Georgia > East Central Region > Hancock County > Sparta

Whether it is quail hunting during the day or bowfishing at night, we at Cherry Hill Hunting Preserve believe in giving you a quality hunt that will both challenge and excite you. Our quail hunting in Georgia is as close to wild bird hunting as you can get and yet be assured you have quail to hunt. Our Bowfishing Charters are an adventure just to be on the water at night. You never know what you’ll see! We book a few deer and turkey hunts, but only if we think you’ll have a good shot at being successful. Hog hunts are free with the purchase of any other hunt. A sporting clay course is also available free with your hunt. PHOTO above is a happy Cherry Hill Hunting Preserve client with a 18-pound gar taken during a nighttime bowfishing expedition on the Savannah River.

Bowfishing
Shooting fish can be like a hot dove shoot with no bag limit. The first time I take you, we’ll shoot the Savannah River where the shooting is fast and furious. Just like every dove is flying at a different height and speed, every fish is swimming at a different depth and angle. There is a deflection of light that makes the fish look higher than they really are. By shooting low, the splash of the arrow does not distort your view of the fish. Your arrow looks like a torpedo sailing through the water toward it’s target. In the river, most of the fish you’ll see are 2-4 lb suckers, there are only a few trophy fish. But, since you’ll have the opportunity to shoot literally 1000 times apiece during a full nights charter, it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. After you get used to aiming low, we’ll go to the lake where you’ll only shoot a few hundred times in a night, but you stand a better chance of seeing a 10-15 lb gar, a 20-30 lb carp, or a 50+ lb catfish. Besides shooting fish, it is an adventure just being on the water at night. You’ll see beaver, turtles, gators. It’s also interesting to see what lies under water. I’ve found everything from a safe to a satellite dish. My prices are the same for 1 to 3 people. All gear will be provided. PHOTO: Thumbnail photo above is Cherry Hill Hunting Preserve owner, Michael Evans, with a huge Savannah River catfish taken bowfishing.

Links:

• Read more about Cherry Hill Hunting Preserve.

Georgia > Northwest Region > Carroll County > Whitesburg

More than a Bed & Breakfast, Historic Banning Mills is a multi-use family, corporate and adventure venue 45 minutes west of Atlanta.

Welcome to the new lodges at Historic Banning Mills! A Bed and Breakfast, Country Inn and Retreat Center, only 45 minutes west of Atlanta, but an undiscovered Georgia lodging and multi-venue that seems a million miles away.

From the moment you get out of your car, you will know you have found a unique place. Historic Banning Mills rests among 1,000 beautifully wooded acres, overlooking the scenic Snake Creek Gorge in Whitesburg, Georgia. You’ll not only enjoy the warm Bed and Breakfast romantic getaway atmosphere, but Banning Mills is a perfect family get-a-way place and corporate retreat. Read the rest of this entry »

Georgia > Coastal Region > Glynn County > Brunswick

The shrimp boat experience aboard Lady Jane teaches the history and techniques of shrimping. Experience 90-minute dolphin/shrimping tours aboard a working 60-foot shrimp trawler. Charters available for special events, extended shrimping tours, diving, bottom fishing, weddings and sightseeing cruises.

Welcome aboard the Lady Jane - a United States Coast Guard certified 49-passenger steel shrimping vessel recently retired after years of loyal service to the shrimping industry. She has been painstakingly refurbished for your cruising pleasure. Lady Jane is the only shrimp vessel on the entire east coast that has been certified by the USCG to carry 49 passengers.

If you like, help the crew sort the shrimp from her catch of bonnethead , blacktip, sand shark, horseshoe crab, puffer fish, amberjack, crocker, spot, whiting, bluecrab, and skate. Want fresh shrimp to eat? Then sit back and enjoy boiled shrimp the crew has prepared. If you’re worried about bad weather, relax! Lady Jane has a big, air-conditioned cabin, restroom and large open decks with ample room for you to walk around and enjoy the views.

Why not have a picture taken with the captain at the helm of a real shrimp trawler?

Links: 

• Read more about Lady Jane Cruises.
• Find listings and profiles of over 200 other Georgia Tour in the Brown’s Guides Georgia Tours Category.

Charles Seabrook, the author of Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses, and who, for many years, wrote the weekly column, “Wild Georgia” for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, selected his “35 Natural Wonders in Georgia You Must See Before You Die.” Here are Charles’ 35 choices in bold face type, along with his brief comments in italic with links to ways to find out more about them.

Okefenokee Swamp. Word famous wetland.

• Read more about the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
• Take a guided tour of the swamp with Okefenokee Adventures
• Canoe the Okefenokee on your own using this Okefenokee canoeing guide by Claude Terry

Marshes of Glynn. Far-as-the-eye-can-see coastal salt marshes that inspired poet Sydney Lanier to write his famous poem.

