Georgia's longest yard sale, the Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale, takes place March 12 and 13. This 211-mile long treasure hunt follows US Highway 341 from Culloden in central Georgia to Brunswick and The Golden Isles on the Georgia coast.
The first Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale was held in 2005 and ran from Perry, Georgia to the coast. My son, Richard, and I drove the route starting in Perry and working our way south. We discovered that Hwy 341 is a beautiful drive that takes you through at least a dozen small towns and villages. One of my favorites was Lumber City, where the local VFW served delicious barbecued chicken dinners just steps away from the community's yard sale site. Others included Hazlehurst, which had an expansive yard sale site in its community park, and Helena with its interesting old hotel next to the railroad tracks.
Each community has
its own "official" yard sale site, which is identified by Peaches to the Beaches signs and banners. In addition, you'll typically find "unofficial" yard sales at shops, homes, churches and other sites along the way.
Offerings are what you would expect for any yard sale or flea market, and run the gamut from antiques and collectibles to arts and crafts, used clothing and household items and, of course, all sorts of food.
Peaches to the Beaches is modeled after the "World's Longest Yard Sale," which covers 654 miles from Ohio to Gadsden Alabama. It was begun by Evelyn Simmons, then interim president of the Golden Isles Parkway Association, which organizes the yearly event.
Held the second weekend in March, the annual sale's popularity has grown and the route has expanded from its original 172 miles to its current 211. Many "early birds" flock to the Friday sales in search of the best treasures, though Saturday seems to be the biggest sale day. For a complete listing and schedule, click here.
If you're looking for a delightful weekend activity, consider a road trip to the Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale. It's a great way to explore a beautiful segment of Georgia!
Brunswick and The Golden Isles of Georgia – St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island – are featured on DiscoverAmerica.com, a new web site that is designed to encourage Americans to discover and travel within their own country.
DiscoverAmerica.com was launched by the U.S. Travel Association to help Americans learn about domestic travel destinations and activities.
The site includes an interactive map that gives mileage from city to city, and an activity finder that lists more than 3,000 experiences, attractions and events, including museums, gardens, ski slopes, festivals and parks. The site also offers links to tourism information for all 50 states, as well as for more than 100 cities and other destinations, and includes content from the National Park Service, the National Scenic Byways program and useful Web sites like GoogleMaps and Weather.com.
The site offers photo galleries organized by location, with pictures of everything from a historic district in New Braunfels, Texas to wild horses in North Carolina's Currituck Outer Banks, to the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway in the Shasta Cascade region of California, to Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. Visitors can also upload their own images and comments about places they've been by clicking on the "Stories" link at DiscoverAmerica.com.
"DiscoverAmerica.com is the latest in a series of online media outlets that feature content related to Brunswick and The Golden Isles of Georgia," explains Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau. "In addition to our official website, ComeCoastAwhile.com, we are distributing online information via a .mobi site, a blog and on several social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Squidoo.
"It's all part of an aggressive effort to promote Brunswick and The Golden Isles of Georgia as a preferred destination for families, groups, meetings, reunions, weddings and other facets of tourism and travel. It's a relatively low-cost way to promote our area, with the potential to connect with millions of prospective visitors."
U.S. Travel is a private agency authorized by the U.S. Commerce Department to develop and market an official travel planning web site targeting the top five international markets that send visitors to the U.S. — Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany. Launching DiscoverAmerica.com for domestic travelers was an outgrowth of U.S. Travel's outreach to international visitors.
Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia – St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island – are located on the Georgia coast just minutes from I-95 at Exits 29, 36, 38 and 42. Visitor information, including discounts and other special offers by area hotels, attractions and restaurants, can be found online at ComeCoastAwhile.com. For information “on the go,” text BGIGA to 95495 or go to ComeCoastAwhile.mobi on your web-enabled phone or PDA.
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Many pet owners consider their animals to be members of the family, welcome to participate in most family activities, including travel.
A trip to the beach can be a very rewarding way to spend quality time with your pet. It is important to remember, however, that the beach is shared with other people, pets, and wildlife. Here are some helpful questions and answers to help make your -- and your pet's -- beach visit as pleasant as possible.
Is my pet allowed on the beach?
