Take a Staycation: Get Your Money's Worth

We've all been feeling the pinch on the pocketbook when it comes to filling up the gas tank or heading to the grocery check out line. That means many of us have looked to save money by cutting out the "extras" like vacations.

News 3's Randi Hempel is On Your Side with how we can take a “staycation” and get your money's worth.

There's so much more to do on Tybee than just enjoy the sun, sand and surf. My favorite place to go is the Tybee Island Light Station.

It's a place that the young, the old, history buffs and those wanting a little bit of a workout can enjoy.

I took my photographer, Marc Casey, and his three children, Ayanna, Asia and Marc, for their first climb.

My adventure with Ayanna, Asia and Marc is about to begin.

“We're here to climb the lighthouse, we have some first time climbers here,” I chat with Tybee Island Historical Society volunteer, Kevin Sofa.

“Well, welcome to the Tybee Lighthouse. I'm sure you're going to enjoy it. It's a lot of steps to the top, but once you get to the top, you'll see a lot of stuff. You'll see shrimp boats. You might see some large ships coming and going,” Kevin Sofa, volunteer for the Tybee Island Historical Society tells us about all of the amazing sights we’ll see.

"178 steps to the top. What are you thinking?” I ask the Casey kids.

“I can do it,” says 13-year old Ayanna.

“That's a lot of steps it's a lot of steps,” adds 11-year old Asia.

“Do you think you can handle it?” I ask.

“Yeah, I can do it,” says 8-year old Marc.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“Yeah,” they all respond in unison.

“Let's go. Who's leading the way?” our climb begins.

We stop at landing after landing to gaze out the windows and continue on our trek to the top.

“I've never been up this high,” says Marc as he gazes out the window.

We meet some climbers with determination along the way. Kimberly Rose, from Richmond, VA, climbs with crutches.

“I'm like, this will be a really good challenge because a lot of people say that people can't go up very narrow steps in crutches,” says Kimberly Rose of Richmond, VA as she stands in the stairwell. “Well,” she laughs, “I think I proved them wrong right there.”

And then there's Mack Kitchens, who's on his 5th consecutive climb.

“Cardio, keep my legs in shape until I can get back into kite surfing,” Mack Kitchens of Tybee Island explains why he’s climbing so much. We continue our climb.

“What do you think? Higher than the trees, higher than the houses?” I ask my new friends.

“Cool, I've never been higher than the trees besides on a plane,” explains an excited Marc.

“I'm not tired yet,” adds Ayanna.

“You can tell that it's a high tide,” Asia observes.

“I have some good news, we have one more flight and that's it, how awesome is that?” I let them know relief is in sight.

“That's way better,” responds Ayanna as she enjoys the warm breeze coming in from the window.

“I'm really excited,” Asia gets set for the last set of stairs.

178 steps later, we made it. Exciting. Marc stares out the window with a wide smile and two thumbs up.

“People they look like toys,” he exclaims as he looks over the railing.

“So, is this the first lighthouse you've climbed?” I ask a first time climber.

“First time ever. Tybee Island's the best. If you've got a vacation, this is where you need to be. This is where you need to be, it's awesome,” says Daniel Tabor of Columbia, SC, who’s visiting with his family.

What's not so awesome though is Daniel Tabor's niece's, Tanya’s footwear. She’s wearing gold heels and a dress.

“178 steps in heels?” I look at her puzzled.

“Ouch. Yeah, I'm going to be feeling that tomorrow morning,” Tanya Tabor of Spartanburg, SC responds with a smile.

Back to the view. People pose for pictures and enjoy the view from above.

“It's a pretty sight,” Ayanna looks out into the Atlantic as her hair blows in the breeze.

“Can't really see that much sand because it's high tide,” Asia observes where the family usually sits.

“What do you think about all of those people lined up at the bottom waiting to get in the lighthouse?” I ask a curious Marc.

“I think they're gonna see, they're gonna be pretty amazed how high they're gonna be,” Marc continues staring at the people he says look like toys on the ground.

After our time at the top, we head back down to the ground where the “staycation” vacation continues.

A visit to the Tybee Island Light Station is pretty reasonable. For adults, the cost is $6, while children, seniors and military members cost $5. If you plan to visit more than once, do what I did. Join the Tybee Island Historical Society. A year's membership for a single person is $35, a couple $45, and a family $50.

For more information on what the Tybee Island Light Station has to offer, click here.

Staycation Locations:

Oatland Island Wildlife Center: Islands Expressway, Chatham County, 912-898-3980.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center: 1510 Strand, Tybee Island, 912-786-5917
Fort Pulaski: Highway 80 East, Chatham County, 912-786-5787.
Visit Savannah
Fort McCalllister Historic Park: 3894 Fort McAllister Rd., Richmond Hill, GA, (912) 727-2339.
Georgia State Parks
South Carolina State Parks
Hunting Island State Park
Beaufort National Cemetery: 1601 Boundary St., Beaufort, SC, 843-271-6265.
Coastal Discovery Museum: 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head, SC, (843) 689-6767.
Penn Center: St. Helena Island, SC 843-838-2432.