Adventure Journal
Entry Date: September 2010
This trip was based on Labor Day weekend and a Balloon Festival scheduled at Callaway Gardens. We camped at Pine Mountain RV Park just about 3 miles from Callaway. The plan was to ride bikes, play at the beach, visit the vegetable garden, and participate in the hot-air balloon festivities. We actually did quite a lot more.

First stop on the bike trail was the Cecil Day Butterfly Center. You can see by the pictures that it's very entertaining and educational for the kids. You can actually see butterflies emerging from their cocoons. From there, the plan was to ride down to the lake and take a ferry across to the bike path on the other side. Unfortunately, we learned the ferry was closed and had to ride along the road for a little while. With all the kids we had riding with us, it was a little scary. Given the choice again, I would have probably gone back up to the butterfly center and taken the much shorter and safer route to the vegetable garden and Robin lake.

We pushed on until we reached the vegetable garden. There were lots of ornamentals, some muskadine (wild grape) vines bearing fruit, and some okra blooming. The garden is a peaceful place, but not with hungry kids. We decided it was time for lunch.

Just down the hill from the garden is Robin lake and one of the cleanest fresh-water beaches you will ever find. We ate our snacks and the kids hit the water. There was a "knee boarding" show happening, so we got to see some impressive tricks. Callaway gardens is known for waterskiing.

After a while, we made our way around to the opposite side of the lake where the festivities were happening. We played miniature golf, did the bungee swing ride, then went to watch the finale of the balloon festival, the launching. Turns out, the balloons were tethered, so they would only let them rise a hundred or so feet in the air, then pull them back down, giving rides to the patrons. We eventually went back to the campground. From our vantage point there, it looked like they did eventually release some balloons, although we only saw two.

In summary, it was a very good day. There are many things to do at Callaway, but I should point out that it can be a bit pricey, especially for a family of six. Our cost to enter the park was around $100, a bit more expensive than usual because of the balloon festival. If you are looking for a day of bike riding, fishing, and swimming, a state park can provide those features for a $5 parking fee.

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: April 2008
Spring Break!  On this trip to West Georgia, we rode (and rode and rode) bikes around Callaway Gardens where the Azaleas and Dogwoods were in full bloom.  We camped at FD Roosevelt State Park where we fished, rode bikes (and rode and rode and rode), and watched movies at our private outdoor theater (a sheet and projector. We visited the Wild Animal Safari, The park's walk through zoo has expanded and it's great!  You can see animals there that you will not see elsewhere.
 

Adventure Journal
Entry Date:
September 2007
One day of this adventure was spent at Callaway Gardens. This is a great place to visit when camping at FDR State Park. There is a lot for the entire family to do there.  There is golf, miles of paved bike/hike trails, a butterfly house, gardens, and a huge beach with lots of activities (and more!).  We visited the butterfly center, the vegetable garden, and finally the beach (the kid's favorite).  It was a fun filled day, and once again, we plan to come back soon. 
 

More Destinations:
Up
Amicalola Falls State Park
Beaches of South Walton.
Berry College
Big Kahunas
Biltmore House
Blairsville, Georgia
Callaway Gardens
Cataloochee Ski Area
Cave Spring
Cedar Creek Park
Charlestown State Park
Chattahoochee Bend State Park
Chattanooga Zoo
Chehaw Park
Cherry Hill Park
Chester Frost Park
Chieftains Museum
Cloudland Canyon
Cloudmont Ski and Golf
Consolidated Gold Mine
Cohutta Wilderness
Cumberland Island
Dauset Trails
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
Desoto State Park
Doll Mountain Campground
Dollywood
Dunnaway Gap
Enota Mountain Retreat
Etowah Indian Mounds
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Florala State Park
Franklin D Roosevelt State Park
Fort Mountain State Park
Georgia Mountain Fairground
Georgia Veterans State Park
Gold n Gem Grubbin'
Helen Georgia
James H Floyd State park
James Island Park
Jellystone Park- Cave City, KY
John Tanner Park
Lake Allatoona
Lake Sidney Lanier
Lake Winnepesaukah
Little River Canyon Center
Live Oak Landing
Lula Lake Land Trust
Mammoth Cave National Park
McIntosh Reserve
McKinney Campground
Moto Mountain Powersports
New Echota - Cherokee Capitol
Noccalula Falls Park details and pictures
Old Stone Fort Archaeology State Park
Pine Moutain RV
Red Top Mountain State Park
Ridge Ferry Park
Rocky Mountain Recreation Area
Rock Town - Pigeon Mountain
Rome GA
Salt Springs Recreation Area
Silver Springs
Stone Mountain Park
Tanglewood Farm
Tannehill State Park
Tellus Science Museum
The Southern Museum
Topsail Hill Preserve
Townsend KOA
Townsend Tennessee
Twinbrook Resort
US Space and Rocket Center - Details and Pictures
Vogel State Park
Wild Animal Safari
World of Coke

September 2010

April 2008





 

September 2007