10 Must-Dos on the Georgia Coast

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Lauren Cleland

Poolside at the King and Prince Resort

1.Soak up some sun on St. Simons Island: Grab your SPF 30 because with six swimming pools occupying approximately 30,000 square feet of oceanfront property, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort is a sunshine lover’s dream. Whether you’re in the mood for poolside lounging or building sandcastles, the King & Prince Resort has it all.

2. Discover hidden history on Sapelo: Explore this fascinating island full of history with the guidance of JR Grovner, a direct descendant of slaves brought to Sapelo in the early 1800s to work the plantations. JR will show you Native American shell mounds, tabby ruins of an old French estate, Nannygoat Beach, the newly restored Sapelo Lighthouse and moreo n his Sapelo Sights Tour. Keep in mind that Sapelo Island is reachable only by airplane or boat, with the primary ferry coming from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center in McIntosh County. Ferry reservations are required.

3. Take it slow in Savannah: Looking for a unique tour experience? Look no further than Savannah Slow Ride, a 100% pedal-powered, 15-person bicycle tour that will take you through historic Downtown Savannah. They offer tours of all sorts, including a pub crawl, church crawl, history crawl, “Spirits Will Make Your Skin Crawl” and a “Shop and Ride Crawl.” Have a small group? Don’t worry. Savannah Slow Ride offers daily “mix ‘n match” rides for smaller groups.

Victorian Tea at Jekyll Island Club Hotel

4. Take time for tea on Jekyll Island: The famous Jekyll Island Club Hotel has been entertaining guests of the highest caliber since the turn of the century, including J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Joseph Pulitzer and more. You, too, can feel like one of the social elite when you attend Victorian tea, served every day from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Grand Dining Room. Lace gloves optional.

5. Drive over the Sidney Lanier Bridge: At 7,780 feet long and 486 feet tall, the Sidney Lanier Bridge is Georgia’s tallest cable-stayed bridge and the 76th largest cable-stayed bridge in the world! Built to provide easy access to the Golden Isles from Interstate 95, this mammoth bridge has become a tourist attraction in and of itself. Keep this bridge in mind when planning your route to the Coast.

6. Conquer Fort Pulaski: Get a taste of what life was like during the Civil War when you tour the Fort Pulaski Historic Monument on Tybee Island. The monument, with its drawbridges and ditches, is a fine example of military architecture. Don’t forget to explore the salt marshes and upland areas around the monument—these areas are known to be home to wildlife such as loggerhead sea turtles, manatees and bald eagles!

Exploring Jekyll Island by bike

7. Tour Jekyll Island on two wheels: There really is no better way to explore Jekyll Island than by bicycle. With more than 20 miles of biking trails that take you through the maritime forest, around the National Landmark Historic District and along the beach, Jekyll Island is a dream for bicycle enthusiasts. Even novice bikers will find these trails enjoyable and easy to navigate. You can bring your own bike or rent one from the Jekyll Island Bike Rental shop.

8. Hang out with horses on Cumberland Island: Looking for an escape? Take a trip to Georgia’s Cumberland Island, where you’ll find no phones or roads, only 17 miles of pristine white beaches and the wildlife that calls the island home, including beautiful feral horses. If you’re looking for an adventure, I suggest camping on Cumberland Island. Not a camper? Stay in the sleepy beach town of St. Marys (I love the Spencer House Inn Bed & Breakfast), which is only a short ferry ride to Cumberland Island.

9. Paddle down the Altamaha: Known as one of “The World’s Last Great Places,” the Altamaha River offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with wildlife (including dolphins, manatee and alligators) as well as the chance to kayak through black-water swamps of cypress knees and giant old growth forests. Explore the river on a half-day excursion, or make it a camping/kayaking adventure with the help of Altamaha Coastal Tours in Darien.

Leopold’s Ice Cream

10. Satisfy your sweet tooth in Savannah: Leopold’s Ice Cream has been a part of Savannah history since 1919, when the Leopold brothers opened their own ice cream parlor on the corner of Gwinnett and Habersham streets. Today, Leopold’s is open on East Broughton Street and serves up ice cream, sundaes, salads, sandwiches and more delicious fare every single day of the week. My go-to Leopold’s treat? Chocolate chip ice cream on a sugar cone. Delicious!

