Sun and sand might be the only things on your mind as spring break edges ever closer. For those of you who don’t feel like spending the entire week at home with the parents, why not spend a little time at the beach for some well-deserved rest and relaxation? One of the best spots to chill that isn’t too far away, nor too pricey, is Jekyll Island.
Jekyll Island is roughly 127 miles (about two and a half hours drive) east of Valdosta. It lies just south of St. Simon’s Island, so if you feel like it, you can also take a day trip up there to take care of some shopping. According to Jekyll Island’s official website (www.jekyllisland.com), there are approximately 206 campsites good for tents and RVs.
A basic tent site is only $20 per day, but for an additional five dollars, you can also get electricity for any gadgets you want to bring along. However, the campsite does offer a special incentive for a prolonged stay: stay six days with a weekly rate of $120 and the seventh day is absolutely free.
Gas will always be an issue, but for this trip gas costs shouldn’t be too bad. According to MapQuest, for a round trip, the gas cost should only be an even $24.
There are plenty of things to do on Jekyll. For example, the beach is only a few minutes away from the campsite, and you can also pay a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where injured sea turtles are taken in, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild. If you’re feeling extremely generous, you can actually adopt a turtle for about $50 and receive monthly updates on it once it’s released back into the wild. For all the athletes out there, if you’re planning to go to Jekyll Island in May, you can attend the Turtle Crawl Triathlon and Nest Fest Celebration on May 10-15. According to the website, turtlecrawl.jekyllisland.com, a portion of the triathlon proceeds benefits will go to the Sea Turtle Center.
You can also explore some of the many salt marshes scattered around on the island and take in the beauty of the sea-based environment.
If the costs are split between four people, then each person could pay as little as $11 for just the gas and tent site combined. If you plan to rent equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, or fishing gear from the CORE office, their prices are listed on their website.
Your spring break trip, or any trip for that matter, shouldn’t have you stressing over what you’re going to do or who you’re going to take a trip with. It should be about taking your mind off of school and having fun! Enjoy your trip and come back rejuvenated and refreshed.