Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Concourse d’Elegance

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For those of you who are interested vintage cars who are impatiently waiting for this year’s Concourse d’Elegance & Motoring Festival in Hilton Head – here is an opportunity to get see what the past year’s event was like and see great cars.  I just received an email in my inbox telling me about these TV shows.

The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival is going to be showcased on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage. Also, you can catch the Festival’s Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic on the SPEED Channel Sunday, August 22 at 10:00 PM ET or Tuesday, August 24 at 3:00 PM ET.

For more information about the festival visit our special events page for Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival

Football Fever in Jacksonville – Gator Bowl Tickets on Sale

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Football season is starting in Jacksonville, Florida, with lots of excitement. The 2011 Gator Bowl will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on January 1st and will feature the SEC and Big Ten for the first time in over fifteen years. Get your tickets now and beat the rush for good seats.

Click here for Gator Bowl Tickets!

We will update our special page for Gator Bowl in Jacksonville throughout the season, so check back often.

Labor Day Weekend – Georgia – 2010

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Labor Day is always a big deal on the coast of Georgia with a variety of annual festivals and events. It’ll be hard to choose, but here’s a quick rundown to help you with you plan your weekend getaway trip.

Savannah Craft Brew Fest

Let’s start in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is always a beautiful city to visit, especially in the warmer season. You can take a nice walk down to Riverstreet. One of our favorite places to visit for a drink, something to eat or just to people watch is the City Market.

But if you visit Savannah during Labor Day weekend, the place to be is Savannah Craft Brew Fest. This event start already on September 4 with the grande tasting event on Saturday September 5.

For more information visit our special page about Savannah Craft Brew Fest.

Tybee Island Beach Bash

About a 20 minute drive from Savannah, you’ll find Tybee Island, often referred to as Savannah’s own beach.  If you’re looking to spend your Labor Day weekend on the beach – why not head out to Tybee Island. The island has plenty of nice restaurants and bars, quaint shops and on Saturday September 5, 2010, Tybee celebrates the weekend with a big bash. It’s the Tybee Island Labor Day Beach Bash – complete with fireworks.

Read more here – Tybee Island Labor Day Beach Bash

You have to taste the catfish!

In Camden County further south, Labor Day weekend is celebrated every year with a festival. It’s the annual Kingsland Catfish Festival. This festival of course serves southern fried catfish – but besides food, the festival comes with vendors, arts & crafts, live music and a parade.

Read more here about the Kingsland Catfish Festival

Click here to watch our video podcast about Labor Day Weekend!

It’s Shark Week in Charleston and Jacksonville

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As you know, it’s Shark Week this week on Discovery Channel.  This summer favorite first aired in 1987 and it has been a cable TV hit ever since with a cult-like following. Shark Week features documentaries and educational programs about sharks for seven days straight.  This year Shark week is hosted by Late Late Show’s own Craig Ferguson, I’m not sure what knowledge about the big fish the Scotsman can bring to the table – but I’m sure Craig will boost ratings.

Here at Coastal Companion we decided to make our own version of Shark Week. After all, who want’s to spend a whole week watching TV in the summer?

Take a look at our ides for what to do during Shark Week.


Jacksonville Sharks
Guys like to watch hard hits and lots of action, isn’t that how Shark Week got popular in the first place? But when we talk about Sharks in Jacksonville, were not talking about fish with big teeth, we’re talking lots of arena football action with the city’s home team – The Jacksonville Sharks.  It’s the first year for the team, and they are the South Division Champions of the Arena Football League. Take a look at the incredible action in our video from the last game Jacksonville Sharks vs. Spokane Shock!

Fans are have created their own Shark Dance, the dance team is the Shark Attack team – and it’s just a lot of “fin-tastic fun”! (Click here to watch our video and see for yourself) The Jacksonville Sharks are what Discovery Channel commentators would put it “nature’s perfect killing machine”! The team is  in the playoffs and are facing the Orlando Predators at the Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday August 6. The question is are the Predators  going to become shark bait? Yeah, it is definitely Shark Week in Jacksonville.

Love at First Bite in Charleston
In South Carolina the aquarium celebrates Shark Week with a week long celebration of all things Shark.  Catch one of the shark-themed dive shows, participate in new special interactive activities such as ‘Sharkeology’ and ‘Shark Shapes,’ venture through Shark Alley to see the real size of some of these silent giants and of course, marvel at live sharks swimming in the Aquarium’s largest exhibit, the Great Ocean Tank.

For those who swim with the big fish,  on Thursday, August 5, there’s a a FREE showing of the classic shark movie, ‘Jaws’ at the Aquarium’s Movie on the Lawn! See ‘Jaws’ on the big screen with the sound of the ocean just beyond your seat. Lawn opens at 7 p.m. with the movie beginning at dark. Before the movie starts, interact with Aquarium educators rovering the lawn and watch an Aquarium-made short film on shark myths. This is a free showing, although donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the conservation efforts at the Aquarium. Bring your own chair or blanket.

The South Carolina Aquarium will celebrate Shark Week July 30 – August 8, 2010. For more information, visit scaquarium.org/sharkweek or call (843) 577-FISH (3474).

Sandbar Shark, courtesy of: South Carolina Aquarium

Things to do in Georgia – August 2010

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I never get tired of visiting Savannah with its beautiful squares and beautiful architecture. In the summer, downtown is usually filled with people and there’s a lot going on.  There are so many different places to sit down, have a bite to eat or a drink.  With the beginning of a new month comes another “week of firsts” – and in Savannah there are even two special events.

Savannah Westin Hotel, GeorgiaIt’s always a pleasure to visit the riverfront in downtown Savannah, especially in the summer.  Lot’s of people, and lots of fun.  To finish off a day of sightseeing head to the riverfront for First Friday Fireworks on August 6, 2010 at 9:30 pm.  Then on Saturday August 7, it’s the First Saturday on the river, with lots of events, arts & crafts and fun for the whole family.

St. Simons is also busy in the summer.  In the evenings, lots of people walk down to the pier to watch the sunset or the fishermen.  If you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin or two.

The Jazz in the park at the lawn of St. Simons Lighthouse has become a favorite summer event in the Golden Isles area. This month the concert takes place on Sunday, August 22 when  Gwen Hughes and the Retro Jazz Cats are performing. Read more about the event on our page for Jazz in the Park

To me nothing says summer more than beach music.  You can’t beat the combination of beach music and bbq, and this is especially attractive when the event in question takes place on beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia. This year the festival is held in Great Dunes Park for the first time.  Everyone’s favorite beach music band “The Swingin’ Medallions” are coming again.  The Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash takes place August 20 – 21, 2010.

Check out our video from the event on the special page for Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash on Jekyll Island.

Old Fort Jackson Auction invites you to join for a special Low Country Boil and Auction on August 28, 2010. This is an annual fundraiser for Old Fort Jackson, a National Historic Landmark site in Savannah, Georgia.
The fundraiser takes place at Old Fort Jackson on Saturday, August 28, 2010 6:00pm There will be a silent auction, children’s activities, cannon firings, and live music, and lots of fun for the whole family. Free admission. Food and concessions available for purchase. For more information contact Old Fort Jackson directly at 912.232.3945

Another fun event coming on August 21, 2010 is the Songwriters Showcase in St. Marys, Georgia. It’s the first year for the event, but if you enjoy live music, it might be something for you. You can read more about the event on our sister site Camden Happening. Here is the link to the post about the Songwriters Showcase in St Marys, Georgia Also in St. Marys in August, there’s Starry Nights. Here is the link to the Starry Nights in St Marys post.