New Website Promotes 'Georgia-Made' and 'Georgia-Grown' Items

Whether you’re a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker, if you make it or grow it in Georgia, there’s a new outlet for marketing your products online.

A brand new web site, www.gamadegagrownproducts.org, is designed to help Georgia-based businesses promote their products and services to local residents, visitors and corporate buyers. This site is endorsed by the Georgia Dept. of Economic Development and is open to artists, entertainers, gallery owners, restaurateurs, food producers and other businesses. The only requirement is that their product be made or grown in Georgia.

Listings on the site are free for the first year, and include product details, business hours, photos and other information. Registrants can update their listings and photos throughout the year to showcase new products, seasonal promotions, changes in business hours and more.

Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau, says his organization is encouraging Glynn County businesses and artisans to promote themselves, their products and services online.

“Artists, writers, chefs, jewelers and many others have found inspiration in the unspoiled beauty of our Georgia coast,” Tipton explained. “We have a thriving community of very creative people who are growing, creating and producing unique items and services. We encourage them to share their products and expertise with people who have an interest in things created here in Georgia.”

The Convention and Visitors Bureau will be contacting local businesses in January to make them aware of the opportunity. In the meantime, local businesses can register by going online to www.gamadegagrownproducts.org, and clicking on the registration link.

Explore the History and Mystery of the Golden Isles

People love a good ghost story. And no matter where you go, there are plenty of stories waiting to be told.

Jenny Strauss has been sharing tales of “the history and mystery” of the Golden Isles for the past six years, during evening ghost tours in the St. Simons Island Village. The tours begin at 9:00, at the foot of the St. Simons Island fishing pier. After a brief welcome and introduction, Jenny leads her groups on a 90-minute journey through the past.

Along the way, she shares the tales that have been handed down through the generations: of the ghost ship that plies the waters of St. Simons Sound, a disagreement that ended in murder, and the young millionaire who built a church as a memorial to his bride. Visitors learn of the Indian village that once occupied a dark and quiet portion of Mallery Park, and of the mysterious spirits that dwell among the crooks and boughs of live oak trees throughout the island.

The legends are mesmerizing, and after awhile you begin to notice sights, sounds and smells you might ignore under different circumstances. “Was that pipe tobacco I smelled in the parlor?” you ask yourself. “Did you see something move through the shadows? Did I hear someone say, ‘Get out of my house’?”

Jenny says that’s not at all unusual. “I wasn’t a believer until I began doing these tours,” she says. “I’m constantly hearing from people who have seen, felt, heard or smelled the things I’ve described. It’s especially interesting when people mention new encounters with ghostly beings.”

Jenny offers two different tours from March through October: the “Ghost Walk” tour and the “Ghost Encounter” tour. The latter includes a stop at the St. Simons Lighthouse and the keeper’s dwelling. “The people at the lighthouse offered to make it available for the tour and I couldn’t pass it up,” she explains. “It has been very, very popular and it adds a really special element to the tour.”

During October, Jenny will offer the “Ghost Encounter” tour on Saturday nights. Tickets are available at St. Simons Island Bait and Tackle on Mallery Street; or they may purchased prior to the beginning of the tour. Jenny also will do private ghost tours for groups of 10 or more. For information, visit www.ghostwalkofstsimons.com or call Jenny at 638-2756.

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH A SPECIAL ‘GHOST ENCOUNTER’ TOUR OCT. 30

Join Jenny Strauss for a special “Ghost Encounter” tour Thursday, Oct. 30. The tour begins at 8:00 p.m. at the St. Simons Island fishing pier in the Village. “We’re starting an hour earlier to accommodate any school-age ghost hunters who might dare to join us,” Strauss says.

The Halloween Eve tour will include a stop at the Lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling, and may include some additional “surprise encounters.” Tickets are available at St. Simons Bait and Tackle, or may be purchased prior to the beginning of the tour. Reservations are not required.

