Author Archives: Kristy Johnson

Guitar Heroes

LIFE + STYLE

Guitar HeroesGet ready for jazz in overdrive. The Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center will be filled with the sounds of steaming strings when acoustic guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo heat things up on Friday, September 5. 

The two musicians mix original material with their own renditions of contemporary tunes to create a smoking hot blend of acoustic rock, gypsy jazz, bluegrass, swing and blues.

Vignola has been the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Wynton Marsalis, the Boston Pops and the late guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitar List” for the Wall Street Journal. Team him with Vinny Raniolo and you can expect a high-energy show that’ll keep your toes tapping.

If You Go:
What: An Evening with Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 5
Where: Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center
How Much: $30 and $35
For Info: augustaamusements.com or (706) 726-0366

Leave ’Em Laughing

LIFE + STYLE

Museum exteriorAny self-respecting Columbia County resident knows all about Harlem’s Oliver Hardy Festival, but how much do you know about the man himself?

Comedic actor Oliver Hardy, who formed one of the world’s most beloved comedy duos with British actor Stan Laurel, was born Norvell Hardy on January 18,1892, at his mother’s parent’s home in Harlem, Georgia.

Hardy’s father, Oliver senior, a Confederate veteran wounded at the Battle of Antietam, worked as a foreman for Georgia Southern Railroad and supervised the building of a rail line between Augusta and Madison, where he owned a hotel. He died less than a year after his son was born, and young Norvell was raised by his mother, Emily.

Hardy spent most of his youth in Milledgeville, where his mother managed the Baldwin Hotel, and the lively teenager worked as a projectionist and ticket taker in the local movie theater. He soon changed his name to Oliver Norvell Hardy (Norvell was his mother’s maiden name) as a tribute to his father and began pursuing his passion for singing and performing. The versatile showman studied music, performed vaudeville and worked in the fledgling film colony of Jacksonville, Florida. In his 20s he headed to Hollywood to try his luck in showbiz. The rest, as they say, is history.

Harlem’s all-day party to celebrate its native son has turned into a must-do favorite, and last year more than 40,000 people from across the world attended. This year the 26th annual Oliver Hardy Festival promises barrels of fun with a parade, numerous arts and crafts booths, a look-a-like contest, Ollie & Stan skits, Laurel & Hardy movies, kiddie rides and games, live entertainment, a barbecue chicken dinner, silent auction and more.

If you go, be sure to visit Harlem’s Laurel and Hardy Museum in the former post office, where you’ll learn about Hardy’s youth, his rise to stardom and his illustrious — and lucky — pairing with his trusty sidekick.

 

If You Go:
What: 26th annual Oliver Hardy Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 4
Where: Downtown Harlem
How Much: Free admission
More Info: (706) 556-0401 or harlemga.org

Deep Blue Sea

LIFE + STYLE

Buzz-Sea MonstersSome of the mysterious creatures of the sea have surfaced from the depths of the ocean at the Georgia Aquarium’s traveling exhibit, “Sea Monsters Revealed: Aquatic Bodies.” 

The exhibit features more than 18 full-body sea creatures including a 6-foot-wide devil ray, a 15-foot-long mako shark and an 18-foot-long, 3,000-pound whale shark. Using a polymer preservation technique called plastination, the display animals give guests the opportunity to see the inside and outside of the sea creatures’ bodies. Called “sea monsters” by early oceanic explorers centuries ago, the aquatic life forms show how they were designed for the deep.

The largest exhibit in the world of plastinated sea creatures, the display also includes more than 150 individual organs and smaller animals that inhabit the ocean. In addition, living examples of many of the sea monsters, including the ray and the whale shark, can be found in the aquarium’s permanent habitats.


“The oceans are Earth’s last frontier. Scientists have explored only 5 percent of its mysteries, leaving the remaining 95 percent to the imagination. This exhibition takes visitors on a journey of exploration in search of animals once considered to be sea monsters,” says the exhibition’s creator John Zaller. “The creatures in this exhibition are so massive, so impressive, and so magical, that you truly have to experience it to grasp its impact and importance.”

If You Go
What: Sea Monsters Revealed: Aquatic Bodies
Where: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
When: Through December
How Much: Admission to exhibit is included in price of total ticket, which starts at $31.95 (ages 13 – 64), $25.95 (ages 3 – 12) and $27.95 (ages 65 and older)
More Info: georgiaaquarium.org

A Pirate’s Life for You

LIFE + STYLE

pirate stickerDo you feel out of place in that computer-filled office, stifled in that suburban neighborhood? Know you were really meant for a rollicking life of adventure on the high seas, lying in wait for schooners overloaded with booty? Your time has almost come, matey. Talk Like a Pirate Day (TLAPD for short) is just over the horizon.

The buccaneer holiday, celebrated on September 19, is the day that landlubbers everywhere can finally cut loose and let their inner scallywag shine. Expressions like Yo-ho-ho!, Sink Me! and Shiver Me Timbers! will be gliding off the lips of normally staid professionals, while the truly fanatical will be sprouting more obscure terms like Dance the Hempen Jig (to hang) and Splice the Main Brace (have a few drinks).

If you want to expand your Salty Dog lingo, books are numerous, including The Pirate Dictionary and Pirattitude (written by the two friends who invented TLAPD), which guarantees that you’ll be pirate-savvy faster than you can say Walk the Plank. Or just dip into their website, talklikeapirate.com. If you want to spice up your day but you’re not ready to go all out, try sprinkling your sentences with the occasional Ahoy, Arrr or Har-har-har. That should get the job done, me hearty.

