More to explore

Water, history and adventure lure visitors to South Georgia

By Pamela A. Keene

You’d run out of fingers and toes rattling off all the wonderful places to visit in the Southern half of Georgia—land of water, history and adventure: Lake Seminole, the Okefenokee Swamp and the Atlantic Ocean, presidential home sites, exotic animal parks, Callaway Gardens, outdoor adventures, plus cultural events and festivals galore!

Start your exploration on the western side of the state just north of Columbus in Pine Mountain. There’s the 500-acre Pine Mountain Wild Animal Safari with exotic animals from every continent in the world. Feed giraffes and rhinos; view zebras and wildebeests as you drive across the park where the animals roam free. A few miles away, visit the 80-acre restored Butts Mill Farm with 120 farm animals for petting, plus pony rides and horseback rides. Saturday nights, visitors can enjoy a barn dance and barbecue dinner.

Transformed from former cotton fields, Callaway Gardens offers more than 20,000 azaleas, the new $12 million Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden and the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel. With new lodging accommodations, cottages, bicycling trails and hiking, it’s a wonderland of beauty. The Steeplechase at Callaway takes place each fall.

Statesboro Inn, Statesboro (Photo courtesy of Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau.)

Big Pig Jig, Vienna (Photo courtesy Dooly County Chamber of Commerce.)

Gen. Coffee State Park, Nicholls (Photo courtesy City of Douglas.)

“Callaway always has events and activities for all members of the family, including the summer Florida State University Flying High Circus, the hot-air balloon festival and our educational centers,” says Rachel Crumbley, public relations manager. “The setting changes with the season, but there’s always something to do here—biking, golf, cabins, water activities classes and more.”

Nearby Warm Springs, the Georgia residence of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) is one of two presidential homes in the state. Roosevelt’s Little White House, built in 1932, is a Georgia State Parks historic site and features an FDR legacy exhibit with his famous “unfinished portrait,” the FDR Memorial Museum with informative video and the Historic Pools Museum.

“This area is where the world changed,” says Interpretive Ranger David Burke. “He worked on policy here, including the New Deal, among other things. He was quite a man.” Among FDR’s New Deal policies was the creation in 1935 of the Rural Electrification Administration, which enabled electric cooperatives to bring electricity to rural communities.

Visiting state historic sites also offers a chance to get closer to nature.

“Even if you’re not a history buff, there’s still quite a lot to enjoy at Georgia’s historical sites and parks,” says Kim Hatcher with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “Our parks and historic sites offer everything from education to hiking and camping. And each of these is really pretty.”

Situated along the Chattahoochee River, Columbus’ recreational River-walk provides walking, biking and Segue rentals. And Fort Benning is open for tours. Historic homes grace the periphery of the downtown area, where a diverse selection of eateries exists. Among them, Cannon Brew Pub is famous for its Sunspot sweet potato fries and Cannon Burger, in addition to showcasing local micro-brew beers. Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant serves true Southern cuisine. And a stop in Columbus wouldn’t be complete without a meal at Country’s Barbecue with several locations.

Next, visit Florence Marina in Omaha on the north end of Walter F. George Lake. Cabins, tent and RV sites make it a popular destination. Just to the east, you’ll find Westville, a restored village that recreates life in the 1850s, complete with sheep shearing and sugar-cane harvesting.

Drive farther south toward Lake Seminole and stop at the Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park in Blakely. The 1,294-acre site has seven earthen Indian mounds dating from between 250 A.D. to 950 A.D., plus a museum, two lakes and fishing. A production of the Colquitt-Miller Arts Council, “Swamp Gravy,” Georgia’s official folk-life play, makes its home in Colquitt.

Lake Seminole is the culmination of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers before the Chattahoochee crosses into Florida. Created by the Jim Woodruff Dam and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it’s wonderful for fishing, bird-watching and wildlife exploration. The 37,500-acre reservoir has nature trails and a variety of activities.

Jekyll Island (Photo courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development.)

Cockspur Island Lighthouse, Cockspur Island (Photo courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development.)

Tybee Island (Photo courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development.)

Next, head north toward Bainbridge to connect with U.S. Highway 84. “Bainbridge has a great downtown for shopping,” observes Jeff Stubbs, tourism representative with the state’s Plantation Trace region. “Then visit Thomasville, known as the City of Roses. Each spring, it hosts the Rose Festival. At 88 years strong, it’s one of the oldest festivals in Georgia and was recently named one of the top 100 festivals in North America by the American Business Association.” The self-guided Historic Thomasville Walking-Driving Tour features more than 70 locations showcasing the town’s Victorian architecture in three historic districts.

