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Georgia and South Carolina Coast & Islands, 7 Days - Mar. 19-25, 2008 "There is great pleasure in leaving snow, ice and a North Wind for the sunny south. It was a joy to see the colorful Azalea's in full bloom and the gentleness of the blooming Dogwoods with the stately live oaks in the background. The quiet and serene countryside was the perfect place to shed the winter blah's and enjoy mother nature at her best." Mary O., "This was one of the most pleasurable biking trips I have been on - great weather, blossoming azaleas, beautiful accommodations, and very helpful and supportive leaders. Kayaking through the swamp and playing croquet on the lawns of Jekyll Island Club were special first-time experiences! I'm hooked and ready for more!" -Elfreda B,
Get an early start on spring amidst warm weather and azaleas in bloom by biking along the Georgia/South Carolina coast and islands. We begin the tour with a bike ride in Savannah, one of the loveliest small cities in America, where history and architectural gems span hundreds of years. Bike along rural roads where old mansions stand side-by-side with 100 year-old shacks. Cruise through wildlife preserves with pine forests and Spanish moss, salt marshes, rice fields and water birds; and bike the low country near historic Beaufort. You will stay in Savannah, on Sapelo Island, the only undeveloped island off the coast of Georgia, presently inhabited by descendants of slaves; and the exquisite Jekyll Island, historic winter quarters of some of the richest families in America. We visit plantations reminding us of a lost chapter in American history and pedal through tiny rural towns, ports with shrimp boats and historic Darien, one of the first settlements in Georgia. The accomodations are exceptional.
Highlights
Detailed Features
Terrain and Tour Difficulty: This is a relatively easy ride over flat terrain. The average base mileage varies between 20 and 45 miles, but is very flexible allowing each rider to choose the distance they wish to ride. Shorter and longer distances are possible.
Accommodation: Two nights each at the Bed & Breakfast Inn in Savannah http://www.savannahbnb.com/, The Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island http://www.reynoldsonsapelo.com/ and the Jekyll Island Club Hotel on Jekyll Island http://www.jekyllclub.com/.
Activities: Bird watching, hiking, history and on Jekyll golf, tennis, charter fishing, horseback riding and croquet
Weather: The average high temperature in Savannah in March is 70 degrees and the average low 48 degrees. Arrival and Departure: The trip starts and finishes in Savannah, March 19-25 Cost: The cost of this 7-day, 6-night trip is $1,895, double occupancy. The trip includes six nights of accommodation; all breakfasts, four dinners, three picnic lunches and snacks and non-alcoholic beverages along the way; tours in Savannah, Sapelo Island; ferry tickets and van support during and after the trip; and two local guides knowledgeable about the area and maps and route notes. Golf, horseback riding and charter fishing are available, but not included in the cost of the trip. Because of the extra hotel costs involved for single occupancy, there is a single supplement charge of $425. You can rent either hybrid or road bikes for $150 for the trip.
March 20: Beaufort: The Beaufort area is rich in natural beauty and showcases the very best the South Carolina Low Country has to offer. Cycle along pristine roads cradled by saltwater marshes, massive oak groves, estuaries and rivers. Beaufort history can be traced back 4000 years to the Archaic Indians with the first European settlers arriving around 1521. Beaufort entered its golden era about 1800, when Sea Island cotton was king, and many of Beaufort's loveliest mansions were built by the wealthy owners of cotton, indigo, and rice plantations. Today, reminders of the area's colorful history abound in architecture preserved with loving care and folkways honored across generations. (B), (L) March 21: Savannah to Sapelo: Starting at the Smallest Church in America, "Where Folks Rub Elbows with God", we will bike in rural countryside through salt marshes and pine forests and the Harris Neck Wildlife Refuge, the home of egrets, herons and other water birds. Then, we cruise through the tiny villages of Shellman Bluff, Pine Harbor and Eulonia and on to Valona to see shrimp boats and Ridgeville to look at the Victorian style homes of former timber barons who summered here. We catch the ferry to Sapelo and the Reynolds Mansion, Breakfast (B), (D).
March 22: Sapelo: The day starts with a guided tour of this fascinating island. The Reynolds Mansion will then prepare a low country boil lunch at the beach pavilion. After lunch, you can bike on the bicycles provided by the mansion, hike or just enjoy the magnificent, empty beach. (B), (L), (D). March 23: Sapelo to Jekyll, "The Millionaires Island": After catching the ferry back to mainland, bike to Darien and take a short bike tour of Darien including Fort George, the first English settlement in Georgia, and St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, built by former slaves in 1876. Then, we pedal on to the magnificent Jekyll Island and the world-famous Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Founded in 1886, the Club thrived as a grand retreat for some of America's wealthiest families. They built a riverside compound of magnificent "cottage" residences encircling a sumptuous Victorian clubhouse that is now a hotel of unrivaled standards of service. (B) March 24: Jekyll Island: We will spend this day with a relaxed bike ride around this magnificent island along the coast through salt marshes and past the magnificent cottages of some of America's most famous families. March 25: Back to Savannah: After a leisurely breakfast and some time to enjoy our accommodations, we will van back to the place of your choice in Savannah. (B) Please let us know if you would like to make a reservation and send us a deposit of $400 to hold the reservation. Please send the balance of the cost of the trip at least six weeks before the start of the trip. Half of the deposit is refundable up to six weeks before the beginning of the trip. Because of hotel cancellation policies, all payments are non-refundable after that time. In the unlikely event of trap cancellation all payments will be refunded in full. You can pay by credit card by phone or by check. Checks payable to Escapades LLC should be sent to 1965 Biltmore Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. For information, please call Escapades, 877 880 2453 (BIKE) or 202 232-1531 or e-mail tours@bikeescapades.com . Miscellaneous : Email a Friend |
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