Dynamic Duo

LIFE + STYLE
Coriander Blue

Coriander Blue Photo courtesy of Leena Dennison

Local talent was shining brightly at last month’s third annual Columbia County Amateur Series, and Coriander Blue was crowned the winner in the finale at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown.

The country duo, which also infuses rock and blues into its music, is made up of guitarist and songwriter Brian Pinkston and Donna Jo Carroll on vocals. For the finale Coriander Blue covered Martina McBride’s “Independence Day” and performed an original song called “Carolina.”

“We love being able to share our original music with everybody. It’s humbling to know that people are connecting with our music, and we couldn’t have done it without our fans,” says Brian.

The Top 8 performers from the Amateur Series preliminary rounds competed in the finale. Other finalists included solo vocalists Callie Adcox and Jamiah Hudson, solo musicians Brian Kaye and Davey Marana, spoken word artist Dedric Roberts and bands The Tandem, which finished in second place, and Grace Project.

The winners received $1,000 and the chance to appear before the producers of “America’s Got Talent” or “The Voice.” 

“We’re trying to get to Nashville to record some music,” Brian says. “We think this will help jumpstart our career and get our local fan base going to push us.”

Coriander Blue, which has only been together since May, also won the 2014 Country Showdown in Lancaster, South Carolina in June.

Good Sports

LIFE + STYLE

Wildwood Games Columbia County GeorgiaRunners and cyclists will have a new way to test their mettle with Columbia County’s inaugural Wildwood Games sports festival on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24.

The multi-sport event will feature marathon mountain bike races, trail running races and an outdoors expo. The bike races on Saturday will cover distances of 50 kilometers and 100 kilometers. The shorter race will take place primarily on Bartram Trail. It will start at Wildwood Park, head toward the West Dam area and end at Wildwood Park.

The longer option will include Bartram and Keg Creek trails, Mistletoe State Park trails and some connector roads. This race will serve as a test run for the proposed route for the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships, which will take place here in 2015 and in 2016.

“The test event will help us make sure that the course is acceptable to the athletes and presents them with the right challenges, and it will give the agencies and groups that have to pull it together a chance to be sure it is successful, safe and well-organized,” says Randy DuTeau, the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director.

Bartram Trail also will be the site of the trail running races, which will includes distances of 50 kilometers, 26.2 miles, 13.1 miles and 10 kilometers. The courses will feature a mix of single-track trails and jeep service roads.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase what we have, and we want to make this a go-to annual event in the region for years to come,” DuTeau says.

Next year the Wildwood Games potentially will add distance open-water swimming in Clarks Hill Lake, a disc golf tournament at the International Disc Golf Center and an expanded festival with live music and a larger outdoors expo.

For more information visit choosecolumbiacounty.com.

Making Music

LIFE + STYLE

Augusta Amusements New West Guitar TrioAugusta Amusements is bringing an abundance of talent to Columbia County with its lineup of performers for 2014-15. While some acts such as Lightwire Theater and Al Stewart are returning for repeat performances, others are visiting the area for the first time.

The season kicks off Friday, August 8 with the classic jazz trio, New West Guitar Group. The group, which combines the acoustic and electric guitar to create its signature sound, will perform popular covers and original music. Tickets are $25 and $30.

The Malpass Brothers will perform Saturday, August 23. Chris and Taylor started playing guitar as young boys when their grandfather taught them songs by country music legends such as Hank Williams Sr., Merle Haggard, Porter Wagoner, Kitty Wells and Ernest Tubb. They also have opened for famous musicians such as Haggard and Willie Nelson. Tickets cost $27.50 and $32.50.

The entertainment continues in September with Frank Vignola on Friday, September 5 and Janis Siegel, An Evening of Ella Fitzgerald, on Thursday, September 11. Vignola has been the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Wynton Marsalis, the Boston Pops and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitar List” for the Wall Street Journal. Tickets to  his performance are $30 and $35.

Nine-time Grammy winner Janis Siegel sang lead on some of the biggest hits by Manhattan Transfer, and she still tours with the group and with her own band. Since 2003 she has appeared in a number of tributes to Fitzgerald, her music idol. Tickets to see her are $30 and $35.

All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center in Evans. Season packages for multiple shows are available. For more information visit augustaamusements.com or call 706-726-0366.

Bottoms Up

LIFE + STYLE

Buzz-Beerfest logoCraft beer lovers can tantalize their taste buds at the inaugural Augusta Beerfest this month. More than 30 of the Southeast’s most popular craft beer breweries will offer samples at the event. 

Festival-goers must be at least 21 years old to attend, and the ticket price includes a souvenir cup as well as beer samples. Local food trucks also will provide food for purchase. The event will feature an afternoon and an evening session.

If You Go:
What: Augusta Beerfest
When: Noon – 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, August 16
Where: Bell Auditorium
How Much: $30 in advance (available at georgialinatix.com); $35 at the door
More Info: augustaentertainmentcomplex.com

Dragon Fruit Salad

Salads

Dragon Fruit Salad

  • 2 dragon fruit
  • 1 cup fresh papaya chunks
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks

Cut the dragon fruit in half and loosen the meat from the skin by running a spoon along the edge and scooping it out as one piece. (Keep the hollow skin halves for serving the salad.) Dice it up, toss with pineapple and papaya chunks and place back into the hollow halves. Serve chilled. Makes 4 servings.

