It's Almost Here!!! ...Springtime Around Georgia

"American by birth, southern by the grace of God". A silly little saying that I've heard all my life growing up in Georgia. I've never thought much of it, but as Spring approaches, I can see from where it comes. Georgia is a beautiful state, and as Springtime nears, it really begins to show it's glory.  As the first Daffodils begin to display their yellow heads, the little leaguers begin their t-ball and soccer practice, the girl scouts begin handing out their cookies, and my kids begin to ask,"When can we go to 6 Flags?", I know Spring is around the corner.

This is a rambling of some of my favorite Spring hang-outs around the State.To begin the tour, I love Zoo Atlanta, in the heart of the city. Zoo Atlanta is a fairly small zoo, taking approximately 2-3 hours to meander through its entirety. It is a wonderful pocket in a city already known for its abundance of trees. Zoo Atlanta was rehabilitated in the mid 1980s, with natural habitats created for the animals, and walking paths, with the flowers, bamboo, greenery and large Oak trees, one might forget that they are in the Capital of the South.

 Another favorite of mine is Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, approximately 50 miles southwest of Atlanta. Callaway Gardens holds 12+ miles of bicycling trails through a virtual fireworks display of hundreds of types of Azaleas. The orange, white, red, pink, peach, and purple displays are a feast for the eyes. Pair this with a Championship Golf Course, a great butterfly house, and a beautiful lake with walking trails scattered throughout the gardens, I believe it may be the most beautiful garden this side of Eden. This is a place to visit in early April to see it in its full glory.

Moving south, deep south, you have the Great Okefenokee Swamp. One of the largest swamps in the United States. "What's so great about a swamp?" Anyone who asks that question has never been to the "Land of the Trembling Earth", as dubbed by the Seminoles. Amongst the Cyprus forests and lillypad prairies, hundreds of miles of canoe trails and boardwalks bring you right into the heart of the swamp,where you can hear the grunts, and in early morning, just before light, see the glowing eyes of the American Alligator. While many other animals inhabit the park, from White-tailed deer to Black bear, bobcats, opossum, raccoon, Hawks, Osprey and Eagles, it is the alligator that attracts me to come paddle the swamp. You need to get there in early March, however, as the mosquitoes and gnats make it unpleasant as the weather warms up.    

Just to the East of the swamp is the Atlantic Ocean and the Golden Isles. While each island has it's own allure, I prefer catching a ferry from St. Mary's over to Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island was once home to Thomas Carnegie. The old mansions, the Dungeness Ruins and the wild horses and feral pigs that inhabit the island are a sight to see. I've only wandered and camped about 12 miles of the island, however, with the Palmetto fronds and Spanish moss, the Giant Sea Turtles that come to shore to lay their eggs, and empty beaches, I feel like I'm the first to explore this area each time I visit. Again, this is an early Spring trip, as after mid- March, gnats can be an unwelcome guest.

A little up from Cumberland, we have Savannah. This is the place Sherman decided to stop his destructive tirade through my state. Thank goodness he left some of Savannah alone. The historic buildings, the cobblestone streets by the Savannah River and the salty smells of the sea linger in my memory long after I leave the city. On Saint Patrick's Day, it's a sight to behold, as the Savannah River is dyed green in honor of the Irish Saint.

Heading back north, just East of Atlanta, you will find Stone Mountain park, which is claimed to be "the largest exposed hunk of Granite in the world". I'm not sure of the accuracy of this, however I do know that Stone Mountain hosts a variety of events throughout the year, and the Yellow Daisy Festival is one of my favorites. Arts and crafts vendors from around the country come to sell their wares, and the Yellow Daisies that litter the park are a beautiful sight to experience. Bicycle the 6 mile circumference of the mountain, or take a hike up the one mile trail to the top of the mountain and see the rolling Piedmont and skyline of Atlanta from the top. Stay late into the evening and spread a blanket on the lawn in front of the Confederate Memorial carving and experience the awesome laser light show that takes place on weekends in the Spring and nightly during the summer.

  These are a few of my favorite Springtime hang-outs. As I was typing this up, I realized that I needed to edit some, as the post was growing too long. I didn't even touch on the Foothills of the Appalachians, the oldest mountain chain in the world that encompasses our entire North Georgia region. I could do an entirely new post on my adventures in this area. I am a son of the South, and I thank God that I live in Georgia! If you are looking to move to Georgia, I'd encourage you to continue exploring the diversity Georgia has to offer. My name is Bo Hunt, and I'm with First Choice Mortgage Group in Douglasville, Georgia. Give me a call, or drop me an email, and I will work with you to get pre-approved to purchase a home in my wonderful state. Thank you for taking the time to read about some of my favorite places that I like to visit.

By the way, what are some of your favorite Springtime places?