Oh Peach State, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways—mountains, swamps, beaches, rivers, pinelands, farms, waterfalls, museums, gardens, rich history, beautiful people. The list goes on and on. You hold so many special places and experiences within your boundaries.
I know I left. I’m sorry. It was time. We spent over two decades together—living life and weathering its ups and downs, raising two boys, hiking, exploring, geocaching, adventuring, motorcycling.
The view over Lake Chatuge from Georgia’s highest point, Brasstown Bald.
I was young when I moved there. Fresh out of college. Yet you’ve always known I longed for the solitude and vastness of the West. But you, my dear Georgia, you will always hold a special place in my life and memories. We have a deep and lasting emotional connection. And even now you still hold my best friends and my sons in your bosom.
I hope you know leaving was no easy task. That leaving doesn’t diminish what was. It’s necessary to weave a new tapestry for myself now. And I’m not leaving for good really. You know I return often to your lush landscape to embrace the people I hold dear.
Our years together have been amazing. I’ve criss-crossed you in the name of exploration and experience, most of the time with my beloved Fred, George, and Disapproving Beagle in tow. I’ve spent countless hours reveling in your state and national parks. My sons have blossomed in our time exploring there together, their education enriched by what you offer.
Your geology provides the framework for varying landscapes across the state. From the piedmont that forms the foothills of the Appalachians to the barrier islands on the coast, you offer endless possibilities for vastly different adventures:
Fred and George trying their hands at fencing at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. (Fairburn)Geocaching adventures with Fred and George have taken us all over the state. (Skidaway Island State Park)The Disapproving Beagle has explored almost as much of Georgia as I have. With the Chattahoochee River practically out the back door of my Georgia outpost, adventure is always just around the corner. (Old Roswell Mill/Vickery Creek)Georgia’s state park system includes gems like the waterfalls of Sitton’s Gulch. (Cloudland Canyon)An urban nature oasis… Old Fourth Ward.One of my very favorite Georgia trails is the approach to the Len Foote Hike Inn. (Amicalola Falls)Georgia is home to Going Caching, one of the best geocaching events around.Paddling in the Okefenokee Swamp. (Fargo)Georgia is home to magical gardens like the Atlanta Botanical Garden (Atlanta), Gibbs Gardens (Ball Ground), the State Botanical Garden of Georgia (Athens), and Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain).Geocaching at Cockspur Island near Tybee Island. (Fort Pulaski National Monument)Nature and history meet at Fort King George Historic Site. (Darien)Georgia’s state parks offer well-appointed developed campsites that make family camping easy and fun.Hands-on experience learning about the history of gold mining in Georgia. (Consolidated Gold Mine, Dahlonega)The Dungeness Ruins of Cumberland Island National Seashore. (St. Marys)I can’t begin to tell you how much time we’ve spent on Atlanta’s pet rock. (Stone Mountain)From mountains to swamps, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had in Georgia. (George L. Smith State Park)Georgia’s opportunities for experiential education are a goldmine for homeschoolers. (Jimmy Carter National Historic Site)Fred and George have hiked more miles in Georgia than they likely remember. Georgia offers trails suitable for all ages and ability levels. (Chattahoochee Nature Center)A hiker and backpacker paradise, the Appalachian Trail begins in the north Georgia mountains.One of my favorite Georgia pasttimes? Riding out in search of fabulous barbecue. (Amos’ BBQ, Ball Ground)
A handful of images to summarize over two decades of adventures. They don’t quite do the Peach State justice but I do feel I’ve done Georgia justice in discovering what it has to offer. I hope you find it as exciting as I have. Happy adventuring!
I’m an unabashed fan of the Len Foote Hike Inn. It’s a place everyone should visit at least once in their lives and it’s one of Georgia’s amazing granola getaways…simple, peaceful, cozy.
I’ve written about the Hike Inn before but back in February, I actually got to combine the Hike Inn with the awesome that is the Georgia Conservancy.