Live from Columbia County. . . .

LIFE + STYLE

Amateur Series Logo

The Columbia County Amateur Series is returning to the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown this month, and performers will vie for the grand prize of $1,000 and the chance to appear before the producers of “America’s Got Talent” or “The Voice.” The Top 8 from the preliminary rounds will compete in the finale, which will be recorded live. The shows begin at 7 p.m. each night, and there is no charge to attend. 

Thursday, July 10

First session (singers)

Michael Adams
Holly Turner
Bettina Johnson
Jamiah Hudson
William Combs
Jada Turner 

Second session (solo musicians)

Brian Kaye
Davey Marana
James Randall
Jasmine Williams
Callie Adcox
Sam Adams
(Two performers from each session will advance to the finale)

 

Friday, July 11

First session (variety)

Daniel Browning – dance
Dedric Roberts – spoken word
(One will advance to the finale)
Wayne Burnett – duo
Coriander Blue – duo
(One will advance to the finale)

Second session (bands)

Tandem
Livingroom Legends
Double Diamond
Grace Project
(Two will advance to the finale) 

If You Go:
What: Columbia County Amateur Series
When: 7 p.m. July 10 – 12
Where: Columbia County Exhibition Center, Grovetown
How Much: Free
More Info: ccamateurseries.com

Teen Town Reunion

LIFE + STYLE

Concession counterThe Twist, the Mashed Potato, the Pony, the Watusi. Who can forget the dance crazes of the 1960s? 

Certainly not the teenagers who populated Teen Town in Martinez during those years. They will have a chance to resurrect the dance moves of their youth at a Teen Town Reunion this month.

Teen Town met off of Old Petersburg Road at Martinez Community Center, which currently is occupied by a tae kwon do studio, in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Teenagers would go to the popular hangout to see their friends and dance to live music or records played by DJs such as Handsome Harley Drew. A jukebox provided music on opening night, and The Dynamics entertained the teens the next two Saturday evenings.

“We paid 50 cents to get in every Saturday night. We just danced all night long,” says Susan Agner, a Martinez resident who is on the Reunion Committee. “People came from all over the area. It was open to anybody that wanted to come and behave themselves and have fun.”

Her mother, Nadine Moore, was one of the directors of Teen Town, which celebrated its grand opening in September 1963. “We had a cool mom, and she wanted to keep us out of trouble,” Susan says.

Teen Town also had a mayor, a clerk and a council, which was made up of five males and five females. The original office holders were Tommy Martin, mayor; Donna McGill, clerk; Brenda Mills, Gloria Coleman, Becky Yarbrough, Priscilla Shelton and Peggy Lamm, girls’ council; and Jack Fair, Sammy Jones, Bill Murphey, Chris Hand and Danny Newman, boys’ council.

“We ran the council like a business,” says Martin, who served as mayor from 1963 until 1965. “We had meetings about bands and DJs, and we made plans for what we were going to do.”

Concessions were sold to pay for the DJs, and of course, chaperones kept a close eye on the teens – even if “all of the guys just stood around,” as Martin, who lives in Appling, says.

“We liked having a place to go and something to do,” he says. “It was something to look forward to on a Saturday night.”

The Reunion Committee members hope their old friends are looking forward to the chance to get together again as well. People are coming from as far away as Arizona to attend.

“It’s a very important part of my life because back in the ’60s, we were a small community. It was like everyone was family,” Agner says.

If You Go:
What: Teen Town Reunion
When: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday, June 21
Where: Elks Lodge, 205 Elkdom Court, Augusta
How Much: $25; all remaining proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project
More Info: Call Susan Agner at (706) 833-6752 or visit the Martinez Teentown Reunion
Facebook page

Shrimp Tacos

Entrees
  • Shrimp-Tacos1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 1/2 cups sour cream

  • 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning mix, divided

  • 1 cup diced seedless cucumber

  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)

  • 2 avocados, peeled and diced

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • Butter lettuce leaves, torn

  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Colby Jack cheese

  • 1 cup chunky salsa

  • 12 flour tortillas or taco shells

Steam, boil or grill shrimp. In a large bowl, combine sour cream and 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix; mix well. Stir in the cucumbers, onions, avocados and lemon juice. In a small bowl, toss the shrimp and the remaining taco seasoning mix together. Layer tortillas or taco shells with lettuce, sour cream mixture, shrimp, cheese and salsa. Makes 12.

Georgia-South Carolina Beaches

Beach Guide

Opening IllusWhether you’re looking for a day at the beach or a weeklong retreat, all kinds of summer fun are only a short drive away. 

Head east or south from Augusta on almost any route and in about three hours you will find yourself pulling up to a beautiful beach. The challenge of vacationing or spending a day along the Georgia-South Carolina coast lies neither in getting there nor in finding a lovely spot to kick off your shoes and dig your toes in the sand. It lies in deciding which of the varied possibilities suits you best. Family fun, great golf, elegant resorts, history lessons, wildlife refuges and quiet retreats dot the coast in multiple shapes and sizes. Even if you have already discovered your destinations and activities of choice, a few changes along these shores just might be worth checking out.