Ordinances regarding animals on the beach vary widely. Most Georgia beach communities require that animals be kept off the beach during certain hours of the day and/or certain times of the year. Some only allow dogs on specific beaches, some allow horses and others have banned animals altogether. All require that your animal remain on a leash and under your control.
Violators risk being fined, so it is best to check local laws before bringing along your animal companion. Here are the ordinances for beaches in Brunswick and The Golden Isles:
- St. Simons Island Animals are allowed on the beach until 9:00 am and after 6:00 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from First Street/East Beach (Coast Guard Station) south to Mallery Street (the pier). Animals on leashes (max. 10 feet) are permitted on the beach north of the Coast Guard Station year-round at any time.
- Jekyll Island Animals must be on a leash or reins and are permitted on the beach.
Why does my animal need to be on a leash?
In areas that animals are allowed they must be kept on leash. This is for your animal's safety and for the safety of other beachgoers and wildlife.
While we all like to think that our dogs are well mannered, it is important to remember that the canine social structure is quite different from that of humans. Anywhere that large numbers of dogs congregate the occasional fight is inevitable. Keeping your dog on a leash will minimize negative encounters with other dogs and give you better control of your pet if they are involved in a scuffle. Dogs with a history of aggression are best left at home.
Dogs and Wildlife
Georgia beaches are home to a variety of birds and other wildlife; several species are threatened or endangered. Here is some good advice designed to help protect and preserve these animals:
Shorebirds
If you are going to a remote beach, leave your dog at home. Dogs are effective predators and often disturb shorebirds that are nesting in the sand. Dogs can crush or eat young chicks or flush the parents off nests allowing other predators easy access to them. To minimize interactions with nesting birds keep your dog at home.
Do not allow your dog to chase birds on the beach. Several species of birds use Georgia beaches as critical stopovers during their long migrations. When forced to flee from dogs, birds burn up valuable calories and compromise their fat reserves. Chronic disturbance of resting birds can compromise their health and burns valuable energy needed for migration.
Sea Turtles
From late spring through early fall; loggerhead sea turtles nest on Georgia’s shores. Please take precautions to ensure your dog does not disturb adult turtles, their nests, or hatchlings. Do not allow your dog to dig above the high tide line and do not bring your pets to the beach after dark when females are laying eggs.
Why do I need to pick up my animal's waste...won't the tide wash it away?
The tide will wash it away…and that’s the problem. Recently, animal waste on the beach has received a lot of attention. Not only is it unpleasant for beachgoers, but it also poses a very real health threat to swimmers and other dogs.
Fecal coliform bacteria in seawater, tied to animal waste on the beach, can make people and animals very ill. In some cases, these bacteria can reach levels that require the local Health Department to issue a swimmers' health advisory. To ensure that your animal is not contributing to this problem, always clean up your animal's waste and deposit it in an appropriate trash receptacle. For current beach advisories in Georgia click here.
How can I keep my dog safe at the beach?
The American Kennel Club has provided the following guidelines to help you make your dog’s trip to the beach an enjoyable one:
- When taking your dog to the beach, make sure there is plenty of fresh water and shade.
- Dogs can get sunburned just like humans, so limit your dogs exposure to the hot sun and apply a zinc-free sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.
- Be careful not to let your dog spend too much time on hot sand or asphalt. Dogs can burn their feet just as easily as we can.
- Cool ocean water is very tempting to a dog. Don’t allow your dog to drink too much seawater. This can cause diarrhea or vomiting and quickly dehydrate them.
- Check with lifeguards for daily water conditions. Dogs can be easy targets for jellyfish.
- Swimming is a great form of exercise for dogs, but don’t let them overdo it. They will be using new muscles and may tire quickly.
- Running on a beach is strenuous exercise and a dog that is out of shape can easily pull a tendon or ligament. If your dog is out of shape, don't encourage him to run on the sand.
- The beach can present many hazards for your dog. Things to watch out for include boats, fishhooks, dead fish, garbage, and broken glass.
- Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog’s coat, so rinse him off at the end of the day.
Pet-Friendly Accommodations in Brunswick and The Golden Isles of Georgia
Several hotels, rental cottages and campgrounds in Brunswick and the Golden Isles accept pets. Please note that there may be restrictions on the number of pets and/or their size. Pet-friendly properties often set aside a limited number of pet-friendly rooms. While they may show occupancy, they may in fact be out of pet-friendly rooms. Also, the accommodation may charge an additional fee for your pet. It's always best to check ahead of time just to be sure. For a listing of pet-friendly accommodations in Brunswick and The Golden Isles, click here.
