Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – St. Simon’s Island, GA

Quarantine Quest – St. Simon’s Island, GA

We were itching to get to a beach as things reopened from the pandemic. And St. Simon’s Island on the coast of Georgia provided the perfect place. With less than 24 hours to plan, we had a great weekend trip just five hours southeast of  Atlanta.

Near Savannah, many barrier islands dot Georgia’s coast. Nicknamed the Golden Isles, these barrier islands include Cumberland Island, Sea Island and Sapelo Island. St. Simon’s Island is one of the larger islands. At just 12 miles long and three miles wide, the small community is easy to navigate.

(more…)

Read more about the article Quarantine Quests – Fort Yargo State Park and Blueberry Picking, Winder, GA

Quarantine Quests – Fort Yargo State Park and Blueberry Picking, Winder, GA

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.

(more…)

Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – Vickery Creek Hike – Roswell, GA
Vickery Creek Dam

Quarantine Quest – Vickery Creek Hike – Roswell, GA

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area reopened in May after the mandated shelter-in-place restrictions lifted. We jumped at the chance to hike one of our favorite trails at the Vickery Creek Unit in Roswell, a northern suburb of Atlanta.

Cost, Fees & Parking

Parking is $5 per car if you park at the lot at 400 Riverside Rd, which is under the Chattahoochee River NRA (National Park Service) jurisdiction. Parking is free with an annual National Park Pass ($80) or an annual Chattahoochee River NRA Pass ($40).

(more…)

Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – FDR State Park, Pine Mountain, GA
FD Roosevelt State Park

Quarantine Quest – FDR State Park, Pine Mountain, GA

As pandemic restrictions ease, we’ve been exploring places closer to home and thankfully, the Georgia State Parks system provides plenty of outdoor activities. This week, we hiked at F.D. Roosevelt (FDR) State Park in Pine Mountain, GA.

Ths 9,000-acre park lies 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. And since it’s near Callaway Gardens (one of my favorite spots), you’d think I’d know this park inside and out. I don’t. Up until this trip, I’d only taken the scenic drive starting across Highway 27 from the Callaway Gardens Country Store.

Pine Mountain Valley

The drive follows along the ridge of Pine Mountain, offering several small scenic overlooks of Callaway Gardens on the left and Pine Mountain Valley on the right. But the drive only scratches the surface of Georgia’s largest state park.

(more…)