by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
While there will always be those who use Spring Break’s week off to saturate themselves with alcohol and other, less legal avenues of pleasure, the party hard mentality of the ‘80s and ‘90s has been left behind. Lately, students are using their breaks to be part of nature and go on more educational trips, sometimes organized by schools and clubs.
If nature’s your thing, there’s just no shortage of parks and nature spots here in Florida. Here are a few destinations that you can drive to on a tank of gas or less:
Talbot Islands State Parks
All of these parks are just a hop from Jacksonville’s city center. They include: Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Amelia Island State Park, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park, Little/Big Talbot Island State Parks, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, and Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park. Each of these parks features the water environments that make Northeast Florida unique.
Some of these parks, such as Big Talbot Island State Park, are considered to be part of Jacksonville. Big Talbot is only about 20 miles from the city’s Downtown center.
Activities like hiking and picnicking are the norm, and the vistas are spectacular, with fallen oaks and other trees tangled along the windswept beach. You can even tour the salt marshes and estuaries in a kayak for a guided or non-guided tour (call (904) 251-0016 to reserve). Unusual for Florida are the bluffs that overlook that beach. Hikers and nature enthusiasts love the strange landscape of Black Rock Trail and the rest of the park.Info: (904) 251-2320
Hours: Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. The boat ramp area is open 24 hours a day.
Admission Fees: $1.00/person to access the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier; $2.00/vehicle entrance fee to access the Bluffs picnic area; and $3.00 to use the boat launch. When going to any State Park in Florida, it’s smart to have about $10-20 dollars in cash per person in case there are small fees and they can’t run a card.
Silver Springs
Nothing says Florida like the glass-bottom boats of Silver Springs in Ocala, Florida. While it’s still an old time Florida destination, leftover from the 1950’s, the park has been updated and has been attracting more crowds in recent years. The nature park showcases Florida wildlife, crystal clear springs, gardens, shows and even a few rides. Check out their concert series if you get a chance. The Beach Boys play there on the 10th.
It’s about a two hour trip, just past Ocala into Silver Springs. You can either make the trip there and back in a day, or you can get a nearby hotel. None of the accommodations in that immediate area are really luxe, but you can always stay at the Seven Sisters Inn in Ocala if you crave pampering. Also worth visiting if you enjoy water parks is Wet &Wild.
Info: (352)-236-2121 www.silversprings.com
Admission Fees: General Admission $33.99 (with a Wet & Wild pass $36.99), Children from ages 3-10 $24.99 (plus $3 for a Wet & Wild pass), Children under 3 are free at both parks, and Seniors pay $30.99
Three destination cities can give you a taste of the spooky, the historical and picturesque: St. Augustine, Savannah and Cassadaga.
Because St. Augustine is just down the road for Jacksonville, it’s a very popular weekend or day trip destination. It’s definitely got a great mix of history, the weird and the beautiful. There are the Ghost Tours that run year round, giving you a taste of the spooky and the historic. You can go to Ripley’s for a little weird and quasi-historical fun or you can head to the beach to take in some natural beauty. The trip to St. Augustine will take you from about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic; just take I-95 South.
Savannah has more than its share of Southern charm. While it’s a bit short on beaches, the city more than makes up for it with antique stories and river views. An excellent shopping district along the River and some great Southern food at Food Network’s Paula Dean’s restaurant (The Lady and Sons) is ample reason to take the trip. It’s a little over a two hour drive to Savannah from Jacksonville. Take 1-95 North to I-16 East.
The city of Cassadaga isn’t in vogue for Spring Break at the moment, making it one of the less crowed and quieter destinations. On a scale of one to weird, this city is most definitely one of the stranger places you’ll find in Florida. In 1875 the city was founded by a medium George Colby, who followed the advice of an Indian guide on where to place a Spiritualist Camp. Since that time, it’s become a magnet for healers, mediums and psychics. You can attend a séance, get a reading or get a picture of your aura. The trip takes a little less than 2 hours. There are a few hotels in the area, should you want to stay overnight, but make sure you check in before it gets too late in the day. From Jacksonville you’ll need to take I-95 South, then I-4 west to the Cassadaga exit.