St. Simons Island's newest attraction, Demere Skate Park, is up and running – just in time for spring break. The new skate park is located at Demere Park, near the beach and Pier Village on St. Simons Island.
The park design is geared toward younger skaters, with a variety of elements that are challenging for intermediate skaters, but easy enough to help novice skaters develop their skateboarding skills. The park includes two 3-foot quarter pipes, two 5-foot quarter pipes, two 2-foot bank ramps with flat decks and round grind rail, one square grind rail, one manual pad, one skate bench, and two 3-foot half pipes.
Demere Skate Park was designed by American Ramp Company of Joplin, MO. Specializing in modular skate park design, ARC has built similar parks in 17 states throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Demere Skate Park is the first of two skate parks planned for Brunswick and The Golden Isles. A second, larger and more difficult park is in the planning stages. It is anticipated that it will be built at the North Glynn Recreation Park in Brunswick.
The skate park is the latest 
in a series of enhancements and additions to St. Simons Island's recreational facilities. Last summer, Glynn County opened a new bathhouse at East Beach near the historic Coast Guard Station. Later this spring, the county will complete a new "Family Zone" recreation complex at Neptune Park in the St. Simons Island Village. It will include a new playground, miniature golf course and multi-zone pool, just in time for summer.
"Demere Skate Park is a wonderful addition to St. Simons Island's family recreational amenities," says Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Along with the new Family Zone in Neptune Park and the new bath house at East Beach, the skate park adds to St. Simons Island's appeal as a family vacation destination.
"We are especially pleased that Demere Skate Park will be available for spring break. Typically, we see a lot of families during spring break, and this will be a popular activity for many of them."
Demere Skate Park is located at 1219 Demere Road, near the intersection of Demere and Arnold Roads, on St. Simons Island. The park is open daily from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Admission is free.
Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia – St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island – are located on the Georgia coast just minutes from I-95 at Exits 29, 36, 38 and 42. Visitor information, including discounts and other special offers by area hotels, attractions and restaurants, can be found online at ComeCoastAwhile.com. For information “on the go,” text BGIGA to 95495 or go to ComeCoastAwhile.mobi on your mobile phone.
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DEMERE SKATE PARK GRAND OPENING
MARCH 14 ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND
The Glynn County Recreation and Parks Department will conduct a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Demere Skate Park, 1219 Demere Road, St. Simons Island, GA, on Saturday March 14 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Pro skater Jud Heald will be on hand to conduct skating demos and sign autographs. Free T-shirts will be given to the first 100 skaters who register for the event. Door will be given away, including stickers, beanies and decks.
Registration begins at 9:00 am at the park. The ribbon-cutting will take place at 10:00 am. For more information, call Candice Temple, Glynn County Public Information Officer, at 912-554-7412.
St. Simons Island Beach Walk/Run set for Feb. 14The Golden Isles Track Club will sponsor its first "I Love the Beach 5K Beach Walk/Run," Saturday February 14 on St. Simons Island.
The race will begin and end at the beach crossover at the old Coast Guard Station on East Beach. Registration will be from 7:00 to
7:45 am, and the race will begin at 8:00 am. The top three finishers in each of 13 age divisions will receive awards, each with an island theme. Overall best prizes also will be presented. T-shirts are guaranteed for all who pre-register.
According to GITC officials, there hasn't been a beach run on St. Simons Island since 1995. According to club secretary Lea King, the race is designed to be "a fun time for all," serious runners and casual walkers alike.
The race is being held to raise community awareness about organ donation. According to the Georgia Lifelink transplant awareness group, there are nearly 3,000 Georgians on the national organ waiting list. Donor cards and educational information will be provided in all race packets, and organ donors and their recipients will be on hand to share their experiences.
King, an organ donor, gave a kidney to her mother in 2002.
Applications are available at area athletic clubs and health stores. Participants also can register online. For more information, call 912-638-2396.
Annual Bridge Run set for March 21The seventh annual Southeast Georgia Health System Bridge Run across the Sidney Lanier Bridge will take place Saturday, March 21. 
