Tag Archive for: explore georgia

CALLAWAY GARDENS LODGE AND GARDENS 2024

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/4/24

Callaway Gardens Lodge & Spa

Naturally, it’s Callaway! John and I recently went down to Callaway Gardens to enjoy their Pumpkins at Callaway and got treated to a weekend retreat in their “stay amidst the wonders of nature,” at the Lodge & Spa. It is a majestic mountain lodge with stunning waterfalls, carefully sculpted greenery, lake views, and walkable, relaxing grounds!

You walk up to the Lodge and are greeted with cozy mountain lodge vibes, soaring stone fireplace, and relaxing lounge. It all feels so natural, a rustic lodge, with modern touches! Up in the rooms, large, airy modern rooms open into spacious balconies to take in the beautiful grounds. When you walk in the bathroom is on the left with a walk-in shower, separate soaker tub make it an oasis. The comfy kind bed and seating area in the room is relaxing and you can open the drapes for views!

On the grounds, the Lodge at Callaway has two restaurants, Cason’s Taproom where we enjoyed their seared salmon and delicious cocktails, also the Piedmont Dining room for more formal affairs. They have a large pool and then trails down to Robin Lake Beach. It wasn’t the season to lounge at the beach or we would have!

Also, during our weekend stay at Callaway Resort & Gardens, we got to explore the gardens that come free with your stay! It is a whole world of butterflies to rustic chapels to breathtaking lake views to winding garden paths all in the Gardens at Callaway!

Butterfly Center & Memorial Chapel


Butterfly Center is my favorite spot in the gardens. A perfectly manicured grounds, soaring greenhouse filled with so many butterflies you’re surrounded by them! It’s like a tropical paradise inside. A must do there is to watch the butterflies hatching. My second favorite spot in the gardens is the Memoria Chapel. It is the place to reflect. Stone structure outside leads into a rustic soaring wood ceiling inside then surrounded and encompassed by detailed and beautiful stained glass. The entire building is surrounded by streams and a lake with beautiful yellow lily pads!

Discovery Center & Azalea Bowl

Discovery Center is for those that love learning! They have crawling bugs in one room, history of birds of prey, birding and plant education and more. But the grounds are just stunning, in the center it is all wood surrounded by their twinkling lights and lake views. Plus, they have multiple bridges and wooden walkways to explore the lake. When you get hungry, they have a cafe on site to enjoy a snack. I heard their French fries were really good! If you are looking for a scenic walk, go to the Azalea bowl! Unfortunately, there were no azaleas in bloom, I’d recommend going in Spring! But the walk through the wood was beautiful and they have a waterfall and lots of lake views!

Pioneer Cabin & More


The Pioneer Cabin is a fun quick stop to explore pioneer days. It is on the way to the Butterfly center, check this out! A rustic old cabin with pioneer history, clothing, living and sleeping area all set up like it would have been then! It was very cool to read about how they dropped the loom from the ceiling to sow! We’d recommend reading all of the information about the cabin to get the best experience. There is also the Overlook Azalea Garden we didn’t get to, and the property also has golf, Robin Lake near the Lodge for swimming in season, and Cason’s Garden (which was taken over for pumpkins at Callaway).

Pumpkins at Callaway

Life is gourd at Pumpkins at Callaway! The main reason John and I recently went to Callaway Resort & Gardens is their annual Pumpkins at Callaway. This is one of fall’s can’t miss events, so mark your calendars for next year mid-September through first week of November.

