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Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
1352 Floyd Tower East 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Place Stamp Here
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WELCOME
Sweetwater Creek
R ace your kids to the top of an Indian mound. Reel in a glistening 7-pound bass. Pitch your tent under a star-lit sky. The experiences you'll have in Georgia's state parks and historic sites are nearly limitless. And with at least one park within an hour's drive of every Georgian, the sites are easy to get to.
Cloudland Canyon
Studies show that healthy parks make for healthy people. Children who play outdoors are often more imaginative and physically fit. Adults who spend time in nature are more relaxed and energetic. And visitors to historic sites go home with a greater understanding of yesteryear. That's why it is so important to protect the natural and cultural resources found within Georgia's state parks and historic sites. Come visit often. Get your hiking boots dirty. Raise your heart rate. See what makes
Vogel
Georgia special.
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
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Autumn color
2007 Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
is published by:
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks & Historic Sites
1352 Floyd Tower East 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, S.E. Atlanta, GA 30334
Offices: 404-656-2770; TDD: 770-389-7404
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org 1-800-864-7275
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites are operated by the Department of Natural Resources. Anyone subjected to discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin or disability may call or write the department's ADA Coordinator. If you need this in an alternate format, contact the DNR.
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites accept no responsibility for errors of omission in fact or of materials furnished by advertisers and contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. Fees, hours of operation and availability of facilities are subject to change.
Cover photo: Panola Mountain State Park
2007 Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
Ft. Morris volunteers Summer picnic
Table of Contents
Accommodations Camping, Cottages, Lodges. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Accommodations and Activities Chart . . . . . . 5 Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Discounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Field Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Friends of Georgia State Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Group Gatherings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Historic Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 62 Junior Rangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Map and Mileage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Natural Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Outdoor Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ParkPass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Reservations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 State Parks Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 State Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Things to Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
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AAAACCBRGMllttrouoalalabihugacyuamennutnoenenstsomnsytsawnbvailulcsek SVaalvdaonsntaah
Map and Mileage
Albany
170 151 182 163 232 76 188 92 194 182 73
TENNESSEE
NORTH CAROLINA
Athens Atlanta
170
61 88 224 64 131 34 79 105 187 214
151 61
142 250 97 90 50 78 56 226 212
59 5
Cloudland Canyon
Chief
Vann 75 House 49
52
Fort
76
Mountain
Vogel 47
76 11
Amicalola
76
3
Clayton
Black Rock Mountain
Moccasin 30 Creek
Tallulah 43 Gorge
441
Augusta Brunswick Clayton Columbus
182 88 142
162 127 180 120 105 192 111 195
163 224 250 162
281 221 257 173 305 64 109
232 64 97 127 281
184 47 141 110 236 278
76 131 90 180 221 184
137 74 122 222 148
27
New Echota
58 Cherokee
Capital
23
James H.
75
Red Top Mountain
"Sloppy" Floyd
Rome
Allatoona 33 Lake
Etowah
Indian Mounds
51
575
27 Pickett's Mill 59
Battlefield
75
Falls
515 400
51229DMGaouLhlLsad5alne0koieeunrme98Ug5anGicoa38i9i5n42WS53eFmosooirvttdhi4sgl4al1eVBllircyta1o7nrtia6246TRr4ea4svWteTluae2Hgt10rsa7aL'rosaltHwnokeaReolrults3s5ellRRuicshsaGMRSVeraaloadlavlmidcnBaoo.enenssntvaaihlle
12 Yargo
29
48 Mill Lake Bridge
Athens
Bobby 4 Brown
188 34 50 120 257 47 137
101 77 221 240
92 79 78 105 173 141 74 101
132 158 139
194 105 56 192 305 110 122 77 132
281 260
182 187 226 111 64 236 222 221 158 281
150
73 214 212 195 109 278 148 240 139 260 150
Atlanta
24
John Tanner
20 42
Sweetwater Creek
285
Hard Labor 441
Creek
20
19
31 Panola Mountain
Robert Toombs 60
Elijah 7 Clark
House
Clarks Hill
1
A.H. 17 Stephens
Lake 29 Mistletoe
20
Augusta
27 85
Lake
520
Oconee
SOUTH CAROLINA ALABAMA
West Point Lake
85 185
Roosevelt's
61 Little White
House
8
F. D.
Sprewell 40 Bluff
27 Roosevelt
129
22 Indian Springs
21 HFaigllhsJuLlaiektete
75
55
Jarrell Plantation
475
Lake Tobesofkee
Macon
16
Lake Sinclair
441
18 Hamburg
25
Magnolia 28 Springs
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org 1-800-864-7275
Columbus
George L.
Smith 14
25
16
Florence 9 Marina 280
Providence 32 Canyon Lake Walter F. 27 George
15
George T. Bagby 1
82
Albany
25 Kolomoki Mounds
27
Seminole
37 Lake 27
Seminole
84
LaphamPatterson 57 House
75
Lake Blackshear
280 16
Georgia Veterans
82
Reed Bingham 34
84
441
16
Gordonia-
95
Alatamaha 301
Wormsloe
Little 27 Ocmulgee
319
Jefferson Davis
280
17
Savannah 63
Skidaway
25
38 Island
84
10 Fort
McAllister
53 Fort Morris
56
441
95
Sapelo
13
General Coffee
84
36 Island
HofwylBroadfield
52
Fort King George
Plantation 54
Little St. Simons
82
Island
82
Laura S. Brunswick
Sea Island St. Simons Island
26 Walker
Jekyll Island
75 84
Valdosta
Okefenokee Swamp
441
Stephen C. 41 Foster
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Crooked 6 River
95
FLORIDA
State Parks
State Historic
Sites
4
Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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MAP
AND
MILEAGE
Accommodations & Activities
The chart is numerically keyed and color-coded to the map at left.
# STATE PARKS 1 A. H. Stephens State Historic Park 2 Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge 3 Black Rock Mountain State Park 4 Bobby Brown State Park 5 Cloudland Canyon State Park 6 Crooked River State Park 7 Elijah Clark State Park 8 F. D. Roosevelt State Park 9 Florence Marina State Park 10 Ft. McAllister Historic Park 11 Ft. Mountain State Park 12 Ft. Yargo State Park and
Will-A-Way Recreation Area 13 General Coffee State Park 14 George L. Smith State Park 15 George T. Bagby State Park and Lodge 16 Georgia Veterans State Park and Resort 17 Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park 18 Hamburg State Park 19 Hard Labor Creek State Park 20 Hart State Park 21 High Falls State Park 22 Indian Springs State Park 23 James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park 24 John Tanner State Park 25 Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park 26 Laura S. Walker State Park 27 Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge 28 Magnolia Springs State Park 29 Mistletoe State Park 30 Moccasin Creek State Park 31 Panola Mountain Conservation Park 32 Providence Canyon Conservation Park 33 Red Top Mountain State Park and Lodge 34 Reed Bingham State Park 35 Richard B. Russell State Park 36 Sapelo Island Estuarine Reserve 37 Seminole State Park 38 Skidaway Island State Park 39 Smithgall Woods Conservation Area/Lodge 40 Sprewell Bluff State Park 41 Stephen C. Foster State Park 42 Sweetwater Creek Conservation Park 43 Tallulah Gorge State Park 44 Tugaloo State Park 45 Unicoi State Park and Lodge 46 Victoria Bryant State Park 47 Vogel State Park 48 Watson Mill Bridge State Park # STATE HISTORIC SITES 49 Chief Vann House 50 Dahlonega Gold Museum 51 Etowah Indian Mounds 52 Fort King George 53 Fort Morris 54 Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation 55 Jarrell Plantation 56 Jefferson Davis Memorial 57 Lapham-Patterson House 58 New Echota Cherokee Capital 59 Pickett's Mill Battlefield 60 Robert Toombs House 61 Roosevelt's Little White House 62 Traveler's Rest 63 Wormsloe
4
25 10 70
5 Y/N IF 50 3 1
14 57 24 3 40
10
48
25 12 4 5
CIF 78 4 1 CIF 38 2
61 7 35
5
IF 40 2 1
16
73 24 50 30 11 5 N/Y CIF 123 6 2
11
62 15 50
5
CIF 75 5 1
20
165 68 40
5
CIF 121 5 2
22
140 30 40
13 5 Y/N CIF 120 2 1
14
43 20
3
65 55 50
25
CIF 25 1 1 IF 50 2 1
15
70 35 50 4 4 5
CIF 117 7 1
40 7 50 7
5 Y/N CIF 75 5 2
3
10
7
50 50
5 N/Y CIF 60 7 1
4
25 6 40
5
I 60 4 1
5 60 10 78 77 40 50
N/Y
50 1 1
5
IF 50 4 1
27 3 45 30 7
IF 50 4 1
5
CIF 60 2 1
20
63 8 50
5 Y/N CIF 50 5 2
5
62 30 40 16
IF 85 3
87 20
10
88 2 50
4
25 9 50
6
32 8 40
43 16
5
F 50 5 1
5 Y/N IF 126 7 1
5
IF 80 4
5 N/Y I 15 4 2
5 Y/N CIF 71 7 2
44 5 10 60 55 12 50
5 Y/N CIF 52 9 5
5
IF 46 7 1
5
26 5
3
5 Y/Y IF 150 8 3
10
92 22 70 4 1 5
CIF 33 5 2
55 11
CIF 6 1
65
18 4 65 2 1
18 33 92 12 40 46 23
5
CIF 50 7 2
5
CIF 90 6 4
17
28 6 35
13
14
50 43 50
88 88
14
IF 40 3 1
5
5
IF 100 5 1
5
IF 75 5 1
5
73
9
66 8 60
10
5
CIF 20 3
50 10
15
20
108 25 35
55
30 100 82
40 33
5
35 8 40 8
5
48 11 1 IF 27 2 IF 100 7 1 CIF 70 6 1 IF 107 6
35
103 17 40 18 1 5
32 21
5
CIF 65 4 1 IF 50 3 1
6
20
7
5
7
11
6
13
1
1
6
1
4
20
12
5 RPL FP L
S
5
L
5 RDPW FC L
RDP
S
5 RPW
L
5
D
FL
5 RDPWM F L
RDP C S
5
PL
FP L
5 RDPL FCP L
P
NHE 5
NH 5
NH 5
P
N
TD H
N5
B
NH 5
P
NHE 5
P T N5
NB 5
B
HBE
B T NHB 5
5
C LS P
NH 5
5 RDPL FCP LS
NH 5
5 RDPWM FC L PB GT N
5 RDPWM FCP L B GD N 5
5
FP L P G
5 RPL FCP LS
NH 5
5 RPL FCP LS B G NHE 5
5 RDPW C L B
NB
5 RDPL FC LS P
H
5 RDPL P LS B
N5
5 RDPL FP L
H
5
PL FCP L B
N
5 RDPL FCP LS P
NH 5
5 RDPLW C L P G N
5 RDPLW CP L PB GT NH
5 RDPLW FC L P
NHB 5
5 RDPW FC L B
NHB
5 RDPW FC LS
NH
NH 5
NH 5
5 RDPWM
L PB T NH
5 RDPW FC LS B
NH
5 RDPW CP L B GD NHB
SB
N5
5 RDPW C L B
N
P
NH 5
S
NHB 5
RP
S
H
5 RDPL FC L
N5
5 RDPL FC LS
H5
5
PL
LS B T NHB 5
5 RPDW C L B T NH
5
CP LS B T NHB
LS P G NHB
5
P LS B
NH 5
CP S
HEB 5
RP
S
5 5 N5 N5 N5 NB 5 5 N5 5 5 H5 5 5 5 N5
cRMT 20
cCLRMT cCRM
cR CMTR 59 cCMT 95 cCR cCM 185
cCRM
cRM
95
cCR
cMT
CR
85
cCRM cCRM CLR cCRML 75 cMR cMR
cCR
20
cCR
cRM
75
R
cR
cCMTR 20
cRM
cMR
cCLRM
RMT
cCR
20
c
RM
20
MR
cCLRMT 75
cR
75
cCRT
95
cCR
cRMT
LRM
R
cCRMT
RM
20
cMTR
cCR
85
cCLR
c
85
cCRM cRM
M
75
M
M
75
RM
95
RM
95
RM
95
RM
RM
RM
75
RM
RM
R
RM
95
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
5
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M Georgia's ountains
I
The magnificent scenery and rolling landscape of Georgia's Mountains provide everything you'll need for a memorable visit. Unique cities and towns offer charm and entertainment. Stop and relive some of the area's colorful past through historic places and tours. Adventurous visitors will enjoy the myriad of sports activities available. And when it's time to rest, great lodging choices await at every turn.
Lookout
2
Mountain
1
Rome
76 Chatsworth Dalton
411 61
76
Dahlonega
4 Hiawassee
YHoeulenng 76 Clayton
HGarris 11
75
129
Helen
2 441
Cleveland
52
3 115 129
123
Toccoa
53
53 Dawsonville
19
60
23
411
Cartersville
Gainesville
985
129
400
75
ATL ANTA
Numbers on map
85
correspond to advertiser
listings below.
1 Oak Hill at the Martha Berry Museum
Discover a quintessential setting of Southern charm at Oak Hill, a beautifully preserved 170-acre estate and home of Berry College founder Martha Berry. Sites include the Greek Revival Oak Hill home, Martha Berry Museum, Carriage House complete with vintage vehicles, the Original Cabin, and five beautifully-landscaped gardens including an All-America Selection Display Garden. On-site store available. The 28,000-acre Berry College campus is nearby. Open Mon.Sat., 105; closed holidays. Admission charged; group and AAA member discounts.
24Veterans Memorial Hwy.N.E.,Rome,GA 30161;706-291-1883
www.berry.edu/oakhill
1-800-VISIT-GA
3 BabyLand General Hospital
Fun is born at BabyLand General. Witness the birth of a Cabbage Patch Kid in a turn-of-the-century Medical Clinic. LPNs (Licensed Patch Nurses) are available for consultations. Visiting Hours are Mon.Sat., 95; Sun., 105. Free Admission.
8 miles south of Helen in Cleveland,Ga. 706-865-2171 www.cabbagepatchkids.com
2 Toccoa
Experience Lake Hartwell and Currahee Mountain (birthplace of Band of Brothers & Dirty Dozen), Toccoa Falls, Travelers Rest Historic Site, Currahee Military Museum and the Conference Centers. Enjoy the antique markets, art galleries, specialty shops and numerous restaurants offering homecooking to fine dining.
www.toccoagachamber.com, www.cityoftoccoa.com 1-877-6TOCCOA
4 Towns County
Towns County is Hiawassee and Young Harris. You'll come to visit and never want to leave! Our Mountain Top is serenely beautiful and adventure abounds. Located less than 2 hours from Atlanta, Asheville, NC, Chattanooga, TN and Greenville, SC in the heart of the North Georgia Mountains.
1-800-984-1543 www.mountaintopga.com
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Lake Walter F. George
T here is no end to what you can do at Georgia's 63 state parks and historic sites. Choose from the suggestions below or browse our Calendar of Events found on www.GaStateParks.org.
s Rent a canoe at Stephen C. Foster State Park to explore the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp. s Dream away the day on a lakeside swing at James H. Sloppy Floyd State Park. s Raise your heart rate and your fitness level while hiking in Cloudland Canyon State Park. s Launch a boat at Mistletoe State Park to explore Georgia's largest lake. s Design your own cast-iron
Campfire ghost stories
skillet during an iron pour at Red Top Mountain State Park. s Scout for Georgia's state reptile, the gopher tortoise, at Reed Bingham State Park. s Hike to the ruins of a Civil War-era textile mill at Sweetwater Creek State Park. s Try to break the state record for Redeye Bass caught near Tugaloo State Park on Lake Hartwell. s Tee off at one of eight challenging state
Family getaway
park golf courses. s Saddle up your horses and gallop to Watson Mill Bridge State Park's trails. s Leash up your canine friend for a stay in a dogfriendly cottage. s Discover the beginnings of our nation's gold rush at Dahlonega Gold Museum. s Climb to the top of an ancient Indian mound at Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site. s Feel breezes across the old rice fields of HofwylBroadfield Plantation. s Follow in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers at Pickett's Mill Historic Site. s Ponder the "floating"
Camping during fall
staircase at the Cherokee Chief Vann House Historic Site. s Plan your next business meeting at a state park lodge. s Cast a line in one of Georgia's premier trout streams at Smithgall Woods Conservation Area. s Roast marshmallows over a roaring campfire. s Challenge your family to a rousing game of mini-golf.
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
11
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Cloudland Canyon
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org or 1-800-864-7275
Call center open MondayFriday, 8 a.m.8 p.m.; SaturdaySunday, 9 a.m.5 p.m.
Reservations are highly recommended and often must be made 11 months in advance for peak weekends, such as holidays and leaf season. A three-night minimum is required for most accommodations on holiday weekends. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, many cottages require a one-week stay unless the reservation is made less than 30 days in advance.
Reservations may be made up to 11 months (to the day) in advance; however, if you wish to use a facility in less than two days, contact the site directly. Campsites are the only reservations that may be made up to 4 p.m. on arrival date. Walk-ins may use most unreserved facilities, and noshows forfeit deposit and reservation. While specific campsites and lodge rooms may not be reserved, park staff will make every effort to give visitors their preferred location if it is available. Most cottage guests may reserve a specific unit.
Rates are listed on each park's page and are subject to change without notice.
Above: Ft. McAllister cottage; Right: Spooky camper
ParkPass
Upon arrival, state park visitors pay a parking fee of $3 to $4.* Proceeds are used for campground renovations, picnic shelter construction, dock replacements and much more. The daily ParkPass is valid at all state parks visited the same day, and overnight guests pay only one fee for the duration of their stay.
Frequent visitors can save money with a $30 Annual ParkPass that eliminates paying the daily parking fee. To purchase an Annual ParkPass, visit any state park or call 770-389-7401. Senior and disabled veteran discounts are available, and Friends members get a free Annual ParkPass.
Since the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Areas, Stone Mountain, Corps of Engineers lakes, Jekyll Island and Lake Lanier are not state parks, they are not covered by the ParkPass.
* Exceptions: Organized school groups, diners in lodge restaurants and attendees of day-long lodge meetings are exempt. Golfer parking is included in
greens fees. Large vans carrying 13 to 30 passengers pay $20 per day or may purchase an Annual ParkPass for $50. Buses or motorcoaches with a capacity of more than 30 passengers pay $50 per day or may purchase an annual pass for $200. However, those vehicles carrying overnight guests pay only the regular daily parking fee.