But wait…it gets even better. You see, the Georgia Conservancy and the Hike Inn teamed up for a volunteer weekend so we could enjoy the Inn for a couple of nights at a discounted rate in return for some manual labor. Let me tell you, that’s a granola trifecta!
The great folks who worked their tails off in the freezing cold.
The Hike Inn…
A refreshing five-mile hike to the lodge and all you need is your personal items. Simple as that. They provide the food as well as linens. There’s a sunrise room, showers, books, friendly staff and fellow visitors, and usually some sort of entertainment like a storyteller. The food always leaves everyone raving. The view is rejuvenating.
The lodge is eco-friendly in both construction and operation so you can relax guilt-free. And relax you can in this device-free zone. People of all ages and experience come through the Hike Inn. And minus the distractions of our electronic age, these people come together to play games, do puzzles, and chat in the sunrise room.
Even after a vigorous 5-mile hike, George was ready to explore the Hike Inn.
Take a load off and soak up the Hike Inn.
The Georgia Conservancy…
In addition to the great work they do for our state and the fact that they’re super nice, the folks at The Georgia Conservancy also know how to run an outing. We had a great time paddling the Okefenokee with them because of their casual but attentive approach. I knew their handling of the Hike Inn volunteerfest would be no less fabulous. They did not disappoint.
And while we’re still indie travelers by-and-large, I would happily sign up for one of their programs again…if I could manage to find one that fits into our bizarre calendar.
Even with all we accomplished, there was still plenty of time to enjoy all the offerings…
Volunteering…
So as for the work, there was such a variety for all ability levels and inclinations from chopping wood, to clearing brush, to cleaning the game room. Everyone could do something, even the kids who came along. The Hike Inn staff members were amazed by what we were able to accomplish and that was even with having to call it quits early due to some surprise sub-freezing weather. It just goes to show how much progress can be made when a motivated group comes together to improve something they care about.
A lovely place to thaw out your fingers after a cold, blustery day of outdoor work.
Extra special…
For ages, we’ve been trying to find volunteer opportunities that include kids only to come up empty. It seems the minimum age we can find for events has been ten but in most cases 14, usually because of liability. That makes involving Fred and George in community projects at an age when they’re most receptive (i.e. much younger) a bit difficult wouldn’t you say?
Imagine my delight when this opportunity came up. I couldn’t sign up fast enough! We so appreciate the Hike Inn and the Georgia Conservancy for creating an event that allowed us to foster a sense of community in our little minions. Even though they don’t necessarily produce the amount of work an adult might, they still get to be a part of something bigger than themselves which plants the seed for greater involvement later on.
Jester and Fred helped out with log chopping…they really did. Don’t let the picture fool you.
The world according to Fred and George…
So what did they think of all this? The Hike Inn was a huge hit and they’d readily tackle the hike again to be able to go back. George reports that using the loppers to cut away brush was his favorite work activity and he certainly went at it with gusto. Fred was fascinated by the wood chopper which remains his most distinct memory of the work portion of the weekend.
The funny thing is that they were more inclined to work because it wasn’t at home. The contagious let’s-get-it-done attitude of our fellow volunteers certainly caught on with the them. Seeing other kids taking on some pretty big tasks motivated them to try some things they probably would have groaned about in their own yard.
As far as the Inn itself, they both adored the sunrise room with all of it’s puzzles, blocks, and games but I think it was the wide variety of people to play with that made those activities stand out for them. Exploring the grounds held great fascination for them as well. Fred’s imagination was clearly in overdrive as he meandered about, mesmerized by the buildings and winter-barren forest.
The moon was trying to compete with the orange glow of sunrise.
Final thoughts..
Obviously I had a great time on many levels. Aside from getting Fred and George a volunteer opportunity with one of my favorite organizations at one of my favorite places in the world, I got to work alongside some fascinating, friendly people. Of course, we got to experience of the granola trifecta in that regard, but even if you can’t make it to something that epic, by all means, at least do each one separately.
So one last time, here are the links to get you started on fabulous Georgia adventures…and if you have questions, I’m always here for you.
