Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Free Admission to National Parks – Fall 2010

by

Visit one of our national parks on September 25, 2010 or November 11, 2010, without paying admission. The National Park Service offers fee free days every year, and these are the two dates for the fall. Pack a picnic and take family and friends to a state park for a visit. In our area you could for for example visit the Castillo de San Marco or Fort Pulaski.

  • September 25, 2010 – Public Lands Day
  • November 11, 2010 – Veterans Day

Below is a complete list of participating National Parks in our area:

Fort Pulaski
Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia Department of Economic Development

GEORGIA

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island.You still have to pay for the ferry boat ride to the island. Click here to visit the website
Visitor Information: (912) 882-4336 ext. 254

Fort Frederica National Monument, St Simons Island, GA
Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island in 1792. Fort Frederica’s troops defeated the Spanish troops. Georgia remained a British colony.
Visitor Information: (912) 638-3639
Click here to visit the website

Fort Pulaski National Monument
The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat. The fort surrendered, which was a turning point, signaling the end of masonry fortifications.
Visitor Information: (912) 786-5787
Click here to visit the website

SOUTH CAROLINA

Fort Moultrie National Monument – Charleston, SC
The National Park Service’s fee-free weekends apply to Fort Moultrie, a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument. The site is located on Sullivan’s Island and is accessible by car. Fort Sumter is always free – but there is a fee for the ferry boat ride to the fort.
Click here for more information about Fort Sumter

FLORIDA
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, FL
The Castillo was constructed to defend Spain’s claims in the New World. It was never defeated in battle. The Castillo witness to over 330 years of history and culture and is an impressive place to visit.
Visitor Information: (904) 829-6506
Click here to visit the website.

Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia
Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia

Things to do in Georgia – September 2010

by

September is a beautiful month on the coast of Georgia, and there are a lot of festivals coming up. September is the month for seafood with the Shrimp and Grits Festival in Jekyll Island, and the Rock Shrimp Festival in St Marys.

Here are a few ideas of things to do in the month of September in coastal Georgia:

Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival – Sept 17 – 19, 2010
Savannah is probably most known for its big film festival in October, but the Ocean Film Festival is gaining in popularity. This year the film festival screens many interesting and important films made about the oil spill.

Click here to read more about the Ocean Film Festival

Shrimp and Grits Sept 17-19, 2010
Head to the historic district on Jekyll Island for one of the best seafood festivals on the coast.  Lots of delicious food, chefs from all around are showing off their talents in the cooking competition, live entertainment and lots of fun for the whole family. Go to our page for Shrimp & Grits Festival

Jazz in the Park – St Simons Island, Sept 19, 2010
This is the last chance for the season to enjoy Jazz in the Park right outside St. Simons Island Lighthouse.  This event is scheduled at high tide, so the breeze from the ocean can cool you off.

Read more about the event here.

Savannah Jazz Festival Sept 19 – 26, 2010
This is one of the most popular festivals in Savannah, and no wonder. The city is just the perfect location for a jazz festival.  Lots of performances to choose from, check out our special events page for Savannah Jazz Festival

The Rock Shrimp Festival – Sept 25, 2010
The rock shrimp is a delicious shrimp with a hard shell. Every year the city of St. Marys in South Georgia holds a special festival to celebrate the shrimp.  Read more on our special page for Rock Shrimp Festival

More Georgia stories:

Oktoberfest on the River

Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival


Sign up for our newsletter now. Just fill out the form below.

Jazz Festivals on the Coast – Fall 2010

by

From ragtime, to New Orleans, swing, dixieland, latin jazz, bebop, acid jazz and more – the music form itself is difficult to define. On the other hand, Louis Armstrong who really was the king of Jazz once said “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
But it’s evident jazz has strong ties to the South and maybe that’s the reason why we have several music events in our area this fall celebrating jazz music.

Low Country Jazz Festival
September 3 – 5,2010
Charleston, SC
Even though it’s only the second time around for The Low Country Jazz Festival, this event is quickly becoming a very popular. Both local and international jazz artists will perform during the festival the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in Charleston and various other venues in the area.
Click here to read more about the Low Country Jazz Festival

Hilton Head Jazz and Brew Fest
September 13 -18, 2010
Hilton Head Island, SC
This festival manages to combine several coastal favorites – live music, great food and good beer. The Seafood Jazz & Brew Festival on Hilton Head Island includes include beer tastings, beer and food pairings, and of course plenty of jazz performances. This festival utilizes the coastal locations of the Shelter Cove Community Park and the Shelter Cove Harbour. Click here to read more about Hilton Head Jazz and Brew Fest

Savannah Jazz Festival
September 19 -26, 2010
Savannah, GA
This is one of the most anticipated festivals in Savannah where the best jazz talent gather in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia. This year it’s actually the 27th year for event. There are many live performances, jam session and also film screenings. This outdoor jazz festival is free and open to the public.
Click here to read more about Savannah Jazz Festival

Les deMerle

Amelia Island Jazz Festival
October 3 – 10, 2010
Fernandina Beach, Fl
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island celebrates jazz with a week-long annual festival. The popular event consists of a series of events around the island. This year the headliner is multiple Grammy award-winning pianist, Ramsey Lewis. The festival’s creative director, Les deMerle, has put together a program with world-class jazz artists in a wide variety of styles from Dixieland, Smooth Jazz, Bebop, Big Band, Blues, Latin and to new, state-of-the-art styles. Read more about the Amelia Island Jazz Festival here

Little River Shrimp & Jazz Fest
October 9 – 10, 2010
Little River, SC
This is one of the most anticipated events in Little River near Myrtle Beach. There’s lots of fun for the whole family and lots of live music.
Read more about Little River Shrimp & Jazz Fest

Labor Day Weekend – Georgia – 2010

by

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!