Green Heron at Harris Neck. Harris Neck Wildlife Refuge is one of 18 locations on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail that offers exceptional opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing. Photo by Harry Behret

The Colonial Coast Birding Trail will provide you with the opportunity to see and enjoy the beauty of a kaleidoscope of birds as well as glimpse the fascinating Georgia Coast, its history and its residents.

Each site along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail is unique. Many sites offer visitors the opportunity to watch birds and visit 18th and 19th century historic places. Other sites are located on lands and waters that were once part of early plantations dedicated to growing rice, indigo and cotton. So, whether you want to see a bald eagle soaring over a coastal river, an endangered wood stork feeding its gawky young, sanderlings chasing the waves on a sandy beach, or a great egret standing motionless in a placid pond, the Colonial Coast Birding Trail has something for you.

The American Revolution in Georgia spring vividly to life on this do-it-yourself tour of Liberty County. See the Revolutionary War-era Fort Morris and Midway Museum and Historic District, as well as the environmental richness and African-American heritage of the region.

For centuries, Liberty County has held a mystical power over explorers. The Historic Liberty Trail is a unique driving tour offering a diverse experience integrating history, culture and ecology. It covers 10 stops, including: Midway Museum and Historic District, Cay Creek Wetlands, Geechee Kunda Cultural Arts Center, LeConte-Woodmanston Botanical Gardens, Dorchester Academy and Museum, Fort Stewart Museum, Melon Bluff Nature and Heritage Preserve, Seabrook Village, Fort Morris State Historic Site, and Sunbury Cemetery.

Begin the Historic Liberty Trail Driving Tour
Begin your tour at Exit 76 off I-95, where an information kiosk gives a glimpse of The Historic Liberty Trail. Visitors traveling the trail explore Liberty County, home of Dr. Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett, signers of the Declaration of Independence. Your first stop is the Midway National Historic District. Leaving the kiosk, turn right (west) on US 84. Drive 2.2 miles, turn right on Martin Road. Drive 1.3 miles to arrive at the Midway National Historic District. The cemetery is straight ahead, the church and museum are on the right. For a map showing all of the points on the tour, click here.

Midway National Historic District
Midway Museum, honors the community famed as Georgia’s Cradle of Liberty. Browse through the museum, built in the raised cottage-style architecture, typical of 18th Century plantation houses. Exhibits, documents and furnishings used in coastal Georgia homes from colonial days until the Civil War reanimate the love of Liberty. Tour the grounds which include a detached kitchen, salt vat and extensive nature trail. One of the best sources in the area for genealogical research. Also on the property is the Midway Church, built in 1756, was burned during the American Revolution and rebuilt in 1792. In this white-frame, New England-style church, Sherman’s cavalry set up foraging headquarters during the Civil War. Today, giant live oaks draped with Spanish moss shade about 1,200 graves in the cemetery, among them two generals of the American Revolution and Governor Nathan Brownson. During the Civil War, Sherman’s cavalry plundered county plantations and corralled animals in the walled, two-acre cemetery.

Days and Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-4pm, Sunday: 2pm-4pm
Facilities: Small gift shop with a good selection of books on local history.
Restrooms available.
Fees: Small fee required. Group rates available.
For More Information: (912) 884-5837

Cay Creek Wetlands
DIRECTIONS: Leaving Midway Museum, turn left on US 17. Drive 0.5 miles, at the traffic light turn left on US 84. Drive 2.4 miles until you reach Charlie Butler Road. Turn right on Charlie Butler Road. Travel approximately 0.2 miles until you see the Cay Creek Wetlands sign on your right. Get a map.

As an excellent example of tidal, freshwater wetlands, Cay Creek Wetlands provide a unique opportunity for education and appreciation. The area is rich in diversity. Bay, Cypress and Oak trees are abundant, as are Palms, Palmettos and Magnolias. The area provides habitats for numerous species of animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The site is several different ecosystems. Each has specific traits that give it character, but the distinctions may be overlooked by the casual observer. Look closely and you may notice the differences in plant and animal life in those areas that are permanently wet when compared with areas that are intermittently wet and dry. The site has its history, too. Look for the low earthen berms that cross the landscape. In some instances, they may be the high ground on which you stand. These are the remains of dikes that were used for growing rice. Rice production was common to the area in the 19th Century. Cay Creek Wetlands has seen exciting activity recently with the completion of a boardwalk, allowing visitors to easily access the wetlands in both wet and dry seasons. An interpretive center building, designed to house exhibits and information, will soon follow.

