Read more about the article An Overnight Stay at Tybee Island – GA

An Overnight Stay at Tybee Island – GA

Sometimes, I need a quick getaway from Atlanta to appreciate all the state of Georgia offers. After visiting the Okefenokee Swamp, we drove over to spend the night at Tybee Island along the coast.

To be honest, I hadn’t visited Tybee in over 20 years. As far as Georgia’s barrier islands go, we’ve spent more time at Saint Simon’s Island and neighboring Jekyll Island. Tybee, with a population of 3,000, lies less than 20 miles from Savannah so it’s worth visiting if you find yourself in the area.

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Read more about the article Okefenokee Swamp Park – Waycross, GA

Okefenokee Swamp Park – Waycross, GA

Did you know that Georgia has seven natural wonders? One of these is the Okefenokee Swamp at the southern end of the state. The name derives from the Native American term “Land of the Trembling Earth” which is exactly the sensation one would feel when stepping on the soggy masses of soil deposits.

Consisting of 438,000 acres of wetlands (or roughly 650 square miles), the Okefenokee swamp remains the largest blackwater swamp in North America. The black water comes from tannins on the bark and leaves that drop into the water. However, if you scoop up water in your hand, the water is more of a dirty orange color.

You can see the blackwater next to the green lily pads and vegetation

The Okefenokee Swamp lies in a remote area of Georgia with few roads or cities nearby. The Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge has a main entrance about 11 miles from Folkston (pop. 4,500) and a smaller entrance at the Stephen C. Foster State Park about 17 miles from Fargo (pop. 250). Both areas offer boat rentals, guided boat tours, walking trails, and camping.

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Read more about the article Gibbs Gardens – Ball Ground, GA

Gibbs Gardens – Ball Ground, GA

Located just an hour north of Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens opened to the public a few years ago. However, not everything is newly planted. Jim Gibbs, founder of well-known Gibbs Landscaping, spent over 30 years creating these gardens on his 300-acre property.

We arrived during the early part of November to see the fall colors. Volunteers directed us to a parking spot and we entered the welcome center and gift shop. Presenting the tickets we bought online, another volunteer gave us a map and told us to head to the Japanese gardens. During the walk, we passed the Waterlily Gardens and Monet Bridge. (more…)