It's fun to be a kid. . .
... But it's a lot more fun to be a kid visiting Brunswick and the Golden Isles! We have plenty of delights for our youngest visitors, things for families to enjoy together and special offerings for older kids ready to try some adventures. Choose an appropriate event for your family and let the fun begin!
Spring Break and Summer Months
School's out, surf's up, sun's shining! Whether you're here for Spring Break or a summertime visit, warm-weather time in Brunswick and The Golden Isles has more to offer than you can imagine. Many island resorts have their own beaches and children's programs for their guests and members. Public beach access is available on St. Simons Island or Jekyll Island, where you can build a castle, dive into the waves, or fly a kite.
On St. Simons Island, anyone old enough to ride a tricycle will love trying a funcycle-a low-riding, pedal-powered beach vehicle. Skim the waves in a catamaran sailboat, solo or as a passenger with an experienced handler. Call Barry's Beach Service at 638-8053. Ride in style with one of the unique pedal-powered vehicles from Wheel Fun Rentals, 634-0606. Rent a surrey or deuce coupe for on-road riding for 2-6 passengers. A stylish quad sport, chopper or slingshot are fun "beach wheels" for the whole family. Free helmets are included with rentals.
Want to speed things up? Try a 2-seater Jet Ski. Younger children can ride on a Jet Ski with a parent; solo drivers must be 16 or older, with a valid driver's license. (Drivers under 18 require signed parental consent). Call the Island Dive Center at 638-6590 for Jet Ski rentals at the Golden Isles Marina on St. Simons Island. If you choose to bring your own Jet Ski into our area, please be aware of Georgia's strictly enforced Boating Safety Zone law, which prohibits beach launches and landings. For a complete list of approved launch areas, call the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau at 265-0620, and ask for a copy of the Fishing and Other Water Activities Guide.
Explore a mysterious new world on a kayak trip through coastal rivers and marshes -a great chance to spot beautiful waterfowl, dolphins and sea turtles. Local outfitters offer instruction and custom trip flexibility to suit your group or family needs. Call Ocean Motion at 638-5225, or Barry's Beach Service at 638-8053 for departures from St. Simons Island. Southeast Adventure Outfitters offers 2-3 hour, half-day and full-day excursions that leave from St. Simons Island or Brunswick. More adventurous outdoor-lovers should ask about 2-3 day kayak/camping expeditions to nearby islands such as Cumberland and Sapelo. Detailed maps and charts plus rental camping gear, kayaks and guides are available through Southeast Adventure Outfitters, 638-6732 or 265-5292.
Combine fishing and a day of water fun at Blythe Island Regional Park Beach in Brunswick. Amenities include a man-made freshwater, fully stocked lake with boat rentals, nearby saltwater fishing piers, nature, bike and canoe trails, volleyball and horseshoe courts. A white sand beach is perfect for all swimmers. Call 261-3805 for information. All fishing activities, including crabbing and seining, require a fishing license, sold in local bait shops, sporting goods stores and marinas. Anglers under 16 or over 65 years old, as well as some disabled persons, are exempt from the requirement.
Seasonal boating excursions for kids combine fun and learning. A ride on the Eco Trawl craft takes a hands-on approach to meeting sea creatures. Or try an in-shore party fishing boat trip-a wonderful activity for the whole family. Call St. Simons Transit Company at 638-5678 for reservations.
Fun-for-everyone trolley tours are a favorite for all ages. Call St. Simons Trolley at 638-8954 or St. Simons Transit Company at 638-5678 for trolley information on St. Simons Island. Historic tours of Jekyll Island's National Historic Landmark District depart from the Island History Center on Stable Road. Call 635-4036 for schedules. Victoria's Carriages, 635-9500, offers horse-drawn carriage rides, hayrides and trail rides on Jekyll Island, plus hayrides at a country retreat.
Most hotel properties in Brunswick and the Golden Isles offer swimming pools for their guests. The Glynn County Recreation and Parks Department (638-2393 or 554-7780) can provide hours and prices for public pools.
Bring out your creative side with pottery, sculpture, and multi-media lessons for school age kids. The Glynn Art Association (638-8770) on St. Simons Island offers classes that fit your vacation schedule. The Golden Isles Arts & Humanities Association (262-6934) maintains a listing of all scheduled classes.
Is indoor skating a favorite with your family? Try Skateland 17 in Brunswick (264-9466). Bowling is available at the Bowlarena (267-7529) and at the new Strike Zone (265-6600) in Brunswick. In addition to the growing number of traditional golf courses in the area, there are two miniature golf courses: The Links, near the Pier on St. Simons Island (638-0305) and Jekyll Island Miniature Golf (635-2648).
If you're a sports enthusiast, there are plenty of opportunities to sharpen your skills when you visit Brunswick and the Golden Isles. Tennis instruction is available at the Jekyll Island Tennis Center, through lessons, camps and tournaments in the summer months (635-3154). These programs offer drop-in flexibility to accommodate your busy vacation schedule. The Jekyll Island Soccer Complex offers soccer skills camps and tournaments through the summer months (635-4080).