Chinese interns visit Brunswick & The Golden Isles

The Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau recently hosted two visiting college students from Hong Kong. The students, Winnie Yin, 20, and Macy Au, 21, are completing a summer internship at the Georgia Dept. of Economic Development in Atlanta. They are part of a group of 20 Chinese students who worked in Atlanta this summer.

Winnie and Macy worked at the Tourism division, where they helped to develop new travel marketing materials for the Chinese market. Their tasks included translating the Brunswick-Golden Isles area brochure and other documents into Chinese.

“We are very excited to have their help in translating the brochure,” said Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB. “Now we are able to offer area information in nine languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. We also are working with them to have our area video translated, which will expand that offering to nine languages as well.”

During their visit, Winnie and Macy enjoyed much of the best our area has to offer. Among their favorite activities were riding the Lady Jane shrimp boat, visiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, climbing to the top of the St. Simons Lighthouse and going to the beach on St. Simons Island. They were “crazy for seafood,” and especially enjoyed our fresh shrimp.

“People in China know Atlanta, but they are not familiar with the Golden Isles,” Winnie said. “It is a very beautiful area and we enjoyed visiting.”

Caption: Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB, greeted visiting Chinese interns Winnie Yin, center, and Macy Au. The students, who attend school in Hong Kong, have been working with the Georgia Dept. of Economic Development tourism division in Atlanta.

Lighthouse Concerts a Great Way to Spend a Summer Evening

From coast to coast, cities and towns throughout the country offer their own versions of summer concerts. The ambience and experiences are as varied as the locales, from all-volunteer community bands performing in ancient gazebos to internationally known, professional orchestras on stage in multi-million dollar amphitheatres.

Since 1989, St. Simons Island has offered its own, distinct version of the outdoor summer concert. The “Jazz in the Park” and “A Little Light Music” concert series take place each summer on the lawn of the St. Simons Island Lighthouse, drawing eclectic crowds of locals and visitors who come to soak up the sounds in a setting unlike any other.

“There are outdoor concerts all over the country, but ours are definitely the best,” says Heather Heath, executive director of Golden Isles Arts and Humanities (GIAHA). “We’ve got the ocean on one side with dolphins jumping and boats sailing by, and the beautiful lighthouse and heritage center on the other. It’s the perfect spot for a summer evening of music.”

GIAHA sponsors the “Jazz in the Park” concerts series, which was one of the organization’s first fund-raising activities. Now in its 19th season, Jazz in the Park features regional and nationally known jazz artists who perform everything from “traditional” jazz standards to cutting-edge music with an international beat.

Heath says the GIAHA series has always been jazz-based. “People love jazz,” she explains. “We have a large number of patrons who buy their season tickets in September, well in advance of the coming season.”

A second summer concert series, “A Little Light Music,” is sponsored by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society. Begun in 1998, the series features local and regional performers. “We choose groups that remind us of our youth,” says Jerri Hager, the society’s director of development. Music runs the gamut from pop to bluegrass to Motown classics.

Performances typically draw from 400-600 people, with many, many more during holiday weekends. According to Heather Heath, more than 1,200 people attended this year’s Memorial Day weekend performance by local favorites Phil Morrison and Keith Williams.

Concert veterans will tell you the Sunday night concerts are more than a picnic on the lawn. Much more. “These are social events,” Heath says, “ and many people use the opportunity to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or other occasions. It’s like a real community.”

Setups are as varied as the participants, ranging from a simple blanket and a cooler to tables and chairs with complete place settings, table linens and decorations to suit the occasion. The Golden Isles Track Club, for instance, has an elaborate setup complete with a small bar, tiki torches and a club banner.

At the July 4 weekend performance, concert-goers compete to win prizes for having the most creative and unusual setups.

Concert fare is a veritable smorgasbord limited only by the participants’ imaginations and ability to transport and safely serve their food items. Some are happy to stop by their local quik-mart for a bag of chips and sodas or beer. Others bring complete, full-course meals assembled potluck or by local eateries.

