GeorGia SeaSonS azaleas—offers tennis, golf, ziplining, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and the resort’s luxurious lodge and spa. Georgia’s coastline isn’t the only area where you can find vast vistas of the state’s many beautiful bodies of water. Hike, picnic or camp out along the maritime forest of the Intracoastal Waterway at Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah , or find a great place to spend a night outdoors with the scenic campgrounds, access to the vast Lake Allatoona and miles of nature trails at Red Top Mountain State Park in Acworth . You can also find a serene place to lay out for a night or two after earning your sleep with an invigorating day of hiking and backpacking at Vogel State Park near Helen —the 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail is a top accomplishment—or F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, where the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail passes waterfalls, travels over creeks and moves through a winding forest. If you’re less into the rough-it sort of outdoors adventure and more into fanciful forest relaxation, go for a night of luxury at Timberline Glamping Co. near Georgia’s tallest waterfall, Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville . If someone accuses you of cheating because your heated or air-conditioned tent has electrical outlets, a coffee maker and a minifridge, just invite them in for a visit. Together you can trek a portion of the Appalachian Trail’s southern end, just 8.5 miles from the waterfall, on Springer Mountain . It’d be quite a shame to spend time in this gorgeous agricultural state without taking advantage of every chance available to pick and enjoy your own veggies, fruit and other produce—and berries are spring’s finest. Head to The Market at Rutland Farms in Tifton to pick them (and gobble up their strawberry ice cream) and do some bass fishing. During picking hours at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough , fill your own bucket with some of their sweet berries, ride the cow train and meet the farm creatures in Bell’s Barnyard. Or spend time at Fort Valley ’s Lane Southern Orchards to pick more gorgeous strawberries (and even some peaches as early as mid-May!). GIBBS GARDENS, BALL GROUND/KRIS PINYAN EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 35
Official State Travel Guide 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 35
