Our family was looking for an out-of-the-ordinary Spring Break this year, and my daughter and I were spending the few days before the break at a Bible Quiz Extravaganza in Jacksonville, Florida. So, my industrious hubby surveyed the area near Jacksonville and searched for a lovely accommodation through VRBO. We’ve not spent much time near the Atlantic, so we chose to stay on that side of our USA.
The weather turned nasty during the BQE with sheets of rain, thunder, and lightning, bringing with it cooler than normal temperatures. In fact, Jacksonville hit a record low the day my boys showed up to begin our Spring Break. Our first day, we visited America’s oldest town, St. Augustine. We especially enjoyed the Old Jail tour, but we sought a break from the cool and gusty winds inside Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum.
From St. Augustine, we traveled to St. Mary’s, just across the Florida-Georgia border. The VRBO townhouse was a short walk from the old town and the ferry dock. It was also just across the street from a pier into the marshland near the river. The sunsets were GORGEOUS!
The food in town was so good, especially at the Southern River Walk, which had amazing crab cakes and Syrian grape leaves!
The next morning, we woke the kids up early to be at our 8 a.m. check-in for the ferry to Cumberland Island. It’s a big barrier island that groups can tour from a van, but our family loves to be in nature, especially my oldest son.
We chose to explore the island’s 4.3-mile “Southend Loop” of trails that included moss-covered live oaks, sand dunes, a mile-and-a-half stretch of pristine beach, the ruins of a mansion (Dungeness) built by Carnegie on a site that had been previously owned by Revolutionary War Major General Nathaniel Greene’s widow.
Feral horses roam the island freely. My sons and I veered off a trail to visit a “duck pond.” We got a little turned around when we decided to catch back up with hubby and had a choice of two paths. My oldest suggested we take the one on which two horses were trotting with great purpose towards us. Had I not stepped aside, I believe the horses would have trodden me down! Visitors are forewarned that the horses have the right-of-way—and they know it. They were headed for a drink from the pond.
When we ended the day on the dock at 2:45 p.m., we noted that we’d seen nine feral horses, nine armadillos, tons of sea birds, and possibly a bald eagle. The beach was full of huge, unbroken shells. We even found a Lego Poseidon in our beach combing!
The rest of our vacation was rather uneventful. We perused the stores of the old town and then headed to the outlets north of Savannah. It was St. Patrick’s Day, so we didn’t dare try to visit Savannah!
After a night in midtown Atlanta to break up our road trip home, we breathed a sigh of relief to return to homecooked meals and the routines of work and school.
Happy Spring, y’all!