Myrtle Beach

The iconic beachfront Pavilion Amusement Park is gone, but some of the pavilion’s classic rides, including the Herschell-Spillman Carousel, Wave Rider and the Caterpillar, were moved a couple of miles inland. They have taken up residence at the Pavilion Nostalgia Park at Broadway at the Beach, a shopping and entertainment complex. The historic German Baden Band Organ, five skill games from the old midway and a Pavilion Museum found a home there as well.

About six miles off the beach, where Hard Rock Park opened and closed in six months last year, the Freestyle Music Park continues to feature rock and roll. However, the park has expanded its reach to include country, reggae, beach music, pop, R&B, alternative, Christian and disco. The 55-acre theme park offers more than 50 attractions including roller coasters, shows, children’s play areas, restaurants, cafés and retail stores, a multi-purpose live music amphitheatre and an ultra-modern sound system. Only time will tell if this new park can replace the beloved pavilion as the site of vacationland memory making and draw the crowds it needs to survive. Owners hope a more family friendly atmosphere and better relationships with the Myrtle Beach community will prove the secrets of their success.

The beauty of Myrtle Beach itself and the generous array of places to stay remain unchanged. Resorts, hotels, motels and condos stretch densely back from the beach to offer accommodations to about 500,000 sun and fun seekers during the summer. The strip along Ocean Boulevard still offers its wax museum, museum of oddities and endless T-shirt and gift shops. The NASCAR Speed Park remains the place for speed demons young and old to test their skills on multiple tracks. More than 100 golf courses – many with championship layouts – await the golfer, and nightlife offers live music at places like Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, Le Grande Cirque at the Palace Theater and the House of Blues. Great outlet shopping rounds out the area’s offerings. (800) 356-3016; myrtlebeachinfo.com

North Myrtle Beach

This quieter northern neighbor offers a lower key alternative to Myrtle Beach. Condos, cottages and small motels are the primary accommodations, and nightlife leans toward well-weathered dance spots known for beach music and shagging. North Myrtle Beach – Windy Hill, Crescent Beach, Cherry Grove, and Ocean Drive – may be most like Myrtle Beach in its abundant golfing possibilities. Most of its 100-plus golf courses are open to the public. (877) 332-2662; northmyrtlebeachchamber.com 

Surfside and Garden City Beach

Just south of Myrtle Beach, these getaways may be the best-kept secrets on Highway 17. Called “the family beach,” Surfside has an active residential community along with rental houses, hotels and condominiums that make it a thriving vacation destination as well. The Surfside Pier is a favorite fishing spot, boasting the likes of amber jack, bluefish, cobia, flounder, king mackerel, pompano, tarpon and whiting/southern kingfish species.

The 668-foot pier at Garden City Beach also offers fishing and a more family-oriented experience with a rain shelter and a variety of eateries and taverns in the ocean village. Worth finding is the Gulf Stream Café, which stands at the end of a residential road. Sure to serve a delicious meal of fresh seafood and traditional cuisine, the two-story restaurant also promises the best view of the best sunsets you’ve ever seen over the Atlantic Ocean and Murrells Inlet. dunes.com

Murrells Inlet

Tucked along the winding shores of the Waccamaw Neck, this beach boasts a colorful, pirate-filled history. Today’s boat captains offer fishing charters every day for those interested in reeling in a fresh meal. If that’s not your style, this little fishing village has waterfront seafood markets and more than 30 restaurants. Two of the most highly recommended are Southern Supper, with a menu ranging from fresh seafood to Southern-fried favorites, and the Hot Fish Club, which has a new chef and management this year. This restaurant offers a great view, fresh seafood dishes and pork chops and steaks worthy of comment. Outback, the Gazebo at the Hot Fish Club, is one of the hottest spots in the area for live entertainment. (843) 357-2007; murrellsinletsc.com

Litchfield Beaches

Here you get to feel “away from it all,” but still have easy access to golf, shopping, bird watching, sightseeing and just about anything else that comes to mind. Wildlife sanctuaries border Litchfield on the north and south; the beautiful Brookgreen Gardens are just three miles away, and Myrtle Beach is a 15-minute drive away. Made up of Litchfield, North Litchfield and Litchfield by the Sea, the area spreads between the Waccamaw River and the ocean, offering oceanfront rooms, poolside condos and lovely homes with terraces on the marsh. Litchfield by the Sea has its own water park, and Litchfield Plantation offers the experience of waking up in an 18th-century manor house on the river. (888) 766-4633; litchfieldbeach.com

Pawley’s Island

Although residents and regulars lovingly refer to the place as “arrogantly shabby,” this beach island has been home to the Pawley’s Plantation Golf and Country Club for more than 20 years. The resort offers decidedly unshabby one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas that overlook the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and the surrounding wildlife refuge. Not to worry though. The laid-back atmosphere continues to thrive just down the road. Tucked into the dunes, the Pelican Inn, a nine-room bed and breakfast, and the Sea View Inn, a 20-room inn, still provide wonderful experiences wrapped in salty ocean breezes and the smell of southern cooking. There are also condominiums and homes to rent along this barrier island that is less than four miles long and mostly one house wide. Originally an 18th- and 19th-century retreat for wealthy rice growers, the island now draws people across the salt marsh for activities like crabbing in the local creeks and strolling barefoot along the shore. The island’s main export – hammocks, which were designed in the 1880s by an area riverboat captain – offers all the insight required to understand the area mentality. (843) 273-4698; townofpawleysisland.com