• Take a Do-It-Yourself Tour of the Marshes of Glynn
• Read Sydney Lanier’s poem

Cumberland Island National Seashore. Former President Jimmy Carter called it one of his most famous places on Earth.

• Read more about Cumberland Island National Seashore
• Cumberland is the largest of Georgia’s major barrier islands. See a map of all Georgia’s barrier islands

Ossabaw Island. Unspoiled barrier isle; amazing natural beauty.

• Read more about Ossabaw and see it on a map
• Ossabaw is one of Georgia’s major barrier islands. See a map of all of Georgia’s barrier islands

Cabretta Beach, Sapelo Island. One of Atlantic coast’s most beautiful undeveloped beaches.

• Read more about Sapelo and see it on a map that includes Cabretta Beach
• Sapelo is one of Georgia’s major barrier islands. See a map of all of Georgia’s barrier islands

Woody Pond, Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge. In spring, thousands of egrets, herons and endangered wood storks form spectacular nesting colonies.

• Read more about Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge and see a map that includes Woody Pond

Ebenezer Creek. National Natural Landmark; harbors 1,000-year-old bald cypress trees with huge buttresses eight-to-twelve feet wide.

• Canoe Ebenezer Creek using this guide by Suzanne Welander

Altamaha River. Lower Altamaha called “Georgia’s Amazon” for the lush, jungle-like growth along its banks; river’s entire 137 miles unfettered by dams.

• Read more about the Altamaha River
• Take a guided sea-kayak tour of the Altamaha River BioReserve with Altamaha Coastal Tours
• Download a poster of the Altamaha with historical and environmental information about the watershed

Broxton Rocks Ecological Preserve. Rugged sandstone rock outcrop deep in South Georgia; sculpted over centuries by water into fissures and shallow ravines that are now havens for many rare plants.

• Read more about Broxton Rocks and see it on a map

Ohoopee Dunes State Natural Area. Sometimes called “Georgia’s Desert”  because of its dry, sandy soil and scrubby vegetation. Biologists call it an “enchanting environment.”

• Read more about Ohoopee Dunes and see them on a map

Wade Tract Preserve. Privately-owned 200-acre swath of old-growth long leaf pine and wire grass; one of the few remaining examples of great long leaf forest that once covered Coastal Plains region.

• Read more about the Wade Tract Preserve and see it on a map

Providence Canyon State Park. Eroded land that transformed into a place of great beauty; sometimes called Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon.”

• Read more about Providence Canyon State Park

Doe Run Pitcher Plant Bog Natural Area. Lush growths of carnivorous pitcher plants in spring.

• See a map showing the location of Doe Run Pitcher Plant Bog and find a link with more about how pitcher plants work

Pine Mountain. Spectacular view from Dowdell’s Knob of valley below. President Franklin D. Roosevelt often came here to picnic and meditate.

• Read more about Pine Mountain
• Read more about Dowell’s Knob and see the view that President Roosevelt saw

Warm Springs. Naturally warm, soothing water bubbling from Earth; FDR came here for treatment of polio.

• Read more about Warm Springs and the natural spring waters
• Visit the Little White House that was Roosevelt’s headquarters when he visited Warm Springs

Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area. See for yourself why conservationists are intent on saving from development this place for roaming black bears and rare wild-flower habitats.

• Read more about Oaky Woods and how you can help save over 19,000 acres of wilderness from development. Sign up for the Oaky Woods newsletter

George L. Smith State Park. Bald cypresses growing in pond are magnificent in fall when they take on their orangish-bronze tints.

• Read more about George L. Smith State Park

Sprewell Bluff State Park. Little known gem on Flint River, which is one of South’s most beautiful and interesting streams; 3-mile trail offers superb views of river and rocky cliffs.

• Read more about Sprewell Bluff State Park
• Read more about the Flint River
• Read how then Governor Jimmy Carter saved the Flint River from a proposed dam at Sprewell Bluff
• Take a canoe trip on the Flint using this guide by Reece Turrentine
• Take a canoe trip on the Flint using this guide by Claude Terry
• Download a poster of the Flint River showing historical and environmental features of the watershed

Palisades Unit, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Spectacular greenspace in midst of sprawling bustling metro Atlanta.

• Read more about the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, including the Palisades Unit

Graves Mountain. Rockhounds from all over the world come here for amazing array of rocks and minerals.

• Read more about Graves Mountain. Tour old mining operations and find rare minerals

Stone Mountain / Arabia-Davidson Mountain / Panola Mountain. Huge geological wonders that sport some of Georgia’s most colorful arrays of wildflowers in spring and fall.

