Staying at
the Reynolds Mansion
Hello
to all our potential Sapelo guests! We are very much looking
forward to this trip We usually have a great group of people
signed up for this trip, so hopefully you will be as excited
as we are. This
page has a lot of useful information, but as always, we encourage
you to call us
(ask
for Allie) with any further questions we may have. (828) 877-3106
Warning:
Allie's enthusiasm for this trip may be contagious!
General Information:
Sapelo Island
contains prime examples of every facet of a barrier island's
natural ecosystem- from forested uplands, to the vast salt marsh,
and the complex beach and dunes systems. The facts that
visitors can only reach the island by boat, and must be invited,
have helped preserve the natural environment in it's pristine
state.
The
R.J. Reynolds Mansion is a historical estate (built in 1802)
with 13 guest rooms brimming with turn-of-the century art, architecture,
and ambiance. The mansion sits just outside the tiny community
(pop. 68) of Hog Hammock. Most of the residents are part of
the gullah, or Geechee community, and can trace their roots
directly to West Africa. Nearby sits one of the oldest lighthouses
on the east coast.
The
trip fee of $1095 includes-
-
Ferry
ride to and from the island
-
Kayaks,
Paddles, PFDs, and guide service
-
Use
of bicycles while at the mansion
-
Guided
Tour of Island and Historical Ruins
-
All
meals from Dinner on 9/30/13 through lunch on 10/3/13
-
Beer,
Wine, Soft Drinks, and Bottled Water
-
Assortment
of snacks and appetizers
-
Free
gear shuttle from Rosman, NC and back
-
Help
arranging carpools
-
Lighthouse
tour
-
Guaranteed
good times!
Sample Itinerary:
This
is just a sample of our itinerary. All activities are subject
to change due to tides, weather, or whims of the guides. For
those of you just looking to relax, there is a wonderful beach
just down the road from the mansion where you are just about
guaranteed to never see another person. 
Remember,
you are not required to do any of these activities, but welcome
to any of them!
Day 1:
Meet at 1:00 to paddle your kayak to Sapelo OR
Take
3:30pm ferry to Sapelo Island
Reynolds Mansion vans will pick up guests and gear and deliver
to mansion
Explore the mansion! Explore the grounds!
Dinner at 7pm
Moonlight beach walk/ bonfire with S'mores.
Day 2: 
Breakfast at 8am
Sapelo Queens Island Day via kayak
Lunch packed to-go by Reynolds Mansion
Head back to Sapelo
Sweet grass basket weaving in the Solarium
Social hour 6pm
Dinner 7pm
Day 3:
Breakfast at 8am
Blackbeard Island Exploration via kayak and hiking/walking (if
tides cooperate, you may get to explore the boneyard beach!)
Lunch packed to-go by Reynolds Mansion
Lighthouse tour
Social hour 6pm 
Dinner 7pm
Day 4:
Sunrise Paddle
Breakfast at 8am
Sapelo by road & trail (historical & cultural tour)
Lunch 12:30 at Reynolds Mansion
Pack up to take the 4:30 ferry back to mainland
Getting There:
The
address for the Visitor's Center and Ferry is-
1766
Landing Road Southeast
Darien, GA 31305
The
drive from Rosman, NC to the Ferry dock takes about 6.5 hours.
If you want to drive down the day before, hotels can be found
in the nearby town of Darien, GA.
Do you have extra space in your vehicle?
Do you need a ride down, and wouldn't mind chipping in for someone's
gas?
We do our best to help you arrange carpools!
If you would like us to help you transport any gear down to
the island, we are happy to do that for you. Our staff will
be leaving early and coming back late, so any items you arrange
for us to transport will need to be dropped off at Headwaters
no later than Saturday, September 28th, and may be picked up
there on Saturday, September 5th. Please call us and let us
know if you plan to utilize this feature.
The
Ferry:
Our
ferry to the island usually leaves around 3:30pm on Monday. We
highly recommend arriving early to unload your gear and meet
your fellow travelers! All vehicles should be left in the Visitor's
Center parking lot, but you may drive down to the dock to unload
your car.