12
Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Join "Friends" & Save
When you join Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, you get more than a free Annual ParkPass -- you enjoy the satisfaction of helping preserve Georgia's natural and historic resources. Some Friends volunteer, some contribute financially, and some seek support for greenspace and historic preservation. Whatever your involvement, you are giving back to Georgia in a meaningful way. Resident disabled veterans get a 25% discount on Individual or Family Memberships, limited to one per person.
2007 Membership Levels
Individual Membership $45 ($25 for seniors 62+)
s One Annual ParkPass. s One Annual Historic Site Individual Pass s 10% off purchases in state park or historic site retail shops. Cannot
be used with other discounts or on consignment merchandise, food, books, gasoline or concessions. s One free round of golf at a state park course (without cart, MondayThursday anytime or FridaySunday after 1 p.m.) OR one free night of camping. s One adult coach ticket on the SAM Shortline Excursion Train. Not valid for special excursions. Reservations required. s "Georgia's Great Places" semi-annual newsletter.
Family Membership $70 ($50 for Seniors 62+)
s Two Annual ParkPasses s One Annual Historic Site Family Pass, good for six people. s 10% off purchases in state park or historic site retail shops. Cannot
be used with other discounts or on consignment merchandise, food, books, gasoline or concessions. s 10% off published rates for campsites, lodge rooms and cottages. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. s Two free rounds of golf at a state park course (without cart, MondayThursday anytime or FridaySunday after 1 p.m.) OR two free nights of camping. s One adult and one child coach ticket on the SAM Shortline Excursion Train. Not valid for special excursions. Reservations required. s "Georgia's Great Places" semi-annual newsletter.
Supporting, Patron and Trustee memberships available.
www.friendsofgastateparks.org s 1-888-948-2092
Special Needs
Georgia's State Parks & Historic Sites are committed to making facilities and programs accessible to everyone. All lodges have accessible rooms, meeting facilities and restaurants. Most parks offer accessible cottages, campsites, fishing piers, nature trails and picnic areas. The Will-A-Way Recreation Area at Fort Yargo State Park is a fully accessible group camp accommodating up to 250 people. Since degrees of accessibility vary among the sites, visitors should call ahead to ensure their needs can be met. Overnight guests should be specific about needs when making reservations.
Discounts
Seniors 62 and older
Annual ParkPass discounts of 50% are available for senior citizens who present a copy of their drivers license. Senior disabled veterans enjoy an even larger discount. Seniors also receive $20 off individual or family membership in Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, plus 20% off:
s Cottage rates (SundayThursday, December 1March 31). Not valid with any other promotions or discounts. Limited to one cottage per stay.
s Campsite rates (year-round). Not valid for group camping. Discount applies only when vehicle is registered to a senior. Limited to one campsite per senior.
s Individual lodge room rates (year-round). Limited to one room per stay.
s Golf green fees.
Disabled Veterans
Disabled veterans who are Georgia residents and present a Certificate of Eligibility from their Veterans Benefits Coordinator are entitled to a 25% discount on Annual ParkPasses, lodge rooms, campsites, cottages, mini-golf, golf fees, swimming pools and historic site admission.
Discounts not valid with other promotions or specials.
Cloudland Canyon
Bring your leashed, four-legged friend along. Dogs are welcome in some rental cottages and all campgrounds.
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
13
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F.D. Roosevelt
Georgia's state parks have accommodations for all preferences and budgets. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose from numerous campsites, while others may prefer cozy cottages or hotel-style lodge rooms. More luxurious getaways can be found at Smithgall Woods in the mountains, the Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island (groups only) and the resort at Georgia Veterans State Park. Hikers even have their own backcountry Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls State Park.
Camping
Whether you are a first-time camper or an experienced backpacker, Georgia's state parks have a campsite for you. Forty-one parks offer more than 2,400 campsites, including tent-only areas, RV pull-thru sites, primitive camping and group camping areas. Most state parks have laundry facilities and sell camping supplies. Leashed pets are welcome.
Vogel cottage
Tent/Trailer/RV Camping
These sites offer electrical and water hookups, grills or fire rings, and picnic tables. Some are specially designed just for tents, while others have "pull-thrus" for large RVs. Modern bath houses with hot showers, flush toilets and electrical outlets are conveniently located. All campgrounds have dump stations, and several offer cable TV hookups. Only Florence Marina, Gordonia-Alatamaha, Hart and Victoria Bryant (ADA only) have a few campsites with sewage hookups.
Walk-In Tent Sites
These campsites provide a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring, but usually no water, electricity or garbage containers. While they are more remote than regular sites, they are within walking distance of a bath house, water spigot and parking area.
Backcountry Camping
Backpackers will enjoy the solitude of these undeveloped sites. All camping gear (including water) is packed in and out by the hiker.
Pioneer Campsites and Group Camps
See "Group Gatherings," page 18.
Cottages
Cozy cottages with one, two or three bedrooms are available at 29 state parks. They are fully equipped with stoves, refrigerators, kitchen and dining utensils, bed linens, blankets and towels. Dogs are allowed only in select fido-friendly cottages with advance reservations. All cottages have heat and air conditioning. Many cottages have televisions, screened porches or decks, and woodburning fireplaces or stoves. Firewood, paper towels and dish soap are not provided. Since many state parks offer group camps and lodges, cottages are not available to organized groups.
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Things to Know
Camping
Minimum Stay: A two-night minimum is required for weekend reservations, and a three-night minimum is required for Memorial Day, Independence Day (depending on the day of week), Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends.
Deposits and Cancellations: A non-refundable deposit is required on reservations of just one night. For longer reservations, a deposit of the minimum number of nights is required. Deposits not received within seven days will result in automatic cancellation without notification. Campers must pay the full balance of their reservation upon check-in. No refunds are made when the stay is shortened to less than the required minimum. This also applies to equestrian-area campers and horse stalls. Because special deposit restrictions apply to reservations of 7 to 14 days, campers should confirm cancellation policies when making a reservation.
Occupancy: To protect park resources, campsite occupancy is limited to one of the following combinations:
s One motor home, two additional automobiles, and one tent.
s One automobile with pop-up trailer/travel trailer, one additional automobile, and one tent.
s One pickup truck with mounted camping rig, two additional automobiles, and one tent.
s Two tents and two automobiles.
One boat trailer is also allowed at each site provided that the site is large enough. Campsites have a six-person occupancy limit, and tents must fit on designated tent pads. Tents erected off designated tent pads are subject to removal. Camping between designated sites is prohibited. When camping areas are filled to stated capacity, no other campers will be allowed. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days at any one park. Visitors using a campsite for 14 nights must vacate for at least three nights before returning.
Check-In: Check-in is between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. and check-out is before 1 p.m. Campers must register and present a confirmation before setting up. Both the reservation and deposit fee are forfeited if the camper does not check in by 10 p.m. on the scheduled arrival date. MOST PARK GATES ARE LOCKED AT 10 P.M. Tents and other items left overnight in an unoccupied
campsite are subject to removal and fees will be forfeited. Saving sites for late-arriving guests is prohibited.
Rules: Pets are welcome in campgrounds if kept on a six-foot leash and attended at all times. Campers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Since organized groups are not eligible to occupy regular campsites, group camps and pioneer camping areas are available and offer more privacy.
Cottages
Pets: Dogs are allowed ONLY in designated fido-friendly cottages with advance reservations, and owners must pay a $40 fee per dog (limit 2). Dogs may not enter other cottages. Contact the parks for additional rules.
Minimum Stay: Most parks require a two-night minimum with advance reservations. Many parks require a five- or seven-night minimum Memorial Day through Labor Day. Shorter stays are allowed for reservations made less than 30 days in advance. A three-night minimum is required for Memorial Day, Independence Day (depending on the day of week), Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends.
Deposits and Cancellations: A deposit of one night's lodging is due within
seven days of making a reservation. Deposits not received within seven days
will result in automatic cancellation without
notification. Deposits may be refunded if a
minimum of 72 hours notice is given;
however, a $10 per unit cancellation fee
will be deducted. Any unused portion of a
reservation may be refunded only if
minimum occupancy has been met.
Because special deposit restrictions apply
to reservations of 7 to 14 days, guests
should confirm cancellation policies when
Top: Fort Mountain overlook; Left: Yurt at Bobby Brown
making a reservation.
Occupancy: Visitors occupying a cottage for 14 nights must vacate for at least three nights before returning. Cottages may not
be used to accommodate more than their
stated capacities. Visitors younger than 18
must be accompanied by an adult.
Check-In: Check-in is between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., and check-out is 11 a.m. A late fee will be charged after 11 a.m. unless a check-out extension is permitted by the Park Office. A reservation confirmation must be presented at check-in. Guests must pay the full balance of their reservation upon check-in. No refunds are made when the stay is shortened to less than the required minimum. Both the reservation and deposit are forfeited if the guest does not check in by 10 p.m. on the scheduled arrival date. MOST PARK GATES ARE LOCKED AT 10 P.M.
Gather your friends and family for a quick getaway. Georgia State Parks promise a great time, every time.
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The Lodge at Amicalola Falls
Hotel-Style Lodges
Things to Know about Lodges
Five state parks feature hotel-style lodges with comfortable guest rooms, restaurants, meeting facilities and a variety of amenities. These relaxing resorts are perfect for quick getaways, reunions, receptions and family vacations. In the north Georgia mountains, you will find Amicalola Falls Lodge with its famous waterfall and Unicoi Lodge near Alpine Helen.
Just north of Atlanta is Red Top Mountain Lodge on Lake Allatoona. Conveniently located in the middle of the state, Little Ocmulgee Lodge offers a golf course and 265acre lake. The more secluded George T. Bagby Lodge in southwest Georgia features a golf course and 48,000-acre Lake Walter F. George.
The lodges range from 57 to 100 rooms, each with in-room television, telephone and climate control. Handicapped-equipped and non-smoking rooms, sleeping lofts, and suites are available.
Guest room
Occupancy: Occupancy is limited to four in double rooms and suites, and six in loft rooms.
Check-In: Check-in is 4 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m.
Deposits and Cancellations: A deposit of the first night's fee is refundable with no penalty if a cancellation is made 72 hours in
advance. Reservations are held for guest arrival; therefore, no-shows are charged for one night's lodging plus applicable taxes.
Pets: Pets are not allowed in lodge rooms.
Planning a Large Gathering?
To assist large groups, each lodge provides a dedicated conference coordinator who can help arrange meetings, meals and guest activities. For details on group functions,
visit www.naturallybusiness.com or see page 18.
Whitetail fawn
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Sapelo Island's Reynolds Mansion
Just off Georgia's Colonial Coast is the historic Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island, a unique estate surrounded by live oaks, Spanish moss and beaches. The mansion can accommodate up to 26 guests in 13 rooms brimming with turn-of-the-century ambiance, architecture and art. Meals, activities and ferry service are included. The Reynolds Mansion is open to groups of 16 to 26 only. For more information, visit www.reynoldsonsapelo.com and for reservations call 912-485-2299. Guided tours of the island are available for day visitors as well.
Len Foote Hike Inn
The Len Foote Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls State Park is a special retreat just for hikers. The 20-room eco-lodge is reached by a five-mile trail through the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Dinner and breakfast are included, allowing guests to carry only their personal items along the trail. A bathhouse with hot showers is centrally located. Details can be found at www.hike-inn.com. Call 1-800-573-9656 for reservations.
The Lodge at Smithgall Woods
Not far from the mountain town of Helen is the breathtaking Lodge at Smithgall Woods, a collection of finely appointed cottages situated along Georgia's premier trout stream and providing exceptional privacy.
This retreat is perfect for romantic getaways, executive retreats and small group meetings. All meals and activities are included. For more information, visit www.smithgallwoods.com and for reservations call 1-800-318-5248.
Lodge restaurant
Above: The Lodge at Smithgall Woods; Right: Lobby at Amicalola Falls
From weddings to reunions, our lodges help create memorable celebrations.
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Meetings, Weddings, Parties and More
Our five hotel-style lodges (see p.16) are well equipped for meetings and receptions for 150 to 600 people. Guests can enjoy the retreat-like atmosphere, golf, tennis, swimming, hiking and boating during leisure time. Professional conference coordinators can assist in planning meetings and banquets. More unique group accommodations are available at The Lodge at Smithgall Woods near Helen and the Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island. Smithgall is a superbly decorated mountain retreat surrounded by 5,600 acres of undisturbed forest. The Reynolds Mansion is a plantation home set among the moss-draped oaks and salt marshes of Sapelo Island. Both locations have limited access, providing complete privacy. Group reservations are made by calling the individual lodges or 770-975-4291. Details are available at www.naturallybusiness.com.
Group Camps
Group camps ($100$550) are perfect for large gatherings such as church retreats. While each is unique, they all provide dormitory sleeping quarters, commercial kitchens, dining/assembly rooms, restrooms with hot showers, activity areas and swimming facilities. Linens are not provided. Minimum occupancy is two nights, and a deposit is required. Cancellations must be made at least six months in advance.
Group Lodges
Cloudland Canyon ($175), John Tanner ($250) and General Coffee ($225) state parks offer group lodges with dormitory sleeping quarters for 40 or 50, restrooms with hot showers, and a kitchen and dining area inside one large facility. Linens are not provided. Similar, smaller facilities are at George T. Bagby (sleeps 12, $125$150) and Magnolia
Top: Black Rock Mountain; Above: Picnickers; Left: Banquet tables
Springs (sleeps 16, $95$105) state parks. Minimum occupancy is two nights, and a deposit is required. Cancellations must be made at least one month in advance and will be assessed a $10 fee.
Pioneer Camping
Organized groups can pitch tents in primitive camping areas, most with water spigots and pit toilets. Some have covered picnic shelters and grills. Pioneer campsites will not accommodate RVs or trailers, and few provide showers. A fee of $1$5 per person or a flat fee of $15$75 is charged.
Group Shelters
Family reunions and birthday parties are frequently held in enclosed group shelters which seat 50 to 250 and typically offer kitchens, restrooms, barbecue pits, heat and air conditioning, and adjacent parking. Fees range from $40 to $200 per day, and all vehicles must display a ParkPass. Events should end and the shelter be vacated by 9:45 p.m.
Picnic Shelters
All parks except Sprewell Bluff and Sapelo Island have covered picnic areas ($15$90) that may be reserved up to 11 months in advance and are available on a first-come basis if not reserved. These open-air shelters include several tables assembled under a single roof and sometimes a barbecue pit or grills. All vehicles in the group must have a ParkPass.
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Top: Meadow Links; Above: Clubhouse
Georgia has perfect weather for golf, and our courses are conveniently located throughout the state. Visitors may play a round on an uncrowded, beautifully maintained golf course surrounded only by nature, with the added enjoyment of knowing they spent only $50 or less, including cart.
Georgia's state park courses are not only a great value, but also a quality experience. The state's newest course, Arrowhead Pointe, was named the "2nd Best New Affordable Course in America" by Golf Digest for 2005. And Meadow Links was ranked 6th on that same list when it opened in 1998. Additionally, Georgia Veterans has been given 4 stars, The Creek has been given 31/2 stars and The Lakes received 3 stars in the most recent edition of Golf Digest's Places to Play, a biennial subscriber survey.
Golf Packages
Plan a golf vacation getaway to include greens fees, carts and accommodations in our hotel-style lodges or one- and two-bedroom cottages. Lodge packages are $64$97 per person daily and include breakfast. There's a two-night minimum on cottage packages.
Specials
s Become an Internet member and receive discounts and benefits. s Annual and monthly GreensPass memberships s Senior Golfers (62 and older) -- 20% off Green Fees (not valid
with other discounts) s Junior Golfers (younger than 18) -- $5 Green Fees (not valid
weekend mornings). All courses are affiliates of the First Tee Program.
Opportunities
s Tournaments s Fundraising s Volunteer Projects s Golf Instruction s Junior Clinics/Camps s Georgia Junior Golf Tour (GaJuniorGolfTour.com)
Course Information
1 The Creek (1-888-353-4592) at Hard Labor, Rutledge
Holes Yardage Rating Slope 18-Hole Green Fee w/Cart
18 6,426 71.0 133 $35$45
2 Highland Walk (1-866-317-7789) at Victoria Bryant, Royston
18 6,421 71.4 131
$36$42
3 Arrowhead Pointe (1-877-405-4653) 18 6,788 72.5 134 at Richard B. Russell, Elberton
$41$46
4 Meadow Links (1-877-591-5574) at George T. Bagby, Ft. Gaines
18 7,007 72.8 139
$35$40
5 Georgia Veterans (1-877-736-8897) 18 6,869 72.8 128 Memorial Course, Cordele
$36$40
6 Little Ocmulgee (1-888-892-8906) 18 6,625 71.5 128 Wallace Adams Course, McRae
$33$37
7 Brazell's Creek (1-877-591-5576) 9 at Gordonia-Alatamaha, Reidsville
Closed for construction of back nine.
8 The Lakes (1-877-591-5578)
18 6,595 71.9 122 $33$38
at Laura S. Walker, Waycross
Rates are per person with shared cart and vary by day of week. Surcharges may apply to certain courses
during Masters week. Rates are subject to change.
Tee Times and Golf Package Reservations:
1-800-434-0982 www.GeorgiaGolf.com
12 3 4 56 7
8
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
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Above: Hard Labor Creek; Left: Richard B. Russell
Georgia's state parks offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including boat rental, miniature golf, tennis, volleyball, horseshoes and children's playgrounds. Hours and fees vary and some activities may close during winter.
Mistletoe, Smithgall Woods, HofwylBroadfield Plantation, Red Top
Mountain and Victoria Bryant state parks. Some parks charge a trail fee.
Hiking and Backpacking
Swimming
Almost every state park has hiking trails, ranging
Nearly all parks feature
from easy lake loops to longer, more challenging journeys. Some
a swimming pool or
trails that are popular for hiking with children include those at
lakeside beach for
Hamburg, Magnolia Springs, Panola Mountain, Reed Bingham,
cooling off during
Skidaway Island, Sprewell Bluff, Sweetwater Creek and Watson
summer. Lifeguards are
Mill Bridge state parks.
