5. DISCOVER NATURAL WONDERS AT THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP Boat tours, nature shows and boardwalk observation areas dive into swamp life at Okefenokee Swamp Park & Adventures near Waycross , in southeast Georgia. Experience nature up close under a lush and fluttering forest canopy, take a boat or train tour, and explore wildlife on a primitive nature walk dappled by sunlight. Watch carefully and you may spot alligators, turtles, bobcats, black bears, skunks, wild boars, common minks, river otters, foxes and other wild creatures that live in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge , of which the swamp park is a part. For a panoramic view overlooking the marshy swamp and surrounding nature, head to the 90-foot-tall Observation Tower . It takes 102 calf-burning steps to reach the top, but the views are worth the climb. Then, if you’re still longing for more swamp goodness, prolong your stay with a fully outfitted platform-camping experience found deep in Okefenokee’s wilderness. Platforms feature all you need for remote camping over open water, like partially covered roofs, cooking nooks, picnic tables and more. Back at the swamp, a guided moonlight paddle means you can see sparkles in the vast night sky from a different angle. Listen as fish splash and critters call to each other in a symphony of evening sounds you won’t hear in the city. Boat and bike rentals, guided tours and multiday overnight boat excursions are all part of the fun at Okefenokee. Plan your visit around special events like kayaking with a naturalist, stargazing, sunrise tours, or birding and botanical excursions. Stop by the park’s nature center for interactive exhibits before you go. Make Newell Lodge & Resort in nearby Folkston the home base for all your escapades. Surrounded by 57 acres of old-growth oaks (and all the glimmering fireflies you could ask for), this secluded getaway delivers big on rustic charm. Come for the resort’s private, RV-friendly campsites and cozy vacation cabins, then explore the forested landscape by horseback. The on-site Swampfire Backwoods Bistro will satisfy lunch and dinner cravings with locally sourced rib-eye and slices of decadent chocolate and Key lime pie. Or have them pack you a to-go lunch for your daytime adventures. STARS IN YOUR EYES As night falls, head to Stephen C. Foster State Park inside the swamp—it’s named a gold-tier International Dark Sky Park for its astonishing darkness and an amazing opportunity to see planets, comets and star clusters. 12 #EXPLOREGEORGIA STEPHEN C. FOSTER STATE PARK, FARGO/RENA JOHNSON
Official State Travel Guide 2023 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 12
