10:00 a.m. The movies this year are: Lego Batman June 5 & 7, Ferdinand June 12 & 14, The Boss Baby June 19 & 21, Captain Underpants, The First Epic Movie June 26 & 28, Smurfs, The Lost Village July 3 & 5, The Emoji Movie July 10 & 12, Lego Ninjago July 17 & 19, and Despicable Me 3 July 24 & 26.
The Glynn County Recreation and Parks Department also has a Summer Movie Series, screening movies on select Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Admission is $1 per person each showing. Popcorn, candy, and water are available for purchase. Movie schedule is: June 13 Peter Rabbit, June 27 The Nut Job 2, July 11 Coco, August 1 Sherlock Gnomes.
DANCING IN THE STREET
Martha & the Vandellas, 1964
Summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the street...
Summertime is when music fills the air in the Golden Isles! Many local venues have outdoor
music and there are multiple summer concert series for visitors to enjoy being serenaded under the stars on these warm evenings. We think there’s some tremendous talent here in the local music scene and invite you to get out and enjoy as much live music as you can at popular venues like Palm Coast Coffee Café & Pub on St. Simons Island, a perennial winner of the EIL “Best Of” readers choice selection as the Best Place to Hear Live Music, The Wharf Restaurant on Jekyll Island, and Tipsy McSway’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill in historic downtown Brunswick.
Elegant Island Living is proud to be a sponsor of the Coastal Georgia Historical Society’s Little Light Music Concert Series. We think of it as the best block party on the island! Grab your lawn chairs, a picnic supper and your favorite cold beverages to come out and enjoy a Sunday evening concert with a few hundred of your closest pals, neighbors, and new friends you just haven’t met yet. On June 10, party band Loose Chain will get everyone dancing. On July 1, crowd-pleasers Still Cruzin will return for pre-Independence Day fun. Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. There will not be an August concert this year. Tickets are $12 for adults, and children under 12 are admitted free of charge.
Golden Isles Arts & Humanities will feature a fresh ukulele twist on traditional favorites by Jamie Renee & the Walkers on June 24, the stellar singing of Annie Akins on July 22, and popular returning acoustic duo Maggie & Jackson Evans on August 26 in their Sounds by the Sea concert series at Neptune Park. Held the 4th Sunday of the month, these concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. at Neptune Park on St. Simons Island. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children under 6.
Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick is the place to be for Rhythm on the River from 6:00-8:00 p.m. the first Sunday of every month this summer. June’s band is Michaele & the Ambiguous (yes, that’s our summer fashion model, Michaele Hannemann doing her thing!). July’s entertainment has yet to be announced. Roy Gentry & the Hired Guns will rock the stage in August. This community concert is free and open to the public.
Jekyll Island is beginning a Beach Village Music Series this year and will feature our very own Golden Isles Strummers on June 2, the Jaguars D-Line on July 7 and Katie Fair & Band on August 4. Music takes place on the Beach Village Green (in front of the Westin) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
We’ve already told you about Sea Island’s Southern Grown concert series and the upcoming June 8 concert featuring Americana folk duo Shovels & Rope, but we can’t stress enough how fantastic the caliber of entertainment that is being brought to Rainbow Island for these concerts. If you love folk, rock, and country mixed with a little rambunctious rockabilly and haven’t discovered Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst yet, you’re in for a treat. If there are still tickets available (southerngrown.com), snap them up! And keep an eye out for announcements regarding entertainment for this year’s Southern Grown Festival August 31-September 2.
We urge you to experience all the Golden Isles has to offer this summer. Soak up the sun, have fun, fun, fun, and go dancing in the street!