The fun doesn't stop in the evenings along the Georgia coast! On St. Simons Island, the Island Players produce a children's theater workshop musical each summer. Call 638-3031 for times and dates. For more information call 635-4060 from June through August; 635-3636 September through May. The Golden Isles Arts & Humanities Association (262-6934) also has scheduling and ticket information and sales for all performances.
If fast-paced water fun is your idea of a good time, visit Jekyll Island's favorite water action attraction. Summer Waves, an 11-acre water park, features rides that range from slow waves to speed flumes. There's even a supervised water play area for toddlers. Call 635-2074 for information.
In Coastal Georgia, we make the most of nature and the outdoors. Well-equipped playgrounds are found at the Pier and Mallery Park on St. Simons Island; in Brunswick at Selden Park and Howard Coffin Park. Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick features an innovative musical playground. Throughout the area, miles of level, well-maintained bike trails provide hours of smooth riding and skating.
St. Simons Transit Company (638-5678) operates a water taxi service between St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island-a great way to dolphin-watch!
Call the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at 264-7218 for directions to the Earth Day Nature Trail in Brunswick to get a close look at our coastal wildlife. Driftwood Nature Center (638-3849) on St. Simons Island offers unforgettable opportunities to come face-to-face with local natives- like alligators and snakes- in their unique camps and special programs for kids and their parents. Aquariums, touch tanks, native reptiles, canoe and kayak adventures and nature walks are favorites for families at Tidelands Nature Center on Jekyll Island (635-5032). From June to mid-August, nighttime sea turtle watches on Jekyll Island let you discover (without disturbing) mother sea turtles building nests on the beach. Any age is welcome with a parent; children over 12 can participate unattended with parental permission. Call The Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Project at 635-2284.
Head Out!
Brunswick and the Golden Isles are located in the center of an area rich in natural beauty and history. You can take a trip to another ecosystem or a bygone era by driving for an hour or so to other special spots, including Savannah, on Georgia's coast.
To the north of Brunswick, Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation offers a glimpse into long-ago plantation life. You can tour the antebellum home built by the Troup family and examine the century-old farm equipment still stored in the barn. Call 264-7333. Continuing north, you will find the quaint town of Darien and the Fort King George State Historic Site. Nearby Sapelo Island, home of the University of Georgia Marine Institute, features a guided tour of the pristine barrier island beaches and picturesque Hog Hammock Community. Call the Sapelo Island Visitors Center at 437-3224. Don't miss Seabrook Village (near Midway, Georgia), founded by freed slaves living on post-Civil War land grants. Call (912) 884-7008 about their lively activity schedule that includes events like toy making and cane grinding.
Heading south from Brunswick, visit Kingsland and then enjoy the vast sweep of unspoiled beaches that make Cumberland Island National Seashore a favorite destination. Cumberland's permanent residents include peregrine falcons, wood storks, and a herd of wild horses. For ferryboat schedules, departing from St. Marys, call (912) 882-4335.
Southwest of the Golden Isles is the famous Okefenokee Swamp. Thousands of acres of cypress and pine forest shelter the deep, blackwater swamp. Teeming with wildlife, the Okefenokee offers boat trips, fishing, canoeing, a 1.5 mile tour aboard the "Pioneer Island Express" railroad, and other fascinating encounters with a unique independent ecosystem. Call (912) 283-0583 for the Waycross entrance to the park; call (912) 496-7836 for the Folkston approach; and the Fargo entrance to the Stephen Foster State Park at (912) 637-5274.
Special Events for Special Days
Holidays in Coastal Georgia are a treat for visitors! Mild weather lets you enjoy being outdoors year 'round and adds to the excitement of the special seasonal events throughout the area. Spring Break is a favorite time to come to Brunswick and the Golden Isles. You can fly a kite on the beach while all your friends at home are still shoveling snow! On Jekyll Island, the Family Easter Festival offers a day of entertainment with music, hayrides, games and a visit from the Easter Bunny. In addition, many island resorts conduct special seasonal events for their guests and members.
The entire area celebrates July 4 with a bang! The Sunshine Festival, in Neptune Park near the Pier on St. Simons Island, offers rides, games, crafts, and plenty of outdoor summertime fun. Enjoy the dazzle of fireworks, Golden Isles-style, reflected in the ocean there or on Jekyll Island; or enjoy the fireworks display along the river at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. Seasonal fairs, festivals and celebrations are always on the calendar at the Glynn County Recreation and Parks Department. Call 638-2393 for times and locations.
The last two months of the year are a great time to add a Low Country flavor to your holiday celebrations. How about a Thanksgiving picnic on the beach? Or, consider the magic of an Island Christmas. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, tens of thousands of tiny lights glow from land and sea to set a festive mood. It's a wonderful time to visit, enjoy music, food, tours, hayrides and mild, golden afternoons.
It's always a good time to visit Brunswick and the Golden Isles. We hope you visit often. We'd like to be part of your best memories.
These listings are only a sampling of the many options available in Brunswick and the Golden Isles. Every family is unique-so explore and experiment! If you and your family have enjoyed an activity not listed here, please share it with us. Call, write, or E-mail your comments to:
Brunswick & The Golden Isles Convention Visitors Bureau
4 Glynn Avenue, Brunswick, GA 31520
(912) 265-0620 o FAX (912) 265-0629
(800) 933-COAST (2627)
E-mail: visitorsbureau@bgivb.com
