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With Captain Jeanne or Captain Jim
"As recommended by Conde Nast Traveller"
Travel scenic tidal creeks between St.
Simons Island and Little St. Simons Island, Georgia,
while discovering unique features of our marsh ecosystem.
~ People often say this is
the best thing they did while here ~
- TOURS -
As featured on GPTV!
Our most popular boat ride is
the Salt Marsh Nature Tour,
an
unusual trip through some narrow, winding tidal creeks. This is a 2-hour
narrated exploration of the marsh. Topics include tides, the cord grass,
food chain, vegetation, birds, mammals (including bottle-nosed dolphins),
shellfish and finfish, whatever we see. Nesting birds along our route during
the spring are Osprey and Great Blue Heron. Winter birds include cormorants,
loons, grebes, and various ducks. We also discuss some history as we pass
the sites of two former plantations at Hampton Point and Cannon's Point.
Children are invited to steer the boat on any tour. Adults may also drive (a
great photo opportunity!).
- $40 per person, $160 or 4-person minimum,
6-person maximum at $240 -
Our
One
Hour Boat Ride through the marsh is primarily an enjoyable boat
ride which does not have as much narration or explanation as does the Salt
Marsh Nature Tour. It covers part of the same route. Both boat rides go past
large marsh-front houses on St. Simons Island, by the ruins of the Couper
plantation house at Cannon's Point, and by little St. Simons Island. We
usually see dolphins!
- $30 per person, $120 or 4-person
minimum, 6-person maximum at $180 -
Another choice is the
Dolphin Quest,
a 2-hour boat ride through the marsh
and to the ocean.
We cannot promise dolphins, but
we see them most of the time. They often swim with the boat and burst out of
the water. During summer we may see an alligator.
Another Two Hour Trip
takes you down the
Hampton River and a short distance offshore to Pelican Spit, where you can
explore your own sand bar and look for shells. The spit is out of the water
only at low tide.
- Two-Hour Rates: $40 per person, $160
or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $240 -
The
Dolphin Quest may be chartered for only 1 hour at $30 per person.
A Three Hour Tour
goes past the old Couper
plantation, through Little St. Simons Island, between Sea Island and St.
Simons Island and into Musgrove Plantation. This tour emphasizes
sightseeing. We will discuss other aspects of the marsh according to your
interests.
- 3 hours, $55 per
person, $220 or 4-person minimum, 6 maximum at $330 -
Sunset Cruises are also fun.
- $40 per person, $160 or 4-person minimum,
6-person maximum at $240 -
A Two Hour Tour up the South
Altamaha River
goes west, crosses Buttermilk
Sound, and winds through the beautiful lower reaches of the Altamaha, past
cypress trees with Spanish moss. We see several Osprey nests along this
route.
- 2 hours, $40 per
person, $160 or 4-person minimum, 6 maximum at $240 -
Special Birding Trips
to the Altamaha River Delta and along
Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge take place in September, October and
November. The delta is one of 39 important birding areas in the Western
Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site. One can see large numbers of
American Oystercatchers, Red Knots, Wilson's Plovers, Sanderlings. The
endangered Piping Plover winters here. This area is on the Atlantic Flyway.
Large flocks of Black Skimmers, Curlews and numerous other species often
appear.
- 3+ hours, 1-6 people,
$330 per trip -
You may take your own private
tour at any time. We will fit into your schedule. We have no set departure
times, although we can recommend a time of the tide according to what you
want to see or do.
Low tide is best to see birds and oysters, while high tide is best to have a
view across the marsh. You may reserve a time to coincide with sunrise,
sunset, lunch, cocktails, or any time, 7 days a week.
We recommend that you plan your tour for the early days of your visit so
that you will have time to reschedule, if necessary. Mother Nature may not
cooperate, sending rain instead of fair skies, on your last day here.
Homeschooling
and our tours go well together. The Salt Marsh Nature Tour can be modified
to introduce concepts or reinforce previous lessons. We will work with you
to customize your tour.
You will ride on
The Marsh Hen,
a 26-foot pontoon boat with comfortable
cushioned seats and a canopy which shades all seats on the boat. The deck is
level with the floating dock for easy boarding.
The boat is accessible for those in wheel
chairs. However,
because of the necessary floating docks in this area, the ramp between the
floating dock and the fixed dock is easier to negotiate at high tide.
You are welcome to take along
food or drinks. We carry bottled spring water and a limited selection of
soft drinks.
We supply binoculars for each person,
ponchos for summer rains and
lined parkas for cooler weather.
The Marsh Hen
is licensed to carry a maximum
of 6 people. If your group is larger than 6, you may schedule several trips
throughout the day or week, depending on the varying activities of members
of the group. The boat is docked at The Hampton River Club in the Hampton
River, St. Simons Island, Georgia.
If you have fewer than 4 people
in your group and do not care to pay the minimum charge, we will do our best
to find others to join you in order to make up the minimum number.
- Captain Jeanne -
Capt. Jeanne is
licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard. She is also accredited by the
University of Georgia Marine Extension Service as a docent.
Jeanne has a Master of Education degree and began this special
attraction in 1986. She has also completed seminars in bird biology
through Cornell University. |
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Current charter rates effective March 1, 2002, are subject to change at
any time.
Member of the St. Simons Island Chamber of Commerce since 1986.
Noted & Quoted:
- "St. Simons Shines On"
"It's a little piece of heaven...some find...it during a marsh tour in the
Hampton River...led by Capt. Jeanne Pleasants in her pontoon, The Marsh
Hen."
Written by Paula Crouch Thasher after taking the Salt Marsh Nature Tour
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - August 24, 2003
- "Southern Summer Scenery"
"When I visited the area as a kid, my interests lay predictable and
exclusively with the beach. This time, thanks in part to our appropriately
named guide, Jeanne Pleasants, who led us on a boat tour, I was far more
intrigued by the surrounding tidal marshes. The shape of the coastline
makes for unusually high tides, and in turn an unusually flexible ecology
-- like grasses that have learned to sweat out salt..."
Written by Justin Pope, Associated Press
The Times-Union - July 27, 2002
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