by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Summer is the perfect time to take a road trip, and Jacksonville’s location lends itself particularly well to day trips. One tank of gas can take you further than you think, to new experiences and places outside your customary geographical scope. In the spirit of those new experiences, this summer EU will be offering a glimpse into some of the interesting places you can visit for a day or for a weekend.
This week we’ll be presenting two road trips to Georgia.
There’s a whole range of activities to be had in St. Marys. Although tourism seems to be the major industry here, it isn’t a hyper-commercialized tourism. Bygone times seem more real here; there isn’t a sense that the history of the place has been hijacked and packaged into a buyable commodity.
Of course, if you do like to buy things, there’s certainly no shortage of well-appointed antique shops and little family-run boutiques.
For something a little different, you might want to visit the St. Marys Submarine Museum, where you can get your hands on a working periscope and view submarine artifacts.
The beauty of nature is one of the draws that bring people to the town. You can take a kayaking trip, go on a fishing expedition, head to Crooked River Park or take the town’s ferry to Cumberland Island. The island is notable for its seaside wilderness, beauty, Carnegie mansion ruins and wild horses. Once you’re on the island, there isn’t much in the way of amenities; it’s more or less a camping area, so you will want to bring your own food and drink.
If you’re into grave stone rubbings or times past, take a walk in the St. Marys Oak Grove Cemetery. Each gravestone tells a story, made all the more fascinating by what’s left out of the short descriptions and pithy poems. One stone covers the graves of an entire family taken by a yellow fever epidemic that struck St. Mary’s in 1801. There’s history here, waiting for someone interested enough to uncover it.
Trip Time & Directions: Depending on what side of town you live on, a trip to St. Marys, Georgia can take anywhere from a short forty-five minute drive to about an hour and twenty minutes. Take I-95 N into Georgia, take exit 1 and follow the signs.
Where to stay: If you want to make more than a day trip, there is a proliferation of sweet little B & Bs on Osborne Street in the heart of St. Marys, but the Goodbread House (209 Osborne Street (912) 882-7490 goodbreadhouse.com) has a number of amenities that help it to standout from the rest. They have an in-house spa, a tea room and will lend guests their golf cart for short excursions in the historic district. Each room is named after a famous movie star couple (like the Scarlett & Rhett room) and the decoration is inspired by whatever movie the couples inhabit. During the week the rate is $99, weekends go for $139.
Besides all the usual fishing expeditions, Tybee also has dolphin tours you can take. Plus, if you’re into marine ecology, you can go to the Island Marine Science Center. They offer tours, walks and hands-on marine experiences.
While Jacksonville has its Jaguar statues strewn about the cityscape, Tybee has its turtles. Like our Jaguar statues, each turtle is uniquely decorated as part of a city-wide art project. Tourists can actually take “turtle tours” to visit each one.
Most visitors will make a stop at the Tybee Lighthouse, which has been running for over 200 years. Another popular tourist stop is the Fort Pulaski National Museum.
The artistic community in Tybee can sometimes have an offbeat beach vibe. There’s no better place to catch that vibe than at Dragonfly Studio Arts (1204 East Hwy 80. (912) 786-4431) The studio began in 1996 simply as a pottery studio, but has morphed into more. They’ve got a large display deck called the Octopus’s Garden which is occupied with outdoor artwork of glass and metal sculptures. Take a look at the funky artwork or just join the Saturday night drum circle, which generally starts about 8:30 pm.
For a genuine taste of Tybee, look no further than the Crab Shack. They do shellfish and low country boils like nobody else in the area. While they do tend to serve cocktails in Styrofoam cups, it is a tried and true spot for on-the-water seafood.
Trip Time & Directions: From about two and a half to three hours from Jacksonville to Tybee Island, you’ll want to take I-95 N to I-16 E. Tybee Island is only about thirty minutes from Savannah.
Where to Stay: Hunter House Inn (1701 Butler Avenue (912) 786 -7515) Just a few blocks from the beach, this B&B also has a great restaurant frequented both by locals and guests. Rates range from $110-150 depending on the room and the season.
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