Daytona: the Beach that Spring Break Forgot
Daytona used to be the Mecca of Spring Breakers that really wanted to party. They became the Spring Break Capital after Fort Lauderdale, tired of the damage Spring Breakers did to their city, passed ordinances to discourage the breakers in the mid-eighties. In mass numbers, the partiers moved on to Daytona, peaking at 200,000 partiers and the cycle repeated itself. Local government did what it could to discourage the sort of hard drinking and public girl-on-girl action that made Daytona a destination for partiers.
Daytona did learn a thing or two from Fort Lauderdale’s mistakes. Lauderdale experienced a recession because they shunned the party-goers, who brought an enormous amount of money to the city’s economy. Daytona has worked hard to attract event based crowds like NASCAR and their two bike weeks to replace the income the party-hardy students brought.
As long as you aren’t flashing passing motorists, Daytona is still a great beach destination. Since it has dropped in popularity with students, it’s far less likely that someone may be puking at your feet as you attempt to stroll along the boardwalk.
This year’s Bike Week lasts from March 2nd through the 11th. If you’re a bike enthusiast or just curious about bike week, now’s the time to make your way down to Daytona.
by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Spring break is right around the corner and most of us will not be flocking to Panama Beach to drink too much and get caught “going wild” at some sketchy club. For most people, spring break is a chance to relax and do things they don’t get around to doing in their day-to-day lives. To help you make plans for the upcoming holiday, we at EU have come up with 30 things you can do to make your spring break more memorable, productive or just relaxing. While some of these tips are more adult-oriented, many of them are for people of all ages, including bored kids who may need some entertaining. Use our list as a starting point and put together the perfect spring break for you!
Jacksonville has hundreds of terrific local bands of all genres looking to share their music with the world. Thanks to websites like MySpace and Purevolume, you can give these hometown heroes a listen 24 hours a day. Local musicians play at venues all over town every week and spring break will be no exception, so try to take in a show or two. You may just get end up seeing the next big thing. Imagine the bragging rights.
Skip the bars and binge on some culture. The River City is home so some of the best museums in the Southeast and it’s a shame more people don’t take advantage of that. From the Cummer to MOCA, each has something unique to offer. Parents of small children will also be happy to know that each museum has an area that caters specifically to kids. See for yourself by taking a day or two to visit each one.
Many people tend to stick to their side of town. Boring! Why not see what the rest of this great city has to offer by visiting a different side of town every day. Embrace our buzzing downtown or explore the laid back beaches. Each and every neighborhood has something different to do. Sample what they all have to offer and you’ll have an even greater appreciation for this ever-growing metropolis.
I know, I know. You just got out of school, why would you want to go back? Because there are plenty of truly fun classes and camps offered during spring break to give you a chance to delve into something you may actually like (i.e. anything but Calculus). Most of our art museums hold classes to help you make a masterpiece or you can try your hand at Yoga at one of the many studios in the area. Just get out there and try something new. You may learn more about yourself in this one week than school has ever taught you.
With your busy schedule, I’m sure you’ve all but given up TV. Take this week to catch up on what you’ve been missing. Low rated but critically acclaimed shows like Veronica Mars and Arrested Development are available on DVD for your viewing pleasure. Use that Blockbuster membership and rent a few of the shows you’ve missed out on.
We have an eclectic mix of theaters in and around Jacksonville from the Alhambra to Boomtown. Musicals and plays can be seen and enjoyed all over town. Check out a few sensational stage performances during your week-long vacation.
OK, OK, this one may be a little outrageous for some, but a lot of people like their spring breaks to be more productive. For these, I’m certain very few, I propose that you get your living space spic and span. Dust the ceiling fans, clean the stove, clear the rain gutters. Imagine how nice it will be to come home to a clean house your first day back at school. Heavenly!
A week isn’t enough time to take a trip around the world, but you can experience the cuisine of other cultures without ever boarding a plane. From Japanese to Greek to Ethiopian, Jacksonville restaurants let your taste buds travel to far away lands without the heavy price tag. Let each meal be another stamp on your culinary passport.
My kids absolutely love hearing bedtime stories and I’m a little envious. So many of us grown ups have forgotten the joy of curling up with a good book. Let this vacation be your opportunity to get that love of reading back. Start with a collection of short stories or be ambitious and tackle a big, fat novel. Either way, allow yourself to be submerged in the author’s world and enjoy your visit.
