It’s summertime and we’re slowly reopening from the Covid-19 quarantine. Since most of our travel plans are nonexistent, we’ve been exploring day trips nearby. Upon a friend’s recommendation, we ventured out to Fort Yargo State Park in Winder and were able to also pick blueberries at Fleeman’s Farm nearby.

Fleeman’s Blueberries

About 10 years ago, I took Thing 1 and Thing 2 on a blueberry picking trip outside my hometown of Shreveport, LA. The only problem was that neither of them liked blueberries and I ended up giving most of them away. 

Now that their taste buds have matured and they enjoy blueberries in smoothies and pancakes, they’ve wanted to try blueberry picking again. In researching places nearby, I learned (surprisingly to me) that Georgia consistently ranks in the top 5 states for blueberry production. 

We decided on Fleeman’s Farms in Winder (about 45 minutes from Atlanta) since it was near Fort Yargo State Park. I called as soon as they opened at 7 am to make sure they still had ripe blueberries to pick. The person answering the phone mentioned that they experienced heavy rains the previous night and suggested we come prepared for wet bushes and grass.

Just off the main highway, we turned into Fleeman’s where rows and rows of blueberry bushes greeted us. After parking, one of the helpers gave us a container and showed us how to select ripe berries. Besides having a blue or purple color, the ripe ones will almost come off in your hand if you twist them gently with your fingers. 

The bushes were taller than us and my shoulders kept grazing the wet branches as we walked along looking for berries. I overheard another staff member telling someone she had picked the previous afternoon when the sun was beating down on her in the sweltering heat. I was glad it was an early morning for us as the day was proving to be hot.

While paying $15 for our gallon, Mrs. Fleeman rang us up under the tent. In addition to providing a restroom, there is an outdoor sitting area to rest. The staff couldn’t have been nicer and it felt good to buy local.

Back at home, we taste-tested blueberries from our fridge (purchased at the grocery store) to the recently picked ones. The ones we picked burst with so much flavor there was hardly a comparison.

For more directions, hours and more information about Fleeman’s, click here.

Fort Yargo State Park

Just a few miles away, Fort Yargo State Park in Winder offers a range of activities. The highlight is the 260-acre Fort Yargo Lake where much activity is centered.

The Fort

Turning into the park’s main entrance, we passed a newly constructed (May 2019) Visitor Center which was unfortunately closed due to Covid. Soon, a small log cabin, seemingly dwarfed by surrounding trees and nature appeared on the left.  Almost as an afterthought, a sign indicated this was the original Fort Yargo. 

Built around 1793 by the Humpries Brothers, the wooden blockhouse served as a protection against the Cherokee and Creek tribes, as well as a trading post.  During the year, the Fort Yargo Living History Society provides programs, monthly demonstrations and an annual Market Faire celebrating the fort’s history.

The Beach

We headed to our main destination – the beach and swim area at the end of the main road. Cars and minivans jockeyed for parking places among many picnic areas. Getting out of the car, the smells of burning charcoals from grills hit me as I remembered I hadn’t eaten breakfast.  

Walking past a large pavilion, the sandy beach greeted us. After setting up chairs and towels, Thing 2 and her father, took floats into the water for a few minutes.  Past the roped off swimming area, several people canoeing rowed by. 

As the morning wore on, more people arrived setting up for family reunions, picnics and a 10-year-old’s birthday party under the shady trees. Teenage boys kicked a soccer ball on the beach, kids built sandcastles, babies cried. However, as tents went up so did the volume of multiple radios – all playing different music. After eating a picnic lunch around noon, it was time to explore more of the park.

Biking Trails

Another huge draw of Fort Yargo is the 12 miles of challenging mountain bike trails with names like 3-Step Hill, Horseshoe Drop and Monster Mile. However, for those wanting a more level biking surface, the 7-mile Lake Loop trail fits the bill. 

Since we only brought two bikes with us, Thing 2 and DH (Dear Hubbie) rode the Lake Loop Trail while Thing 1 and I hiked a little bit. Although equipped with disc golf, camping and many activities, Fort Yargo surprisingly doesn’t offer many hiking trails. The choices are either the aforementioned Lake Loop trail or the short (0.5-mile), easy Bird Berry Trail. 

For us, hiking took us away from the crowds at the beach and we could enjoy the lake and some of the quieter coves in the shade. Thing 2 and DH experienced a moderate, but fun bike ride. At one point, the Lake Loop Trail shared with one of the mountain bike trails and gave them a good workout near Heart Attack Hill. They also biked past yurts and several campground areas. 

Cost, Parking, & Amenities

All Georgia State Parks have a $5 vehicle parking fee. Although there was a person at the entrance’s guardhouse, we purchased our daily parking pass online. At this point, we should really invest in the $50 Annual Park Pass, which is good at all the state parks in Georgia but doesn’t include Georgia State Historic Sites.

The beach pavillion provides restrooms and vending machines. During normal operations, they also rent paddleboats, kayaks and canoes but are closed due to the pandemic. However, visitors can bring their own non-motoraized boats using one of the two boat ramps.

During this era of social distancing, Georgia State Parks have limited access to parks when they become crowded. Since Fort Yargo is the 7th most visited state park, avoid weekends or late afternoons. For more details about Fort Yargo State Park and any closures, click their website here.