The 5K Walk/Run will carry participants over the Sidney Lanier Bridge and its approaches, which are more than 7,700 feet long, and 185 feet above the Brunswick River. Participants will start on the southbound side of the bridge, cross it and return.Because of the steep angle of the bridge (approximately 6% grade), no baby strollers, running strollers or rollerblades will be allowed.The event will include a variety of activities including • Dept. of Natural Resources interactive fishing booth• Children's casting contest• Children's face painting• Entertainment• Food and AwardsPre-registration entry fee for the Bridge Run is $18 per person. Pre-registration forms must be postmarked by March 6. Registration forms and information are available online, or call 912-466-7007. Race day registration will open at 7:30 am; Race day registration fee will be $25 per person. Only those who pre-register will be guaranteed a commemorative race T-shirt.The event will benefit the Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation.
Some people live for yard sales. If you count yourself among them, don't miss the fifth annual Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale, Georgia's largest yard sale, Friday and Saturday March 13 and 14.
The Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale spans 212 miles, from the beaches of Brunswick & The Golden Isles to the peach orchards of middle Georgia, along US Highway 341. In Brunswick & The Golden Isles, official yard sale sites will be in:
• Downtown Brunswick at Mary Ross Waterfront Park on Bay Street -
Saturday only from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
• St. Simons Island in the Pier Village - Friday-Sunday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Jekyll Island at the Beach Deck on Beachview Drive -
Friday and Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Other official yard sale sites along US 341 will be in Gardi, Jesup, Odum, Baxley, Hazlehurst, Lumber City, McRae, Helena, Chauncy, Eastman, Hawkinsville, Perry, Fort Valley, Roberta and Culloden. In addition, there are sure to be plenty of unofficial sites along the way.
Yard Sale vendors, many of whom have participated in previous sales, will offer an array of goods from antiques and collectibles to craft items, food and other yard sale fare.
The Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale was inspired by the “World’s Longest Yard Sale,” which runs along US Highway 127 from Gadsden, AL to West Unity, OH.
“I read about it in a newspaper article in which the writers traveled from one end to the other,” says Evelyn Simmons of the Golden Isles Parkway Association, which is sponsoring the event. “In 2000 and 2001, my husband and I drove the entire trail and had a marvelous time. It seemed like a natural thing for us to do along the Golden Isles Parkway.”
Simmons says there is an entire subculture of buyers and sellers that work the Alabama-Kentucky trail. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” she explains. “We met antique dealers who would drive the trail in search of items that they would buy, take home and clean up, and then sell the following year.”
“People like to haggle,” Simmons adds. “There is a real camaraderie and willingness to share among those who participate in yard sales. It’s like a treasure hunt where you can find the best bargains.”
There also is a great economic benefit for communities and organizations that participate, Simmons continues. “We talked with Chamber of Commerce and Tourism representatives all along the trail, and the revenues generated by the various groups was phenomenal. Many places had never had anything that provided such a widespread economic impact for hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses.”
“It's a great opportunity for Georgians and others to get off the Interstates, enjoy a beautiful drive and take a look at our small towns and cities. We think they will be surprised at what they find.”
Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale sites will be open Friday and Saturday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Several communities will have their sites open Sunday as well.
For more information, visit the official Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale site.
The first Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale was held in 2005 and ran from Perry, Georgia to the coast. My son, Richard, and I drove the route starting in Perry and working our way south. We discovered that Hwy 341 is a beautiful drive that takes you through at least a dozen small towns and villages. One of my favorites was Lumber City, where the local VFW served delicious barbecued chicken dinners just steps away from the community's yard sale site. Others included Hazlehurst, which had an expansive yard sale site in its community park, and Helena with its interesting old hotel next to the railroad tracks.
its own "official" yard sale site, which is identified by Peaches to the Beaches signs and banners. In addition, you'll typically find "unofficial" yard sales at shops, homes, churches and other sites along the way. 
Peaches to the Beaches is modeled after the "World's Longest Yard Sale," which covers 654 miles from Ohio to Gadsden Alabama. It was begun by Evelyn Simmons, then interim president of the Golden Isles Parkway Association, which organizes the yearly event. 
Held the second weekend in March, the annual sale's popularity has grown and the route has expanded from its original 172 miles to its current 211. Many "early birds" flock to the Friday sales in search of the best treasures, though Saturday seems to be the biggest sale day. For a complete listing and schedule, click here. 