Isle of Palms

After World War II, attorney J.C. Long developed this 7-mile-long, 1-mile-wide island as a place where service people could afford to buy homes and raise a family. Some of those original families and their descendents still live here, and the island maintains a wide range of accommodation and recreation options. Before you begin to explore, though, you may want to turn down J.C. Long Boulevard and find the Sea Biscuit Café. Here you can mix with locals and visitors over great dishes like shrimp with gravy and crab-filled omelets. Later in the day you may also want to check out the burgers and crab cakes at Long Island Café on Palm Boulevard. For a place to lay your head, the possibilities include small beachfront condos that rent by the night. Heading north, huge new houses, which were built to replace what Hurricane Hugo destroyed, line the public access beach. Wild Dunes Resort offers golf, tennis and 300-plus vacation rentals including the brand new Village at Wild Dunes and the family friendly Boardwalk Inn. The Inn’s beachfront pavilion has two pools, a food concession and a bar. Plus, it provides welcome cover from rain or heat. The surf is just right for wave jumping and body surfing, and the beautiful dunes invite late afternoon returns for kite flying. (888) 778-1876; wildddunes.com 

Sullivan’s Island

Named for Captain Florence O’Sullivan, who was stationed at the island’s lighthouse in the late 17th century, this island guards the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Its streets boast quintessential beach houses with screened porches, porch swings and ceiling fans. Ocean breezes keep bike riding pleasant almost all day for trips to the beach or down to Fort Moultrie to look back at 200 years of history that includes the first decisive defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War and the initial shots on Fort Sumter. In July the island also became the site of the first “bench by the road” to be placed and dedicated by the Toni Morrison Society, a non-profit group dedicated to examining the author’s work. This project grew out of a comment she made that no memorial existed to commemorate slaves and their history – “There’s no 300-foot tower; there’s no small bench by the road.” This first bench of many to be placed at significant sites in black history, along with Morrison’s novels that honor that history, gives all who visit a place to sit for reflection or discussion. Sullivan’s Island was chosen because it was the point of entry for more than 40 percent of the slaves who entered this country.

In March the Fort Moultrie Visitors Center unveiled its new African Passages exhibit that includes artifacts of the slave trade as well as haunting Middle Passage charcoal works of Thomas Feelings and the exuberant Gullah art of Jonathan Green. (843) 883-3198; sullivansislandsc.com; nps.gov/fosu/parknews/african-passages-museum-exhibit.htm

Bull Island

Just 16 miles north of Charleston, this retreat in the Cape Roman National Wildlife Refuge is utterly isolated and convenient to visit for a day of hiking and wildlife watching. Its 62,000 acres is the longest stretch of pristine wilderness and protected coastline on the East Coast. The 30-minute ferry ride from Garris Landing in Awendaw, S.C., takes you through the salt marsh home of dolphins, egrets, pelicans and herons. Sixteen miles of island trails include a mile-and-a-half hike to Boneyard Beach to see huge downed trees that have been bleached by sun and salt water to look like old bones. More than 20 species of reptiles, including alligators, inhabit the island, and more than 300 species of birds have been seen there. (843) 928-3368; coastalexpeditions.com/ferry.htm

Folly Beach

Just 15 minutes southeast of Charleston, this hang-10 haven boasts some of the best surfing on the East Coast. Because the island is just 6.5- by-2 miles (at its widest point), surfers can get to the beach quickly whenever one of the many surf cam Web sites shows the time is right. George and Ira Gershwin spent the summer of 1934 here while they collaborated with Dubose Heyward, Charleston native and author of Porgy, on the folk opera, Porgy and Bess. The Gullahs on adjacent James Island became the prototypes for the opera’s Catfish Row residents. Homes and condos populate most of Folly Beach, but there is an oceanfront Holiday Inn, called Charleston on the Beach. follysurfcam.com; cityoffollybeach.com 

Seabrook Island

This private beachfront community offers peaceful seclusion in a natural environment and a welcoming neighborhood. Although the 2,200-acre resort includes horseback riding, tennis, golf, a deepwater marina and a world-class fitness center, it also is committed to protecting the environment. The golf course was South Carolina’s first Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and the distinctive lowcountry homes are nestled among giant oaks. There are also villas and cottages along the ocean, lake and marina.  (843) 768-9192; discoverseabrook.com

Kiawah Island

With its 10-mile stretch of beach, this getaway is paradise for anyone seeking luxurious waterfront accommodations and relaxing outdoor activities. But it is sheer heaven for golfers. Kiawah’s Ocean Course was made famous by the dramatic 1991 Ryder Cup, which became known as the “War by the Shore.” The course has been ranked 25th on Golf Digest’s 100 best courses list and 4th on the Best Public Courses list. Fittingly named, the course has 10 holes along the Atlantic while the other eight run parallel to the ocean. The course, the setting for the 2000 movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, will be the site of the 2012 PGA Championship. Four other courses – Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point and Cougar Point – also offer satisfying challenges in beautiful settings for golfers of all abilities. (888) 559-9024; Kiawahisland.com

Edisto Island

With its rich, fertile soil, this island was once home to cotton and indigo planters who enjoyed great wealth and built majestic plantation homes and churches before the Civil War. The cotton fields now grow vegetables and melons, but the beautiful old homes still stand as historic sites framed by old oak trees hung with Spanish moss. Islanders proudly describe Edisto as “old, shabby, chic” and enjoy a relaxed beach lifestyle in the stately atmosphere of earlier days. Vacation accommodations include rental houses, townhouses, resorts and multiple hotels. Edisto State Park offers marsh-side cabins and limited oceanfront camping. The park also offers the region’s best shelling on public property. edistobeach.com