• Read more about Panola Mountain State Conservation Park
• Read more about climbing to the top of Stone Mountain

Tallulah Gorge. Hard granite walls fall perpendicular to land above, forming steep cliffs.

• Visit Tallulah Gorge State Park
• See a photo gallery of Georgia rivers by environmental photographer Beth Young that includes photos of Tallulah Gorge

Amicalola Falls State Park. Falls plunge 729 feet in seven cascades; highest waterfall east of Mississippi River.

• See waterfall photographer John Anthony’s photographs of Amicalola  Falls
• Visit Amicalola Falls State Park

Richard Russell Scenic Highway. 14-mile-long road is not natural, but it winds through some of the most splendid mountain scenery in the Southeast. Along the way are trailheads to waterfalls and scenic spots.

• Take this driving tour on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway (or one of 12 other Georgia driving tours)

Cloudland Canyon State Park. One of Georgia’s most scenic state parks. Rugged geology and beautiful vistas.

• Visit Cloudland Canyon State Park
• Take this driving tour of Lookout Mountain covering three states – Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee – which includes Cloudland as the centerpiece

Brasstown Bald. At 4,784 feet above sea level, it’s Georgia’s highest mountain; four states can be seen from top.

• Drive/walk to the top of Brasstown Bald
• See a list of all of Georgia’s mountains over 4,000 feet, with Brasstown topping the list

Rabun Bald (Chattahoochee National Forest), rivals Brasstown in elevation and spectacular views.

• Follow this hiking guide to the top of Rabun Bald

The Pocket, Pigeon Mountain. Lush growths of colorful spring and fall wildflowers in a beautiful setting.

• Use this guide to hike Pigeon Mountain’s Pocket Trail

Rocktown, Pigeon Mountain. Stunning, house-sized boulders make it a rival of its famous cousin, Rock City near Chattanooga.

• Use this guide to hike to Rocktown

McLemore Cove. One of the Southeast’s most picturesque mountain valleys.

• Use this guide to explore McLemore Cove

Chattooga River. Untamed and unimpeded; wild and rugged.

• Read more about the Chattooga River
• Use this guide to hike to Three Forks on the headwaters of the Chattooga
• The Chattooga is in the Savannah River watershed. Download a copy of a Savannah River poster showing historical events and environmental features of the watershed

Sosebee Cove. High elevation, north-facing cove forest; rich diversity of shade tolerant trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

• Read more about Sosebee Cove and view a map

Cooper Creek Scenic Area (Chattahoochee National Forest). Harbors large hemlocks and white pines, some with bases as big as four feet in diameter.

• Read more about Cooper Creek Scenic Area and view a map

Raven Cliffs Falls. Splendid Waterfalls; trail to them almost equally stunning.

• See John Anthony photos of Raven Cliff Falls and trail directions

Anna Ruby Falls. A must-see for visitors.

• See John Anthony photos of Anna Ruby Falls and trail directions

Georgia > West Central Region > Muscogee County > Columbus

More than 6,000 displays, including “World War II Street,” are included in the $100 million Columbus National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning.

Put yourself in the boots of the infantrymen from the French and Indian War and the American Revolution to events in Vietnam to the sands of the Persian Gulf at this unique historical center and its ever-changing kaleidoscope of more than 6,000 displays.

The new $100 million, National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center sits on 200 acres of majestic pines and hardwoods where Columbus meets Fort Benning, the home of the Infantry. It is the first world-class museum to pay tribute to the U.S. Army infantryman and his 230-plus years of service to America.

Heritage Walk. A 20-foot wide walkway that connects the museum with a five-acre parade field where friends and family can watch loved ones graduate from infantry training. The walk is lined with the flags of all 50 states and custom engraved granite pavers honoring those who’ve served or anyone who has supported a service member.

World War II Street. Visit an authentically re-created company street from the 1940s, featuring a chapel, barracks, mess hall and the headquarters and sleeping quarters once used by General George Patton.

Rifle Range. As kids of all ages try their hand in a weapons firing simulator just like the Army uses, they’ll learn the lessons that freedom is not free.

IMAX 3D Theater at Patriot Park. The area’s only 3D IMAX theater, where award-winning documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters alike are shown on a screen 5 stories high and 70 feet high.

The Fife and Drum Restaurant. Enjoy a fine dining experience with classic American fare served by a professional, dedicated staff well versed in Southern hospitality.

Soldier Store Gift Shop. Stop at the Soldier Store to purchase everything from teddy bears in camouflage t-shirts to hand-crafted art glass pieces.

Links:

• Read more about Columbus National Infantry Museum.
• Read more about other Columbus, Georgia, travel and recreation resources.

