R. Todd Rothrauff

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  1. Play . . .
  2. November 24-27, 2015: Thanksgiving in Jekyll Island, Georgia . . .

November 26: Walked to the Westin and Beach Village . . .

Both the Westin Hotel and the Beach Village are new for 2015.
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  • I ended my last day on the island the same way it began - with a walk on the beach.  I was preparing to head back to Athens the next morning and decided to check out something that had recently opened.

    I ended my last day on the island the same way it began - with a walk on the beach. I was preparing to head back to Athens the next morning and decided to check out something that had recently opened.

  • These photos are of the new Beach Village located next to the also-new Westin Hotel.  This area was under construction during my previous visit last year.

    These photos are of the new Beach Village located next to the also-new Westin Hotel. This area was under construction during my previous visit last year.

  • The Beach Village actually represents an ongoing revitalization project for the island rather than just the name of a specific area.  The idea was to create a new "center of town."  I took a walk through the place on this Thanksgiving night, meaning nothing was open.  It looks like the decorating process for the Holiday Season had already started.  The area seen in the photos above and below is next to the beach and provides access to it.

    The Beach Village actually represents an ongoing revitalization project for the island rather than just the name of a specific area. The idea was to create a new "center of town." I took a walk through the place on this Thanksgiving night, meaning nothing was open. It looks like the decorating process for the Holiday Season had already started. The area seen in the photos above and below is next to the beach and provides access to it.

  • The village entrance is located at the roundabout at the end of the Ben Fortson Parkway, (i.e. GA Route 520, the Jekyll Island Causeway).

    The village entrance is located at the roundabout at the end of the Ben Fortson Parkway, (i.e. GA Route 520, the Jekyll Island Causeway).

  • Included in the area are the new Westin Hotel and retail shopping spaces, and the existing Convention Center and Great Dunes Park.

    Included in the area are the new Westin Hotel and retail shopping spaces, and the existing Convention Center and Great Dunes Park.

  • The new retail spaces seen in the photo above have replaced the trailers that had been in use for years prior.

    The new retail spaces seen in the photo above have replaced the trailers that had been in use for years prior.

  • The area seen in the photos above and below is a large green space in between the retail shops (L) and the Westin Hotel (R) aptly named the Village Green.  Unfortunately, whatever settings I had my camera set on make it look like the Village Yellow.

    The area seen in the photos above and below is a large green space in between the retail shops (L) and the Westin Hotel (R) aptly named the Village Green. Unfortunately, whatever settings I had my camera set on make it look like the Village Yellow.

  • I guessed at a different setting and managed to get a decent picture.

    I guessed at a different setting and managed to get a decent picture.

  • A fountain sits at this end of the Village Green that allowed me to keep the camera still enough to get some decent shots.

    A fountain sits at this end of the Village Green that allowed me to keep the camera still enough to get some decent shots.

  • I rotated the camera 90 degrees to the right to get a few shots of the Westin Hotel's Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop.

    I rotated the camera 90 degrees to the right to get a few shots of the Westin Hotel's Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop.

  • Thanks to the fountain, the camera was able to focus resulting in a clear picture.

    Thanks to the fountain, the camera was able to focus resulting in a clear picture.

  • I particularly like the reflection of the building off of the surface of the fountain.

    I particularly like the reflection of the building off of the surface of the fountain.

  • Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

    Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

  • I walked over to the Westin to check out the outdoor lighting.

    I walked over to the Westin to check out the outdoor lighting.

  • Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

    Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

  • Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

    Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

  • Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

    Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

  • Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

    Gas lighting at Uncle Vance's Coffee Shop at the Westin Jekyll Island.

  • The tree seen in the photos above and below sits in the center of the roundabout at the end of the Ben Fortson Parkway, (the only way onto/off of the island).

    The tree seen in the photos above and below sits in the center of the roundabout at the end of the Ben Fortson Parkway, (the only way onto/off of the island).

  • The street in the photos above is aptly named Main Street and is easily accessed by anyone arriving on the island.

    The street in the photos above is aptly named Main Street and is easily accessed by anyone arriving on the island.

  • The fountain also sits against the street in front of the Westin Hotel, Ocean Way.

    The fountain also sits against the street in front of the Westin Hotel, Ocean Way.

  • I made my way down Main Street to the roundabout to try and get a few pics of the illuminated tree.

    I made my way down Main Street to the roundabout to try and get a few pics of the illuminated tree.

  • Like every other time, the hardest part of this operation was keeping the camera still so the pictures would be in focus.

    Like every other time, the hardest part of this operation was keeping the camera still so the pictures would be in focus.

  • I used whatever I could find to try and keep the camera still.

    I used whatever I could find to try and keep the camera still.

  • I spent some time trying to get a few good pics everything.  The results turned out better this year compared to last year.

    I spent some time trying to get a few good pics everything. The results turned out better this year compared to last year.

  • And with that, the first part of my 2015 Holiday Season had come to a close.

    And with that, the first part of my 2015 Holiday Season had come to a close.

  • I would head back to Athens the next morning.  The Jag performed flawlessly with the exception of developing an oil leak.  I began to smell burning oil and see smoke when I stopped at a red light for any length of time.  I'll look at this when I get home.  Hopefully, it won't be anything major.

    I would head back to Athens the next morning. The Jag performed flawlessly with the exception of developing an oil leak. I began to smell burning oil and see smoke when I stopped at a red light for any length of time. I'll look at this when I get home. Hopefully, it won't be anything major.

  • I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the island and was looking forward to the next time I return which, as it turned out, would be much sooner than later.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the island and was looking forward to the next time I return which, as it turned out, would be much sooner than later.

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