Lighthouse Tour, St. Simons GA to Ft. Jeff FL

Hi all!
Steve (Mr. Coquille) and I are out for a two week lighthouse tour of GA & FL, starting at St. Simons and ending at Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas. I'd like to know if anyone has any GENERAL tips, but I'm specifically interested in anyone who has made the boat trip to the Dry Tortugas. Which ferry/boat you'd recommend. I prefer to do NO chumming on the 2.5 hour trip, both seem to be about the same $$. I know one is faster and no doubt, one is better. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Oh, leaving early on 2/4 :-).
Thanks in advance.
Lorraine

Wishin' you both a safe and enjoyable trip, good health and great weather.
I'd recommend the following three books.

Florida Lighthouses, by Kevin M. McCarthy & William L. Trotter. It is published by University of Florida Press, Gainsville, FL.
ISBN 0-8130-0982-0 (alk. paper)
ISBN 0-8130-0993-6 (pbk.: alk. paper)

Guide to Florida Lighthouses, by Elinor DeWire. It's published by Pineapple Press, Inc. Englewood, FL.
ISBN 0-910923-74-4.

and

Florida, Off The Beaten Path (a Guide to Unique Places, by Diana & Bill Gleasner. Published by The Globe Pequot Press, Old Saybrook, CT
ISBN 1-56440-242-8.

Have Fun!!
Ron

Do the float plane out of Key West instead of the boat, Lorraine. It'll save time, and the view is outstanding!

I covered much of the ground you will be visiting this past September. Jacksonville to Tybe to Miami from Friday night to Monday noon, and then one afternoon to Key West and finally a day and a half to hit Cape Florida and up to Tampa. Be sure to allow plenty of time for Ponce de Leon and St. Augustine. Both are great restorations and have great (and very tall) towers you can climb- inside the towers are even very handsome. Ponce has museums spread through several buildings and has an absolutely fantastic lense display.

If you get to Cape Florida be warned that it has been completely redone and is white as opposed to the natural brick of the HL LE. It is a very well done restoration and has a rebuilt keeper's home you can visit. If you want to climb the tower they only do one run a day, and limit it to 10 people. If I remember, it was at 1:00 PM and not offered on every day of the week (maybe not on Tues/Wed?? - trying to remember; I visited on a Thu).

You will have a little more time to enjoy all the light. I was cruising pretty good- 2,000 miles on a rental in 7½ days, and that included 2½ days of meetings in Miami!

Have a great trip!

Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 01-29-99).]

Pictures, Lorraine, Pictures!!!

Take lots of pictures and travel directions (hours of lighthouse access, driving time to the next one, etc.) -- so we can all enjoy your trip with you.

John

Lorraine, Please be sure to stop by Jupiter Inlet for some photos. I can't imagine Jupiter not RED! Have a great time.

-Art

Fear not! Mr. Coquille is also a very good photographer, but I'm not sure how I'll share them with you as I don't have a color scanner. I'll do the best I can on directions and hours etc. without becoming TOO obsessive compulsive...

Thanks for your tips, I'll check in with you all upon my return.

Are you trying to tell me something here, Lorraine? LOL

Lorraine,
Most developing companies offer a floppy disk format in addition to photos, slides and negatives.
That's only a good suggestion if you not a do-it-yourselfer.
I look foward to you reporting your trip.
Have fun,
Bob

Lorraine, Everybody is forgetting the most important thing. Your Harbour Lights Dealer list!! This should be the first and foremost thing on your trip planning list.

Have a Great trip!!

Paul

Thanks for the good wishes! I'm prepared!
· I downloaded the most recent list from HarbourLight.com a few days ago (to be sure my list is as up-to-date as possible);
· Bruce Roberts' Southern Lighthouses and Americas Atlantic Coast Lighthouses are packed (in my carry-on, of course) as is Ron Foster's recommended reading list.
· Multiple cameras and >25 rolls of film are at the ready
· HL Notebook (from Reunion) and multiple pens (in case one runs out of ink)
· Post-it notes (for corrections and annotations to Atlantic Coast Lighthouses directions etc.)

Eeek, I think I'm ALREADY too obsessive compulsive about this! :-)
Ciao all!