Days and Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-4pm
Facilities: None.
Fees: Free.
For More Information: (912) 884-3344

Geechee Kunda Cultural Arts Center
DIRECTIONS: Take a right onto Charlie Butler Road out of the drive and travel 0.7 miles, turn right onto Historic Cay Creek Road, a well-maintained, unpaved road. Only 3.8 miles from US 17. Enjoy the canopy of moss-draped oaks and the incredible marsh vistas as well as vibrant flowers and coastal wildlife on this scenic road. Once you’ve reached US 17 take a left and travel through the quaint town of Riceboro. Travel approximately 4.6 miles and turn left onto Ways Temple Road, Geechee Kunda is on the right 0.2 miles. Note: Nice picnic facilities at US 17 junction. Get a map.

Geechee Kunda (a Sarakole’ word meaning compound) is indicative of the culture of Gullah Geechees. Geechee Kunda is reflective of the family compounds that exist throughout the Gullah Geechee areas of the Carolinas, Georgia and Northern Florida as well as Africa. It is a living institution dedicated to preserving the culture of a living people. Its museum is filled with African art, textiles, painting, tools, utensils, implements, craftworks and essentials used by Gullah Geechees from the 1700’s to the 1900’s. The museum houses artifacts from the period of slavery and it’s an educational facility for lectures, workshops, classes, seminars, weddings and more.

Days and Hours: Group tours and classes available, call for an appointment.
Facilities: Gift shop, meeting and classroom space.
Fees: Call for further information.
For More Information: (912) 884-4440

LeConte-Woodmanston Botanical Gardens
DIRECTIONS: Leaving Ways Temple Road turn right onto US 17 toward Riceboro. Travel approximately 0.7 miles and turn left onto Sandy Run Road. Travel 4.3 miles then turn left at stop sign onto Barrington Ferry Road. Barrington Ferry Road is unpaved, but well-maintained. Look for wood storks, ospreys, egrets and herons that feed in the wetlands. Almost one mile south of the intersection you will find a historic marker for the Bartram Trail on the left. The sign marks the entrance to LeConte-Woodmanston. Get a map.

LeConte-Woodmanston, formerly the home of Dr. Louis LeConte, flourished as one of Georgia’s earliest inland swamp rice plantations and is now a nature preserve. Dr. LeConte achieved international fame in scientific circles as did his sons, John and Joseph. John was the first president of the University of California at Berkeley. Joseph and his friend, John Muir, co-founded the Sierra Club. Today, Louis LeConte’s world-famous 18th Century botanical gardens are being recreated with a myriad of antique plants. Visit the cypress forest and walk the interpretative trail along the earthen rice dikes leading through the Bulltown Swamp black-water eco-system. Take a stroll along the Avenue of Oaks or bask in an 18th Century nature experience. They are all part of the Historic Bartram Trail.

Days and Hours: Typically open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10am-3pm or by appointment. Call to verify times before visiting.
Facilities: A small fee required.
Fees: Restrooms.
For More Information: (912) 884-6500

Dorchester Academy and Museum
DIRECTIONS: Leaving LeConte-Woodmanston, follow drive back to Barrington Ferry Road. Turn right and follow road until it dead ends into US 17, approximately 5 miles. Turn left and travel another 2.1 miles to the intersection of US 17 and US 84, turn left on US 84 and drive 2 miles. Dorchester Academy is on the left. Get a map.

The Academy, today an active community center and museum, was founded after the Civil War as a school for freed slaves. By 1917, the fully-accredited high school had eight frame buildings and 300 students. In the 1940s, its academic program ended when a consolidated school for black youth was built in nearby Riceboro. The brick school building, an example of Georgian Revival style architecture is where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prepared for the 1963 Birmingham campaign, one of the first major victories of the Civil Rights Movement.

Days and Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11am-2pm, Saturday: 2pm-4pm
Facilities: Free.
Fees: Pavilion with barbecue pit and restrooms.
For More Information: (912) 884-2347

Fort Stewart Museum
DIRECTIONS: Leaving Dorchester Academy, turn left (west) on US 84. Travel approximately 10 miles to General Stewart Way and take right fork. Travel 0.8 miles and turn left onto North Main Street. Travel 0.6 miles through historic Hinesville, where you will enjoy specialty shopping and excellent restaurants. Traveling another 0.9 miles take the right fork and drive 0.1 miles to General Screven Way. Take a right onto General Screven Way and drive 0.9 miles to the main entrance of Fort Stewart. Continue straight on GA 119 for 0.3 miles. From GA 119 turn left onto Bunker Road (the first left). Follow Bunker Road to a stop sign. At the stop sign make a left onto Frank Cochran Drive. The museum is on the immediate left. Get a map.

Fort Stewart, the largest military post east of the Mississippi, is home to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (Mech) and is the summer training grounds for the National Guard. At the museum, Liberty County’s military heritage is showcased in ever-changing exhibits featuring objects from World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm and present-day military activities.

