By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Earth, the first film in the Disneynature series, was released in movie theaters across Georgia and the nation last week on Earth Day, April 22. We took Brianna to see it last Saturday night.

The film is a remarkable feat of cinematography— the story of animal migration patterns on the planet. Narrated by James Earl Jones, it focuses on three particular animal families—polar bears, humpback whales and African elephants. While it was, perhaps, a little too much for a six-year old (she stays more involved with Disney’s cuddly, animated critters), this is a story that everyone, young and old alike, should see. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

The strawberries are in at “pick-your-own” farms around the state. The whole family can enjoy picking their own fruit right off the vine and taking it to the dinner table.

The strawberries are ripening at most berry picking farms, so why not spend a Saturday morning with your child filling a bucket or two? Pick-your-own farms like Washington Farms in Watkinsville and Loganville, Adams Farm in Fayetteville and Southern Belle Farm in McDonough are open and ready for business.

Kids love to pick berries and eat them straight from the vine. It’s a great lesson on “where food comes from,” as well as just good, quality family time.

There are many pick-your-own farms around the state—strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and more can all be picked by families during the season. Choose one near you and call ahead to make sure it is open. (Sometimes farmers have to close the berry fields for a day or two so they can replenish.) Remember, it’s best to pick in the morning when it’s not so hot. Then, grab your sunscreen, a hat, plenty of drinking water, and maybe a snack or two—and go pick!

You can find more information about pick-your-own farms or other Farm Experiences in Georgia here at Brown’s Guides.

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Visit Tanglewood Farms in May for some woolly sheep shearing or any other time to see and pet 100 miniature animals in a Wild West Town atmosphere.

If you are looking for a place to spend a day with your kids in the North Georgia Mountains, try Tanglewood Farms. This 10-acre Wild West Town in Cherokee County has more than 100 miniature farm animal residents. You can walk through the town’s bank, saloon, jail and trading post and meet a slew of miniature animals—cows, sheep, horses, donkeys, and goats to name a few.

The farm, which has been in business in Georgia for 10 years and involved with raising farm animals for more than 40 years, offers a whole range of experiences, from riding lessons for children ages two and up through adult to cowpoke classes where kids can learn basic horse grooming and handling. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

From precious bunnies and baby chicks to obnoxious kid goats and tame white-tailed deer, the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn is home to lots of “people-friendly” wildlife just waiting to be fed and petted by little kids.

This fun place is also the home of groundhog General Beau Lee, who not only gives his spring predictions for the South at his leisure on Groundhog Day but also has a Twitter account where he delivers updates about what’s happening at the ranch. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

If you have a child age 6 to 12 who enjoys the outdoors – and who doesn’t! – why not encourage them to work toward earning a Junior Ranger badge through the Georgia State Parks Junior Ranger Program. Three levels of programs are designed to help children experience nature firsthand, explore Georgia’s fascinating history, and participate in outdoor activities.

Junior Rangers can work through the activity requirements on their own or with the help of a parent or other adult. Many parks, including Georgia Veterans Memorial in Cordele, Little Ocmulgee in McRae, and Reed Bingham in Adel, offer Junior Ranger day camps during the summer. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Fort Pulaski National Monument on Georgia’s Coast is a place where kids can experience cannon firings, musket and soldering demonstrations and learn something about the history of the Civil War as well. 

If you want to coax a little history on children, one of the best ways to do it is to visit a fort. I love to take kids to forts. They can run around, make noise, and are usually fascinated by the cannons, drawbridges, and moats, as well as the idea that people (soldiers) actually once lived in this place.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is a good introduction to forts for any family. Fifteen miles east of Savannah, it stood guard over the Savannah River for over 150 years. The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 marked a turning point in this country’s military history because it signaled the end of the masonry fortifications that had guarded the coastline. Those new rifled cannons belonging to the Union Army shattered the fort’s walls from over a mile away, and Confederate troops at the fort eventually surrendered. (more…)

 By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Paddling a canoe on Beaver Pond at the Chattahoochee Nature Center is just one activity for kids at Earth Day Kids Fest.

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, and to celebrate, a lot of Earth Day events will be taking place this next Saturday, April 18. If you live in the Atlanta area, you might want to check out the 7th Annual Earth Day Kids Fest sponsored by the Captain Planet Foundation and held at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. A unique hands-on environment education event, Earth Day Kids Fest encourages kids to take the first steps in becoming environmental stewards. (more…)

 By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Lucille Miller shows Brianna a berry scented bath fizzie that dissolves instantly in the bathtub. Lucille makes the fizzies, or bombs, with oils and natural materials. Fizzies come in two different sizes in a number of scents, including peppermint, lime, rose, berry, and lemonade, which was very popular on this particular day. You can email Lucille about her homemade products at lvus@aol.com.

Most every time I visit my son in California, we head to the Hollywood or Studio City Sunday farmer’s markets, but I had never made it just 20 minutes down the road to the City of Newnan’s Market Day on the Square until this past weekend. The first Saturday of every month, this market features handmade, homemade and homegrown items from vendors all over the state, but many are local. Brianna and I took an initial turn around the town square, checking everything out first. Once we decided where we were going to spend our money, we went around again. This was the first market day of the season and a little early for produce from local farmers, but we found a lot of local area vendors selling their homemade products. (more…)