Lauren Cleland is the voice of Explore Georgia on social media. She loves ice cold sweet tea, anything peach flavored, channeling Scarlett O’Hara in her daily life and sharing the wonders of her beloved Georgia with all of you!

Guide to Georgia’s Spring Festivals

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Lauren Cleland

Dogwood Festival in Atlanta

Celebrate springtime at one (or all) of these family-friendly Georgia festivals in 2013!

APRIL

4/18-4/21: Vidalia Onion Festival in Vidalia

4/19-4/21: 77th Annual Dogwood Festival in Atlanta

4/19-4/20: Downtown Moultrie Spring Fling & Backyard BBQ Festival in Moultrie

4/19-4/20: National Mayhaw Festival in Colquitt

4/19-4/20: The Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival in Cornelia

4/20-4/21: Jasper ArtFest in Jasper

4/20-4/21: 17th Annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in Dahlonega

4/21: Spring Arts Festival in McDonough

4/25-4/27: 92nd Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival in Thomasville

4/26-4/28: Sacred Heart Garden Festival in Augusta

4/26-4/27: Woodbine Crawfish Festival in Woodbine

4/26-4/27: Georgia Strawberry Festival in Reynolds

4/27: Dogwood Music Festival in Moultrie

4/27: Madison Fest in Madison

4/27: Midway Arts Festival in Midway

4/27: Color the Grove 5K & Music Fest in Albany

MAY

5/3-5/5: Southern Blooms Festival at Rock City in Lookout Mountain

5/4-5/5: Shady Days in Gay Arts & Crafts Festival in Gay

5/4-5/5: Art in the Garden Festival & Spring Fling Car Show in Dawsonville

5/4: Tifton Turfgrass Festival in Tifton

5/17-5/18: Adel Daylily Festival in Adel

5/18: 36th Annual Geranium Festival in McDonough

5/18: 51st Mountain Laurel Festival in Clarkesville

5/30-6/2: Atlanta Food & Wine Festival in Atlanta

5/31-6/2: Wing & Rock Fest in Woodstock

JUNE

6/1: Dairy Festival in Eatonton

6/1-6/2: Georgia Sea Island Festival on St. Simon’s Island

6/1-6/2: Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville

6/1: Brew Moon SummerFest in Alpharetta

6/8: Tunes from the Tombs in Atlanta

6/8-6/9: Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Blairsville

6/8-6/9: Peachtree Corners Festival in Peachtree Corners

6/8: Roswell Lavender Festival in Roswell

6/19-6/23: AthFest Music & Arts Festival in Athens

Just Off the Highway: Booth Western Art Museum

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Eileen Falkenberg Hull

Booth

Housed in a sleek and modern 120,000-square-foot building juxtaposed with the history-rich red brick buildings of downtown Cartersville, the largest permanent exhibition space for Western American art in the country quietly stands awaiting your next visit. The Booth Western Art Museum, just off 1-75 in downtown Cartersville, is the only museum featuring Western American art in the Southeastern United States, and boasts sculpture, paintings and historical artifacts among its collection.

John Falter, Jam Session, 1956, 28 x 25”, ©SEPS

The newest exciting exhibit at the museum is Covering America: The Saturday Evening Post in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, which showcases 30 original paintings alongside The Saturday Evening Post covers they graced. In addition, 18 Western-themed original Saturday Evening Post covers from the permanent collection are included. The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 29, 2013.

Not into the Saturday Evening Post? Never fear; the museum is filled with exhibits to interest children and adults of all ages. Whether it’s classic paintings depicting the original Wild West or American Indians, an entire gallery dedicated to the Civil War, areas featuring the art of cowboys and cowgirls, an entire series of screen prints by Andy Warhol, artifacts from Indian culture or life-sized modern sculpture that strikes your fancy, the Booth Western Art Museum has it.

One of my favorite parts about visiting the Booth Western Art Museum is the price. Admission for adults is only $10, and children 12 and under are free. If you bring children to the museum, pick up a complimentary children’s activity sheet to occupy their time while you look at some of the more grown-up museum highlights.

With all it has to offer, the Booth Western Art Museum is just another reason why you should leave your ZIP code behind and get out and Explore Georgia!