Cloudland Canyon
provided at swimming
pools (except at lodge
Hard-surfaced trails suitable for wheelchairs and strollers are
parks), and an
found at Amicalola Falls, John Tanner, Mistletoe, Red Top
admission of $1$3 is charged. Lodge guests, cottage guests and
Mountain, Reed Bingham, S.C. Foster and Tallulah Gorge state parks.
children younger than 2 swim free. Because pool hours are susceptible
More challenging backcountry trails are found at Amicalola Falls,
to lifeguard availability and often close on weekdays, visitors should call
Black Rock Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, F.D. Roosevelt, Fort Mountain, ahead to confirm schedules. Hours and days of operation vary among
Providence Canyon, Unicoi and Vogel. Primitive camping is allowed
the parks; however, most are open 11 a.m.6 p.m. Tuesday through
along some backcountry trails (permits required).
Thursday and 11 a.m.7 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Swimming pools
Biking
are usually opened for the season on Memorial Day weekend and closed after Labor Day weekend.
Bicycles may be used on paved roads only, with the exception of designated bike trails listed in the chart on page 5. Mountain bikers may test their endurance and skills at Fort Mountain, Fort Yargo, Tallulah Gorge, Unicoi, Richard B. Russell, Magnolia Springs and Watson Mill Bridge state parks. More casual bicyclists may enjoy trails at Hart,
Beaches have no lifeguards and are free to all visitors. Many are open year-round during daylight hours. Bathhouses are closed during cooler months.
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Fishing and Boating
Georgia is an angler's paradise, and our parks offer excellent fishing and boating opportunities. Most have boat ramps and docks, and some parks feature marinas. Water skiing, sailing and personal watercraft are permitted at parks with large lakes; however, a few parks on small lakes have restrictions on private boats and horsepower limitations. Visitors should call ahead before making plans. Fishing in park lakes, rivers and streams is free, but a valid Georgia resident/non-resident fishing license is required for anglers 16 or older. Trout stamps are required when fishing in streams.
More than 30 parks rent motorized fishing boats, pedal boats or canoes by the hour. Fort Yargo's Will-A-Way Camp, George T. Bagby and Hart state parks rent pontoon boats to groups, while Stephen C. Foster State Park offers guided boat trips through the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp.
George T. Bagby's marina
An excellent resource for anglers is www.gofishgeorgia.com. It provides license and regulation information, fishing tips, details on the state's fishing tackle loaner program, and a list of Public Fishing Areas. Like state parks, Georgia's PFAs provide family-friendly fishing environments with a wide range of outdoor activities and managed fish populations.
Kayaking George L. Smith
Protecting Georgia Waters
The seemingly harmless act of moving a few fish or aquatic plants from one water body to another can create devastating effects on ecosystems and huge economic problems. Invasive species can displace native species, impact habitat, out-compete native species for food sources, and even introduce unknown diseases.
Disc golf game
What can you do to help?
1. Never move fish and aquatic plants.
2. Don't release live bait fish or aquarium pets/plants.
3. Remove all plants from your boat and trailer before leaving the boat ramp.
Picnicking
Scenic picnic areas and grills are located throughout all state parks and most historic sites. Open-air picnic shelters may be reserved up to 11 months in advance, otherwise they are available free on a first-come basis. (Panola Mountain State Park charges for unreserved shelters.) Enclosed group shelters seat 50250 and include tables, chairs, grills, kitchens and restrooms. These may be reserved 11 months in advance. Family reunions, church picnics, birthday parties and other gatherings are frequently held in both group shelters and picnic shelters.
Horseback Riding
Park visitors can ride their own horses on trails at A.H. Stephens, Hard Labor Creek, F.D. Roosevelt, Fort Mountain and Watson Mill Bridge state parks. Some have stall rental, riding rings and designated camping areas for horse owners. Riders pay a fee of $5$10 to use equestrian trails. For guided horseback rides or overnight excursions, visit the privately operated stables at F.D. Roosevelt and Fort Mountain state parks.
Disc Golf
This sport is similar to regular golf and involves throwing Frisbee-style discs into baskets. Courses are located at Cloudland Canyon, Georgia Veterans and Richard B. Russell state parks. A small fee is charged.
Nurture your child's imagination and love for nature with a camping trip or hike.
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Etowah Indian Mounds
Presidential homes, ancient Indian mounds, Revolu-
Junior Rangers
tionary War forts, Civil War
Children ages 6 to12 can enjoy
battlefields and picturesque plantations are just some of
Jarrell Plantation
learning in the outdoors as they work toward earning a
the historic sites that mix entertainment with education.
Junior Ranger badge. The
Descriptions begin on page 62. A.H. Stephens, Ft. McAllister and Kolomoki
program's three levels are designed to
Mounds state historic parks are unique because they combine state park
help children experience nature first-
amenities, such as camping, with history exhibits. These three parks are
hand, explore Georgia's fascinating history
described in the state parks section beginning on page 34.
and participate in outdoor activities. Some
Exciting living history demonstrations, re-enactments and other programs are held throughout the year. A calendar of events is found on www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. All historic sites charge admission, with
parks even offer Junior Ranger day camps during the summer. Activity Books are available at state parks and historic sites or online at www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/jrranger.
reduced rates for children. Discounts are available for large groups with advance reservations. An annual pass to all state historic sites is
Field Trips
available for $20/adult, $15/child or $35/family. These may be purchased at the historic sites.
Nearly all historic sites and state parks offer programs for groups.
Military History A.H. Stephens Jefferson Davis Pickett's Mill Battlefield Fort King George
Plantations Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation Jarrell Plantation Unique Homes Lapham-Patterson House
Advance reservations are required. An on-line Field Trip Guide is located at www.GeorgiaStateParks. org/fieldtrips.
Fort McAllister
Roosevelt's Little White House
Fort Morris
Traveler's Rest
Native Americans
Robert Toombs House
Etowah Indian Mounds
Wormsloe
Kolomoki Mounds
Gold Rush
New Echota
Dahlonega Gold Museum
Wildlife program
Chief Vann House
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Volunteering
You can make a difference in your community, meet new people and enjoy the great outdoors by volunteering at a state park or historic site. Individuals, families, clubs and companies are needed to help with projects such as trail adoption, gardening, bird counts, construction, historical research and events.
RV lovers are needed to serve as Campground Hosts and Golf Hosts. These dedicated volunteers are an enormous help to park managers as they assist other campers and golfers in exchange for an eight-week stay in the campground or free golf. For details, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org or call 404-656-6533.
Park Rules
Rules and regulations are posted at site offices and must be observed by all guests and their visitors.
Pets: Well behaved pets are welcome at state parks and campgrounds if leashed (6 feet or less), cleaned up after, and accompanied by the owner at all times. Dogs are allowed ONLY in designated fido-friendly cottages with advance reservations, and owners must pay a $40 fee per dog (limit 2). Dogs may not enter other cottages, historic sites, lodges, group camps, swimming areas, or trails at Panola Mountain and Tallulah Gorge state parks. Kennels are not provided.
Intoxicants: Consumption or use of alcoholic beverages or intoxicants is unlawful in any public-use area.
Hiking Fort Mountain
Campfires: All campfires must be kept in designated areas.
Weapons: Firearms, bows and arrows, explosives, fireworks, slingshots, fishing spears or any device that discharges projectiles by any means are prohibited.
Collecting: All wildlife, plant life, driftwood, artifacts, and any other natural or man-made features are protected and may not be disturbed or removed. Please leave wildflowers for other visitors to enjoy. Use of electronic devices for "treasure hunting" is prohibited.
Motor Vehicles: Park roads are public roads. All vehicles are subject to license safety requirements and regulations of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Off-road vehicles are not allowed in state parks.
Noise Levels: Please be considerate of guests who are visiting state parks for a quiet, natural experience. Radios, televisions, musical instruments and all other noise-making devices are not to be used between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and must be kept at low volumes during other times.
Visitors: Visitors to cottages, campsites and lodge rooms are welcome; however, the number of visitors and registered guests must not exceed the stated capacity at any time. Visitors must leave prior to closing times.
Group Activities: All group gatherings must conclude before 10 p.m.
Maps
Trail maps and tour guides are available at park offices and historic site visitor centers. Park maps and driving directions may be found at www.GeorgiaStateParks.org on individual site Web pages. When driving to a site, follow the brown directional signs along most highways.
During April, F.D. Roosevelt State Park will install a life-size sculpture of the revered president at his favorite picnic spot, Dowdell's Knob.
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Sunning river cooter
Georgia has a varied landscape, ranging from the ancient Appalachian Mountains in the north, across the Piedmont region's coastal plain, and ending with salt marshes and the Atlantic Ocean. The mission of the State Parks & Historic Sites Division is to protect these habitats, providing opportunities for public enjoyment and education for generations to come.
In north Georgia, the Blue Ridge Mountains make up part of the Appalachian Mountain range stretching all the way to Canada. The hardwood coves, rushing waterfalls and steep canyons are crisscrossed with abundant trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Georgia's highest state park is Black Rock Mountain near Clayton, at 3,640 feet and astride the Eastern Continental Divide.
Mountains transition into wooded and grassy plains at the
"fall line," the location of Georgia's coastline millions of years ago. Here, granite outcrops, sand ridges, wiregrass communities, pines and
wetlands are abundant.
Traveling further south, visitors notice Spanish moss adorning the trees, lending a romantic atmosphere to the landscape. The famed Okefenokee Swamp, a birder's paradise that is home to alligators and black bear as
well, begins in southeast Georgia and flows into northern Florida. Georgia's coastline is dotted with barrier islands and sweeping salt marshes.
Top: Owl program; Above: Young opossum; Left: Young banded water snake
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State Symbols You Might See
FISH -- LARGEMOUTH BASS This species is commonly found in large lakes and is a favorite among fishermen.
BIRD -- BROWN THRASHER This chestnut brown bird has long tail feathers and is commonly seen foraging on the ground.
GAME BIRD -- BOBWHITE QUAIL This small brown bird is found in longleaf pine and grass stands, such as those at Seminole State Park (no hunting, please).
TREE -- LIVE OAK The sprawling branches of these evergreens are frequently draped with Spanish moss. Look for them along the dramatic driveway at Wormsloe Historic Site. FLOWER -- CHEROKEE ROSE Surprisingly, this flower is not native to Georgia, yet it grows across the state -- from Hofwyl-Broadfield to Fort McAllister and Chief Vann House to Robert Toombs House. FOSSIL -- SHARK TOOTH Observant hikers might see these on the beach at Sapelo Island Estuarine Reserve and the sandy trails at Fort McAllister State Park. INSECT -- HONEYBEE Get a close look at a hive in action at Providence Canyon State Park.
BUTTERFLY -- TIGER SWALLOWTAIL On warm sunny days, look for this yellow and black butterfly flitting across most of Georgia.
MARINE MAMMAL -- RIGHT WHALE These warmblooded swimmers got their name because they were the "right" whale to hunt. Today, they're a protected species that can sometimes be seen off the coast. REPTILE -- GOPHER TORTOISE These large and quick turtles can be seen burrowing in the sandhills at Reed Bingham, General Coffee, Little Ocmulgee and other south Georgia parks. AMPHIBIAN -- GREEN TREE FROG This frog's call is commonly heard throughout southern Georgia.
Above: Red fox with kits; Left: Osprey
Birding is excellent throughout Georgia, with abundant herons at Florence Marina State Park and osprey frequently nesting in Seminole State Park.
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Georgia's Gems
Alligators The source of many myths and legends, these shy reptiles are frequently seen in southern Georgia, particularly at S.C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp. Yellow Daisies These tall wildflowers adorn Panola Mountain State Park with yellow blooms each autumn.
Painted Buntings Georgia's most colorful songbird can be seen migrating through Skidaway Island State Park and other coastal parks.
Black Bears If you're quiet and lucky, you may see these shy creatures throughout Georgia.
Turkey Vultures Hundreds of these large birds congregate at Reed Bingham State Park each winter.
Carnivorous Plants Found in bogs at General Coffee, Laura Walker and other southern state parks, pitcher plants digest insects for nutrition.
Lighthouse Sapelo Island has one of the few working lighthouses on Georgia's coast. Make reservations for a guided tour of the island.
Waterfalls Georgia has many waterfalls, including those at Amicalola Falls, Cloudland Canyon, Tallulah Gorge, Unicoi and Vogel state parks.
Cloudland Canyon
Georgia's varied environment includes ancient mountains, sweeping sandhills, fragrant salt marshes, shell-lined beaches, thick forests and sparkling lakes.
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Autumn hayride
Throughout the year, visitors can join in on guided bird walks, battle enactments, craft festivals, bluegrass concerts, reptile shows and a host of other programs. Children gain a greater understanding of America's history when they see soldiers come to life and watch iron being molded by blacksmiths. And adults will find they learn something as well, all while spending a memorable day with family and friends.
Some of our most popular annual events include Fireside Crafts at Unicoi, Fala Day at Roosevelt's Little White House, Astronomy Nights at F.D. Roosevelt, Sheep to
Shawl Day at Jarrell Plantation, Alligator Day at Florence Marina, Mushroom Hikes at Smithgall Woods, Candle Lantern Tours at Fort McAllister, Fall
Festival at Mistletoe and the Heritage Festival at Magnolia Springs.
Above: Fishing; Right: Barred Owl
However, this is just a small sample from
Left: Volunteer quilter; Above: Vogel singers.
our extensive calendar of events.
To see 2007 programs, go to the Event Calendar on www.GaStateParks.org. During summer, many parks also host campfires, hikes and other smaller programs that are not listed on this calendar. For these events, contact the parks directly.
Ft. Morris soldier
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Natural Beauty
Experience the natural beauty of seven state parks and historic sites in East Central Georgia...Explore the world of William Bartram on the Bartram Trail...Enjoy a paddle through Augusta Canal National Heritage Area ... Expand your
horizons at Clarks Hill Lake.
Georgia's only backcountry inn is reached by a scenic 5-mile hike through Amicalola Falls State Park and the Chattahoochee National Forest. No roads, no cars . . .
just great meals, comfortable beds, hot showers and spectacular sunrises. Only 41/2 miles from the Appalachian Trail.
800-581-8032 www.hike-inn.com
Mistletoe State Park
Appling, GA 10 cottages, 92 campsites
A.H. Stephens Historic Park
Crawfordville, GA 4 cottages, 25 campsites
Robert Toombs House Historic Site
Washington, GA
Elijah Clark State Park
Lincolnton, GA 20 cottages, 165 campsites
Hamburg State Park
Mitchell, GA 30 campsites
Magnolia Springs State Park
Millen, GA 5 cottages, 26 campsites
George L. Smith State Park
Twin City, GA 4 cottages, 25 campsites
Our Georgia is Naturally Classic www.classicsouth.org
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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A.H. Stephens
Amicalola Falls
Visitors to this quiet park can enjoy camping, fishing and other recreational activities, while also learning about a key officer in the American Civil War. Named after the vice president of the Confederacy and governor of Georgia, A.H. Stephens State Historic Park features a Confederate museum with one of the finest collections of Civil War artifacts in Georgia, including uniforms and documents. Stephens' home, Liberty Hall, is renovated to its 1875 style, fully furnished and open for tours. Located just north of I-20 yet surrounded by forest, this park is popular with horseback riders who enjoy its 12 miles of trails. The lakeside group camp is a perfect location for large gatherings.
Facilities
1,177 Acres 25 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($16$18) 4 Cottages ($60$85) 3 Picnic Shelters ($30$40) Group Shelter (seats 80, $90) Fishing Lakes Junior Olympic Pool (fee) Group Camp (sleeps 120, $500) Pioneer Campground ($20 and up)
Activities
Fishing boat rentals Boating -- pedal boat rentals, private boats permitted, electric motors only 3 miles of walking trails, one ADA accessible trail Horseback Riding 12 miles of trails, no horse rentals, trail fee
Nearby Attractions
Hamburg State Park Robert Toombs House State Historic Site Mistletoe State Park Hard Labor Creek State Park and Golf Course Lake Oconee
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Historic Site Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Historic Site Admission: $1.50$3. Located north of I-20 near Crawfordville. Take exit #148 and go north on Ga. Hwy. 22 for 2 miles. Go east on U.S. Hwy. 278 1 mile and follow signs.
A.H. Stephens State Historic Park P.O. Box 310 Crawfordville, GA 30631 706-456-2602
It's easy to see why this is one of Georgia's most popular state parks. Amicalola, a Cherokee Indian word meaning "tumbling waters," is an appropriate name for these 729-foot falls -- the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. An 8.5-mile approach trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail. However, numerous other trails are available for shorter journeys. A beautiful lodge at the top of the mountain is popular with guests who prefer hotel-type comforts, while a 5-mile hike leads to more remote accommodations at the Len Foote Hike Inn. Be sure to stop by the visitor center to see nature displays, live reptiles and a gift shop.
Facilities
829 Acres 24 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$25) 14 Cottages ($79$159) 57-Room Lodge ($69$199) and Conference Center Restaurant 20-Room Len Foote Hike Inn 4 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 50, $75) Ropes Course
Activities
Hiking 12 miles of trails Picnicking Trout Fishing Ranger Programs
Nearby Attractions
Kangaroo Conservation Center New Echota Indian Capital Dahlonega Gold Museum Vogel State Park Alpine Village of Helen Unicoi State Park and Lodge Fort Mountain State Park Ellijay Apple Country
Burt's Farm North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall Funk Heritage Center Chattahoochee National Forest Wildlife Management Areas Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Lodge Hours: 24-hour service Located 15 miles northwest of Dawsonville on Ga. Hwy. 52. Take Hwy. 53 west to Hwy. 183 north to Hwy. 52 east.
Amicalola Falls State Park 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road Dawsonville, GA 30534 Park: 706-265-4703; Lodge: 706-265-8888
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Black Rock Mountain
PARKS
Black Rock Mountain State Park, named for its sheer cliffs of dark-colored biotite gneiss, encompasses some of the most outstanding country in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Located astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an altitude of 3,640 feet, Black Rock Mountain is the highest state park in Georgia. Numerous scenic overlooks provide spectacular 80-mile vistas of the Southern Appalachians, and several hiking trails lead visitors past wildflowers, cascading streams, small waterfalls and lush forests. The summit visitor center and picnic tables are popular with travelers in northeast Georgia. Mountaintop cottages surround a small playground, while campsites are nestled under rhododendron and hemlocks. Tent campers will appreciate the "walk-in" sites that allow extra privacy.
