When We Return

In these past couple uncertain, and sometimes uneasy, months, we’ve learned some things. We realized that it’s difficult to stay at home and we enjoy the energy of the events that keep us busy. We discovered anew how caring and compassionate our neighbors can be. We have keenly felt the physical absence of our friends and family during this period of social distancing. What we know is that our community is resilient and continues to adapt to these changing times. Chris Moncus Photography both demonstrates this and captures the spirit in the innovative quarantine “porchrait” sessions he’s been shooting. As more doors start opening to the public again, and when you are comfortable, we’ll all need to work together to make our island home the most wonderful place for residents and tourists alike once again. With an eye toward the future, we’ve come up with some ideas of how to celebrate those days when we return to some sense of normalcy.

1. Plan a progressive dinner with friends, but instead of going from house to house for each course, hit some local restaurants. Start the night out at Georgia Sea Grill’s wine bar for their fabulous drinks and light bites. They have terrific specials and the crab-stuffed hushpuppies are always on the menu. Head to Delaney’s Bistro & Bar for your main course. Their steak Diane and rack of lamb are hard to beat! For dessert, head back to the village for a dish of the notorious “chocolate stuff” or a key lime tart at Barbara Jeans. Yum! End the evening with a stroll down to the pier to walk off some calories and say goodnight to the moon shining on the ocean.

2. Welcome a newcomer. This can be someone who just moved in down the block, became a member at your church, or you met through an online yoga class. Show some old school Southern hospitality and bake them a pie or cake. Or, if you’re not the baking type, pick up a basket of Georgia gourmet goodies from Golden Isles Olive Oil. Add a welcome note with your phone number. You never know, they could turn out to be your new best friend.

3. Treat your parent friends to a “night off.” Offer a night of babysitting services to friends with children, so they can enjoy a date night out with a little time alone. Whether they want to act like kids themselves and grab a burger and shake at Zuzu’s or have a romantic dinner in the warm ambiance at Sal’s Neighborhood Pizzeria, they’ll appreciate getting a special night to themselves.

4. Support our local retailers by starting your

Christmas shopping early. Once a week (or more, if possible), buy a gift for someone on your list from a shop around town, rather than on Amazon or at a big box store. Cloister Collection and Allie Harper always have stylish finds. For more than just fashion, Ronne’s on Market Street has a little bit of everything and some great gift ideas. The Golden Isles bracelet by Evocateur at Joseph Jewelers would make any island girl’s eyes light up. For the gents, a vintage style T-shirt or hat and complete set of spices or sauces from Southern Soul Barbeque is a sure winner. The options are endless!

5. Contact one of our local libraries or elementary schools to find out if there are opportunities to read to children. Story time is a fantastic way to bring some joy to the children of our community and to let their enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder rub off on you too. EIL staffer Molly Duckworth has been reading to students at Goodyear Elementary for several years. She says of the experience, “What began as simply volunteering has turned into a fun and fulfilling time for both the students and me. It’s a true blessing that I look forward to each week during the school year!”

6. Make time for live music. Oh, how we’ve been missing concerts! By attending the Little Light Music performances presented by the Coastal Georgia Historic Society on the lighthouse lawn and the Sounds by the Sea series at Neptune Park presented by Golden Isles Arts & Humanities, you support those important community organizations too. Grab a bottle of your favorite wine and pick up some sushi at Fancy Q or some Nashville hot chicken from Porch to enjoy a picnic supper while you catch up with friends and neighbors on these select Sunday evenings in the summer.

7. Go island hopping! SSI residents and mainlanders should head over to Jekyll Island for the

day. For close encounters with our native wildlife, visit Tidelands Nature Center and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Stop for lunch at The Wharf. We recommend pairing an order of the peel & eat Georgia shrimp with the fried green tomatoes for a delicious Southern lunch in a beautiful setting. Afterwards, wander the Historic District and pop in the Jekyll Island Commissary to pick up some treats like peach butter, Vidalia onion salsa, or some fresh ground Southern Pecan coffee.