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My 5 Booth Museum Favorites:

Paintings by Georgia-based artist Steve Penley can be found in The Modern West Gallery. Penley also painted one of the giant ornaments that was displayed outside of the World of Coca-Cola last winter.
Everything in the Mythic West Gallery captures the attention of the kid inside all of us. My family loves seeing the old posters and covers from Western movies that were made over the last century, especially the John Wayne collection.
On the second floor, you will see a large painting of all of the 20^th Century United States presidents. There’s a cheat sheet next to the work in case you can’t name them all by sight.
3D paper art sculptures by Patty and Allen Eckman will engage your whole family. They can be seen throughout the museum.
Sagebrush Ranch is a soundproof space located in the basement of the museum where children can learn about the American West and release some of the restless energy they may have built up during their visit.

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull is a digital marketing professional based in Atlanta who first visited Georgia in 1994 and decided that when she graduated from college she would make Georgia her home. Since 2007 that dream has been a reality. She is the founder and executive director of Occupy My Family.

Fan Photo Friday

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Lauren Cleland

Submit your Georgia photos for the chance to be featured:

Post them on our Facebook wall
Use the hashtag #ExploreGeorgia on Instagram
Upload your photos to the Explore Georgia Flickr Group

Watson Mill Covered Bridge in Carlton, Georgia. Photo by Sussman Imaging. Submitted via Facebook.

The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Photo by @luckycharmsandbeer. Submitted via Instagram.

Mica, Georgia. Photo by Franks Photos. Submitted via Flickr.

Get Outdoors in Augusta

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Anna Lee Mikell

When you think of Augusta, The Masters golf tournament or James Brown might be the first things that come to your mind. However, what you may not know is that Augusta is a fantastic place to get out and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Here are my suggestions for great outdoor attractions & activities in Augusta, Georgia:

Augusta Riverwalk: Augusta is situated along the Savannah River, which forms the state line between Georgia and South Carolina. Take a stroll down the multilevel Riverwalk and enjoy the scenery of the river, gardens, abundant opportunities for picnicking and a playground for kids (and kids at heart). Riverwalk is a great place to experience 4^th of July fireworks, the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and the Augusta Market on the River, where you can find fresh produce, food and crafts during the warmer months of the year. It is also home to the Jessye Norman Amphitheatre, a unique spot for outdoor concerts.

Kayaking the Canal

The Augusta Canal: The Augusta Canal was built to provide water to textile mills and factories that used hydro-power to operate large machinery. Today, you can tour the canal by boat, bike or foot. If you have your own canoe or kayak, you can put in at the canal head gates and paddle the 7 miles past Lake Olmstead to the 13^th Street Bridge. There are several outfitters in town that offer boat rentals and shuttles. Because there are no gas-powered boats allowed in the canal, the only traffic you will see is tour boats and other paddlers. It’s pretty cool to be on the water, viewing birds, turtles and possibly alligators and heading right through the heart of downtown at the same time. If you’d rather stick to land, you can experience the Canal Trail, a dirt path that runs the length of the canal and is great for biking or hiking. The trail is shaded by large trees, so it is enjoyable year-round, and there are different entrance points, so you don’t have to trek the entire length of the trail if you’re not up for it.

Disc Golf: Augusta is home to the PDGA International Disc Golf Center, making it a mecca for disc golfers. You can toss some discs there or at several different courses throughout the area. Just bring your own discs, and you’re all set. Pendleton King Park is great for beginners. If you’re looking for a challenge, I suggest the Lake Olmstead course is perfect, which is built around the water.

Auggie

The Augusta Greenjackets: The Augusta Greenjackets are a minor league team affiliated with the San Francisco Giants that plays at Lake Olmstead Stadium, just minutes from downtown. The tickets are affordable and the beer is cold, making it a great option for a night out with family or friends. Insider tip: Don’t miss out on the chance to have your picture taken with the mascot Auggie!

Lake Thurmond

Camping: After all of your outdoor adventures, it’s time to relax with nature. What better way to do that than by camping at Lake Thurmond? Mistletoe State Park is only about 30 minutes from downtown and a great place to set up camp. You’ll be right on the banks of Lake Thurmond, where you can swim, boat or simply laze about and enjoy your surroundings. The last time I camped there, the weather was perfect and peaceful. It’s also nice to know you aren’t too far from civilization in case you forget to pack any essentials.

Anna Lee Mikell is a Southern girl raised in Georgia and South Carolina. She loves Southern food, photography and SEC football. You can often find her searching for old records at the flea market or sipping sweet iced tea.