Harbor Island

The only way onto this 1,400-acre barrier island is with a reservation in one of the private rental homes, condominiums or villas. The island, part of the 350,000-acre ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve, sits on the edge of the biologically rich St. Helena marina. As a result, a day spent on the island’s two-and-a-half-miles of hard-packed sandy beaches can include sightings of dolphins, pelicans, egrets, and herons in the rookeries just off the beach. HarborIsland-sc.com 

Hunting Island State Park

Just 18 miles southeast of Beaufort, this getaway works as an easy day trip from the Augusta area. Arrive in Beaufort for lunch and a short tour to check out local movie settings including Tindalholm, the house where The Prince of Tides and The Big Chill were filmed. Ride out to the park – also the site of movies such as Forrest Gump and GI Jane – to walk on the beach, check out the lighthouse and enjoy the marsh boardwalk. Then either spend a little more time on the beach, fish off the pier or hike in the maritime forest before you head home. Cabins and campsites also are available for overnight stays. Huntingisland.com.

Fripp Island

This secluded island, once was a favorite hiding place for 17th-century pirates, is an appealing vacation escape. One of those pirates, Captain Johannes Fripp, was called on by England’s King Charles to protect the British settlement at Beaufort. He served the crown well enough to receive the deed to the island that now bears his name as compensation. Rumors abound that pirates’ treasures are still buried on the island, but the obvious treasure of the place is its natural beauty and relaxed pace. Golf carts are the favorite mode of transportation. Recreation includes crabbing, tennis and three oceanfront golf courses. The entire island has been designated a wildlife sanctuary, so deer roam freely and bird watching is a rewarding activity. The community also is committed to protecting its loggerhead sea turtle population, and nature education programs, including Camp Fripp for kids, are offered. Fripp is a private resort, so only a reservation will get you through the gate. Accommodations include rental homes, villas and efficiencies. Frippvacation.com.

Hilton Head Island

The 55-square-mile, boot-shaped island boasts a history as lively as its main thoroughfare. Before English Captain William Hilton “discovered” the island in 1663, it had been inhabited seasonally by Woodland Indians thousands of years before and by the Spanish in the 1500s. The island, which has a storied military history, began its incarnation as a resort destination in 1957 when Sea Pines Plantation was founded on 5,000 acres at the southern tip of the island.

From the start, Sea Pines established the plantation model for development and set the standard of preserving the natural environment as the island grew. Oceanfront buildings could be no taller than the surrounding oak trees, and they had to sit back from the shore and blend into the environment as much as possible. Housing options at the resort include large beachfront homes, modest villas and the 60-room Inn at Harbour Town. Sea Pines boasts multiple golf courses, tennis complexes, restaurants and shopping. Horseback riding through 600 acres of forest is also available. In Sea Pines and beyond the requirement for subtle signage and the prohibition of neon signs continue the commitment to preserving the area’s natural beauty.

About ten plantation-style resorts cover much of the island. They include Palmetto Dunes and Shipyard, which offer oceanfront hotels, villas and homes, plus their own restaurants, and golf and tennis facilities. Disney even has a family resort in Shelter Cove Harbour. Checking in at any of the large resorts can mean parking the car for the length of the stay. There are also freestanding villas and hotels such as Sea Crest Villas, Beachwalk Hotel and the Holiday Inn Hilton Head Island (Oceanfront). Exceptional shopping is available as well for those who do not mind braving the traffic that has come with the island’s growth. Possibilities include the beachfront Coligny Plaza, Mall at Shelter Cove, Pineland Station, Tanger Outlets and high-end boutiques at Harbour Town and South Beach. More than 2.5 million visitors make their way to the island annually, but its size and careful development mean it can still offer a restful retreat. 800-523-3373; hiltonheadisland.org.

Daufuskie Island

Take a short ferry ride across Calabogue Sound from Hilton Head to retreat to the quieter setting for Pat Conroy’s book The Water is Wide, which was made into the movie Conrak. Descendants of former slaves live on small farms, and tours of former slave quarters, a 200-year-old cemetery and a local winery are available. The Daufuskie Island Resort and Spa closed in March of this year. The facility has plans, but no definite date, to reopen (check daufuskiemagic.com for updates), so the only accommodations on the island for now are private home rentals. Daufuskieislandrentals.com

Tybee Island

The scheduled filming of Miley Cyrus’ next film, The Last Song, from mid-June through August on the island and in Savannah might disrupt the laidback atmosphere this summer. However, hosting celebrities is nothing new for Tybee – Sandra Bullock and John Mellencamp have homes there – and movies have been set throughout the area. Still, island residents and regular visitors expect a higher shriek factor this summer as they anticipate teenage fans to descend on Tybee to catch a glimpse of Cyrus. For those more interested in relaxation, the island’s three miles of beach were refurbished during the off-season with 1.2 million yards of sand. Kayak and boat tours offer a close-up view of bottlenose dolphins and other area wildlife. Fort Pulaski and the Tybee Island Museum and Light Station provide fun diversions as well. Accommodations include beachfront hotels, condos and rental cottages, some in restored historic homes. Tybeeisland.com