Facilities
1,743 Acres 48 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($19$21) cable TV hookups 12 Walk-in Sites ($10) 4 Backcountry Campsites ($4/person) 10 Cottages ($75$120) Visitor Center 2 Picnic Shelters ($15) 17-Acre Lake Pioneer Campground ($75)
Activities
Hiking -- 11 miles of trails catfish, perch, trout
Picnicking
Lake Fishing bass, bream,
Nearby Attractions
Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center Moccasin Creek State Park Lake Burton Fish Hatchery Unicoi State Park and Lodge Chattooga River (rafting) Sky Valley (tennis and golf) Tallulah Gorge State Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park Blue Ridge Parkway Appalachian Trail Chattahoochee and Nantahala National Forests Clayton, Ga. and Highlands, N.C. (antiques and art) Southern Highroads Trail
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located on Black Rock Mountain Parkway, 3 miles north of Clayton off U.S. Hwy. 441. Look for brown directional signs in Mountain City.
Black Rock Mountain State Park P.O. Drawer A Mountain City, GA 30562 706-746-2141
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Bobby Brown
Cloudland Canyon
This pretty park offers watersports enthusiasts a quiet oasis on 70,000acre Clarks Hill Lake. Located where the old town of Petersburg once thrived during the 1790s, the park is named in memory of Lt. Robert T. Brown, U.S. Navy, who gave his life in World War II. Petersburg was situated where the Broad and Savannah rivers flow into the Clarks Hill Reservoir, now an outstanding state recreational area. When water levels are low, visitors can see some foundations of the old town and imagine large plantations once flourishing. The park's strategic location on the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River provides excellent boating, skiing and fishing. Yurts, which are like tents made of canvas and wood, offer a unique camping experience to visitors.
Facilities
665 Acres 61 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($17$21) 5 Yurts ($45) 70,000-Acre Lake Swimming Pool and Concessions (seasonal, fee) 2 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 80, $75) Pioneer Campground ($30)
Activities
Fishing Boating ramp and dock Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Swimming Hiking 1.9 miles of trails Picnicking
Nearby Attractions
Elijah Clark State Park Watson Mill Bridge State Park Robert Toombs House State Historic Site Richard B. Russell State Park and Golf Course
Pioneer Nancy Hart's Cabin Granite Museum Georgia Guidestones
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Gate locks at 10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 21 miles southeast of Elberton off Ga. Hwy. 72
Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, this is one of the most scenic parks in the state, offering rugged geology and beautiful vistas. The park straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, and elevation differs from 800 to 1,980 feet. The most spectacular view into the canyon is found near the picnic area parking lot; however, additional views can be found along the rim trail. Hardy visitors who hike to the bottom of the gorge find two waterfalls cascading over layers of sandstone and shale into pools below. Cottages are located near the canyon edge, while the park's walk-in campsites provide exceptional privacy for tents. Outdoor lovers should not miss this park's spectacular scenery.
Facilities
3,485 Acres 73 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($19$25) 30 Walk-in Sites ($10) 11 Backcountry Campsites ($5/person) 16 Cottages ($95$115) 6 Picnic Shelters ($30) 2 Group Shelters (seat 80175, $90$110) Pioneer Campground ($40) Group Lodge (sleeps 40, $175) Gift Shop
Activities
Hiking 4.8-mile West Rim and Waterfalls Trail and 2-mile Backcountry Trail Picnicking Tennis Disc Golf
Nearby Attractions
Chief Vann House State Historic Site New Echota State Historic Site (Cherokee Indian capital) James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park
Chickamauga National Battlefield Lookout Mountain Chattanooga, Tennessee Tennessee Aquarium Rock City
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located on Ga. Route 136, 8 miles east of Trenton and I-59, and 18 miles west of LaFayette.
Bobby Brown State Park 2509 Bobby Brown State Park Road Elberton, GA 30635 706-213-2046
Cloudland Canyon State Park 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road Rising Fawn, GA 30738 706-657-4050
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Crooked River
Elijah Clark
PARKS
Located on Georgia's Colonial Coast, this park offers cozy facilities in a beautiful setting. Campsites are surrounded by Spanish moss-draped oaks, while cottages are set near the river. A nature trail winds through maritime forest and salt marsh, and hikers may see gopher tortoises, fiddler crabs, herons and other coastal birds. The park's nature center features fish, snakes, turtles and other animals native to coastal Georgia. A boat ramp is popular with anglers who often take to the water before sunrise. Visitors may venture to the nearby ruins of the tabby "McIntosh Sugar Works" mill, built around 1825 and later used as a starch factory during the Civil War. Just down the road is the ferry to famous Cumberland Island National Seashore known for secluded beaches, wild horses and mansion ruins.
Facilities
500 Acres 62 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 11 Cottages ($85$110) 5 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 80, $110)
Pioneer Campground ($25) Nature Center Bicycle Rental Boat Ramp and Dock
Activities
Saltwater Fishing Boating and Kayaking outfitter nearby Hiking 4 miles of trails Miniature Golf Birding Colonial Coast Birding Trail
Nearby Attractions
Cumberland Island National Seashore Jekyll Island Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Fernandina Beach Submarine Museum Laura S. Walker State Park and The Lakes Golf Course
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.10 p.m. (8 a.m.5 p.m. on Thursday) Located 7 miles north of St. Mary's on Ga. Spur 40 or 8 miles east of I-95 exit 3.
Located on the western shore of 70,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake, this park is named for a frontiersman and Georgia war hero who led pioneers during the Revolutionary War. A renovated and furnished log cabin museum displays furniture, utensils and tools circa 1780 and is open for weekend tours April through November. Visitors can also view the graves of Clark and his wife, Hannah. Anglers and boaters will especially enjoy the park's location on the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Cottages are located on the lake's edge, and the spacious campground is nestled into the forest.
Facilities
447 Acres 165 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 20 Cottages ($80$100) 5 Picnic Shelters ($35) 2 Group Shelters (seat 60 and 175, $160$180) Swimming Beach Playgrounds Log Cabin Museum
Pioneer Campground ($25 and up) Fishing Pier
Activities
Boating and Skiing -- 4 ramps Fishing fish cleaning station, accessible dock Swimming Hiking 3.75 miles of nature trails Picnicking Miniature Golf Shuffleboard
Nearby Attractions
Mistletoe State Park Historic Washington, Ga. Clarks Hill Dam Bobby Brown State Park Robert Toombs House State Historic Site Graves Mountain Richard B. Russell State Park and Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 7 miles northeast of Lincolnton on U.S. Hwy. 378.
Crooked River State Park 6222 Charlie Smith Sr. Highway St. Mary's, GA 31558 912-882-5256
Elijah Clark State Park 2959 McCormick Highway Lincolnton, GA 30817 706-359-3458
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F. D. Roosevelt
Located near Callaway Gardens and the quaint town of Warm Springs, this park is deeply rooted in the historical era of four-time President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Seeking a place for treatment after he was stricken with polio in 1921, Roosevelt visited the bouyant springs and built his Little White House nearby. Several structures within the park, including stone cottages, were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Above Kings Gap is Dowdell's Knob, Roosevelt's favorite picnic spot overlooking a magnificent view of the valley below. A life-size sculpture of the president will be installed at this overlook this spring. Hikers will enjoy the scenic trails in Georgia's largest state park, especially the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail, which winds through a mix of hardwoods and pines.
Facilities
9,049 Acres 140 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($18$20) 22 Cottages ($75$145) 2 Lakes Swimming Pool ($3) Trading Post 2 Picnic Shelters ($40) Group Shelter (seats 85, $125) 2 Group Camps (sleep 75 and 120, $450$550) Pioneer Campground ($15 and up) Backcountry Campsites ($3/person)
Activities
Hiking and Backpacking 37 miles of trails Fishing and Boating boat rental Picnicking Horseback Riding stables, horse rentals, 20 miles of trails, trail fee
Nearby Attractions
Roosevelt's Little White House State Historic Site Warm Springs Village Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain Wild Animal Park Sprewell Bluff State Park Roosevelt-Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation West Point Lake Columbus, Ga.
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. SaturdayThursday; 8 a.m.10 p.m. Friday. Located just off I-185 near Callaway, west of Warm Springs on Ga. Route 190, or south of Pine Mountain off U.S. Hwy. 27.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park 2970 Georgia Highway 190 Pine Mountain, GA 31822 Park: 706-663-4858; Stables: 706-628-7463 or 1-877-696-4613
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Florence Marina
Fort McAllister
PARKS
Situated at the northern end of 45,000-acre Lake Walter F. George, also known as Lake Eufaula, this park offers the perfect setting for those who love water sports. It is adjacent to a natural deep-water marina with an accessible deep-water fishing pier, boat slips and boat ramp. Birders are sure to see herons and egrets, and possibly bald eagles. The park's Kirbo Interpretive Center teaches visitors about Native Americans, nature and local history, and it displays artifacts from the prehistoric Paleo-Indian period through the early 20th century. Ten miles southeast is Providence Canyon State Park, known as Georgia's Little Grand Canyon.
Facilities
173 Acres 43 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($18$20) cable TV and sewage hookups 6 Cottages ($90) cable TV 8 Efficiency Units ($60) cable TV
Kirbo Interpretive Center Marina 66 boat slips for rent Lighted Fishing Pier Swimming Pool (fee) 2 Tennis Courts Picnic Shelter ($30)
Group Shelter (seats 125, $170) 2 Playgrounds 3/4-mile Nature Trail
Activities
Boating ramp, dock Fishing boat rental Miniature Golf Birding
Nearby Attractions
Providence Canyon State Conservation Park Westville Historic Village George T. Bagby State Park, Lodge and Golf Course Port Columbus Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge Fort Benning Base and Museum Coca-Cola Space Science Center
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 16 miles west of Lumpkin at the end of Ga. Hwy. 39C.
Located on the south bank of the Great Ogeechee River, this park is the home of the best preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. The sand and mud earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads, but did not fall until captured in 1864 by Gen. William T. Sherman during his infamous "March to the Sea." Nestled among giant live oaks and beautiful salt marsh, this park is a quiet location for camping, hiking, fishing and picnicking. The park's Civil War museum features an interior designed to resemble a bombproof, and contains exhibits and artifacts, a video and gift shop. Three cottages sit on stilts at the marsh edge, surrounded by palm trees and palmettos.
Facilities
1,725 Acres 65 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($17$20) 3 Cottages ($110) Backcountry Campsites ($5) Earthwork Fort Civil War Museum Boat Ramps, Dock and Fishing Pier 2 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 150, $150) Pioneer Campground ($25 and up) Playgrounds
Activities
Hiking and Bicycling -- 4.3 miles of trails Fort Tours (call for reservations)
Picnicking
Saltwater Fishing
Nearby Attractions
Wormsloe State Historic Site (colonial estate) Skidaway Island State Park Fort Morris State Historic Site (Revolutionary War) Fort Pulaski National Monument Fort Jackson Historic Savannah, Ga.
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office and Museum Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Historic Site Admission: $1.50$2.50. Located 10 miles east of I-95 on Ga. Spur 144 (take I-95 exit #90).
Florence Marina State Park Route 1, Box 36 Omaha, GA 31821 229-838-6870
Fort McAllister State Historic Park 3894 Fort McAllister Road Richmond Hill, GA 31324 912-727-2339
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Fort Mountain
Fort Yargo
Fort Mountain derives its name from an ancient 855-foot-long rock wall which stands on the highest point of the mountain. The mysterious wall is thought to have been built by Indians as fortification against other more hostile Indians or for ancient ceremonies. Situated in the Chattahoochee National Forest close to the Cohutta Wilderness area, this park offers a variety of outdoor activities. Hikers and mountain bikers will find some of the most beautiful trails in northern Georgia. Most wind through hardwood forest and blueberry thickets, occasionally crossing streams and providing spectacular vistas. During the summer, children will enjoy the sand beach located on a cool mountain lake. Stables offer guided horseback rides and stall rental.
Facilities
3,712 Acres 70 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$24) cable TV hookups 4 Walk-in Sites ($11) Backcountry Campsites ($6/person) 15 Cottages ($80$125) 17-Acre Lake with Swimming Beach 7 Picnic Shelters ($25$35) Group Shelter (seats 80, $95) Pioneer Campground ($30) 6 Platform Campsites ($10)
Activities
Hiking and Backpacking 14 miles of trails Mountain Biking 27 miles of trails, trail fee Horseback Riding 25 miles of trails, trail fee, horse rentals, stables Fishing and Pedal Boat Rental (seasonal) Miniature Golf (seasonal)
Nearby Attractions
Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge New Echota State Historic Site (Cherokee Indian capital) Chieftains Trail Chief Vann House State Historic Site Cohutta Wilderness Area Funk Heritage Center Southern Highroads Trail
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 8 miles east of Chatsworth via Ga. Hwy. 52 (take I-75 exit #333 off I-75 toward Ga. Hwy. 411).
Located between Atlanta and Athens, Fort Yargo offers a fun camping, hiking and fishing experience. The park surrounds Marbury Creek Reservoir, a 260-acre lake with a swimming beach, fishing areas and boat ramps. Many campsites are near the water's edge, and hiking/biking trails follow the lake shore and continue into the forest. Within the park is Will-A-Way Recreation Area, an accessible facility specifically designed for challenged populations, with a group camp, picnic and fishing areas, and paved trail. This historical park features a log fort built in 1792 by settlers for protection against Creek and Cherokee Indians.
Facilities
1,814 Acres 40 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($22$24) 7 Walk-in Sites ($15) 3 Cottages ($90) 260-Acre Lake with Beach (seasonal) 2 Boat Ramps 2 Tennis Courts 5 Picnic Shelters ($30) 2 Group Shelters (seat 80 and 100, $85$125) Nature Center Pavilian ($60) Beach Pavilion ($60) Pioneer Campground ($50) Will-A-Way Group Camp (sleeps 250, $13$17) Mountain Bike Loop Hiking Trails
Activities
Hiking and Mountain Biking 15 miles of trails Fishing and Boating seasonal canoe, fishing boat and pedal boat rentals Picnicking
Miniature Golf
Nearby Attractions
Hard Labor Creek State Park and The Creek Golf Course Watson Mill Bridge State Park Stone Mountain Park Road Atlanta Racetrack Lake Lanier
Athens, Ga. and University of Georgia Chteau lan State Botanical Gardens
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 1 mile south of Winder on Ga. Hwy. 81.
Fort Mountain State Park 181 Fort Mountain Park Road Chatsworth, GA 30705 Park: 706-695-2621; Stables: 706-517-4906
Fort Yargo State Park 210 S. Broad Street Winder, GA 30680 Park: 770-867-3489; Will-A-Way: 770-867-6123
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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General Coffee
George L. Smith
PARKS
One of southern Georgia's "best kept secrets," this park is known for interpretation of agricultural history at its Heritage Farm, with log cabins, a corn crib, tobacco barn, cane mill, barnyard animals and other exhibits. Seventeen-Mile River winds through a cypress swamp where the park shelters rare and endangered plants. The threatened indigo snake and gopher tortoise make their homes in this longleaf pine/wiregrass community. Overnight accommodations include camping, cottages and the Burnham House, an elegantly decorated 19th century cabin perfect for romantic getaways. The park was donated to the state by a group of Coffee County citizens in 1970 and is named after General John Coffee, a planter, U.S. Congressman and military leader.
Facilities
1,511 Acres 50 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($16$18) Burnham House ($150) 6 Cottages ($60$80) Group Lodge (sleeps 40, $225)
Heritage Farm 4-Acre Lake Swimming Pool ($2) Outdoor Amphitheater (seats 150, $25) 8 Picnic Shelters ($30$50) Group Shelter (seats 180, $135) Pioneer Campground ($15 and up)
Activities
Hiking 4-mile nature trail and boardwalk Fishing Canoe Rental
History and Nature Programs
Nearby Attractions
Little Ocmulgee State Park, Lodge and Golf Course Okefenokee Swamp Stephen C. Foster State Park Laura S. Walker State Park and The Lakes Golf Course Paradise Public Fishing Area Georgia Agrirama Agricultural Museum Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m Located 6 miles east of Douglas on Ga. Hwy. 32.
General Coffee State Park 46 John Coffee Road Nicholls, GA 31554 912-384-7082
With natural beauty, lakeside camping and cozy cottages, this secluded park is the perfect south Georgia retreat. It is best known for the refurbished Watson Mill and Parish Pond, a combination grist mill, saw mill, covered bridge and dam built in 1880 and now open for tours. Anglers and canoeists can explore the mill pond dotted with Spanish moss-draped trees and home to blue heron and white ibis. Hikers can stretch their legs on seven miles of trails while searching for lumbering gopher tortoises, Georgia's state reptile. Some campsites sit right on the water's edge, while cottages with gas fireplaces and screened porches are nestled into the woods. The park is named after one of Georgia's great legislators.
Facilities
1,634 Acres 25 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20) 4 Cottages ($70 $85) 412-Acre Lake 4 Picnic Shelters ($35) Group Shelter (seats 50, $85) Playground Pioneer Campground ($25 and up)
Activities
Fishing Boating 10 HP limit on private boats Pedal Boat, Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental 10 miles of water trails Walking and Biking 7 miles of trails
Nearby Attractions
Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park and Brazell's Creek Golf Course Magnolia Springs State Park Georgia Southern University
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located between Metter and Twin City off Ga. Hwy. 23. Take I-16 exit #104.
George L. Smith State Park 371 George L. Smith State Park Road Twin City, GA 30471-9649 478-763-2759
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George T. Bagby
Georgia Veterans Memorial
Located on the shores of Lake Walter F. George (also known as Lake Eufaula) in southwest Georgia, this resort park features a 60-room lodge, conference center, restaurant, cottages and award-winning, 18hole Meadow Links golf course. The park's marina and boat ramp offer easy access to the 48,000-acre lake for fishing and boating. The large picnic shelter and numerous picnic sites are perfect places for families to enjoy their catch. Visitors may also look for wildlife along the threemile nature trail, which winds through hardwoods and pines.
Facilities
700 Acres 60-Room Lodge ($65$130) and Conference Center Restaurant and Courtesy Dock 5 Cottages ($85$95) 18-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($35--$44) Swimming Pool (lodge and cottage guests only) Tennis Courts 48,000-Acre Lake and Swimming Beach Marina, Gas Dock and Boat Ramp 4 Picnic Shelters ($50) Group Shelter (seats 125, $150$175) Group Cottage (sleeps 12, $125$150)
Activities
Golf Fishing and Skiing Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Pontoon Boat Rental (groups only) Swimming Volleyball Hiking 3 miles of trails
Nearby Attractions
Providence Canyon State Conservation Park Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park Florence Marina State Park Westville 1850s Historic Village
1814 Frontier Village
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Lodge Hours: 24-hour service Located 4 miles north of Fort Gaines off Ga. Hwy. 39.