“This is truly the place to be on Sunday nights,” Heath says. “We’re even listed in a book entitled, ‘101 Things to do in Georgia before you die.’”
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Sunday evening concerts at the St. Simons Lighthouse continue through September. All concerts begin at 7:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm.

A LITTLE LIGHT MUSIC
August 3 – Harry O’Donohue’s Celtic Melodies
August 31 – Sensational Sounds of Motown
Tickets for the “Light Music” concerts are $10 per person. Children under 12 are admitted free. Information: Contact Coastal Georgia Historical Society at 638-4666 or visit www.saintsimonslighthouse.org

JAZZ IN THE PARK
August 17 – Anton Harris Quartet
September 14 – Barry Green
Tickets for the “Jazz in the Park” concerts are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. Children under 6 are admitted free. Information: Contact Golden Isles Arts & Humanities at 262-6934 or visit www.goldenislesarts.org

Museums provide Rainy Day Fun on St. Simons Island

Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia are a popular destination for summer beach getaways. Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate and there are days when you need to find other, indoor activities. St. Simons Island is home to several very interesting museums and historical sites. They’re great places to learn about the history of the Georgia coast, and a great way to spend a rainy day.

St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum & A.W. Jones Heritage Center

Standing over the St. Simons Island Village at 104 feet, the St. Simons Lighthouse was built in1872 and is the oldest brick building in Glynn County. It, along with the adjacent keeper’s dwelling, comprise the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum. Displays inside the lighthouse keeper’s dwelling highlight local history and tell the stories of the families who operated the light. Climb the 129 steps to the top of the Lighthouse for a breathtaking view of St. Simons Sound and nearby islands.

Enter the museum through the A.W. Jones Heritage Center, which features a new and exciting exhibit entitled, “The Sea Island Summit: Coastal Georgia Welcomes the World.” There you’ll learn the remarkable story of the historic Summit, including how Sea Island was chosen as its site, the international leaders who attended, Summit accomplishments, and a fascinating look behind the scenes in preparing for and staging such an important and complex world gathering. Be sure to stop by the museum store for a memento of your visit.

The St. Simons Lighthouse Museum and A.W. Jones Heritage Center are located at 101 12th Street. Hours are Mon. - Sat. 10 am to 5 pm; Sun. 1:30 to 5 pm. Summer hours (Easter to mid-August) are Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat. 10 am to 5 pm; Tues., Thurs. 10 am to 9 pm; Sun. 1:30 to 5 pm. Admission is charged*. For information, call (912) 638-4666 or visit www.saintsimonslighthouse.org.

Maritime Museum at the Historic Coast Guard Station

This interesting museum is located in the restored U.S. 

Coast Guard Station at East Beach, which was built during the Depression as part of a WPA project. The museum features seven galleries that explain the importance of our coastal ecosystem and its preservation, the coast’s military history, and the important role played by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Your “guide” throughout the exhibits will be Ollie, a young Coast Guardsman who was assigned to duty on St. Simons Island. His journal entries, based on actual documents, help tell the story of station life and the natural wonders of the nearby beaches and marshes. Visitors of all ages will enjoy hands-on exhibits and activities along with the exhibits.

The Maritime Museum is located at 4201 First Street at East Beach. Hours are Mon. - Sat. 10 am to 5 pm; closed Sun. Summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) are Mon. - Sat. 3 to 9 pm; closed Sun. Admission is charged*. For information call (912) 638-4666 or visit www.saintsimonslighthouse.org.

* Combination tickets, good for admission to the Lighthouse Museum, A.W. Jones Heritage Center and the Maritime Museum, are available.

Fort Frederica National Monument

When it was built in 1736, Fort Frederica was the most expensive military installation in British North America. The town and fort, established as an outpost by Maj. General Oglethorpe, played a crucial role in establishing England’s claims to the disputed Georgia territory.

