Play in the sand this Memorial Day weekend

AAA estimates more than 34 million people will hit the road and travel 50 miles or more this weekend. Here’s an idea for a Memorial Day getaway that’s close to home.

If you like to camp, horseback ride, swim and ride the sand dunes, then the Bureau of Land Management Egin Lakes Access may be the place for you this Memorial Day weekend.

In fact, it’s one of the most popular places.

“We’ve got 48 sites and come about Saturday morning, we have to hang the campground closed sign,” said Sand Crab, the campground host at Egin Lakes.

Crab has been a volunteer at Egin Lakes for four years and will continue to come back because “this is the best dunes you can run on in the U.S.,” said Crab.

He knows this because he said he has visited every sand dune recreational area in the United States.

But besides from riding, he loves volunteering because “meeting people — friends tell me I’ve never met a stranger.”

He’s met people come from all over the country who travel to Egin Lakes on Memorial Day, including Minnesota, California, Montana, Utah and Canada.

Egin Lakes has become a tradition for many families to travel during Memorial Day weekend. the beck family, from Logan, Utah, been coming to Egin Lakes since 1968.

“We’ve just enjoyed coming here and playing in the sand. I guess once a kid, always a kid,” said Dennis Beck.

AAA estimates 164,000 Idahoans will be driving to their Memorial Day weekend destinations.

And that also means you should be aware of more police patrolling the roads. The Idaho State Police will be cracking down on speeders and seat belt use.

If you would like to learn more about the Bureau of Land Management campgrounds at Egin Lakes, see http://on.doi.gov/Zeuukr.