Established as a memorial to U.S. veterans, this park features a museum with aircraft, armored vehicles, uniforms, weapons, medals and other items from the Revolutionary War through the Gulf War. The Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club is a privately operated conference center with 78 lodge rooms, 10 cottages and a restaurant. The SAM Shortline Excursion Train runs through the park on its way from Cordele to Plains, allowing riders to see an antique telephone museum, Habitat for Humanity's Global Village, President Jimmy Carter's boyhood farm and other attractions. An18-hole golf course and pro shop, along with 8,700-acre Lake Blackshear and proximity to I-75, make this one of Georgia's most popular state parks.
Facilities
1,308 Acres 77 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$26) cable TV hookups The Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club (78 lodge rooms, 10 cottages, pool, conference center and restaurant) 18-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($36$45) Swimming Beach Marina 1-Mile Nature Trail 4 Picnic Shelters ($50) Group Shelters (seat 125 and 150, $200) Pioneer Campground ($40)
Activities
Golf Disc Golf Model Airplane Flying Boating and Skiing private boats permitted Boat Rental Fishing bass, crappie, catfish, bream
Nearby Attractions
SAM Shortline Excursion Train Andersonville National Historic Site Warner Robins Air Museum Providence Canyon State Conservation Park Georgia Rural Telephone Museum Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Chehaw Wild Animal Park Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 9 miles west of I-75 (exit #101) near Cordele on U.S. Hwy. 280.
George T. Bagby State Park and Lodge 330 Bagby Parkway Fort Gaines, GA 39851 Park & Lodge: 229-768-2571; Golf: 229-768-3714
Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park 2459-A U.S. Highway 280 West, Cordele, GA 31015 Park: 229-276-2371; Golf Course: 229-276-2377; The Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club: 1-800-459-1230; SAM Shortline Train: 1-877-GA-RAILS
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Gordonia-Alatamaha
PARKS
This southeast Georgia park is a favorite for picnicking, family reunions and golf. Picnic tables and shelters surround a small lake where visitors can rent pedal boats and fishing boats during warmer months. Docks are available for land-loving anglers, and children will enjoy looking for beaver dams from the observation deck. The park's nine-hole golf course, Brazell's Creek, features a pro shop, unlimited weekday play and junior/senior citizen discounts. This course is expected to close during mid-2007 while an additional 9 holes are added. GordoniaAlatamaha's unusual name comes from the rare Gordonia tree a member of the bay family that once grew in the park and the original spelling of the nearby Altamaha River.
Facilities
462 Acres 27 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($22) -- some sewage hookups 12-Acre Lake 9-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($27--$35) Swimming Pool ($1$3) 4 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 70, $75)
Activities
Golf driving range and practice bunker putting green Miniature Golf Pedal Boat Rental (seasonal) Fishing boat rental; no private boats permitted
Nearby Attractions
George L. Smith State Park Little Ocmulgee State Park, Lodge and Golf Course Vidalia Onion Farms Fort Stewart Military Reservation Historic Savannah, Ga. Center for Wildlife Education in Statesboro, Ga.
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located in Reidsville just off U.S. Hwy. 280. Take I-16 exit #98.
Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park P.O. Box 1039 Reidsville, GA 30453 Park: 912-557-7744; Golf Course: 912-557-7745
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Hamburg
Hard Labor Creek
With modern-day facilities amidst reminders of days gone by, Hamburg State Park offers a wonderful mix of history and outdoor recreation. Anglers can enjoy great lake fishing for largemouth bass, crappie and bream, as well as boat ramps and a fishing pier. Campers find shaded campsites along the edge of quiet Hamburg Lake fed by the Little Ogeechee River. The restored 1921 water-powered grist mill is still operational and beckons visitors to buy a bag of corn meal at the country store. Visitors who are particularly interested in the mill should call ahead to ask when it will be operating. A museum displays old agricultural tools and appliances used in rural Georgia.
Facilities
741 Acres 30 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20) 225-Acre Lake Grist Mill and Museum Country Store 2 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 50, $55) Pioneer Campground ($20 and up)
Activities
Fishing Hiking 3.5 miles of trails Boat Rental pedal boats, canoes, fishing boats, electric motors Picnicking
Nearby Attractions
A.H. Stephens State Historic Park Lake Oconee Old Aaron Burr Jail Lake Sinclair
Milledgeville
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 20 miles north of Sandersville via Hamburg State Park Road off Ga. Hwy. 102.
Hamburg State Park 6071 Hamburg State Park Road Mitchell, GA 30820 478-552-2393
While this park may be best known for its golf course, The Creek, it also offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in a beautiful wooded setting. Trails are available for hikers and horseback riders, and a lakeside beach is open for swimming during warmer months. The park provides one of Georgia's best golf values, along with a pro shop, driving range, rental carts, unlimited weekday play and junior/senior citizen discounts. Hard Labor Creek cuts through the course, creating water hazards on five holes. The creek is thought to have been named by slaves who tilled summer fields or by Native Americans who found it difficult to ford.
Facilities
5,804 Acres 63 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($22$48) 20 Cottages ($95$105) cable TV 18-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($35--$50)
Swimming Beach and Bathhouse (seasonal) 2 Lakes 30 Horse Stalls ($16) 4 Picnic Shelters and BBQ Pit ($55$75) 2 Group Shelters (seat 30120, $85$300) 2 Group Camps (sleep 75120, $350$530)
Pioneer Campground ($35)
Activities
Golf rental carts, driving range Boat Rental pedal boats (seasonal), canoes, fishing boats Fishing Horseback Riding 22-mile trail, stalls, no horse rentals, trail fee Hiking 24.5 miles of trails Lake Swimming (MarchSeptember)
Nearby Attractions
Panola Mountain State Conservation Park Athens, Ga. Historic Madison, Ga. Oconee National Forest Stone Mountain Park Lake Oconee
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Location: Take I-20 exit #105 into Rutledge and proceed 3 miles on Fairplay Road.
Hard Labor Creek State Park P.O. Box 247 Rutledge, GA 30663 Park: 706-557-3001; Golf Course: 706-557-3006
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Hart
PARKS
Swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing at Lake Hartwell are prime reasons to visit Hart State Park in northeast Georgia. Large mouth bass, hybrid bass, striper, black crappie, bream, rainbow trout and wall-eyed pike can be found in the sparkling waters of this 55,590-acre reservoir. The park's boat ramps and docks offer easy access to all water sports. A swimming beach and numerous picnic tables are also provided. Cottages and most campsites are located on the scenic lake shore.
Facilities
147 Acres 62 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($15$21, some sewage hookups) 16 Walk-in Sites ($15) 5 Cottages ($80$105) Swimming Beaches (seasonal) 3 Picnic Shelters ($30) Cricket Theater music programs
Activities
Boating 2 ramps (seasonal) Fishing
Canoe Rental Jon Boat and Pontoon Boat Rental Hiking and Bicycling 1.5-mile multi-use trail
Nearby Attractions
Tugaloo State Park Victoria Bryant State Park and Highland Walk Golf Course Hartwell Golf Club Elberton, Granite Capital of the World
Georgia Guidestones Marinas and Boat Rentals Tennis at Hart County Recreation Park Cateechee Golf Club
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Location: From Hartwell, drive north on U.S. Hwy. 29; turn left on Ridge Road and proceed 2 miles to the park.
Hart State Park 330 Hart State Park Road Hartwell, GA 30643 706-376-8756
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High Falls
Indian Springs
In the early 1800s, this site was a prosperous industrial town with several stores, a grist mill, cotton gin, blacksmith shop, shoe factory and hotel. High Falls became a ghost town in the 1880s when a major railroad bypassed it. Today, park visitors can enjoy the scenic waterfall on the Towaliga River and hike to the remaining grist mill foundation. Despite the lake's modest size, High Falls is known as one of the top fishing spots in Georgia and a "sleeper" for hybrid and white bass. The percentage of large bass ranks near the top among major reservoirs within the state. A campground, picnic areas, swimming pool and canoe rental are also available. This pretty park in middle Georgia is conveniently located near I-75 and makes a restful side trip for travelers.
Facilities
1,050 Acres 112 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 650-Acre Lake Swimming Pool (fee) 5 Picnic Shelters ($60) Group Shelter (seats 150, $250) Pioneer Campground ($50)
Activities
Hiking 4.5 miles of trails Fishing Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Boating 2 ramps, private boats allowed, 10 horsepower limit Miniature Golf (seasonal)
Nearby Attractions
Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site Indian Springs State Park Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Dauset Trails (nature trails and outdoor activities)
Oconee National Forest
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 1.8 miles east of I-75 exit #198 at High Falls Road.
High Falls State Park 76 High Falls Park Drive Jackson, GA 30233 478-993-3053
Located off I-75 in middle Georgia, Indian Springs is one of the oldest state parks in the United States. The Creek Indians used the springs for centuries to heal the sick and impart extra vigor to the healthy. During the 1800s, the area was a bustling resort town. Today, visitors can still sample the spring water while enjoying the park's cottages, camping, swimming, fishing and boating. Many structures within the park, such as the spring house, were built during the Great Depression by members of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). A museum highlights Creek Indians, the resort era and CCC history. The park's Lake McIntosh is named for the Creek Chief William McIntosh who, in 1825, signed the illegal Treaty of Indian Springs deeding Indian land to the Georgia government. He was soon assassinated by his people for his treason.
Facilities
528 Acres 88 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 10 Cottages ($115$125) Museum (seasonal) 105-Acre Lake and Beach 3/4-Mile Nature Trail 7 Picnic Shelters ($50) Group Shelter (seats 150, $250)
Group Camp (sleeps 130, $500) Pioneer Campground ($40)
Activities
Boating ramp, private boats allowed, 10 horsepower limit Rental (seasonal) Swimming Miniature Golf
Pedal Boat
Nearby Attractions
Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site High Falls State Park Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Dauset Trails (nature trails and outdoor activities)
Oconee National Forest Historic Indian Springs Hotel
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Location: From I-75 southbound, take exit #205 to Jackson; proceed south on Ga. Hwy. 42 to the park. From I-75 northbound, take exit #188; proceed north on Ga. Hwy. 42. Approximately 15 miles from either exit.
Indian Springs State Park 678 Lake Clark Road Flovilla, GA 30216 770-504-2277
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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James H. Floyd
John Tanner
PARKS
Surrounded by rural countryside and the Chattahoochee National Forest, this quiet park in northwest Georgia offers outstanding fishing on two stocked lakes. Visitors can hike along three miles of lake loop trails and relax in swings while watching for the many bluebirds that live in the park. The trailhead to the scenic 60-mile Pinhoti Trail is only a 1.6-mile hike from the park. Children especially enjoy the playground, feeding fish from the boardwalk and renting pedal boats. A small campground and four cottages are nestled on tree-covered hillsides. This park was named for Rep. James H. "Sloppy" Floyd who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1953 until 1974.
Facilities
561 Acres 25 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 4 Cottages ($95$110) 2 Lakes (51 acres) and Boardwalk 2 Playgrounds 4 Picnic Shelters ($30) Pioneer Campground ($50)
Activities
Hiking 3 miles of trails Boating 2 ramps, electric motors only Fishing 2 docks, boat rental, handicapped pier Pedal Boat Rentals (seasonal)
Nearby Attractions
Cloudland Canyon State Park New Echota State Historic Site (Cherokee capital) Chattahoochee National Forest Trails Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park Summerville Fish Hatchery Chieftains Trail Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area Berry College Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 3 miles southeast of Summerville on Sloppy Floyd Lake Road via U.S. Hwy. 27.
This west Georgia park is best known for having the largest sand swimming beach of any Georgia state park. It is a recreational haven for water lovers looking for boating and fishing opportunities as well. Visitors can enjoy camping, picnicking, miniature golf, volleyball, pedal boats and horseshoes. A small lodge located near the beach features six units, each with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, living area and bedroom. The park is named after a local businessman who operated the property as a private park from 1954 until 1971.
Facilities
138 Acres 32 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($18$20) cable TV hookups Group Lodge (sleeps 40, $250) 6 Motel-Type Efficiency Units ($65$80) Swimming Beach largest of any Georgia state park 12-Acre and 16-Acre Lakes 4 Picnic Shelters ($40$100) 2 Group Shelters (seat 5075, $60$125) Pioneer Campground ($35 and up)
Activities
Swimming Pedal Boat and Fishing Boat Rental (seasonal) Boating private boats permitted, electric motors only Hiking 1/4-mile nature trail and 1-mile lake loop trail Miniature Golf
Nearby Attractions
Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site Six Flags Over Georgia Theme Park Atlanta, Ga.
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 6 miles west of Carrollton off Ga. Hwy. 16.
James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park 2800 "Sloppy" Floyd Lake Road Summerville, GA 30747 706-857-0826
John Tanner State Park 354 Tanner's Beach Road Carrollton, GA 30117 770-830-2222
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Kolomoki Mounds
Laura S. Walker
This unusual park is an important archaeological site as well as a scenic recreational area. Seven earthen mounds within the park were built between 250950 A.D. by the Swift Creek and Weeden Island Indians. The mounds include Georgia's oldest great temple mound, two burial mounds and four ceremonial mounds. The park's museum is partially situated inside an excavated mound, providing an unusual setting for viewing artifacts and a film. Outdoor activities include camping, fishing, picnicking, boating and swimming.
Facilities
1,293 Acres 43 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($17$21) Indian Museum 50-Acre and 80-Acre Lakes Swimming Pool ($1$3) 7 Picnic Shelters ($30$60) 2 Group Shelters (seats 50 and 125, $90$120) Amphitheater ($40) Group Camp (sleeps 135, $350$500) 3 Pioneer Campgrounds ($30 and up)
Activities
Fishing dock, boat rental (seasonal) and Canoe Rental
Boating ramp, 10 HP limit Pedal Boat Hiking 5 miles of trails Miniature Golf
Nearby Attractions
Seminole State Park Lake Seminole Lake Walter F. George George T. Bagby State Park, Lodge and Golf Course Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge
Westville Historic Village Providence Canyon State Park Florence Marina State Park
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office and Museum Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Museum closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Historic Site Admission: $1.75$3. Located 6 miles north of Blakely off U.S. Hwy. 27.
Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park 205 Indian Mounds Road Blakely, GA 39823 229-724-2150
Located near the northern edge of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, this park is home to many fascinating creatures and plants, including alligators. Walking along the lake shore and nature trail, visitors may see carnivorous pitcher plants, the shy gopher tortoise, numerous oak varieties, saw palmettos, yellow shafted flickers, warblers, owls and great blue herons. The park's lake offers opportunities for skiing, boating and fishing. The championship 18-hole golf course, The Lakes, features a clubhouse, golf pro, unlimited weekday play and junior/senior discounts. This is one of the few state parks named after a woman, and its name is richly deserved. Laura Walker was a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist who was a great lover of trees and worked for their preservation.
Facilities
626 Acres 44 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 18-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($32$40) 120-Acre Lake Swimming Pool ($2)
9 Picnic Shelters ($35$40) 5 Group Shelters (seat 75165, $65$215) Group Camp (sleeps 142, $385) 2 Pioneer Campgrounds ($15 and up, $25 and up)
Activities
Golf Fishing dock, ramp Boating and Waterskiing ramp Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Hiking 2 miles of nature trails Wildlife Observation Platform
Nearby Attractions
Okefenokee Swamp and National Wildlife Refuge Okefenokee Heritage Center Obediah's Okefenok Okefenokee Swamp Park Southern Forest World
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 9 miles southeast of Waycross on Ga. Route 177.
Laura S. Walker State Park 5653 Laura Walker Road Waycross, GA 31503 Park: 912-287-4900; Golf Course: 912-285-6154
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Little Ocmulgee
Magnolia Springs
PARKS
Conveniently located near Highway 441 in south Georgia, this park features a wide variety of amenities. Golfers can test their skills on the 18-hole Wallace Adams Course with clubhouse, golf pro, unlimited weekday play and junior/senior discounts. Boaters and anglers will enjoy the park's 265-acre lake with swimming beach, while children can play mini-golf and rent pedal boats during summer. The 2.6-mile Oak Ridge Trail winds through scrub oaks and pines towards a buzzard roost and boardwalk. The hotel-style lodge offers hotel-style guest rooms, meeting facilities and a restaurant with golf course view.
Facilities
1,360 Acres 55 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) cable TV hookups 10 Cottages ($75$100) 60-Room Lodge ($65$125) and Conference Center Restaurant 265-Acre Lake with Beach Swimming Pool (overnight guests only) 18-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($32$40) 2 Tennis Courts Amphitheater 7 Picnic Shelters ($45) Group Shelter (seats 125, $210) Pioneer Campground ($15 and up)
Activities
Golf Miniature Golf Fishing Boating and Skiing ramp Canoe and Pedal Boat Rental Hiking 2.6-mile trail and boardwalk Bike Rental
Volleyball
Nearby Attractions
Georgia Veterans State Park and Golf Course General Coffee State Park and Heritage Farm Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park and Golf Course Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Lodge Hours: 24-hour service Located 2 miles north of McRae via U.S. Hwys. 319 and 441.
Magnolia Springs State Park is known for its crystal clear springs flowing 7 million gallons of water per day and the beautiful boardwalk which spans the cool water. During warmer months, visitors may watch for alligators, turtles and other wildlife near the springs. A free, freshwater aquarium features native species, and a 28-acre lake is available for fishing and boating. During the Civil War, the site was called Camp Lawton and served as "the world's largest prison." Today, little remains of the prison stockade; however, the earthen breastworks which guarded it may still be seen.
Facilities
1,071 Acres 26 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20) 3 Walk-in Sites ($15) 5 Cottages ($60$95) 3 Playgrounds Swimming Pool ($3) Freshwater Aquarium Natural Spring and Boardwalk 8 Picnic Shelters ($40) 3 Group Shelters (seat 40100, $85$175) Group Camp (sleeps 86, $460) Group Lodge (sleeps 16, $95$105) 2 Pioneer Campgrounds ($20 and up)
Activities
Hiking and Bicycling 10 miles of trails Boating private boats allowed, ramp Swimming Picnicking
Fishing accessible dock Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental
Nearby Attractions
George L. Smith State Park Historic Augusta, Ga. Historic Savannah, Ga. Hamburg State Park Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park and Brazell's Creek Golf Course
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 5 miles north of Millen on U.S. Hwy. 25.
Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge P.O. Drawer 149 McRae, GA 31055 Park & Lodge: 229-868-7474; Golf Course: 229-868-6651
Magnolia Springs State Park 1053 Magnolia Springs Drive Millen, GA 30442 478-982-1660
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Mistletoe
Moccasin Creek
Located on 72,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, this park is known as one of the finest bass fishing spots in the nation. During the summer, guests can cool down at the beach or on miles of shaded nature trails. Canoes and fishing boats may be rented, and a wildlife observation area is available. The park has 10 fully equipped cottages on the lake, five of which are log cabins. The campground is situated on a peninsula, offering spectacular views of both sunset and sunrise over the open water. A four-bed camper cabin with electricity and water faces the lake.
Facilities
1,920 Acres 92 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$25) 4 Walk-in Sites ($9) Backcountry Campsite ($8.50/person) Camper Cabin (sleeps 4, $35) 10 Cottages ($110$120) 72,000-Acre Lake Swimming Beach 5 Picnic Shelters ($50) Group Shelter (seats 150, $120) Beach House (seats 75, $150) Pioneer Campground ($50)
Activities
Hiking and Bicycling 12-mile backpacking trail and 3.5 miles of nature trails Fishing accessible dock Boating 3 boat ramps Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Swimming
Nearby Attractions
Robert Toombs House State Historic Site A.H. Stephens State Historic Park Elijah Clark State Park Augusta, Ga. Clarks Hill Dam Washington, Ga.
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 3 miles off Ga. Hwy. 150, 8 miles north of I-20 exit #175.
Known as the park "where spring spends the summer," Moccasin Creek is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the shores of lovely 2,800-acre Lake Burton. Despite its mountain location, the park is relatively flat, offering easy navigation for large RVs, children's bicycles and wheelchairs. A fully accessible fishing pier sits above a trout-filled creek open only to physically challenged visitors, senior citizens and children. Tour the adjacent trout rearing station, hike on several nearby mountain trails or simply relax in this peaceful setting. The park's central location makes it a perfect jumping off spot for mountain exploration.
Facilities
32 Acres 55 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($18$24) Boat Dock and Ramp Wheelchair Accessible Fishing Pier Playground Picnic Shelter ($25) 1-Mile Non-Game Interpretive Trail with Wildlife Observation Tower 2-Mile Hemlock Falls Hiking Trail
Activities
Hiking Appalachian Trail nearby Lake Fishing bass, crappie, bream Stream Fishing restricted to seniors 65 and older and children 11 and younger Canoe and Jon Boat Rental (seasonal)
Nearby Attractions
Burton Fish Hatchery Alpine Helen, Ga. Unicoi State Park and Lodge Tallulah Gorge State Park Black Rock Mountain State Park Chattahoochee National Forest Burton Wildlife Management Area Chattooga River Scenic 197 Association of shops and restaurants Southern Highroads Trail Georgia Wineries
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 20 miles north of Clarkesville on Ga. Hwy. 197 or 15 miles west of Clayton via Ga. Hwy. 76 and Ga. Hwy. 197.
Mistletoe State Park 3725 Mistletoe Road Appling, GA 30802 706-541-0321
Moccasin Creek State Park 3655 Ga. Highway 197 Clarkesville, GA 30523 706-947-3194
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Panola Mountain
Providence Canyon
PARKS
This unusual park near Atlanta was created to protect a 100-acre granite monadnock (mountain) often compared to Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain. Minimally developed, Panola Mountain shelters rare plants of the Piedmont region. During autumn, the mountain is blanketed with cheerful Yellow Daisies, while from late winter to early spring, the tiny red Diamorpha showcases its white blooms. Hikers may explore the park's watershed and granite outcrop on their own, or they may join park staff for guided hikes onto the restricted-access mountain. Children especially enjoy the visitor center with animal exhibits. Due to its delicate ecological features, Panola Mountain was designated a National Natural Landmark, and pets and bicycles are not allowed on trails.
Facilities
1,026 Acres Visitor Center closed Monday Playground 4 Picnic Shelters ($60) Conference Room (seats 50, $150)
Activities
Hiking 2 miles of self-guided nature trails and 1-mile fitness trail. Guided 3.5-mile hikes to the mountain offered WednesdaySaturday (call for reservations) Picnicking Ranger Programs
Nearby Attractions
Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Hard Labor Creek State Park and The Creek Golf Course Indian Springs State Park High Falls State Park Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park Atlanta, Ga. Stone Mountain Park
Park Hours: September 15April 14, 7 a.m.6 p.m. (or dark); April 15 September 14, 7 a.m.9 p.m. (or dark). Visitor Center Hours: Tuesday Friday, 9 a.m. 5 p.m.; SaturdaySunday, Noon5 p.m.; Closed Monday except major holidays. Located 18 miles southeast of Atlanta on Ga. Hwy. 155 via I-20 exit #68.
Visitors are amazed at the breathtaking colors of Georgia's "Little Grand Canyon." The rare Plumleaf Azalea and other wildflowers, as well as the pink, orange, red and purple hues of the soft canyon soil, make a beautiful natural painting at this unique park. Visitors can enjoy views of the canyons from the rim trail, and backpackers can stay overnight along the backcountry trail. Camping and cottages are available nearby at Florence Marina State Park on Lake Walter F. George. A visitor center explains how the massive gullies (the deepest being 150 feet) were caused by erosion due to poor farming practices in the 1800s.
Facilities
1,003 Acres (seat 100, $75) ($5/person)
Visitor Center 2 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter Pioneer Campground ($30) 6 Backcountry Campsites
Activities
Hiking 3 miles of trails Backpacking 7-mile backcountry trail Picnicking Photography
Nearby Attractions
Florence Marina State Park camping Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park camping George T. Bagby State Park, Lodge and Golf Course Bedingfield Inn Westville Historic Village
Park Hours: September 15April 14, 7 a.m.6 p.m.; April 15September 14, 7 a.m.9 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. year-round. Located 7 miles west of Lumpkin on Ga. Hwy. 39C.
Panola Mountain State Conservation Park 2600 Highway 155 SW Stockbridge, GA 30281 770-389-7801
Providence Canyon State Conservation Park Route 1, Box 158 Lumpkin, GA 31815 229-838-6202
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Red Top Mountain
This popular park on 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona is ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent from nearby marinas. More than 15 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, providing opportunities for exercise and exploring a reconstructed 1860s homestead. The park's lodge, restaurant and meeting facilities make Red Top a great getaway for family reunions and business groups. A paved trail behind the restaurant is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, and the gravel-topped 3.5-mile Iron Hill Trail is open to both hikers and bikers. Named for the soil's rich red color caused by high iron-ore content, Red Top Mountain was once an important mining area for iron.
Facilities
1,562 Acres 92 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$24) Yurt ($40) 18 Cottages ($95$124) 33-Room Lodge ($65$129) and Conference Center Restaurant Swimming Beach Swimming Pool (lodge and cottage guests only) Tennis Courts 7 Picnic Shelters ($40) 2 Group Shelters (seat 100250, $160$220) Pioneer Campground ($25 and up)
Activities
Hiking 15.5 miles of wooded trails, 3/4-mile paved accessible trail Boating and Skiing marina, 2 ramps, 2 docks Fishing private boats permitted, no horsepower limit Biking Picnicking Swimming Ranger Programs Miniature Golf
Nearby Attractions
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site Booth Western Art Museum Weinman Mineral Museum Chieftains Trail New Echota State Historic Site (Cherokee capital) Funk Heritage Center Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History Allatoona Pass
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Lodge Hours: 24-hour service Located near Cartersville, 1.5 miles east of I-75 via exit #285.
Red Top Mountain State Park 50 Lodge Road Cartersville, GA 30121 Lodge: 770-975-0055; Visitor Center: 770-975-4226
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Reservations and Information: 1-800-864-7275 www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
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Reed Bingham
Richard B. Russell
PARKS
Visitors to this scenic park will see an abundance of wildlife, particularly gopher tortoises and "buzzards." During winter, thousands of these large birds, which are actually black vultures and turkey vultures, roost in the trees and soar overhead. Throughout the year, gopher tortoises may be seen digging their dens in the sandy soil. Alligators, bald eagles, herons, indigo snakes and many other species also live in this protected park. Two nature trails wind through a cypress swamp and sandhill area, habitats which are representative of southern Georgia. A 375-acre lake is popular with boaters and skiers, and fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and bream is excellent. Reed Bingham is less than six miles from I-75, making it a relaxing stop for travelers. It was named for Amos Reed Bingham, a local citizen who was instrumental in having the park established.
Facilities
1,613 Acres 46 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($19$22) -- cable TV hookups 375-Acre Lake Swimming Beach 3 Boat Ramps Playground Pioneer Campground ($20) 6 Picnic Shelters ($40) 4 Group Shelters (seat 50150, $50$200) Accessible Fishing Pier
Activities
Hiking 4 miles of trails Boating Fishing dock, boat rental Miniature Golf Canoe Rental Bicycle Rental Ranger Programs Birding
Nearby Attractions
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge Sunbelt Expo (October) Paradise Public Fishing Area Georgia Agrirama Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site Wild Adventures Theme Park Moultrie Antique Trail Georgia Veterans State Park, Resort and Golf Course SAM Shortline Excursion Train
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 6 miles west of Adel on Ga. Hwy. 37 via I-75 exit #39, and 14 miles east of U.S. Hwy. 319 in Moultrie.
Reed Bingham State Park 542 Reed Bingham Road Adel, GA 31620 229-896-3551
Located on a 26,500-acre lake, Richard B. Russell State Park offers some of the state's finest fishing and boating. The park's campground and fully equipped cottages are located on or near the water's edge for a relaxing getaway. A nature trail follows the shoreline to one of the oldest steel pin bridges in the area, loops through the adjoining woods and returns to the beach. In 2005, the park's 18-hole golf course, Arrowhead Pointe, was named the second best "New Affordable Public Course in America" by Golf Digest Magazine. Several Indian sites were excavated near the park in 1980 before the lake was filled, indicating that Paleo-Indians lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago. This area is now called Rucker's Bottom and lies deep within the waters of Lake Richard B. Russell. All park facilities are designed for wheelchair accessibility, including the swimming beach.
Facilities
2,508 Acres 28 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($19$22) cable TV hookups 17 Cottages ($85$100) Lake and Swimming Beach Rowing Area 3 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 175, $100$185) 18-Hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($39$50)
Activities
Golf Fishing and Boating ramps Waterskiing and Rowing Canoe and Pedal Boat Rental Disc Golf Beach Volleyball Swimming Hiking and Bicycling 6 miles of trails
Nearby Attractions
Bobby Brown State Park Watson Mill Bridge State Park Victoria Bryant State Park and Highland Walk Golf Course Hart State Park Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake Georgia Guidestones Granite Museum
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 8 miles northeast of Elberton off Ga. Hwy. 77 on Ruckersville Road.
Richard B. Russell State Park 2650 Russell State Park Road Elberton, GA 30635 Park: 706-213-2045; Golf Course: 706-283-6000
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Sapelo Island
Seminole
National Estuarine Research Reserve
Visitors to Sapelo Island can see virtually every facet of a barrier island's natural community, from the forested uplands, to the vast salt marsh, and the complex beach and dunes systems. The mainland Visitor Center brings to life both the natural and cultural history of Sapelo, while guided island tours highlight the African-American community of Hog Hammock, University of Georgia Marine Institute, Reynolds Mansion and restored lighthouse. Built in 1820, the lighthouse was in service until 1905 when it was deactivated. Following its 1998 restoration, it once again became a working aid in navigation.
Facilities and Programs
6,110 Acres Visitor Center Guided Tours Marsh and Beach Walks Reynold's Mansion (group accommodations) Pioneer Campground
Nearby Attractions
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site Fort King George State Historic Site Historic Darien, Ga. St. Simons Island Fort Frederica National Monument Jekyll Island Historic District
Guided Tours: Wednesday 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. (mansion and island) and Saturday 9 a.m.1 p.m. (lighthouse and island). From June through Labor Day, an additional tour is offered Friday 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. (lighthouse and island). Extended tour offered the last Tuesday of the month, MarchOctober, 8:30 a.m. 3 p.m. (lighthouse, mansion and island). Reservations required. Visitor Center: TuesdayFriday 7:30 a.m.5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.5:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:305 p.m. Closed Monday. Reynolds Mansion Lodging: Group accommodations for conferences and retreats for 1629 people. Pioneer Campground: Groups of 1525 people may camp near the beach on Sapelo's Cabretta Island. Comfort station with hot showers available. Location: The Sapelo ferry and visitor center are located in Meridian, 8 miles northeast of Darien, off Ga. Hwy. 99.
This southwest Georgia park is on beautiful Lake Seminole, a 37,500acre reservoir with excellent boating, fishing and birding. Cottages, many campsites and even picnic shelters sit near the water's edge, offering excellent views and quick access to the lake. Because the park surrounds a small cove, visitors usually enjoy smooth water for skiing and tubing. A sand swimming beach is also provided for lake lovers. Wildlife is abundant throughout Seminole, and a nature trail leads past gopher tortoise burrows, a wetland boardwalk and one of the largest longleaf pine forests in a Georgia state park. Observant visitors may also see alligators, osprey and other wildlife. Nearby wildlife management areas provide great duck and deer hunting.
Facilities
604 Acres 50 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($17$21) 14 Cottages ($85$100) Lake and Swimming Beach Gift Shop 5 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 75, $80) Pioneer Campground ($20 and up) Screened Treehouse Camping ($35)
Activities
Boating and Water Skiing 4 ramps Fishing 4 docks Birding Swimming Hiking 2.2-mile Gopher Tortoise Nature Trail Canoe Rental Miniature Golf
Nearby Attractions
Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site Gulf Coast Beaches Army Aviation Museum Landmark Park
Tallahassee, Fla.
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 16 miles south of Donalsonville via Ga. Hwy. 39, or 23 miles west of Bainbridge on Ga. Hwy. 253.
Sapelo Island Visitor Center Route 1, Box 1500, Darien, GA 31305 Individual Tour Reservations: 912-437-3224; Group Tours: 912-485-2300; Reynold's Mansion and Group Camping: 912-485-2299
Seminole State Park 7870 State Park Road Donalsonville, GA 39845 229-861-3137
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Skidaway Island
Smithgall Woods
PARKS
Located near historic Savannah, this barrier island has both salt and fresh water due to estuaries and marshes that flow through the area. The park borders Skidaway Narrows, a part of the intercoastal waterway, and provides scenic camping and picnicking. Two nature trails wind through marshes, live oaks, cabbage-palmettos and longleaf pines, allowing visitors to watch for deer, raccoon, shore birds and rare migrating birds such as the Painted Bunting. Observation towers provide another chance for visitors to search for wildlife on this beautiful island. A giant ground sloth replica, birding station, nature exhibits and gift shop are featured in the park's Visitor Center.
Facilities
588 Acres 88 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($22$24) Visitor Center Swimming Pool ($2) 2 Playgrounds 5 Picnic Shelters ($50) Group Shelter (seats 150, $200) 3 Pioneer Campgrounds ($35 and up)
Activities
Hiking 1-mile Sandpiper Nature Trail (accessible) and 3-mile Big Ferry Trail Birding Colonial Coast Birding Trail Swimming (pool only, no beach) Biking
Nearby Attractions
Wormsloe State Historic Site Fort McAllister State Historic Park Fort Morris State Historic Site Skidaway Marine Institute Historic Savannah, Ga.
Tybee Island Beaches
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 15 miles southeast of Savannah on Diamond Causeway. Take I-16 to Savannah, exit at I-516 (exit #164A), which turns into DeRenne Avenue. Turn right on Waters Avenue, which turns into Diamond Causeway. Park is on left after drawbridge.
Skidaway Island State Park 52 Diamond Causeway Savannah, GA 31411-1102 Park: 912-598-2300; Visitor Center: 912-598-2301
North Georgia's premier trout stream, Dukes Creek, runs through this spectacular mountain property and is a favorite for catch-and-release fishing. Four miles of trails and 18 miles of roads allow hikers and bicyclists to explore hardwoods, streams and wildlife. Trout fishing and van tours are offered only on certain days of the week, so visitors should call for a current schedule. The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is an elegant mountain retreat perfect for romantic getaways or corporate retreats. Five cottages provide 14 bedrooms with private baths. Rates include accommodations, meals and activities. Smithgall Woods was acquired by the state in 1994 as a gift-purchase from Charles A. Smithgall, Jr., a noted conservationist and businessman.
Facilities
5,664 Acres The Lodge at Smithgall Woods ($139 and up) Visitor Center Nature Trails Wildlife Viewing Stands and Food Plots 3 Picnic Shelters ($40$50) Pioneer Campground ($5/person, youth groups only)
Activities
Trout Fishing reservations required roads and trails Nature Photography Programs
Hiking and Bicycling 22 miles of Wildlife Observation Educational
Nearby Attractions
Unicoi State Park and Lodge Anna Ruby Falls Alpine Village of Helen Dahlonega Gold Museum Brasstown Bald (highest point in Georgia) Vogel State Park Moccasin Creek State Park Dukes Creek Falls Recreation Area Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area Richard B. Russell Scenic Hwy. Area Wineries
Park Hours: 7 a.m.6 p.m. Trout fishing on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday only (daily for lodge guests). All visitors must register at the visitor center. Located on Ga. Hwy. 75-Alternate, 3 miles west of Helen, just south of the Richard B. Russell Scenic Hwy. (Ga. Hwy. 348).
Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area 61 Tsalaki Trail Helen, GA 30545 706-878-3087, 1-800-318-5848
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Sprewell Bluff
Stephen C. Foster
This little-known gem on the Flint River is the perfect location for a daytime getaway. Visitors can cool off in the gently flowing river, skip rocks across the water, picnic on the river's edge or toss horseshoes in a grassy field. A three-mile trail winds along the bank and up rocky bluffs, offering excellent views from high above the river. A boat ramp is available for canoeists, kayakers, rafters and anglers. Canoes may be rented from nearby outfitters, and camping is available 25 miles west at F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain.
Facilities
1,372 Acres Boat Ramp Picnic Area with Grills Playground
Activities
Fishing -- bass and catfish Hiking 3-mile trail Rock Skipping Horseshoes Volleyball
Picnicking
Nearby Attractions
F.D. Roosevelt State Park camping Roosevelt's Little White House State Historic Site Indian Springs State Park camping Lake Tobesofkee
High Falls State Park camping
Park Hours: ThursdaySunday, 7 a.m.Sunset. Located 10 miles west of Thomaston. From Ga. Hwy. 74, turn on Old Alabama Road and go south 6 miles to the park.
