Georgia
Brunswick and Beyond
Along Georgia’s southern coast — between Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida — lies the port city of Brunswick. It has been called the gateway to the Golden Isles, a collection of barrier islands known for their natural beauty and recreation offerings. They include St. Simons Island, the largest, along with Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and popular Jekyll Island.
St. Simons lighthouse has stood watch over St. Simons Sound since 1872 and is open to visitors.
Brunswick’s wharf bustles with seafaring activity from shrimp boats, fishing charters, and other ocean-going vessels. Mary Frost Waterfront Park accommodates festivals and other events year-round. Not surprisingly, seafood lovers can enjoy the catch of the day at local restaurants.
The Historic Downtown District, filled with preserved town squares and picturesque parks, retains much of its Victorian charm from a bygone era. Along Gloucester and Newcastle streets, shoppers can peruse antique shops, jewelry stores, and clothing boutiques. More history awaits at the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, while live performances take place at the Historic Ritz Theatre.
West of downtown, Blythe Island Regional Park — whose campground is pictured on the cover of this magazine — makes a convenient home base when exploring Brunswick and the Golden Isles. The 1,100-acre park and campground are accessible from Interstate 95 via exit 29.
On Jekyll Island, a path leads to Driftwood Beach.
Guests enjoy camping just inland of the ocean. The full-hookup RV sites come with a fire ring, picnic table, concrete pad, and cable TV access. Campground amenities include bathhouses, laundry facilities, picnic pavilions, a playground, and free Wi-Fi. The park’s freshwater lake invites swimming and fishing; a marina and boat dock provide access to the South Brunswick River.
The nearby Fish Tales Pub and Grill makes a convenient spot for casual dining after spending the day on the water or hiking a park trail.
To learn more about the area, visit goldenisles.com.
Details
Blythe Island Regional Park
6616 Blythe Island Road
Brunswick, GA 31523
(912) 279-2812
glynncounty.org/2295/blythe-island-regional-park
Bookshelf
RVer Confesses 30 Years of Mishaps
In his book RVing on the Wrong Side of the Road, I. Michael Grossman offers a candid, humorous look at RV life, with plenty of advice about what NOT to do.
In his book RVing on the Wrong Side of the Road, I. Michael Grossman shares an extensive list of things you never want to do while embarking on a road trip. Subtitled “A Handy Guide for Screwing Up,” this collection will both inform and entertain new and experienced RV owners alike. Grossman notes that the book “provides a comedy of blunders during 30 years of poor decisions on the road in a variety of rigs — each the worse for the wear thanks to my screwups.”
Grossman’s cautionary tales start with advice to make sure the RV dealer provides a detailed walk-through to demonstrate how systems work, something he hurried away without doing when he purchased his first RV. He suggests some of the questions new RVers will want to ask during that process. He also recommends hiring a professional to conduct an inspection before you buy.
He goes on to share misadventures related to hitches, faulty campground electrical pedestals, dents and dings that could have been avoided, flat tires, navigating fuel stations, navigating the highways and byways, and more. He covers important topics but with a touch of humor.
In this roadmap of what not to do, new RVers especially will discover valuable advice, while seasoned travelers may find some familiar stories Grossman suggests that you read the book, but not model yourselves after him, lest you “buy the wrong RV, pay too much, bang it up quickly and often, and make a ton of costly decisions you can’t undo.”
RVing on the Wrong Side of the Road ($10, Ebook Bakery) is available from online booksellers.