There are plans for an early 2009 bicycle tour that will advance trails in both Georgia and northeast Florida. For five days starting January 14, 25 coastal Georgians will ride the invitational Savannah-Northeast Florida Workshop on Wheels that begins in St. Marys, Georgia, and continues along off-road trails, bicycle lanes, backroads and ferries through Florida’s Amelia Island, Jacksonville, Clay and St. Johns counties.
“The tour will greatly advance regional ecotourism,†says Visit Jacksonville President John G. Reyes.
“Cycling and trail-riding is just one of the many experiences that the Savannah area has to offer,†says
Savannah Convention & Visitor Bureau President Joseph Marinelli. “The Workshop on Wheels will be good
exposure for the sport through coastal Georgia.”
“It will greatly focus trail-building through our six coastal counties,†says Jo Hickson of the Coastal Georgia
Greenway.
“It will put the East Coast Greenway on the map in its two most important southern states,†says Herb Hiller,
Southeast Region Program Consultant to the East Coast Greenway Alliance. Bankers, elected officials, educators, land developers, lawyers, and MDs are among the touring group. They’ll not only ride an average of 25 miles a day. “Evenings,†says host committee chairman David Strickland, Community Bank Vice Chairman of Everbank, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, “they’ll meet with political leaders, parks and transportation planners, tourism leaders, trail advocates and others to learn the best so far accomplished in northeast Florida and about issues affecting how the region further develops trails.â€
The touring group is expected to report back to Savannah, Chatham County and regional authorities about
how best to connect trails through Georgia’s six coastal counties. Earlier this year the Coastal Georgia
Greenway and East Coast Greenway Alliance designated their first sections of state trail in Woodbine and in
Richmond Hill.
Also earlier this year, Visit Florida, ECGA and tourism agencies in Nassau, Duval and St. Johns counties
published the first guide to the East Coast Greenway in Florida.
The touring group will overnight in St. Marys B&Bs, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Ponte Vedra
Beach Resorts, and at Amelia Island Plantation.
Additional organizations involved in the event include the Trust for Public Land, St. Johns River Alliance, St.
Marys Tourism, Camden Community Trails, Bike Florida, the North Florida Bicycle Club, Amelia Island Tourist Development Council, and the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.
St. Marys Candlelight Tour of Homes – Georgia
The public is invited to re-live the joys of an old-fashioned Christmas as they tour historic homes, inns, and Churches and other historic buildings from 5 to 9 pm on December 13, 2008.
An annual tradition hosted by St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau partnering, with the Historic Preservation Commission; this year’s tour includes some sites that the public might not ordinarily have access to such as the old city jail in City Hall, the Historic St. Marys Railroad Depot.
Some of the city’s most beautiful bed and breakfasts and homes will be on the tour this year as well, each uniquely decorated in the fashion of their era. The Bachlott House (home of the National Park Service), the Stotesbury Johnson House (home of Family Matters), six private homes, two bed and breakfast inns, and five churches will open their doors for the event—many serving refreshments.
Carolers will further enhance the Norman Rockwell experience, and other entertainment includes bagpipes and hand bells.
Transportation between tour stops will be provided by golf carts hosted by members of the St. Marys Golf Cart Association , the St. Marys First Baptist Church bus, and the new Convention & Visitors Bureau trolley.
Tickets may be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, 406 Osborne Street, Sheila’s Hallmark, The Goodbread House, Cumberland Inn & Suites, Spencer House, French Quarter, Once Upon a Bookseller, and at the ITT Department at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base for $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour.
This year’s Candlelight Tour is dedicated to the memory of St. Marys’ beloved resident and history lover Ann Stacy. Proceeds will benefit the Historic Preservation Commission of St. Marys and support tourism development by St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau.
For more information about the tour, call 912-882-4000. For information about St. Marys, visit www.stmaryswelcome.com.
Christmas in Woodbine Tour of Homes , Georgia
Enjoy a Christmas Celebration in small, charming and historic Woodbine. Tour historic homes and churches. Enjoy an art exhibit featuring local artist and juried works of CCHS Art Students. Soup & Sandwich Supper at St. Marks Episcopal Church at 5:00 p.m. Supper tickets are $5.00 at the door. Tour of Homes Tickets and map at the Woodbine City Hall for $10.00 the day of the event. For more information call 912-576-3211.
White Lighting Ceremony in St Marys, Georgia
Every year everyone gathers downtown around dusk for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The historic downtown area is already decorated for the holidays, with lots of twinkling white lights and reefs. If you live in the area, you’ll spend the time talking to neighbors and friends, while kids spend most of their time running around. The Market on the Square probably sells more hot chocolate on this particular day than any other day of the year. It seems as if everyone in Camden comes downtown for the White Lighting, so it’s a great time to catch up with old friends.
The events begins with a parade starting from the old paper mill. The parade slowly proceeds down the holiday decorated main street – Osborne Street. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly, it can take them a good 20 minutes to make it all the way downtown, so you might need a refill on that chocolate. While you wait for Santa’s arrival there are also dance and music performances on stage.
And finally, when Mr and Mrs Santa make it downtown, the City Christmas Tree is lit. Afterwards young kids get the opportunity to tell Santa himself what they want for Christmas.
So bring your whole gang to downtown St Marys on December 2nd for the White Lighting. There is simply no better way to get into the holiday spirit!
For more information, please call 912-882-4000.T
The Thanksgiving Dinner for Cruisers – St Marys, GA
If you are a cruiser and going south for the winter- St. Marys is a stopping place for boaters from all over the world. Each cruiser brings a covered dish, local boaters provide the turkey and ham for delicious food and fun filled Thanksgiving. This is the fifth annual Thanksgiving Celebration for boaters wanting to share their cruising stories and meet new people in our friendly historic waterfront town.