8. Throw a block party in your neighborhood. We’ve been longing for the days when we can all get together and safely enjoy each other’s company again! Make it a potluck where everyone bring two dishes: a favorite take-out item and a homemade dish. An Italian Queen specialty pizza from Hildy’s or a chocolate cream pie from Café Frederica would have everyone clamoring for a slice. 

9. Take a cooking class or workshop with a friend. Simmer & Soak offers periodic cooking classes with local chefs preparing multiple dishes and providing liberal tastings in their kitchen. We’ve heard nothing but rave reviews! Golden Isles Olive Oil generally has a full calendar of evening and weekend workshops with local and regional culinary experts. Past classes have included preparing cheese boards, making chocolate, and healthy menus. Visit their websites or call for more information about their class and event schedules.

10. Pamper your body and satisfy your soul by scheduling a Spa Day with your girlfriends. Carmen and her staff at Island Day Spa offer head to toe services from mani-pedis to massage. You can find a full menu on their website and book online too. No matter what treatments you choose, you’ll leave there feeling like a million bucks!

11. What a spa day is to women, a day of fishing is to men. Gather the guys and book a charter with one of our many local guides. Whether you want inshore or offshore, tarpon or trout, there’s a captain here who can put you on it. And if you need the day’s haul cooked, bring your catch on over to Catch! Call ahead of time to make arrangements and Catch 228 will prep and cook your fish, then serve it to you for dinner. There’s nothing better! 

12. Head to Historic Downtown Brunswick for First Friday. We’re eager to experience the fun that happens around Newcastle and Gloucester on the first Friday of each month. Go early to visit the Mildred Wilcox Gallery at The Ritz, SoGlo Gallery and the Brunswick Stewdio to check out any new exhibits. Drop in and see our friends at Cunningham Jewelers and Main Street Frame Shop, among the other retail stores open late for shopping. Grab dinner at Indigo Coastal Shanty, where EIL staff favorites include the Bahamian Chicken Curry, the Jerked Tostadas, and any of the desserts! If you want live music, catch Annie Akins doing her thing at The BoomBoom Room, or head over to Tipsy McSway’s where bands play outside in the adjacent square if the weather permits.

13. Dedicate a day to island history. Explore Fort Frederica. Do a little learning in the Historic Harrington School. Visit the St. Simons Lighthouse and World War II Home Front Museums. Book a sail on the Tall Ship Lynx, while she’s still in the Golden Isles, to learn more about how privateers fared back in the 1800s. The story of this beautiful schooner and her historical namesake is an interesting one.

14. Harness some horse power. Schedule a family outing with The Stables at Frederica. Saddle up and enjoy a trail or beach ride with their friendly and experienced guides. For a different kind of equine encounter, visit The Farm at Oatland North on a Sunday afternoon during their Open House hours. You can meet Cheyenne, Brugge, and their friends, as well as goats, cows, cats, a pig, and more at this animal rescue and sanctuary on the north end of the island.

15. Kayak the marshes. Get a different view of our island home and maybe get up close and personal with some native wildlife on a guided kayak tour with Southeast Adventure Outfitters. With 25+ years in the business, SEA knows their stuff. They’ve got terrific guides and offer tours that vary in size, duration, and route. Choose the one that best suits the kind of day you want to spend paddling.

16. Take advantage of a privilege that maybe we took

for granted until recently: the ability to just sit and relax on the beach. Invite your family and friends for a beach day and call The Tent Guys to arrange set up. With a family beach package, they’ll hook you up with a canopy, beach chairs, towels, a cooler with drinks, sand toys, and a cornhole set. All you need to do is bring the sunscreen, music, and snacks! If you need a good beach read, pop by Righton Books to pick up a book or three.

17. Play with the dolphins. Okay, maybe you won’t really be

playing with them. But you can watch them fish and frolic alongside the boat with a dolphin tour. Jekyll Island Boat Tours offers daily dolphin tours, including an evening tour where you get the added bonus of watching the sun set. What better way to wind down a day?!