Our latest wandering took us on a short trip that was full of excitement. Our first stop was F. D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park, in Pine Mountain. It was the perfect place for us to use as home base for exploring both Callaway Gardens and F.D.R.’s Little White House in Warm Springs.
After driving in the rain on the winding road through the park we arrived at the Visitor’s Center to check in just after a tornado warning had been lifted. Everything was fine in the campground and we set up camp just before another rain shower began.
“Connecting man and nature in a way that benefits both.” – Callaway Gardens Mission
With the sun shining the next morning we drove about 15 minutes from our campsite to Callaway Gardens. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Callaway Gardens opened in 1952. Today, there are many different gardens to explore, a lodge, golf course, swimming beach, and even a zip-line adventure.
Our tour of the gardens began with a stop at the Pioneer Log Cabin. From there we strolled along the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Trail with many Georgia native plants. The Flowering Dogwoods and many other wildflowers displayed their brilliant spring colors.
Pioneer Log Cabin at Callaway GardensFlowering Dogwood on Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower TrailLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway GardensLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway GardensAzalea at Callaway GardensLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway Gardens
Next we walked on the trails to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center for a look at some tropical butterflies. Butterflies of all sizes, shapes and colors fed on the colorful blossoms and sailed by our heads as they flew from flower to flower.
Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway GardensCecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway GardensCecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens
We learned about some of Georgia’s birds of prey at the Discovery Center. As our guide gave a very informative presentation, two different species of owl and a red tailed hawk flew over our heads during the program.
Juniper the Great Horned Owl at Birds of Prey programWillow the Barred Owl Birds of Prey demonstration at Callaway GardensRed Tailed Hawk Callaway Gardens Birds of Prey Show
We must have just missed the Azaleas at their peak because most of the Azaleas on the Overlook Azalea trail had finished blooming. The Flowering Dogwoods and other trees added color to the landscape.
Callaway Gardens Azalea TrailFlowering Dogwoods were in bloom at Callaway GardensEastern Redbud at Callaway GardensCallaway Gardens Overlook Azalea Trail
Our visit to Callaway Gardens included only a few of the many gardens there. It is a wonderful family destination and bicycles are a popular way to get around the park. There are several restaurants to choose from or you can have a picnic in one of the picnic areas.
“We have more fun than anyone.” – Sisters on the Fly® motto
We have more fun than anyone
Some members of Sisters on the Fly® recently gathered together at River’s End Campground on Tybee Island, GA. A quote from their website says:
“ “Sisters on the Fly®” is the largest outdoor women’s group in the United States with currently over 8,100 “Sisters.” This membership-based community supports women in their journey to get up, get out and become more adventurous!”
Sisters on the Fly
When they visited River’s End campground they opened up their campers for a tour. I had too much fun looking at all the unique trailers and talking to some of the “Sisters”. They shared their stories, answered questions, and everyone laughed a lot.
SerendipityRun-A-MukHappy Trails
They came from as far away as Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Many were dressed to match the theme of their trailer and some were decked out in Mardi Gras colors to march in the Tybee Mardi Gras Parade later that afternoon.
Vintage 1968 Trailer1968 Vintage Trailer kitchenBarbie Camper and SkatesRed and White theme inside and outSisters on the FlyCowgirl Condo IVintage Shasta TrailerVintage Shasta TrailerBless your HeartGirls Raised in the South
When the “Sisters” have an event, the husbands and kids stay home. If someone has trouble backing up their trailer, another Sister is always there to take over and do the backing for them. One member said you can laugh away 10 pounds at one of their events.
Home is where you park itWelcome
The “Sisters” often travel in caravans and stop to help each other out if there are any problems. If you ever see any of these campers in a campground, be sure to stop and say hello. I guarantee you will have fun.
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically and the next state is my home state!
Georgia
Georgia was one of the original 13 colonies and became the 4th state on January 2, 1788. The capital is Atlanta where the capital dome is covered in gold leaf from the Georgia Gold Rush in Dahlonega during the 1830’s.
I was born in Georgia but did not grow up here. When I was a child, our summer vacations were spent visiting relatives in middle Georgia where my mother grew up. I first moved to Georgia as a freshman at the University of Georgia in Athens and I’ve lived in the state ever since. Even when we are wandering I always have Georgia on my mind.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to do our state justice. How I condense a lifetime of memories into one post?
With the city of Atlanta, the north Georgia mountains, National Wildlife Refuges and National Forests, The Okefenokee Swamp, peach and pecan groves, cotton fields, lakes and streams, the Grand Canyon of Georgia, Athens the Classic City, Stone Mountain, antebellum homes, historical lighthouses, salt marshes, barrier islands, beautiful beaches, friendly small towns, and many historic sites Georgia has much to offer. And did I mention the delicious sweet tea, barbeque, grits, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, low country boil, fresh wild Georgia shrimp and blue crabs, peach cobbler, banana pudding, and all the other amazing food around the state?
Unfortunately I am missing photos from many places around the state. No matter where you go there are interesting things to see and do in the Peach State.
Georgia is the Peach State and Peach County produces many of those peaches. There is nothing in the world that’s better than a fresh Georgia peach plucked right from the tree when it is perfectly ripe in the summer time. You know it’s perfect when you bite into it and the nectar drips down your chin and all over your hands. And fresh peach cobbler is a staple around our house when the peaches are in season.