Then follow U.S. Highway 19 to Albany, home of the Flint RiverQuarium and Riverfront Park, with a bronze statue of Ray Charles at a grand piano. Nearby, created by naturalist Jim Fowler, the Parks at Chehaw Wild Animal Park’s scenic boardwalks meander through cypress swamps—where rhino, bald eagles, cheetah and bison reside.

Travel north to Americus and nearby Plains, home of former President Jimmy Carter and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. The National Park Service maintains Andersonville National Historic Site, which includes the Civil War prison, the Andersonville National Cemetery and the National Prisoner of War Museum.

Georgia’s official barbecue contest takes place the first weekend in November in Vienna. “The Big Pig Jig is worth a trip by itself to purchase tickets to sample the state’s best barbecue all in one place on the third day of the festival,” says Maggie Potter with the state tourism office. Vienna is just off Interstate 75, where you can then go south to Tifton and the Georgia Agrirama, a 19th-century living history museum. The Tifton Museum of Arts & Heritage, housed in a 1900s brick church, brings in fine art exhibitions throughout the year.

On down I-75, Valdosta is home of the Peach State Summer Theater, the official musical theater of Georgia. In June and July, the group presents three Broadway-style musicals in rotation each weekend. Head due north for two must-see natural attractions: Broxton Rocks Preserve and Gen. Coffee State Park, both near Douglas. You must make advance arrangements through the city of Broxton to visit Broxton Rocks, which has more than 500 species of native plants and an outcropping of sandstone with protected wildlife. Gen. Coffee State Park has a small lake, heritage farm, a boardwalk through wetlands and a pitcher-plant bog. Speaking of bogs, drop in for a visit to the Okefenokee Swamp, which borders Florida. There are eco-tours and many opportunities to see all kinds of wildlife.

No trip to South Georgia would be complete without a visit to the Coastal region. From St. Marys, with its charming downtown, up the coast to Savannah and its famed River Street, the state boasts beaches, marshland, creeks and islands as diverse as any in the nation. One of Georgia’s largest barrier islands, accessible only by ferry, Cumberland Island offers walk-in camping and the Greyfield Inn. Tours of the Dungeness Ruins and eco-tourism adventures showcase the island’s wild horses, sea turtles and other wildlife in the salt marshes, sand dunes and tidal creeks.

Continue up the coast to Brunswick, gateway to the Golden Isles including Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island. Each has a distinct personality, and all are worth a visit. Driving toward Savannah, stop in Darien, known as the Wild Shrimp Capital. During shrimp season, people flock to the docks for fresh seafood. There are also canoe outfitters, plus kayaking at Sapelo Island Reserve.

Next, travel to Savannah. The historic downtown is known for its picturesque town squares, centered with monuments and flanked by exquisite mansions. History buffs will enjoy nearby Cockspur Island, situated in the south channel of the Savannah River. Here they can tour historic Fort Pulaski and the Cockspur Island Lighthouse. Then venture out to Tybee Island, a 15-minute drive across the causeway to the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse at Tybee attracts thousands of visitors. The island itself has become a popular getaway with a laid-back atmosphere. The beach has been recently renourished, and the shelling is excellent.

Wild Animal Safari, Pine Mountain (Photo courtesy Wild Animal Safari.)

“This project has improved the beach even more than the one we did in 2000,” says Greg Stoeffler with the DeSoto Hotel on Tybee Island. “The beaches are really beautiful now.” Additionally, there are several trademark places to eat, including The Crab Shack with fresh seafood and the Sugar Shack, known for its milkshakes and hand-scooped ice cream.

Complete your visit in Statesboro, home to Georgia Southern University with its Center for Wildlife Education and the Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center. Additionally, The Georgia Southern Botanical Gardens features 20th-century farm buildings, a children’s vegetable garden and trails through the woods. Main Street has been revitalized with dozens of retail and dining options. Stately mansions near downtown add to the charm of this university town.

South Georgia is a visitors’ paradise, with just about any type of attraction, dining or adventure you can imagine. Just get out your map and pick your spot. You can’t go wrong, no matter where you go.

—Pamela A. Keene is a freelance journalist living in Flowery Branch.