Sapelo Island

Multiple layers of natural and human history cover this 16,000-acre retreat, Georgia’s fourth largest barrier island, which is 60 miles south of Savannah. The ferry ride from Meridian requires proof of a reservation for an island tour, a campsite or one of the island’s few lodgings. On the boat, you could find yourself with a dolphin escort, and once you arrive, the island features a wealth of Geechee (Georgia’s sea island equivalent to Gullah) culture and marsh-fed wildlife to explore. Reynolds Mansion provides a beautiful setting for group events, and the Wallow Guest House, located in the Hog Hammock Community made up of descendants of Spalding plantation slaves, includes individual rooms. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources offers an artist-in-residence program. The Sapelo Island Visitors Center of Meridian has exhibits about the island and sells tickets for round-trip ferry rides and an island bus tour. Sapelonerr.org. 

Little St. Simons

Privately owned and accessible only by a 15-minute boat ride from St. Simons, this serene escape beckons those who want to reconnect with nature, friends and family. Ten thousand acres of untouched tidal creeks, marsh, forest and beach await. The Lodge houses only 30 guests with a package that includes three family-style meals a day, drinks at cocktail hour and equipment for activities such as horseback riding and fly-fishing. Three naturalists on staff give nature talks and tours about the abundant wildlife on the untouched island. Day trips are available by reservation only. They run from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and start with a ferry ride from Hampton River Club Marina. They include an island tour, a lunch of lowcountry specialties and an afternoon on the beach. (912) 638-7472; littlestsimonsisland.com

St. Simons Island

Start your visit here with a trip to Pier Village and a climb up the 129 steps to the top of St. Simons Lighthouse. You’ll enjoy a view of the coast down to Cumberland Island and have a chance to soak in the warm, calming ocean air that defines the atmosphere on this barrier island. A playground on the ocean by the village pier allows children of all ages to swing to the rhythm of the surf. From the pier you can wander up Mallory Street and shop for island wear, lowcountry art, antiques and more. A trolley tour provides an overview of the island’s historic sites, including Christ Church and Fort Frederica, and kayaking tours explore the marsh creeks. The island is also home to a wealth of Gullah/Geechee culture, which will be celebrated June 19-21 at Pier Village in the Annual Original Georgia Sea Island Festival. Accommodations include the oceanfront King and Prince, which opened in 1935 as a dance club and still boasts a vibrant atmosphere, and the Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort, which is set on the marsh with access to the ocean through St. Simons Beach Club.  There is a range of other vacation rentals, plus a Holiday Inn Express that rents bikes for the two-mile trip to the beach. The firm, sandy beaches offer good surf at high tide and flat stretches up to 100 feet wide at low tide. stsimonsguide.com

Sea Island

Owned by the same family for four generations, this resort has resisted commercialization and offers a secluded, magnolia-covered experience at the Cloister, which offers a variety of ways to absorb the island’s beachfront beauty and Southern charm. The resort is luxurious, elegant and family friendly. Everyone dresses for dinner, but the Cloister also has a legendary children’s program and offers Bingo on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The main hotel has the feel of an Old World Mediterranean-style mansion with marble floors, stucco archways, arched windows and intricate plasterwork. Guest rooms include hardwood floors, wood-beamed ceilings, 500-thread count sheets and 45-inch LCD high definition televisions. There are also Beach Club rooms and suites as well as oceanfront villas with private pool and beach access.

The new Sea Island Beach Club offers sailing schools and kayak clinics along with three new pools and cabanas and umbrellas for soaking up the island’s pristine private beach. The new spa and fitness center has already received Mobile 5-star accolades and offers individual services or a full-day retreat. The Cloister also offers a shooting school and multiple championship golf courses. The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club offers a more golf-centered, 5-star experience. This year’s economic challenges have led to some layoffs at the Cloister, which means the staff will have to deliver its legendary service with fewer helping hands. In addition to the resort accommodations, about one-third of Sea Island’s 500 private homes, traditionally called cottages, are available for rent through the Cloister. They range in size from three to nine bedrooms and afford guests membership at the Sea Island Club during their stay. 888-732-4752; seaisland.com

Jekyll Island

The only self-sustaining state park in Georgia, this island is in the midst of a multi-year, multi-faceted revitalization project to spruce up as a vacation and convention destination. The island will maintain its long-term commitments to leaving 65 percent of the island undeveloped and to providing beach vacations to budget-minded travelers.

The Jekyll Oceanfront Resort became the first of the revitalization projects to open in November 2008. It offers one- to three-bedroom units in two-story buildings on a 10-acre property. Also new on the island is The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which offers evening turtle walks in June and July and morning hatchling walks in August and September. In addition, the center offers Arribada Adventures, a family-based program for those who want to learn about the life histories of sea and other turtles.