Peach County, Georgia
In Georgia, you can watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean or watch the sunset over one of the Georgia’s many lakes.
Sunrise over the Atlantic OceanSunset over Lake Seminole at Eastbank Campground
Nothing says springtime in Georgia like azaleas, peach blossoms, and flowering dogwoods.
Peach Blossoms in GeorgiaWild DogwoodsGeorgia Azaleas under Live Oak Tree
With ancient live oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss, squares, a beautiful historic district, museums, historic forts, and one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States, Savannah is a popular vacation destination.
Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah, GeorgiaSteam Engine at the Georgia Railroad MuseumFt. Puaski National Monument is a landmark visible from the highway as you travel east from Savannah to Tybee Island, GAHistoric stone steps leading to River Street
Three lighthouses protecting the Georgia Coast are accessible to the public. The Tybee Island Light Station is the tallest lighthouse in Georgia.
Tybee Island Light Station 4th of July American Flag
A trail at Fort Pulaski National Monument winds through palmettos for a close up view of the Cockspur Island Lighthouse.
Cockspur Lighthouse at Fort Pulaski National Monument
The St. Simons Island Lighthouse was rebuilt after it was destroyed by the Union Army during the War between the States.
St. Simons Lighthouse
Joel Chandler Harris, Alice Walker, and Flannery O’Connor are just a few of the writers from Georgia. The Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton celebrates the creator of Brer Rabbit, Joel Chandler Harris.
Brer Rabbit stands in front of the Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton, GA
Georgia also has a close connection with the film industry. Many movies and tv shows have been filmed in Georgia. Oliver Hardy was one of the stars who was born in Georgia.
Laurel and Hardy Museum at Harlem, Georgia
You know your shrimp is fresh when you see the shrimp boats that caught them.
Shrimp Boats in Darien
Atlanta is the capital and the home to companies such as Coca Cola, UPS and Delta Airlines. Atlanta also hosted the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.
Centennial Olympic Park, AtlantaCentennial Olympic Stadium 1996 – Reconstructed after Paralympics to become Turner Field
The birds and other wildlife are abundant all over the state.
Great Egret with chicksWood Storks building a nestAtlantic Bottlenose Dolphin near Tybee Island, GeorgiaTurtle in the Okefenokee SwampBaby Gator on Lilly PadButterflies and Blooms Tiger SwallowtailWhite Tail Deer
The Iron Horse was originally placed on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens and later moved to the middle of a field near Greensboro.
The Iron Horse stands tall in the middle of a cornfield
We Georgians love our sports teams! When we travel in our fifth wheel, there is no doubt which college team we support! How bout them Dawgs!
Our fifth wheel has a new look
As I put the finishing touches on this post the Atlanta Falcons are preparing to take on the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in Houston. Go Falcons!
Welcome to our third annual “Wandering Dawgs best campgrounds of the year” list.
Our 2016 wandering took us on a short trips to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.
We prefer staying in state and federal parks and this year our top three all fall into one of those categories.
Number 3: Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, Alabama
Tranquility Lake was just a short walk from our campsite
We stopped at Oak Mountain on our way to Mississippi and enjoyed it so much we returned to the same site (A28) on our way back home to Georgia.
Our site was spacious with full hook ups and nothing but woods behind us. This large state park has a golf course, archery range, equestrian camping and horse stables, nature and hiking trails, lake front beach, mountain bike trails, and scenic drives. The road through the park is a popular place for bicyclists. Nearby Pelham and Birmingham have restaurants and shopping.
Number 2: Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Fargo, Georgia
Do you see the alligator behind the Cypress tree?
We love this place so much we have camped here numerous times in past 10 years. Our most recent trip was in March, 2016.
Just getting to the campground is an adventure. After turning off the highway, seventeen miles of driving through pine forests and palmettos takes you into the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It is remote, quiet, and wild.
We camp in one of the large premium pull through sites. It is a short walk or bike ride from the campground to the marina where you can go on a guided tour of the Okefenokee Swamp, rent a boat or canoe, launch your own boat, or take a walk on the nature trail through the swamp. Alligators are often seen around the marina but we’ve never seen one in the campground.
Number 1: Fort Pickens Campground, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida
Ready for Beach Chair Sitting on the Gulf of Mexico
Miles of white sugar sand beach in Gulf Islands National Seashore within walking distance from our campsite, an historic fort to explore, a nice campsite, nature trails, beautiful sunsets, fresh seafood, fishing pier, museums and a lighthouse nearby – what’s not to love?
We returned to Mississippi River State Park in Marianna, Arkansas, our “Best Campground of the Year – 2014“. I left it out of the top three to make room for three new campgrounds
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, White Springs, Florida
Eastbank Corps of Engineers Campground, Bainbridge, Georgia
Where do you think we will wander next year? Stay tuned…
I’ve been so busy lately with Thanksgiving, cleaning up after Hurricane Matthew, and getting ready for Christmas I haven’t had much time to look at my butterfly garden.
With all our Christmas packages and cards in the mail, I could finally catch my breath this morning so I went out to our porch to enjoy my second cup of tea. As soon as I sat down I saw a Monarch butterfly flitting around our milkweed. I abandoned my tea, grabbed my camera and rushed downstairs to get a picture. The butterfly took off but when I began to examine the milkweed I was excited to find several caterpillars munching away on the leaves.
Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed – December 15, 2016
Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed – December 15, 2016
Wandering Dawgs 