Recently, my younger brother, Craig, traveled down to Jacksonville from Charleston for his 24^th birthday.  Aside from taking part in the obligatory birthday traditions for a recent college-graduate including blowing out a candle taped to a margarita while wearing a sombrero (gotta love Campeche Bay) and barhopping at the beach, I wanted to expose Craig to something truly unique in the city. 

Jacksonville’s Timucuan Trail State and National Parks are the perfect setting for an excursion on a beautiful sunny day, but most people can’t say they’ve toured nature via Segway.  Craig was excited to get to try one out.  We set out on a Saturday afternoon to experience history, waterways, wildlife, flora and fauna courtesy of EcoMotion Tours.

Now I have ridden a Segway before while dodging cars (a much different experience than dodging tree roots).  Craig hadn’t though, but he picked up pretty quickly as you can see and after about 10 minutes of learning the ropes of the cross-terrain Segway, we were off!  Because they are battery operated, Segways are designed to minimize a user’s environmental footprint.  Very nice for the eco-conscious individual!

We traveled throughout Fort George Island past the historic Ribault Club, which in its heyday of the 1920s hosted millionaires and foreign dignitaries, and into the woods looking for gopher tortoises and bobcats (which, unlike the morning tour participants, we didn’t see).  Our guides, Maren and Greg, were there to talk about the amazing history of the Timucuan Preserve and Fort George Island from its roots with the Timucuan Indians and the early French Huguenot settlers at Fort Caroline into the different phases throughout the years to the present.

In the end, the hour long afternoon session was just enough to whet my appetite, but I found that it was over too soon!  Next time, I’ll be ready wanting the two-hour session which also explores Kingsley Plantation and its grounds, but in the meantime, I’ll have to settle with the knowledge that I introduced my brother to experience he’ll always remember as one of his best birthday presents.

Check out a video on EcoMotion Tours.