For anyone really wanting to add more kayaking to their vacation,
we have the option of paddling a kayak over to the island instead
of taking the ferry! This is a first come, first serve option,
so let us know if you would like to do this. You will need to
arrive at the dock a couple hours earlier than if you were taking
the ferry. The paddle will be about 2.5-3.5 hours depending
on the wind/tides. There will be a staff member on hand that
can watch your luggage and make sure it gets onto the ferry
and over to the island. **Please
note, if you make the comitment to paddle a kayak across and
then do not show up early to do so, your kayak will remain on
the mainland, and you may not get the opportunity to paddle
for the rest of the trip (based on boat avaiability).**
The ferry ride lasts about 30 minutes. There are places to sit
and stand both indoors (in air conditioning) as well as outside.
It can be very windy outside, but you have a beautiful view!
Our returning ferry will depart at 4:30pm on October 3rd. Again,
you are welcome to pull your car up to the dock to load all
your belongings back into your vehicle.
What to
bring:
Here
is a suggestion of items to bring with you. Please remember,
although we are technically staying in a mansion, it is located
on a remote island; you won't be able to run out to a store.
Please feel free to call and discuss your packing list with
Allie!
(828) 877-3106
-
Normal
Clothes and toiletries for 4 days
-
Any
medications you may need (Benadryl, Aspirin, Epi-Pen, etc)
-
Extra
change of clothes for days you plan on hiking/paddling
-
Paddle
clothing (quick dry, non cotton, water shoes, etc.)
-
Dry
Bag(s) to hold your camera or anything you don't want to get
wet paddling or on the beach
-
Beach
wear, if you desire
-
Rain
Gear (use as a splash guard while paddling, and just in case
of rainy days!)
-
Rainy
Day Activities (just in case!)
-
Aloe
(in case you get too much sun!)
-
We
will have Life jackets (PFDs) and Kayak Paddles, but you may
bring your own if you prefer
-
A mesh bag or a bucket to collect shells (the beach has a
ton of shells on it!)
-
A
book to read during down time if you desire
-
A
lot of people prefer to bring a Nalgene or water bottle to
carry with them, though we will have bottled water at the
mansion.
-
For
afternoons spent away from the mansion, it's not a bad idea
to bring a small, soft cooler to put your lunch and drinks
in.
-
In
case of cooler weather, be prepared with a jacket and/or fleece,
long underwear, warm hat, gloves, etc.
-
Any
special snacks or special beverages you may want!
-
If
you are doing the basket weaving, bring a sharp knife, and
a pair of scissors
-
Small
backpack/day pack
-
A
beach bag
-
CAMERA!
-
Sunscreen
-
Hat(s)
-
Sunglasses
-
Bug
Spray
-
Beach
Towels
-
Good
hiking/walking shoes
Extras:
As
you know, you are not required to spend every day kayaking!
This is YOUR vacation, enjoy it! There will be bikes available
at the mansion to explore the island at your leisure. Here are
some additional activities to consider-
SUP-
If
anyone is interested in Stand Up Paddle boarding, please email
Allie@HeadwatersOutfitters.com
as soon as possible. We would like to have SUPs
available if there is enough interest, and we have enough notice.
Sweet
Grass Basket Weaving-
We have arranged for a local Gullah woman, Sharron, to teach
anyone interested how to weave sweet grass baskets. This will
be an extra fee paid directly to Sharron. She charges only $20
per person, but last year most people added on a tip. She puts
a lot of work into the preparations, and it is an incredibly
fun way to spend an afternoon! Bring a Sharp knife and a pair
of scissors!
Fishing-
If you want to enjoy some fishing while you are at Sapelo, don't
forget your Georgia fishing license! Bring your own gear!
Cash
on Hand-
There are a very few opportunities to shop on the island. The
Mansion sells some souvenirs, and the local women that work
there have made some beautiful baskets, dolls, and other crafts
that will be for sale. The day of our island tour, we also stop
at a small local store where you can purchase refreshing beverages,
ice cream, and local crafts. If you feel inclined to support
the local economy, bring some cash for these reasons!
Gratuities-
Last
year, the women at the mansion cooked up some outstanding meals
for us, and I'm sure this year will be no exception. They also
get to do all the cleaning and housekeeping. Feel free to let
them know what an outstanding job they do!
We also get a fantastic kayaking tour guide in from St. Simons
island to take us kayaking. He takes the ferry over and stays
with a friend on the island to be available to us. If you enjoy
his trips, I'm sure he would appreciate you letting him know!
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