There are some fascinating places nearby that you may have never truly explored. Fernandina Beach, Daytona, St. Augustine and Gainesville are reasonably close by and have very different things to see and do. Take the time to get to know these interesting cities while you have the time.
While a fancy Caribbean cruise may be out of your budget, you can still spend some time on the water this spring break with the locally owned S.S. Marine Taxi. In addition to taking people from bank to bank downtown, the water taxi service also provides parties of 10 or more the chance to take day or sunset cruises on the St. Johns. For less than $30 per person, you and your friends can learn a little bit of Jacksonville history while taking in the beautiful views. Reservations are required. Please call 904-733-7782 for more information.
One of my fondest high school memories is when a group of friends and I had a massive picnic to celebrate spring break at Mandarin Park my junior year. Everyone brought something to eat or drink and we spent the entire day playing games and grilling out and just enjoying the time away from the classroom. Pass out flyers to all your classmates like we did or have something more low key to celebrate your week of independence.
Getting a tattoo or piercing is painful and puffy for a little while. Use this spring break to recover from your procedure in the privacy of your own home. That week will make a world of difference.
Most of us never get enough sleep. Think of spring break as a chance to full recharge. Take a lot of naps, sleep ‘til noon and never change out of you pajamas. You deserve it.
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of Mickey Mouse beckoning you to Orlando. Visit the Magic Kingdom or one of the many theme parks nearby. A spin on a roller coaster is a great cure for whatever ails you.
It sounds kind of lame, but busting out the old rod and reel is a great way to relieve some stress and reconnect with nature.
Whether it’s taking pictures of the Jacksonville skyline or painting a landscape or penning a poem, take the time to do something creative this spring break.
Have you been too busy to use that gym membership you got at the beginning of the year? Quite throwing away your hard-earned money and hit the gym a couple of times during your vacation. Or take evening walks while the weather is still nice. Give your body the gift of some real exercise and try to make it a habit. You and your waistline will be glad you did.
They say laughter is the best medicine. Our local comedy clubs must be saving lives left and right. Head up to the Comedy Zone in Mandarin or the Atlantic Theatres Comedy Club at the Beaches and get the giggles with some terrific local and touring comedians.
If you’ve been saving your pennies for a rainy day, it’s time to break open that piggy bank and have a little shopping therapy. Jacksonville has become a real retail hot spot with the opening of the St. Johns Town Center. Take advantage of our good fortune and spend some time and money at some of the areas newest stores.
We live in a very technological world. Most of us can’t go a day without pick up our cell phones or checking our email. Try living “off the grid” for a couple of days to get back in touch with the world around you. It may be difficult, but the quiet may just do you and everyone around you a world of good.
There are plenty of deserving charities that need help year round, not just during Christmas time when most people usually have a surge of good cheer. Help fill the need by volunteering for a charity you care about. Read to underprivileged kids, work at a soup kitchen or visit the elderly. Putting others before yourself is an extremely rewarding way to spend your days off.
Sometimes I like to go to a mall or a crowded restaurant and just watch the all the different people going about their day. No, I don’t find it the least bit creepy. It’s actually a lot of fun to imagine what their lives are like, what they like to do, where they may be going. Sometimes it really helps get the creative juices flowing (see idea 17)
Use this time away from your studies to earn a little extra cash. Do some odd jobs around the neighborhood or sell some of your old stuff on eBay. You’ll never know when and extra $20 may come in handy.
It sounds like a hefty request, but doing a few small things can make a huge difference. Plant a tree, pick up litter, take public transportation, switch to high-efficiency light bulbs, and be more diligent about recycling. Every little bit helps. Strive to do your part.
In this digital age anyone with a camera can be a filmmaker. Bust out the old video camera, get your friends together and make your own movie. Once you’re done, show it off for the whole world to see on YouTube.
Answer the call of the great outdoors. Take a trip to one of the area’s fantastic campgrounds and pitch a tent. Camping is a great way to spend some quality time with the family. Just don’t forget the s’mores!
Spend an afternoon at the movie theater catching up on some of the blockbusters you might have missed.
As cliché as it sounds, going to the beach during spring break is a tradition that is still highly regarded. Instead of heading south, visit our local beaches for a quieter, less obnoxious vacation. Even if it isn’t quite as warm as the typical spring break hot spots, the wealth of clubs, bars and beautiful views make Jacksonville Beach a great place to unwind.
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