Begin your visit with a stop at the park visitor center, where you can see an orientation program and examine exhibits that help tell the story of this vanished town and its former inhabitants. Stroll along the town’s streets to view the sites of homes, barracks, tabby fortifications and the magazine.

Fort Frederica National Monument is located at 6515 Frederica Road. The Visitor Center is open daily 9 am to 5 pm and closed Christmas Day. Admission is charged. For information call (912) 638-3639 or visit www.nps.gov/fofr

Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum
Many people are surprised to learn of St. Simons Island’s significant connections to Methodist Church history in the United States. That story is told at the Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum, located at Epworth by the Sea, a Methodist conference center off Sea Island Road.

Exhibits explore St. Simons Island history, from its Native American inhabitants to colonization by the Spanish and British, through the plantation era to modern times. Other exhibits highlight the history of the Methodist Church, which was founded by John and Charles Wesley, who spent time on the Georgia coast during the 18th century. Their influence is explored in a fascinating video in the museum’s viewing area. Nativity scenes from around the world are displayed, and an extensive research library is available.

The museum is located on Arthur Moore Drive in Epworth By the Sea Methodist Center. It is open Tues. - Sat. 10 am to 4 pm. Individual admission is free, but donations are encouraged. For information call (912) 638-4050 or visit www.epworthbythesea.org.

Mildred Huie Museum at Mediterranean House
Beloved St. Simons Island artist Mildred Huie lived and kept her studio in Mediterranean House, which was built in 1929. This intimate museum and gallery is dedicated to the art and history of St. Simons Island plantations and landmarks, which were so vividly captured in the artist’s works.

The museum houses a unique collection of paintings and replicas of the homes from each of St. Simons Island’s major 19th century plantations. The artist’s collection of rare books, papers, letters and other documents is available for viewing and study by historians and researchers.

The Mildred Huie Museum at Mediterranean House is located at 1819 Frederica Road. Hours vary. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. For information call (912) 638-3057 or (912) 638-3017 for open hours by appointment, or visit www.landmarkscenes.com.

These are but a few of the attractions and activities to be enjoyed in Brunswick & The Golden Isles: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Here, you’ll discover miles of sun-drenched beaches, 198 holes of golf, tennis, fishing and water sports, shrimp boat cruises, dolphin tours, casino/cruise ship and more. Plus accommodations to suit every taste and budget.

For a complete listing of area attractions, activities and accommodations call the Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-933-COAST (2627) and request a free copy of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Visitors Guide. Or, visit them online at ComeCoastWhile.com. For information “on the go,” text BGIGA to 95495 or go to ComeCoastAwhile.mobi on your mobile phone.

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A.W. Jones Heritage Center expands facilities, educational offerings for St. Simons Island visitors

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA – The A.W. Jones Heritage Center on St. Simons Island is open, providing expanded facilities and educational opportunities for visitors. Its opening represents a landmark achievement for the Coastal Georgia Historical Society which operates the center, along with the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum and the Maritime Center at the Historic Coast Guard Station.

The 10,000 square-foot Heritage Center, in the St. Simons Village next to the Lighthouse Museum, was designed to complement its neighboring historic structures. It features a wraparound porch, tall windows and a variety of rooflines that create the illusion of several adjoining buildings. Its main entrance, on Beachview Drive, leads to a new, expanded museum shop. The larger shop provides a greater variety of merchandise, according to Pat Morris, executive director of the historical society.

“People love lighthouses and they’re always on the lookout for something new,” Morris says. “Now we are able to offer a greater variety of items, especially books.”

Museum visitors may purchase their admission tickets in the shop and proceed to a new and exciting exhibit entitled, The Sea Island Summit: Coastal Georgia Welcomes the World. The permanent exhibit, which fills an entire room, tells the story of the historic 1984 summit including how Sea Island was chosen as its site, the international leaders who attended, Summit accomplishments, and a fascinating look behind the scenes in preparing for and staging such an important and complex world gathering.

