With summer officially here on the 20th, you’ve surely found yourself daydreaming at your desk about the beach. The Golden Isles of Georgia and the coast of Florida are at least five hours from most people in Atlanta. A weekend just isn’t long enough to get there, enjoy it and then get back.

But Callaway Gardens is just over an hours’ drive – and its Robin Lake Beach has sand (and no jellyfish.) No, it’s not Panama City or Tybee Island, but for a family vacation, there’s a lot to do at a great price (and that short drive.) Callaway is offering a special Beach Trip Package - $99 for a room at the Mountain Creek Inn, which includes your admission to the Gardens and Robin Lake.

It also includes unlimited admission to Aqua Island, a floating playground on Robin Lake, the Light Striker Laser Tag course AND the Florida State University Flying High Circus, with its shows Thursdays through Mondays. There’s also table tennis, miniature golf and the larger-than-life checkers and chess game at Robin Lake Beach.

Of course, Gardens admission includes the Bird of Prey show, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, John A. Sibley Horticultural Center and Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden. Participants in the Beach Trip Package get special rates for the bike rentals, golf, the TreeTop Adventure (Callaway’s cool zipline!) and the Blaster Boats on Robin Lake.

Save your vacation days for the Florida, or Georgia’s Golden Isles – but get some of that yearning for the beach out of your system with a weekend at Callaway. Check the website for reservations.

Photo courtesy Callaway Gardens. Used with permission.