Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia 2008 Visitors Guide

This Land of Five Flags. The flags of five nations have fluttered in the salt breezes of Brunswick & The Golden Isles, a testimony to this area’s rich and diverse fabric of history. Early explorations and control by Spain and France were followed by a tumultuous period of British colonization. Revolution brought a new national flag, which was replaced by the flag of the Confederacy. During Union occupation and following the war between the states, our national flag returned, adding stars and changing as new states joined our country. The flag of Spain was first raised over Georgia in 1526 when Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon arrived with 600 Spanish colonists to found the ill-fated settlement of San Miguel de Gualdape. From 1562 to 1564, the flag of France flew here as Jean Ribault, seeking haven for French Huguenots, explored the Georgia coast and built fortifications. In 1565, Spanish troops expelled the French and re-established their rule until the early 1700s. In 1736, General James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica, the most expensive fort in the American colonies, on St. Simons Island. The flag of Great Britain flew here, signifying an era of British dominance that lasted until the American Revolution in 1776, when our first national flag – with 13 stars and 13 stripes – was flown. The American flag was taken down in 1861, when Georgia joined its sister southern states in seceding from the union. The “Stars and Bars,” the flag of the Confederate States of America, flew over the area until 1862, when Union forces occupied the Georgia coast. The end of the war between the states in 1865 began a series of flags that changed as our country grew and new stars – one for each new state – were added. Today’s flag, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, waves proudly over our state and nation. Want to know more about the flags of Georgia? Visit the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia on the Internet at cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/flagsga.htm General Assembly in 1987 , and is found naturally in the coastal waters of the State. Approximately eight inches long when fully mature, the Knobbed Whelk is a whorled shell with heavy spines and knobs, a semigloss surface, and is characterized by ocher (brownish) striations resulting from the minerals present in coastal waters. The mouth of of the shell is most often a reddish orange. Knobbed Whelks are predominantly found with a “right-handed” whorl, but more rare left-handed specimens can also be encountered. If you find one, be sure to check the inside for a hermit crab before you take it home. Better yet, visit one of a our local specialty shops for a carefully inspected, uninhabited shell to take home with you. (More information can be found in the LORE panel on page 65.) AWord About OurTides You don’t have to spend much time in our area, an afternoon at the beach or on the rivers, to become aware of the enormous effect that tides have on the coastal landscape. There are four tides per 24-hour period–two low tides alternating with two high tides–each approximately six hours apart. The typical difference between high and low tide, in water depth at a given point, is approximately 7 feet. This means that at low tide, beaches are significantly wider (better for shelling) while rivers are significantly narrower (and shallower). River fishing is generally thought to be at its best several hours immediately before and after the crest (high point) or ebb (low point) of a tide. Surf fishing is usually best at or near high tide. Also, tides normally run higher in the Spring and Fall and at times of a full moon. You may find it helpful to pick up a tide table (or refer to those on our website, ComeCoastAwhile.com) and use it to plan the best time for trips to the beach. Tide tables are readily available at no charge from marinas, hardware stores and many other retailers throughout Brunswick & The Golden Isles. Tide times shown, however, are for tides occurring slightly offshore, at the outer sand bar. To determine the time of the next high or low tide along most area Island beaches, just add about 25 minutes to the time shown on the chart. Stalking the State Seashell by the Seashore. As you wade the beaches and shorelines of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island or Jekyll Island, keep an eye out for Georgia’s official state seashell– the Knobbed Whelk. This handsome shell, Busycon carica, was officially designated by an act of the Georgia 78 http://ComeCoastAwhile.com http://cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/flagsga.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia 2008 Visitors Guide

Exploring! Brunswick & The Golden Isles Driving Tour Enjoying! - A Guide to Recreation Tasting! - A Directory of Dining Experiences African-American Heritage Driving Tour Lodging! - Your Guide to Accommodations

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