The center’s first floor also features a variety of public spaces that are available for meetings, banquets, wedding receptions and other private gatherings. A 1,400 square-foot multipurpose room offers a stage and catering kitchen. It can accommodate 96 people for seated banquets and up to 150 people in theatre-style seating. An attractive outdoor courtyard provides additional space for functions.

The second floor includes administrative offices, a 500-volume research library and a climate-controlled, hurricane-safe vault housing the historical society’s collection of artifacts, objects and archival materials representing hundreds of years of coastal Georgia history. The collection exceeds 15,250 items including archival records, photographs, family papers, decorative items, furniture and archaeological artifacts.

The A.W. Jones Heritage Center and St. Simons Lighthouse Museum, including the lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling, are open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12. Children age 5 and under are admitted free with a parent or adult guardian.

The Maritime Center at the Historic Coast Guard Station is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Maritime Center admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12. Children age 5 and under are admitted free with a parent or adult guardian.

Combination Tickets for admission to the A.W. Jones Heritage Center,  Lighthouse Museum and the Maritime Center, are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12.

For more information about the A.W. Jones Heritage Center, St. Simons Lighthouse Museum and The Maritime at the Historic Coast Guard Station, contact the Coastal Georgia Historical Society at 912-638-4666. Or, visit them online at saintsimonslighthouse.org.

• Brunswick Stewbilee to feature Disco Icon

Grab your leisure suits and platform shoes. KC and the Sunshine Band will be the featured performer for this year's Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee, Oct. 17 and 18 in downtown Brunswick. The popular 70s band performed such disco classics as, "Shake Your Booty" and "Get Down Tonight." 

According to Stewbilee sponsors, this year's event is being expanded to two days, kicking of Friday night with the KC and the Sunshine Band concert, followed by fireworks, in Mary Ross Partk. Saturday's events will include a 5K run, kids' games, March of Dimes walk, pet parade, arts and crafts and an antique car show.

The centerpiece, as always, will be the Brunswick Stew cookoff. Teams, representing area hotels, restaurants, institutions and organizations, will compete for the honor of producing and serving the "Best Brunswick Stew" in judged and people's choice competitions. 

Organizers expect up to 3,000 people for the Friday concert and up to 7,000 for Saturday's stew-tasting and activities. For more information about the Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee, visit www.brunswickstewbilee.com.

• International Travel Journalists Introduced to Brunswick & The Golden Isles

BRUNSWICK & THE GOLDEN ISLES OF GEORGIA – Journalists representing nearly 100 international newspapers, magazines, broadcast outlets and online media were treated to some legendary Southern Hospitality at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel show. They were guests at the TMR/ITI Marketing Press Breakfast, sponsored in part by ITI Marketing, an international travel-marketing firm based in Brunswick, and Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau.

According to ITI Marketing president Franci Edgerly, the annual breakfast was an “excellent opportunity” to share information about Brunswick & The Golden Isles with international journalists.

“We had one-on-one meetings with each journalist, where we provided them with a general overview and story ideas,” Edgerly said. “Each journalist was given a digital press kit which contained Brunswick & The Golden Isles information, translated into German. The Convention and Visitors Bureau also provided special gift bags for each journalist, containing a Brunswick-Golden Isles Visitors Guide, a DVD in eight languages, logo’d area mementos and a state travel guide, featuring the St. Simons Lighthouse on the cover.”

An especially popular souvenir among the travel journalists was a license plate bearing the words, “C-U-IN Brunswick & The Golden Isles.”

“The information was exceptionally well received and we expect several journalists who expressed interest in writing about our area to visit during the next several months,” Edgerly added. “This media coverage will help build awareness of Brunswick & The Golden Isles as an exciting and diverse destination.”

International marketing is an important aspect of the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s overall marketing program, according to CVB executive director Bill Tipton.