Sprewell Bluff State Park 740 Sprewell Bluff Road Thomaston, GA 30286 706-646-6026
Named after songwriter Stephen Foster, this remote park is a primary entrance to the famed Okefenokee Swamp and is one of the most intriguing areas in Georgia. Moss-laced cypress trees reflect off the black swamp waters, providing breathtaking scenery. Visitors can look for alligators, turtles, raccoon, black bear, deer, birds and numerous other creatures while on the park's elevated boardwalk trail or on a guided boat trip. More adventurous visitors may wish to rent motorized boats or canoes for further exploration of the swamp, including a trip to historic Billy's Island. On the way to the park, visitors will pass the Suwannee River Visitor Center with live animals, a beautiful film and numerous exhibits. Because the park is located within a National Wildlife Refuge, gates are locked at closing time and an entrance fee is charged.
Facilities
80 Acres 66 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) cable TV hookups 9 Cottages ($80$90) Visitor Center and Museum 1.5-Mile Trembling Earth Nature Trail 25 Miles of Day-Use Waterways 3 Picnic Shelters ($31$56) Pioneer Campground ($40) Suwannee River Visitor Center
Activities
Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Guided Boat Tours ($6$8) Fishing Boating ramp, 10 horsepower limit, may be restricted during low water
Nearby Attractions
Suwannee River Visitor Center Okefenokee Swamp Park Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Suwannee Canal Recreation Area Laura S. Walker State Park and The Lakes Golf Course Fargo Golf Course
Park Hours (gates locked at closing): Fall/Winter, 7 a.m.7 p.m.; Spring/Summer, 6:30 a.m.8:30 p.m. Office Hours: Fall/Winter, 8 a.m.5 p.m.; Spring/Summer, 7 a.m.6 p.m. Located 18 miles northeast of Fargo via Ga. Hwy. 177.
Stephen C. Foster State Park 17515 Hwy. 177 Fargo, GA 31631 912-637-5274
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Sweetwater Creek
PARKS
Sweetwater Creek is a peaceful tract of wilderness only minutes from bustling downtown Atlanta. A wooded trail follows the free-flowing stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide views of the beautiful shoals below. The 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir is popular with anglers and provides a pretty setting for feeding ducks and canoeing. A new award-winning visitor center features exhibits on the area's history, wildlife displays, classroom space, snacks and a gift shop. It is one of the most environmentally responsible buildings in the country.
Facilities
2,549 Acres 215-Acre Lake Visitor Center and Museum 2 Fishing Docks Playgrounds 11 Picnic Shelters ($60) (seats 150) and BBQ Pit ($115$175)
Bait Shop Group Shelter
Activities
Hiking 9 miles of trails Lake and Stream Fishing electric motors only, $2 boat ramp fee Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental Picnicking
Ranger Programs
Nearby Attractions
Atlanta Six Flags Over Georgia Theme Park John Tanner State Park camping Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Visitor Center Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Trails close at dark; other areas close at dark if not already in use. Location: Take I-20 west from Atlanta, exit #44 at Thornton Road, turn left and go 1/4 mile. Turn right on Blairs Bridge Road. After 2 miles, turn left on Mount Vernon Road and proceed to park.
Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park P.O. Box 816 Lithia Springs, GA 30122 770-732-5871
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Tallulah Gorge
Tugaloo
One of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or they can obtain a free permit to hike down to the gorge floor (limit 100 per day, not available during scheduled water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls. Exhibits in the park's Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center highlight the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area. Additionally, an award-winning film takes viewers on a dramatic journey through the gorge.
Facilities
2,689 Acres 50 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($16$18) Backcountry Adirondack Shelter ($20) Interpretive Center Gorge Overlooks
Suspension Bridge 63-Acre Lake with Beach (seasonal) 2 Picnic Shelters ($30$60) Tennis Courts Pioneer Campground ($25)
Activities
Whitewater Paddling first 2 April weekends and first 3 November weekends Aesthetic Water Releases spring and fall Hiking and Mountain Biking more than 20 miles of trails Bicycling 1.7-mile paved "Rails to Trails" path Ranger Programs Swimming Fishing Picnicking
Nearby Attractions
Alpine Village of Helen Black Rock Mountain State Park Chattooga River (whitewater rafting) Moccasin Creek State Park Traveler's Rest State Historic Site Unicoi State Park and Lodge Chattahoochee National Forest
Dahlonega Gold Museum Southern Highroads Trail
Park Hours: 8 a.m.Dark. Interpretive Center Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. $4 parking. Pets are not allowed on gorge floor or trails accessing the gorge. Located
on U.S. Hwy. 441 within the city limits of Tallulah Falls, Ga.
Tallulah Gorge State Park P.O. Box 248 Tallulah Falls, GA 30573 Park Office: 706-754-7970; Camping Reservations: 706-754-7979
Situated on a wooded peninsula, Tugaloo's cottages and most campsites offer spectacular views of 55,590-acre Lake Hartwell in every direction. Some cottages even have private boat docks for overnight guests. Tent campers can choose between the developed campground or primitive campsites located a short walk from the parking area. Fishing is excellent year-round, and large-mouth bass are plentiful. During summer, the lake is a popular destination for swimming, water skiing, sailing and boating. Both the Crow Tree and Muscadine nature trails wind through oak, walnut, mulberry and cherry trees. The name "Tugaloo" comes from an Indian name for the river which once flowed freely prior to the construction of Hartwell Dam.
Facilities
393 Acres 108 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($18$22) cable TV hookups 5 Primitive Campsites ($8) 20 Cottages ($75$100) Swimming Beach and Bathhouse Tennis Courts 7 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 80, $85) Pioneer Campground ($15)
Activities
Fishing Boating 2 ramps Hiking 4 miles of trails (seasonal) Volleyball Horseshoes Miniature Golf
Canoe Rental
Nearby Attractions
Victoria Bryant State Park and Highland Walk Golf Course Traveler's Rest State Historic Site Tallulah Gorge State Park Ty Cobb Museum Toccoa Falls Hartwell Dam Alpine Helen, Ga. Commerce Factory Outlets
Richard B. Russell State Park and Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Location: Take I-85 exit #173 north on Georgia 17; follow park signs to Gerrard Road, turn right. Go 1.5 miles to Ga. Hwy. 328 and turn left. Proceed 3.3 miles to park; entrance on right.
Tugaloo State Park 1763 Tugaloo State Park Road Lavonia, GA 30553 706-356-4362
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Unicoi
PARKS
Nestled in the north Georgia mountains just two miles from the Alpine village of Helen, Unicoi is one of Georgia's most beloved state parks. Throughout the year, the park offers outstanding programs which focus on natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources. Groups can make advanced reservations for specialized programs. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and biking on scenic mountain trails, especially those leading to Helen and Anna Ruby Falls. Craft lovers should not miss the gift shop specializing in hand-made quilts and local pottery. Numerous picnic tables are located throughout the park.
Facilities
1,050 Acres 82 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$44) 33 Walk-in Sites ($14) 30 Cottages ($69$139) 100-Room Lodge ($70130) and Conference Center -- high-speed Internet access Restaurant 53-Acre Lake and Beach Beach House (seats 100, $250$500) 4 Tennis Courts 6 Picnic Shelters ($35) Squirrel's Nest Campsites ($10) Ropes Course
Activities
Hiking 12 miles of trails Mountain Biking 8 miles of trails Fishing accessible docks Swimming Canoe and Pedal Boat Rental (seasonal)
Ranger Programs Ropes Course and Teambuilding Programs
Nearby Attractions
Anna Ruby Falls Alpine Village of Helen Dahlonega Gold Museum Smithgall Woods Conservation Center and Lodge Brasstown Bald (highest point in Georgia) Babyland General Hospital Moccasin Creek State Park Vogel State Park Appalachian Trail Southern Highroads Trail Georgia Wineries
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. Lodge Hours: 24-hour service Located 2 miles northeast of Helen via Ga. Hwy. 356.
Unicoi State Park P.O. Box 849 Helen, GA 30545 Lodge: 706-878-2201; Ranger Programs: 706-878-3983
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Victoria Bryant
Vogel
Nestled in the rolling hills of Georgia's upper Piedmont, this is one of northern Georgia's best kept secrets. A beautiful stream flows through the park, providing the perfect setting for an after-picnic stroll. Hikers can follow either the short nature trail or the longer perimeter trail that winds through hardwoods and crosses creeks. Animal lovers should keep an eye out for wildlife while passing food plots along the perimeter trail. Golfers will enjoy Highland Walk Golf Course with clubhouse, golf pro, unlimited weekday play and junior/senior discounts.
Facilities
502 Acres 27 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$30) 8 Platform Tent Sites ($20) 18-hole Golf Course and Pro Shop ($34$45) Swimming Pool ($2$4) 6 Picnic Shelters ($35) 2 Pioneer Campgrounds ($30 and up)
3 Playgrounds
Activities
Hiking and Bicycling 8 miles of trails Fishing -- ponds open to campers and disabled visitors only Swimming Golf
Nearby Attractions
Hart State Park Traveler's Rest State Historic Site Tugaloo State Park Lake Hartwell Athens, Ga. Ty Cobb Museum Tanger Outlet Mall Richard B. Russell State Park and Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course
Park Hours: 7 a.m.Dark. Office Hours: MondayFriday, 8 a.m.Noon and 15 p.m. Located 2 miles north of Franklin Springs on Ga. Hwy. 327. From Atlanta, take I-85 Exit 160 and follow signs. From South Carolina, take I-85 exit 173 and follow signs.
One of Georgia's oldest and most popular state parks, Vogel is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Driving from the south, visitors pass through Neel Gap, a beautiful mountain pass near Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. Vogel is particularly popular during the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains transform into a rolling blanket of red, yellow and gold leaves. Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the popular four-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, an easy one-mile lake loop, and the challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail. Cottages, campsites and primitive backpacking sites provide a range of overnight accommodations.
Facilities
233 Acres 103 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($20$22) 18 Walk-in Sites ($12) Backcountry Campsites 35 Cottages ($70$120) 20-Acre Lake Swimming Beach CCC Museum General Store 4 Picnic Shelters ($35) Group Shelter (seats 90, $140) Pioneer Campground ($40)
Activities
Hiking and Backpacking 17 miles of trails, Appalachian Trail nearby Fishing Swimming Pedal Boat Rental (seasonal) Miniature Golf
Nearby Attractions
Appalachian Trail and Walasi-Yi Center Unicoi State Park and Lodge Dahlonega Gold Museum Moccasin Creek State Park Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge Many Waterfalls Southern Highroads Trails
Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 11 miles south of Blairsville via U.S. Hwy. 19-129.
Victoria Bryant State Park 1105 Bryant Park Road Royston, GA 30662 Park: 706-245-6270; Golf Course: 706-245-6770
Vogel State Park 7485 Vogel State Park Road Blairsville, GA 30512 706-745-2628
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PARKS
Watson Mill Bridge
Known as one of the most picturesque state parks in Georgia, Watson Mill Bridge contains the longest original-site covered bridge in the state, spanning 229 feet across the South Fork River. Built in 1885, the bridge is supported by a town lattice truss system held firmly together with wooden pins. At one time, Georgia had more than 200 covered bridges; today, less than 20 remain. The park is an ideal spot for an afternoon picnic or an overnight stay at the campground. Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails allow visitors to enjoy the thick forest along the river or travel into the park's backcountry. During summer, visitors often play in the cool river shoals just below the bridge. Facilities
1,018 Acres 21 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites ($15$19) Log Cabin Bunkhouse (sleeps 8, $45) Horse Stalls ($5) and 11 Equestrian Campsites ($15$19)
Covered Bridge 5-Acre Mill Pond 3 Picnic Shelters ($30) Group Shelter (seats 100, $75) Pioneer Campground ($20 and up)
Activities
Hiking 7 miles of trails Bicycling 5 miles of trails Horseback Riding 12 miles of trails, stalls, no horse rentals Canoe and Pedal Boat Rental
Fishing catfish, bass and bream
Nearby Attractions
Victoria Bryant State Park and Golf Course Robert Toombs House State Historic Site Bobby Brown State Park University of Georgia, Athens
Richard B. Russell State Park and Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course Park Hours: 7 a.m.10 p.m. Office Hours: 8 a.m.5 p.m. Located 3 miles south of Comer off Ga. Hwy. 22.
Save Money When You Visit
Frequent visitors can save money with these affordable passes.
Annual ParkPass
Visit Georgia's 48 state parks and you'll pay no parking fee when you display this $30 pass ($15 for seniors 62 and older). Or join "Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites" and get a FREE pass. Available at any state park in this guide or by calling 770-389-7401.
Join Friends
Become a member of "Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites" and get a FREE Annual ParkPass and other benefits -- all while supporting Georgia's natural and historic resources. For details, call 1-888-948-2092 or visit www.friendsofgastateparks.org.
Historic Site Annual Pass
Enjoy free admission to all of Georgia's state historic sites with this pass. $20 adult, $15 child, $35 family. Available at any state historic site in this guide.
Golf Packages
Throughout the year, state park golf courses offer packages that include accommodations, greens fees and cart. For reservations, call 1-800-434-0982.
Watson Mill Bridge State Park 650 Watson Mill Road Comer, GA 30629 706-783-5349
Great gift ideas for holidays and birthdays!
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Chief Vann House
Dahlonega Gold Museum
During the 1790s, James Vann became a Cherokee Indian leader and wealthy businessman. He established the largest and most prosperous plantation in the Cherokee Nation, covering 1,000 acres of what is now Murray County. In 1804 he completed construction of a beautiful 21/2story brick home that was the most elegant in the Cherokee Nation. After Vann was murdered in 1809, his son Joseph inherited the mansion and plantation. Joseph was also a Cherokee leader and became even more wealthy than his father. In the 1830s almost the entire Cherokee Nation was forced west by state and federal troops on the infamous Trail of Tears. The Vann family lost their elegant home, rebuilding in the Cherokee Territory of Oklahoma. Today the Vann House survives as Georgia's best-preserved historic Cherokee Indian home. A guided tour allows visitors to see the house which features beautiful hand carvings, a remarkable "floating" staircase, a 12-foot mantle and fine antiques.
Facilities
99 Acres Visitor Center and Film 1/2-mile Nature Trail 6 Picnic Sites
Nearby Attractions
Springplace Moravian Cemetery New Echota State Historic Site (Cherokee capital) Fort Mountain State Park Cohutta Wilderness Area Red Clay State Historical Area Cloudland Canyon State Park Chieftains Trail Carters Lake Funk Heritage Center (Reinhardt College) Chickamauga National Battlefield Southern Highroads Trail
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Last tour 45 minutes before closing (gate locked). Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Closed Tuesday when open Monday. Admission: $2.50$4. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located on the outskirts of Chatsworth at the intersection of Ga. Hwys. 225 and 52-A.
Twenty years before the famed 1849 gold rush in California, thousands of prospectors flocked into the Cherokee Nation in north Georgia, marking the true beginning of our country's first gold rush. Their dramatic story is told inside the historic 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in Georgia. Dahlonega prospered with this mining activity, and a U.S. Branch Mint opened in 1838, coining more than $6 million in gold before closing in 1861. The museum's exhibits include a set of these coins, a nugget weighing more than five ounces, a large hydraulic cannon and nozzle used to blast soil from mountainsides, a film and gift shop. Visitors can also explore the courthouse features, including beautiful wooden chapel seats from 1889 and the judge's chambers. The town of Dahlonega is a popular destination for gold panning, shopping and sightseeing.
Nearby Attractions
Vogel State Park Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge Unicoi State Park and Lodge Gold Panning The Smith House (family-style food)
Consolidated Gold Mines Crisson Gold Mines Alpine Village of Helen Chestatee Wildlife Preserve Historic Holly Theater Heart of Georgia Wine Country
Hours: MondaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $2.50$4. Group rates available with advance notice. Located on the Public Square in Dahlonega, 5 miles west of Ga. Hwy. 400.
Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site #1 Public Square Dahlonega, GA 30533 706-864-2257
Chief Vann House State Historic Site 82 Georgia Highway 225 North Chatsworth, GA 30705 706-695-2598
More museums and exhibits are found at A.H. Stephens (page 34), Fort McAllister (page 39) and Kolomoki Mounds (page 48) state historic parks.
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Etowah Indian Mounds
HISTORIC SITES
Home to several thousand Native Americans between 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D., this 54-acre site contains six earthen mounds, a plaza, village area, borrow pits and defensive ditch. This is the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the southeastern United States.
While only nine percent of this site has been excavated, examination at Mound C and surrounding artifacts revealed much about the people who lived here more than 500 years ago. The Etowah Indian Mounds symbolize a society rich in ritual. Towering over the community, the 63foot flat-topped earthen knoll was used as a platform for the home of the priest-chief. In another mound, nobility were buried in elaborate costumes accompanied by items they would need in their after-lives. Today, visitors may tour the museum where exhibits interpret daily life in the once self-sufficient community.
Many artifacts show how the natives of this political and religious center decorated themselves with shell beads, tattoos, paint, complicated hairdos, feathers and copper ear ornaments. Well-preserved stone effigies and objects made of wood, sea shells and stone are also displayed. A nature trail leads to the Etowah River and winds through the forest, showcasing how early Americans used native trees.
Nearby Attractions
Red Top Mountain State Park and Lodge camping Lake Allatoona Weinman Mineral Museum New Echota Cherokee Capital Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site Funk Heritage Center Booth Western Art Museum
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $2.50$4. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic tables and bus parking available. For a more enjoyable visit, plan to spend 12 hours.
Located 5 miles southwest of I-75 exit #288. Follow brown directional signs.
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site 813 Indian Mounds Road SE Cartersville, GA 30120 770-387-3747
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Fort King George
Fort Morris
From 1721 until 1736, Fort King George was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. A cypress blockhouse, barracks and palisaded earthen fort were constructed in 1721 by scoutmen led by Colonel John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell. For the next seven years, His Majesty's Independent Company garrisoned the fort. They endured incredible hardships from disease, threats of Spanish and Indian attacks, and the harsh, unfamiliar coastal environment. After the fort was abandoned, General James Oglethorpe brought Scottish Highlanders to the site in 1736. The settlement, called Darien, eventually became a foremost export center of lumber until 1925.
Using old records and drawings, this 18th century frontier fortification on the Altamaha River has been reconstructed for public tours. A museum and film cover the Guale Indians, the Santo Domingo de Talaje mission, Fort King George, the Scots of Darien and 19th century sawmilling when Darien became a major seaport. In addition to the fort replica, remains of three sawmills and tabby ruins are still visible.