Georgia > West Central Georgia > Troup County > LaGrange

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

The historic Ferrell Gardens at Hills & Dales Estate is one of the best preserved 19th-century gardens in the Southeast United States.

Many people are familiar with Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. Fewer people are familiar with Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange, but the Callaway family established both attractions and the historic gardens at Hills & Dales have their own uniqueness and beauty.

Hills & Dales Estate is the home of the historic Ferrell Gardens. Created by Sarah Coleman Ferrell (1817-1903), the formal boxwood garden is among the best preserved 19th century gardens in the Southeastern United States. Since 1912, the extraordinary gardens have been tended and cherished by the Fuller E. Callaway family.

The centerpiece of Hills & Dales Estate is a beautiful Georgian Italian villa, designed by the noted Atlanta architectural firm of Hentz & Reid in 1914. The classically inspired architecture and remarkable craftsmanship have made Hills and Dales one of the most admired homes in the Southeastern United States. Built for Fuller E. Callaway, Sr. and his wife Ida, the home is furnished with family heirlooms and antiques.

Links:

• Read more about Hills & Dales Estate
• Find more LaGrange travel and recreation resources

Georgia > West Central Georgia > Harris County > Pine Mountain

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

A zebra is just one of the animals that might walk right up to your vehicle as your ride through Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain. 

Have you ever seen a Yakatusi, Nilgai, Rhea, Black Buck Antelope, Watusi, or North American Elk? After a trip through Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, you’ll be able to say “yes” to that question. At Wild Animal Safari, there are more than 700 free-roaming exotic animals from six continents - every continent except Antarctica. You can spend your entire day exploring a wildlife preserve that offers habitats encompassing the plains, swamps, deserts, mountains and forests of the world.

You can drive through the Safari in your own car, rent a Zebra-painted van, or take the guided tour bus, the Zebra Bus, offered seasonally by the park. Winding through 200 acres of natural environment on 3.5 miles of paved road, you will have a chance to touch a Giraffe, come face to face with American Bison, and see many other animals from all over the world in a natural setting.

The park also has a walk-through zoo environment, called the Walk-About, which is home to tropical birds, monkeys, bears, wolves, and other animals. The Georgia Wildlife Museum, housed inside the park, features wildlife native to Georgia in a natural setting, as well as a few exotic snakes and lizards.

Links:

• Read more about Wild Animal Safari
• Find more Pine Mountain travel and recreation resources

Georgia > West Central Georgia > Stewart County > Lumpkin

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

A craftsman shows young Westville visitors the fine points of weaving a traditional cotton basket.

Westville is an outdoor history museum which depicts an 1850 west Georgia village. You may have seen pictures of little towns like Westville. They dotted the 1850s countryside in the southern United States.

Westville has been designed so that visitors can experience a community in the 21st century similar to the ones in which our ancestors lived in the middle of the 19th century. See where the antebellum townspeople worshiped, voted and went to school. Westville has over 30 authentically restored and furnished pre-Civil War buildings: houses, stores, workshops, churches, school, and courthouse. In fact, it has all the ingredients of a functioning town.

Guides and interpreters are in 1850’s dress and will take you through the town and share with you the history of Westville, its people, and their times.

Links:

• Read more about Westville
• Find more Lumpkin travel and recreation resources

Georgia > West Central Georgia > Meriwether County > Warm Springs

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

The Little White House in Warm Springs was the Georgia home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and is a good place for introducing your child to United States history. 

In 1932 while he was still governor of New York, Franklin Delano Roosevelt built a house in Warm Springs, Georgia, so that he could stay there when he came to receive treatment for polio at the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center. After he was inaugurated as President in 1933, the house became known as The Little White House.

The Little White House is pleasant, peaceful and has a real sense of history. Roosevelt spent a lot of time in Warm Springs during his presidency, which spanned an era from The Great Depression until nearly the end of World War II. You can imagine him pondering the difficulties of both in this serene atmosphere. It is known that he developed many New Deal programs, such as the Rural Electrification Administration, based on his experiences in the small town and Meriwether County. Read the rest of this entry »

Georgia > West Central Georgia > Muscogee County > Columbus

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Don’t be surprised if you spot a baby bobcat on the trails around the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center.

Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center was once the site of a landfill near the Chattahoochee River in south Columbus. The city capped the landfill with three feet of compacted dirt and sank monitoring wells, and then in 1995, opened the environmental learning center on 1,600 acres of reclaimed land. The pits are now wetland ponds, and a 300-year-old natural oxbow lake gives the area its name.

You will find a lot of river wildlife here, including turtles, butterflies, snakes, fish, otters, beaver, deer, wading birds, herons, waterfowl and songbirds. Read the rest of this entry »