“Travel to the U.S. is becoming very attractive for foreign visitors, who are enjoying a very favorable exchange rate,” Tipton explained. “That interest is being reflected in the number of foreign journalists who have requested information and have visited or plan to visit our area.”

In addition to sponsoring activities such as the international journalists’ breakfast, the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB advertises in international media, supports the state’s overseas marketing programs, and produces a variety of foreign-language materials including area brochures and DVDs in eight languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. The CVB’s official website, ComeCoastAwhile.com, offers real-time translation into scores of international languages.

ITB Berlin is the world’s largest travel show, drawing more than 180,000 visitors and over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries. The show is open to travel agents, tour operators and other representatives of the travel trade, as well as consumers. ITI Marketing specializes in hospitality and travel industry education as well as online and mobile marketing.

The Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the mainland city of Brunswick and four barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Through an array of destination marketing programs and activities, the CVB encourages travel by individuals, business travelers and groups. For travel information, contact them at (800) 933-COAST (2627) or visit them online at ComeCoastAwhile.com. Or, text message them at ComeCoastAwhile.mobi.

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• e-Learning Program builds knowledge of local area

A new, online training program is providing a fun and easy way for local hospitality employees to learn about Brunswick & The Golden Isles. The eLearning program, introduced by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau, is among the first of its kind in the U.S., according to Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB.

“Brunswick-Golden Isles eLearning is one of the travel industry’s most comprehensive education and hospitality programs,” Tipton explained. “It is a free, online study program about Brunswick and the Golden Isles, designed to familiarize local hospitality employees with all our area has to offer.”

Though designed primarily for local hotel and restaurant employees, the basic program also has the potential for international marketing and education, pending further development. “The eLearning program was developed for our industry partner employees,” Tipton explained. “We believe that knowledgeable hospitality employees are the most effective ambassadors for our destination. With additional work, the program can be a great teaching tool for tour operators and travel agents overseas.”

ELearning is a multifaceted educational program that incorporates courses and activities on four key subject areas: History and Heritage, Nature and Outdoors, Food and Shopping, and Events and Attractions. Short training modules use a broad range of interactive media including animations, sound and videos. The modules are designed to provide an engaging, informative and fun learning experience.

Each subject area is organized with a series of lessons, each of which requires five minutes or less of study. Upon completion of the lessons, the user is given a quiz with questions that correspond to each lesson. A correct answer yields a dancing sand dollar; an incorrect response results an in invitation to try again. At the end of the quiz, the user is asked to enter his or her name and contact information.

After successfully completing all four quizzes, the user will receive a certificate and lapel pin that identifies him or her as a “Destination Ambassador.”

The BGI eLearning Program was developed by the CVB in cooperation with ITI Marketing, Inc. Based in Brunswick, ITI Marketing specializes in hospitality and travel industry education as well as online and mobile marketing. ITI Marketing has created seven interactive eLearning programs, which cumulatively have enrolled more than 3,000 hospitality employees and more than 6,000 travel industry professionals.

To access the BGI eLearning Program, go to the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB’s official website – ComeCoastAwhile.com – and click on the “BGI eLearning” button near the bottom of the page.

The Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the mainland city of Brunswick and four barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Through an array of destination marketing programs and activities, the CVB encourages travel by individuals, business travelers and groups. For travel information, contact them at (800) 933-COAST (2627) or visit them online at www.ComeCoastAwhile.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Patrick Saylor, Public Relations Director
Faulkenberry Certain
Phone: 912.638.7770 or 912.230.5030
Email: psaylor@comecoastawhile.com

• St. Simons Island Final Stop on 2008 BRAG

St. Simons Island will be the final stop on the 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG), June 7 -14. The 428-mile ride will begin Saturday, June 7 at Oxford College in Oxford, GA, with daily stops in Griffin, Macon, Dublin (two nights), Hazlehurst and Jesup. The ride will end Saturday, June 14 at Cascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. 

Riders can download a registration form at the BRAG site. Online registration also is available. For more information, or call 770-498-5153.