Days and Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-4pm Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Federal Holidays.
Facilities: Gift shop, snack machine, restrooms and picnic area.
Fees: Free. Group tours upon request.
For More Information: (912) 767-7885

Please Note: Due to heightened security, Fort Stewart is now a closed post and requires all visitors to stop at the main gate. At the gate visitors must provide proof of registration, insurance and drivers license to receive a visitor’s pass.

Melon Bluff Nature and Heritage Preserve
DIRECTIONS: Leaving Fort Stewart drive straight on GA 119 until it dead ends into US 84 turn left, approximately 0.5 miles. Travel approximately 15 miles to I-95, as you cross I-95 travel another 2.9 miles and you will see Melon Bluff on your right. Get a map.

Nestled amongst 3,000 unspoiled acres on Georgia’s coast, Melon Bluff is set amid gorgeous, moss-hung oaks at the river’s edge. Melon Bluff offers 25 miles of grassy, forest trails for hiking, biking, picnics and riding. Birding is the prime attraction, offering 309 species, many uncommon and endangered. Visitors can find overnight accommodations ranging from a restored barn to a plantation cottage. On site, there is a delightful gift shop, a screened pool and a facility for small conferences.

Days and Hours: Saturdays: 9am-4pm from September 15th through May 15th. Public events are scheduled throughout the year.
Facilities: Overnight accommodations, full gourmet meal service, scheduled wagon rides, kayak expeditions, gift shop, pool and facility for small conferences.
Fees: Prices vary - Call for further information.

Seabrook Village
DIRECTIONS: From Melon Bluff, turn right onto Islands Highway. Travel 0.7 miles until you come to Trade Hill Road (Seabrook Village signs will be on your left). Turn left on to Trade Hill and drive 0.6 miles. Seabrook Village office will be on your left. Get a map.

An award-winning living history museum, Seabrook Village features eight turn-of-the-century buildings on a developing 104-acre site. Visit the one-room Seabrook School where “reading, writing and ‘rithmetic were taught to the tune of a hick’ry stick.” Or try your hand at grinding corn into meal and grits or washing clothes on a scrub board. Planned group visits are fully interactive as costumed interpreters engage visitors in all aspects of old time village life. On-going exhibits include the grave art of Cyrus Bowens, featured in Drums and Shadows, and the Willis Hakim J. Hones Material Culture Collection of hand-made items from a peanut roaster to twig furniture.

Days and Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-4pm. Interactive tours available for groups of 15 or more. Special educational and Girl Scout programs available.
Facilities: Seabrook Village Museum Shop and Craft Gallery, meal service (by reservation), restrooms.
Fees: Small fee required.
Group Tours: Call for rates, brochure and availability.
For More Information: (912) 884-7008

Fort Morris State Historic Site
DIRECTIONS: Leaving Seabrook, turn left on Trade Hill Road. Drive 0.2 miles to the intersection of Fort Morris Road. Turn left, drive 2 miles. The entrance to Fort Morris is on the right. Get a map.

Fort Morris was built to defend the former town of Sunbury, once a bustling seaport second in Georgia only to Savannah. Fort Morris was used as a coastal fortification during the Revolutionary War. The earthen works were reconstructed during the War of 1812 and were later used as a Civil War Encampment. The site’s museum features displays of civilian and military life during Georgia’s Colonial, Revolutionary and Antebellum past. During periodic special events, reenactments bring Fort Morris alive with roaring cannons and the measured tread of marching soldiers. Listen! You can almost hear the fife and drums.

Days and Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 9am-5pm, Sunday: 2:00pm-5:30pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Mondays, except some legal holidays.
Facilities: Museum, gift shop, pioneer camping, picnic area, restrooms and nature trail.
Fees: Small fee required.
For More Information: (912) 884-5999

Sunbury Cemetery
DIRECTIONS: Leaving Fort Morris, turn right onto Fort Morris Road. Travel 0.7 miles past Sunbury Village and turn left onto Sunbury Road (dirt). Drive 0.1 miles to Dutchman Cove Road. Drive 0.1 miles to the end of the road, it will dead end into the cemetery. Get a map.

From the beginning of the town’s history, public burials were performed at a community cemetery located at the southeast corner of Church Square. Sunbury Cemetery housed the remains of members from the Midway Congregational Church, Sunbury Baptist Church and others. A sense of integrity remains even though no complete interment records are known to exist for the cemetery. Most of the markers were gone by the 1870’s. Of the thirty-four remaining, the oldest is dated 1788 and the most recent, 1911. Two iron fenced family enclosures are carefully arrayed with neatly lined markers for the Dunham and Fleming-Law families. The most famous tombstone is a full-length marker for Reverend William McWhir. The graves of Josiah Powell and Samuel Law, notables of the town of Sunbury, are also marked.

The cemetery is open year-round and is free to the public.

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.

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. (more…)

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.

Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses

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

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.

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

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

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