Jekyll also boasts the newly dedicated memorial to the Wanderer, the last known slave ship to come to land in Georgia and the last slaving expedition known to have reached the United States without repercussions. The Wanderer exhibit can be seen at St. Andrews Picnic Area on the south end of the island. Also well worth a visit is Millionaires Village, which from 1886 to 1947 was a winter hunting resort for the likes of J.P. Morgan, Everett Macy, Joseph Pulitzer, William Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Great Depression and World War II led these wealthy families to abandon their coastal Georgia retreats. Some of those homes have been restored and preserved and are open for touring. Two cottages have also been renovated and serve as guest rooms of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, a distinctive Victorian-style resort that was built originally as a club for the island’s wealthy visitors. This fall the Jekyll Island Club will expand its offerings to include the oceanfront Hampton Inn and Suites, which is part of the revitalization plan and under construction on the previous Holiday Inn and Suites site. Later developments will include redeveloped shopping and entertainment areas along the beach. Jekyll has golf and other recreational options as well. Jekyllisland.com

Cumberland Island

Georgia’s southernmost barrier island is the place to see wild horses roaming the beaches and to camp along the seashore in one of five National Wilderness sites. Guests also can enjoy a more elegant retreat at the distinctive Greyfield Inn. Once the site of several lavish homes built by Thomas Carnegie, brother of Andrew, Cumberland Island is now a vital, secluded wildlife sanctuary with limited overnight accommodations. The island offers ranger-guided tours and daily craft activities for children. It is also possible to take in the island on your own by enjoying the solitude and sanctuary of the marshes, dunes, ponds, beaches, forest and lakes. Other island wildlife includes sea turtles, otters, blue herons, snowy egrets and wood storks.

The island also has a few historic sites to visit, including the Dungeness Ruins, the Plum Orchard Mansion and the First African Baptist Church in the Settlement. Greyfield Inn, which is the only remaining home from the Carnegie estate, has only 16 rooms, but non-guests can also dine there. Any visit to the island begins with a 45-minute ride from St. Mary’s, Ga., on the Cumberland Queen ferry, which requires reservations that can be made as much as six months in advance. The heaviest ferry bookings are in the summer months. (904) 261-6408; nps.gov/cuis; greyfieldinn.com

 

By Carole C. Lee
Illustrations by Jason Crosby

10 Under $10 (or FREE!)

Beach Guide

10 under 10

Call a Search Party
Collect pristine shells and shark’s teeth at Edisto State Park. The beach has the best shelling on public property in the region. $1.50 to $4 per person, under 5 are free. www.southcarolinaparks.com 

Enjoy a High Light
Get a bird’s eye view of Hilton Head Island atop the 90-foot Harbor Town Lighthouse in Sea Pines. Entrance to Sea Pines is $5 per car, tour is $3 per person. Under 5 are free. 866.305.9814, www.harbourtownlighthouse.com 

Venture to Wipe Out
 Hang ten at “The Washout,” Folly Beach’s most popular area for catching a wave. Folly serves up some of the best surfing on the East Coast. Surfing and most parking are free. $1/hour lots are also available. www.follybeach.com

Go Gator Gazin’
Take a break from the sun and go on a four-mile gator drive at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. You can easily spot the reptiles sunning themselves on the banks of waterways. Visits to the refuge are all free. www.fws.gov/savannah 

Catch Beach Fever
Boogie barefoot (or with sand in your shoes) along the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach. OD is where the famous form of dancing called “The Shag” originated decades ago. Shaggin’ on the beach is always free. 

Soak up the Fun
Have a blast at the 2009 Myrtle Beach Sun Fun Festival June 4 through Labor Day weekend. You won’t have to dig into your wallets to enjoy events like hot air balloon and boat rides, celebrity meet-and-greets and character parades — it’s all free! www.sunfunfestival.com

Make Tracks
Tout the turtle during Jekyll Island’s Nest Fest at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center June 8-14. The week of family-friendly activities showcases the island and the sea turtles that nest here. $4-$6, under 3 free. www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org

Absorb Local Color
Stroll above the ocean, people watch, fish and picnic at Tybee Island’s south-end pier and pavilion. Picnic tables, snack bar and public restrooms are available. Free. www.tybeeisland.com

Get Crackin’
Watch free fireworks shows after dark in Myrtle Beach every Monday night at Barefoot Landing and every Tuesday night at Broadway on the Beach, two of the most popular shopping, dining and entertainment areas in Myrtle. www.barefootlanding.com, www.broadwayatthebeach.com 

Eat on the Porch
On the way to Hunting Island, follow the cue of locals and stop at the Shrimp Shack (right before the bridge to the island) for shrimp burgers, sweet-potato fries and sweet tea. It’s pretty much a big screened-in porch overlooking the marsh, where you can watch the shrimp boats dock while you eat. Most items under $10. (843) 838-2962, 1929 Sea Island Parkway.

Beach Basics

Beach Guide

Beach BasicsDon’t…

Wear a Speedo
Ewww. Goes without saying. 

Look at Your Watch
In fact, don’t wear one at all. 

Order Philly Cheesesteak
Coast…seafood — get it, y’all? 

Crank Up the Country
Who wants to cry in your beer at the beach? 

Bring a Briefcase
Seriously, your co-workers deserve the chance to miss you. 

Indulge in Too Much Sun
Unless flaking skin and blisters are the look you’re trying to achieve. 

 

Do…

Wear Board Shorts
Darlin’, these are the hottest trunks for hunks. 

Watch the Sunrise
There’s a reason East Coasters get to see it first. 

Order the Catch of the Day
Be sure to add hush puppies and sweet tea on the side. 

Show Off Your Shaggin’
It’s all about the Tams, Embers, and Chairmen of the Board. 

Bring a Beach Bag
And pack it with the essentials – sunscreen, towel and trashy novel. 

Indulge in At Least One Fruity Drink
You know, garnished with a cute little umbrella (or plastic sword for you manly