"What we did on our random February vacation" (day 1 & 2)

Day 1 (2/10) Drive 408 miles from our house to Brunswick, GA

It was a beautiful, sunny & slightly warm day. I-95 was a breeze and we arrived in Brunswick just in time for dinner!
So you ask, "why Brunswick and where the heck is it?"
Brunswick is the gateway town for the "Golden Isles" of GA. It's a port city (where lots and lots of European cars are brought in) and really close to St. Simon's and Jekyll Island. It also had a much better selection of hotels and places to eat (we like having choices...)

Map from the Visitors Center website


We ate at several really tasty places around Brunswick and St. Simon's:

Spanky's (seafood - we both had tuna steaks; mine over salad - mmm!)

Jim's Corner Cafe (delicious omelettes & breakfast foods)

Chealsea's - on St. Simon's Island (for the "casual gourmet")

Day 2 (2/11) - exploring St. Simon's Island and biking on Jekyll Island

We started out the day by visiting Ft. Frederica on St. Simon's (after attempting to drive onto Sea Island to check out the big $$$ houses, however it is not open to random gawkers like us). The Fort and town was built by the British in 1736 to protect the Colony of GA from the Spanish. Not much is left today, but it is a beautiful site to visit (only $3 a person!).

Paul checking out one of the many informative signs

Amazing live oaks with Spanish moss

One of the last structures standing - the garrison

Christ Church on St. Simon's - built in 1820, rebuilt after the Civil War in 1889, still in use today! We heard the church bells from the Fort)

After lunch (waiting for the air temp to warm up) we took a nice little bike ride on Jekyll Island (just being there brought back so many memories!)

Getting Ready!

Yes, we have the same UNCA Cycling Jersey (and the same bike, and shoes, and... well, at least I have a different seat, shades, Camelbak and pedals!)


QUICK FLASHBACK to 2001
Paul and I on Jekyll - my first ride on the Trek roadbike Paul bought me for Valentine's Day


We almost stayed on the island, but there really wasn't a suitable place to stay (the great Holiday Inn, site of 2 Sigma Nu formals was leveled!). We did check out the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and came thisclose to staying there. Rates were only $129 a night - a steal - but alas, we knew we wouldn't spend enough time there to make it worth it.


A quick stop in the historic district to check out a nicely restored Spanish style structure (and fountain). Amazingly there were tons of flowers in bloom - so nice to see in early February!


Paul along the 'drftwood beach'


We paused for a moment at the old bridge crossing and happened to see 2 dolphins swimming under the bridge!

According to Paul's nifty new Garmin GPS cycling computer doohickey, which he got for Christmas, we rode over 15 miles. It was mostly paved, but we did a little 'off roading.' Thankfully neither of us was sore, but I was fighting an annoying head cold which left me without a voice (I think Paul may have enjoyed the fact that I couldn't talk seeing how long we were in the car with one another...)

...stay tuned for more stories & pictures!....