Roosevelt’s Little White House, Warm Springs (Photo courtesy Little White House.)

To discover more about South Georgia, check out the following:

• Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.albanygacvb.com. (866) 750-0840; (229) 317-4760

• Andersonville National Historic Site, Andersonville. nps.gov/ande. (229) 924-0343

• Bainbridge. www.bainbridgecity.com. (229) 248-2000

• Big Pig Jig, Vienna. www.bigpigjig.com. (229) 268-8275

• Broxton Rocks Preserve, Broxton. tinyurl.com/broxton. (404) 253-7216

• Brunswick. brunswickgeorgia.net. (912) 265-4032

• Butts Mill Farm, Pine Mountain. buttsmillfarm.com. (706) 663-7400

• Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain. callawaygardens.com. (706) 663-2281

• Cannon Brew Pub, Columbus. thecannonbrewpub.com. (706) 653-2337

• Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.visitcolumbusga.com. (800) 999-1613; (706) 322-1613

• Country’s Barbecue, Columbus. countrysbarbecue.com. (706) 327-7702

• Cumberland Island. nps.gov/cuis. (912) 882-4336

• Darien. cityofdarienga.com. (912) 437-6686

Kolomoki Mounds Historic State Park, Blakely (Photo courtesy Georgia Department of Natural Resources.)

• Doubletree Hotel Historic Savannah. tinyurl.com/doubletreesavannah. (912) 790-7000

• Flint RiverQuarium, Albany. flintriverquarium.com. (877) 463-5468; (229) 639-2650

• Florence Marina State Park, Omaha. tinyurl.com/flomarina. (229) 838-6870

• Gen. Coffee State Park, Nicholls. tinyurl.com/gencoffee. (912) 384-7082

• Georgia Agrirama, Tifton. agrirama.com. (229) 386-3344

• Golden Isles. www.bgivb.com. (912) 262-6934

• Jekyll Island. jekyllisland.com. (912) 635-3636

• Kingsland Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.visitkingsland.com. (800) 433-0225; (912) 729-5999

• Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park, Blakely. tinyurl.com/kolomoki. (229) 724-2150

• Lake Seminole. greatlakesofgeorgia.com/seminole

• Little St. Simons Island. www.littlestsimonsisland.com. (888) 733-5774

• Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant, Columbus. (706) 322-2766

• Okefenokee Swamp, Folkston and Waycross. okefenokee.com. (912) 496-4472

• Parks at Chehaw Wild Animal Park, Albany. parksatchehaw.org. (229) 430-5275

• Peach State Summer Theater, Valdosta. valdosta.edu/psst. (229) 259-7770; (229) 333-5307

• Pine Mountain Wild Animal Safari, Pine Mountain. animalsafari.com. (800) 367-2751; (706) 663-8744

• Plains. plainsgeorgia.com. (229) 824-7477

• Riverwalk, Columbus. www.columbusga.org/parks. (706) 653-4500

• Riverfront Park, Albany. www.albanytomorrow.com. (229) 430-3910, ext 3910

• Roosevelt’s Little White House, Warm Springs. fdr-littlewhitehouse.org. (706) 655-5870

• Sapelo Island Reserve, Sapelo Island. tinyurl.com/sapelo. (912) 437-3224

• Savannah. savannahvisit.com. (912) 644-6401

• Sea Island. seaisland.com. (888) 732-4752

• Statesboro. visitstatesboroga.com. (800) 568-3301; (912) 489-1869

• St. Marys. stmaryswelcome.com. (800) 868-8687; (912) 882-4000

• St. Simons. explorestsimonsisland.com

• Sugar Shack, Tybee Island. tybeesugarshack.com. (912) 786-4482

• “Swamp Gravy,” Colquitt. www.swampgravy.com. (229) 758-5450

• The Crab Shack, Tybee Island. www.thecrabshack.com. (866) 789-2722

• The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort, St. Simons. www.kingandprince.com. (912) 638-3631

• Thomasville. thomasvillega.com. (229) 228-7977

• Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage, Tifton. tiftontourism.com/artculture.htm. (229) 238-0625

• Tybee Island. www.tybeevisit.com. (800) 868-2322; (912) 786-5444

• Walter F. George Lake, Fort Gaines. tinyurl.com/waltergeorge

• Waycross Tourism Bureau. www.swampgeorgia.com. (912) 283-3744

• Westville. www.westville.org. (888) 733-1850