Nearby Attractions
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site Fort Morris State Historic Site Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge Lewis Island Natural Area Jekyll Island Historic District Fort Frederica Magnolia Bluff Factory Shops Beaches
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Closed Tuesday when open Monday. Admission: $2.50$5. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located in Darien, 3 miles east of I-95 exit #49.
Fort King George State Historic Site P.O. Box 711, 1600 Wayne Street Darien, GA 31305 912-437-4770
When the Continental Congress convened in 1776, the delegates recognized the importance of a fort to protect their growing seaport from the British. Soon afterwards, a low bluff on the Medway River at Sunbury was fortified and garrisoned by 200 patriots. When the British demanded the fort's surrender on November 25, 1778, the defiant Col. John McIntosh replied, "Come and take it!" The British refused and withdrew back to Florida. Forty-five days later, they returned with a superior force, and on January 9, 1779, Fort Morris fell after a short but heavy bombardment. Under the name of Fort Defiance, this bulwark was once again used against the British during the War of 1812. Today, visitors can stand within the earthwork remains and view scenic Saint Catherines Sound.
Facilities
70 Acres Nature Trail
Visitor Center -- film and exhibits 7 Picnic Sites Pioneer Campground ($15 and up) Gift Shop
1-Mile
Activities
Educational Programs Historical Research Colonial Coast Birding Trail
Picnicking
Birdwatching
Nearby Attractions
Fort McAllister State Historic Park camping Skidaway Island State Park camping Fort King George State Historic Site Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site Wormsloe State Historic Site Midway Museum Fort Stewart Museum Savannah, Ga. Seabrook Village African-American history Melon Bluff Nature Center Sapelo Island Tours
Hours: 9 a.m.5 p.m. TuesdaySaturday; 25:30 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $1.5$3. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located 7 miles east of I-95 exit #76 via Islands Highway and Fort Morris Road.
Fort Morris State Historic Site 2559 Fort Morris Road Midway, GA 31320 912-884-5999
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Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
Jarrell Plantation
HISTORIC SITES
This beautiful plantation represents the history and culture of Georgia's rice coast. In the early 1800s, William Brailsford of Charleston carved a rice plantation from marshes along the Altamaha River. The plantation and its inhabitants were part of the genteel low country society that developed during the antebellum period. While many factors made rice cultivation increasingly difficult in the years after the Civil War, the family continued to grow rice until 1913. The enterprising siblings of the fifth generation at Hofwyl-Broadfield resolved to start a dairy rather than sell their family home. The efforts of Gratz, Miriam and Ophelia Dent led to the preservation of their family legacy. Ophelia was the last heir to the rich traditions of her ancestors, and she left the plantation to the state of Georgia in 1973.
A museum features silver from the family collection and a model of Hofwyl-Broadfield during its heyday. A brief film on the plantation's history is shown before visitors walk a short trail to the antebellum home. A guided tour allows visitors to see the home as Ophelia kept it with family heirlooms, 18th and 19th century furniture and Cantonese china. The site also includes a nature trail that leads back to the Visitor Center along the edge of the marsh where rice once flourished.
Nearby Attractions
Fort King George State Historic Site Crooked River State Park camping Jekyll Island Historic District St. Simons Island Fort Frederica Beaches
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Last main house tour at 4 p.m. TuesdaySaturday, 4:45 p.m. Sunday. Gate locked at closing. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission: $2.50$5. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located between Brunswick and Darien on U.S. Hwy. 17, 1 mile east of I-95 exit #42.
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site 5556 U.S. Highway 17 North Brunswick, GA 31525 912-264-7333
Nestled in the red clay hills of Georgia, this cotton plantation was owned by a single family for more than 140 years. It survived Gen. Sherman's "March to the Sea," typhoid fever, Emancipation, Reconstruction, the cotton boll weevil, the advent of steam power, and a transition from farming to forestry.
In 1847, John Fitz Jarrell built a simple heart pine house typical of most plantations and made many of the furnishings visitors see today. In 1860, the 600-acre plantation was farmed by 39 slaves. After the Civil War, John increased his land to nearly 1,000 acres farmed by former slaves. As John aged, most workers left and the slave houses deteriorated and disappeared.
After John's death, his son, Dick Jarrell, gave up teaching to return to the farm, and in 1895, he built a small house for his family that grew to 12 children. Dick diversified the farm, adding a sawmill, cotton gin, gristmill, shingle mill, planer, sugar cane press, syrup evaporator, workshop, barn and outbuildings. In 1974, his descendants donated these buildings to establish Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site.
Nearby Attractions
Indian Springs State Park camping High Falls State Park camping Historic Macon, Ga. Whistlestop Cafe, Juliette Old Clinton Historic District Antebellum Trail Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Lake Juliette Hitchiti Experimental Forest Griswoldville Battlefield
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Last tour begins at 4 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission: $2.50$5. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located southeast of Juliette, 18 miles east of I-75 Forsyth exit #185 or 18 miles north of Macon exit #171.
Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site 711 Jarrell Plantation Road Juliette, GA 31046-2515 478-986-5172
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Jefferson Davis Memorial Lapham-Patterson House
When Confederate President Jefferson Davis and a few remaining staff members crossed the Savannah River into Georgia on May 3, 1865, they were headed for the Western theater of war where Davis planned to unite rebel forces and continue fighting for the "lost cause." On May 9, 1865, they camped in this pine forest, not knowing that pursuit was so close behind. At dawn, they were surrounded by two independent groups of Union cavalry who were unaware of each other's presence. Gunfire ensued until the federal forces realized they had been shooting at one another. Two Union cavalrymen died during the skirmish. Davis was taken prisoner and held in Virginia for two years until released. Today, a monument marks the spot where he was arrested. Visitors can tour the 13-acre historic site that includes a museum, short trail, picnic tables, gift shop and group picnic shelter.
Facilities
Civil War Museum -- film and artifacts Monument 13 Picnic Sites Group Shelter (seats 100, $150) Playground
1/3-Mile Nature Trail Gift Shop
Nearby Attractions
General Coffee State Park camping Reed Bingham State Park camping Little Ocmulgee State Park, Lodge and Golf Course camping Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park camping Georgia Agrirama Blue and Gray Museum Crime and Punishment Museum
Hours: WednesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Tuesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $1.75$3. Group rates available with advance notice.
From I-75 exit #78 go east 14 miles on Ga. Hwy. 32 to Irwinville. Turn left on Jeff Davis Park Road and proceed one mile.
Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site 338 Jeff Davis Park Road Fitzgerald, GA 31750 229-831-2335
This south Georgia house museum it is a one-of-a-kind building. Built between 1884-85 as a winter cottage for C. W. Lapham, a survivor of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, the house was well equipped with its own gas lighting system, hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing and modern closets. Having suffered lung damage as a result of being trapped in a burning building during the Great Fire, Mr. Lapham came to the bustling resort town of Thomasville for its supposed therapeutic mild-winter climate and pine-scented air.
It is presumed the strange cottage was designed to make it as healthy and safe as possible for the Lapham family. There are no right angles in the cottage, and nothing is centered or symmetrical. The 19 rooms have 45 doors and 53 windows. A remarkable double-flue chimney with a walk-through stairway and cantilevered balcony exemplify the skill of its creators and the concern for safety in case of fire. Due to its outstanding architectural significance, the Lapham-Patterson House was named a National Historic Landmark in 1975. The Laphams sold their winter house in 1894, and it was resold to James Patterson in 1905. The Pattersons remained in possession until 1970.
Nearby Attractions
Seminole State Park camping The Big Oak Pebble Hill Plantation Thomas County Historical Society Museum Hardy Bryan House Rose Garden
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Closed Tuesday when open Monday. Guided tours only. 45-minute tours start on the hour. Last tour at 4 p.m. Admission: $2.50$5. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located in downtown Thomasville, Ga.
Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site 626 N. Dawson Street Thomasville, GA 31792 229-225-4004
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New Echota Cherokee Capital
Pickett's Mill Battlefield
HISTORIC SITES
In 1825, the Cherokee national legislature established a capital called New Echota at the headwaters of the Oostanaula River. During its short history, New Echota was the site of the first Indian language newspaper office, a court case which carried to the U.S. Supreme Court, one of the earliest experiments in national self government by an Indian tribe, the signing of a treaty which relinquished Cherokee claims to lands east of the Mississippi River, and the assembly of Indians for removal west on the infamous Trail of Tears. Today, visitors can see several original and reconstructed buildings, including the Council House, Court House, print shop, Missionary Samuel Worcester's home, and an 1805 store, as well as outbuildings such as smoke houses, corn cribs and barns. In the visitor center, guests can purchase original Native American arts, crafts and music, learn from exhibits and view a 17-minute film.
Nearby Attractions
Chieftains Trail Chief Vann House State Historic Site Fort Mountain State Park camping Funk Heritage Center at Reinhart College Booth Western Art Museum Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Closed Tuesday when open Monday. Admission: $2.50$4. Group rates available with advance notice. Bus parking available. Located in Calhoun one mile east of I-75 exit #317 on Ga. Hwy. 225.
New Echota State Historic Site 1211 Chatsworth Highway NE Calhoun, GA 30701 706-624-1321
Pickett's Mill is one of the best preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation. Visitors can travel roads used by Federal and Confederate troops, see earthworks constructed by these men, and walk through the same ravine where hundreds died.
On May 27, 1864, the Federal Army, having been stopped in its advance on Atlanta two days earlier by the Battle of New Hope Church, attempted to outflank the Confederate position. Some 14,000 Federal troops were selected for the task, and General Howard was given command. After a five-hour march, Howard's force reached the vicinity of Pickett's Mill and prepared to attack. Waiting were 10,000 Confederate troops under the command of General Cleburne. The Federal assault began at 5 p.m. and continued into the night. Daybreak found the Confederates still in possession of the field. The Federals had lost 1,600 men compared to the Confederate loss of 500. The Confederate victory resulted in a oneweek delay of the Federal advance on Atlanta.
Facilities
765 Acres Visitor Center film, artifacts and exhibits Earthworks Hiking 4 miles of trails Picnic Tables Group Shelter (seats 150, $75$125) Bus Parking
Nearby Attractions
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site Red Top Mountain State Park and Lodge -- camping Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday Noon5 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $1.75$3. Group rates available with advance notice. Located 6 miles northeast of Dallas off Ga. Hwy. 381 on Tabor Church Road, accessed by DallasAcworth Road or Due West Road.
Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site 4432 Mt. Tabor Church Road Dallas, GA 30157 770-443-7850
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Robert Toombs House
Roosevelt's Little White House
A legend in his own time, Robert Toombs was a successful planter and lawyer who led a turbulent career as state legislator, U.S. Congressman and Senator. "Defend yourselves; the enemy is at your door...!" thundered Toombs from the Senate floor on January 24, 1860. The following year, Georgia seceded from the Union and Toombs personified the South by evolving from conservative Unionist to fire-breathing secessionist. After serving just five months as Confederate Secretary of State, he resigned to serve as brigadier general in the Army of Northern Virginia.
In 1870, as the Reconstruction Era drew to a close in Georgia, Toombs felt that Georgia should live under a constitution of her own making. His last service to Georgia citizens was helping create the Constitution of 1877, which was not amended until 1945.
Visitors are welcome to tour the house and grounds, view exhibits and displays, and enjoy a dramatic film portraying an elderly Toombs relating his story to a young reporter.
Nearby Attractions
Historic Washington, Ga. Washington-Wilkes Museum Plantation A.H. Stephens State Historic Park camping Park camping Elijah Clark State Park camping
Callaway Mistletoe State
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $1.75$3. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking at rear entrance. Located at 216 East Robert Toombs Avenue in Washington, Ga.
Robert Toombs House State Historic Site P.O. Box 605 Washington, GA 30673 706-678-2226
Franklin Delano Roosevelt built the Little White House in 1932 while governor of New York, prior to being inaugurated as president in 1933. He first came to Warm Springs in 1924 hoping to find a cure for the infantile paralysis (polio) that had struck him in 1921. Swimming in the warm, buoyant spring waters brought him no miracle cure, but it did bring improvement. During FDR's presidency and the Great Depression, he developed many New Deal Programs (such as the Rural Electrification Administration) based upon his experiences in this small town.
While posing for a portrait on April 12, 1945, FDR suffered a stroke and died in his country home. Today, this "Unfinished Portrait" is featured in the Memorial Museum showcasing his 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls, as well as "Tally Ho," his stagecoach used in parades. Interactive features offer a glimpse of Roosevelt's rural South and how his experiences in Georgia impacted his decisions as president. A video narrated by Walter Cronkite shows what an inspiration FDR was to his fellow countrymen. Visitors can tour his home just as it was when he left it for the last time. Additional features include the servant and guest quarters, the Walk of American Stones and Flags, and the historic pools complex that first brought the future president to Warm Springs.
Nearby Attractions
Historic Pools and Springs Complex Warm Springs Village shopping and dining F.D. Roosevelt State Park camping Fish Hatchery and Aquarium
Sprewell Bluff State Park Callaway Gardens and Day Butterfly Center
Hours: 9 a.m.4:45 p.m. daily. Last full tour at 4 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission: $4$7. Group rates available for 15 or more with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Primary buildings are wheelchair accessible. Secondary buildings have entry steps. All walkways are hard surfaced. Located 1/4 mile south of Warm Springs on Ga. Hwy. 85 Alt.-U.S. Hwy. 27 Alt.
Roosevelt's Little White House State Historic Site 401 Little White House Road Warm Springs, GA 31830 706-655-5870
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Traveler's Rest
Wormsloe
HISTORIC SITES
"Here I got an excellent breakfast of coffee, ham, chicken, good bread, butter, honey, and plenty of good new milk for a quarter of a dollar ... What a charming country this would be to travel in, if one was sure of meeting with such nice clean quarters once a-day!"
-- English Geologist George W. Featherstonhaugh, 1837
Traveler's Rest, a stagecoach inn and plantation home, was built around 1815 by James R. Wylie, a stakeholder in the Unicoi Turnpike, a busy thoroughfare that passed nearby. Wylie operated the inn until the 1830s when he sold the place to Devereaux Jarrett, the "richest man in the Tugaloo Valley." Among other things, Jarrett doubled the size of Traveler's Rest, which also served as the headquarters of his 14,400-acre plantation. The Jarrett family inhabited the site until the 1950s, when the state of Georgia purchased the remaining few acres of the once-vast plantation and opened it to the public as an historic site. Thanks to its unique and well-preserved architecture, Traveler's Rest was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Today visitors can enjoy a tour of the house and see many original artifacts and furnishings, some of which were crafted by Caleb Shaw, a splendid cabinetmaker from Massachusetts.
Nearby Attractions
Toccoa Falls Tallulah Gorge State Park camping Tugaloo State Park camping
Hartwell Lake
Hours: FridaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $2.50$4. Group rates available with advance notice. Located six miles east of Toccoa via U.S. Hwy. 123.
A breathtaking avenue lined with live oaks leads to the tabby ruins of Wormsloe, the colonial estate constructed by Noble Jones, one of Georgia's first settlers. Jones was an English physician and carpenter who carved out an even wider career in the colonial wilderness. He came to Savannah with James Oglethorpe in 1733 and commanded a company of Marines charged with Georgia's coastal defense. Jones served as constable, Indian agent, surveyor (laying out New Ebenezer and Augusta) and member of the Royal Council. He was also one of few original settlers to survive hunger, plague, Indians, Spaniards and a new environment.
The tabby ruins on the Isle of Hope remind us of the dreams and lives of British colonists who settled Georgia. Today, visitors can view artifacts excavated at Wormsloe and a film about the founding of the 13th colony. A scenic nature trail leads to the living history area where, during special programs, costumed staff show skills and crafts necessary to early settlers. During early February of each year, the site hosts "Colonial Faire and Muster" highlighting 18th century life, military drills, craft demonstrations, music and dance.
Nearby Attractions
Historic Savannah, Ga. Skidaway Island State Park camping Tybee Island Beaches Fort Pulaski Bonaventure Cemetery Fort McAllister State Historic Park camping Fort Morris State Historic Site Fort Jackson
Hours: TuesdaySaturday 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sunday 25:30 p.m. Closed Monday (except holidays), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $2.50$4. Group rates available with advance notice. Picnic area and bus parking available. Located 10 miles southeast of Savannah's historic district on Skidaway Road.
Traveler's Rest State Historic Site 8162 Riverdale Road Toccoa, GA 30577 706-886-2256
Wormsloe State Historic Site 7601 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 31406 912-353-3023
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Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 www.albanyga.com
Alpine Helen-White County Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . 59 www.helenga.org
Americus-Sumter County Tourism Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 www.therealgeorgia.com
BabyLand General Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 www.cabbagepatchkids.com
Best Western . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.bestwesterngeorgia.com
Brunswick & The Golden Isles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 www.comecoastawhile.com
Calhoun/Gordon County Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . 28 www.gordonchamber.org
Carrollton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 www.visitcarrollton.com
Cartersville/Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . 52 www.notatlanta.org
City of Toccoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 www.cityoftoccoa.com
Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 31, 33 www.visitcolumbusga.com
Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 www.dahlonega.org
Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 www.visitdaltonga.com
Dawson County Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 www.dawson.org
Douglasville Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 www.douglasvillecvb.com
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 www.blueridgemountains.com
Fitzgerald Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.fitzgeraldga.org
Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 www.friendsofgastateparks.org
About the cover: During Autumn, Yellow Daisies blanket the rock outcropping found at Panola Mountain State Park. The bright flowers are a member of the sunflower family and not a true daisy.
Georgia State Park Golf Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 www.georgiagolf.com
Georgia State Parks & Lodges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 www.georgiastateparks.org
Georgia Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.georgiapower.com/gpclake
Georgia's Classic South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 www.classicsouth.org
Georgia's Treasures Along I-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 www.treasuresalongi20.org
Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 www.hike-inn.com
LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 www.lagrangechamber.com
Liberty County Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.libertytrail.com
Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 www.madisonga.org
McDonough Hospitality and Tourism Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 www.tourmcdonough.com
Oak Hill at Martha Berry College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 www.berry.edu/oakhill
Pine Mountain Tourism Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 www.pinemountain.org
Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 www.cvb.roswell.ga.us
SAM Shortline Excursion Train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.samshortline.com
Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.visit-statesboro.com
Towns County Tourism Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 www.mountaintopga.com
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