Save this agenda for your Pumpkins at Callaway trip:
Gardens by day:
🌲 Start at the Pumpkin tree for a photo op when the Robin Lake Beach opens for the day!
🛍️ Head into the large, big top for a little shopping, entertainment, and photo ops.
🌌 Take the trolley to Carson’s Garden to see the NEW Harvest Sky art instillation.
🌻 Take a trip through the sunflower field. It is gorgeous and I spent a lot of time watching the bees pollinate.
🎃 Enjoy the Garden of Giants (pumpkin). They are huge!!
🍺 Grab some refreshments from Carson’s Beer & Wine Garden! They have a great Sunflower cocktail and tasty bratwurst and peppers combo meal!
🌽 If you want to do Carsons’s Corn Maze, we recommend doing it at night instead! Now if you have kids, do it now. There are two, one is easier than the other and they have a map. Take a picture of the map!
Go back to Robin Lake Beach as the sunsets for Glow by night:
👻 Watch the Pumpkin tree sing Monster mash, Ghostbusters, and tell jokes! A must do!
🎃 Go through the mesmerizing Foggy Hollow! Hanging lights, carved pumpkins, glow in the dark animals, foggy creeks, and even smoke bubbles! The best experience they have!
⛳️ Enjoy mini golf? Do a round of unFOREgettable glow in the dark course!
🌽 Get back in the trolley to do Carson’s Corn Maze at night. They have pop music and fun lights!

Next up is their amazing Fantasy in Lights. We went last year and loved it!

BRIDGE CREEK INN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/29/24

Nestled in Rabun county and surrounded by the majestic North Georgia mountains, Bridge Creek Inn is a brand new mainstay on Clayton’s Main Street! John and I took a weekend getaway for a leisurely weekend to Bridge Creek Inn. There we enjoyed the mountain views while exploring the wildlife, activities, and downtown shopping. Bridge Creek Inn is touted as Clayton’s Living Room, a community gathering spot. You can catch a game or enjoy a cocktail from the Vandiver, their on-site upscale tavern. And being in the middle of downtown, it’s THE place to stay and explore everything that downtown Clayton, GA has to offer.

The moment you walk into the lobby “living room,” the hotel greets you with natural wood beauty, soft wood furniture, darker wood ceiling, and plush and cozy seating areas that dot the lobby. It’s calming from the second you enter. Gather by the fire, grab a quick coffee or snack at their cafe, and people watch from their cozy lounge area. It’s the place to relax and unwind.

Rooms

Upstairs, our room was the spacious King Suite with 180 views of the mountains and downtown! Simple and clean, yet modern and new, it was a beautiful room. The bathroom was light and bright, large shower, and pristine vanity. Heading around the corner is a cozy seating area with leather chairs made for a fun reading nook. The bed area drew your eye with a dark blue accent wall, mountain decor, and a comfy, large, king bed. Plus, we could look at the Mountain View all day.

The Vandiver

As we mentioned, they have an upscale tavern restaurant on site, The Vandiver, a main street tavern. Only open for 5 days when we visited, the space has some serious casual steakhouse vibes. Think exposed wood beams and circular booths. We’re impressed with the delectable shared plates, sensational dishes, and elevated cocktails! Like the Venison Wellington that’s super tender and juicy deer, cooked perfectly without a hint of game. The meat is surrounded by a perfect pastry that’s crunchy on the outside, yet flaky and gloating in a moat of rich and deep jus around it.

They have a wide variety of delicious shared plates like the BBQ carrots and the Jalapeno Hush Puppies. Starting with the
BBQ carrots that are crunchy and sweet, tender carrots with a spicy jalapeño miso and creamy, tart yogurt. On the other hand, the Jalapeño hush puppies are crunchy and fluffy with a good spice on the end. It is paired with a divine honey sweet butter. On to the Roasted Tomato Salad with fresh and light, roasted tomatoes, tangy crispy shallot, earthy basil, and topped with cheese!

For dinner, we also got the stunning Pork chop. It is a tender and juicy, charred chop topped with a herbaceous and earthy chimichurri, creamy sweet potato puree, dotted with pinkie eyed peas and grilled peaches. On the side, we opted for the Bone Marrow Bread pudding, a savory bread pudding. It is super meaty and rich! Finally, paired it with the Vandiver Verde, a tangy and sweet cocktail with a good spicy back.

VALDOSTA TRANSFORMS INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/10/23

The Capital of South Georgia will transform into a magical Christmas wonderland this holiday season. With millions of lights, decorations, sweet treats and jolly visits from Santa, Valdosta is the ultimate Christmas destination for festive family fun.

“In Valdosta, Christmas is not just a season; it’s an opportunity for our community to create something authentic and truly meaningful,” said David DiSalvo, President/CEO of Visit Valdosta. “Our local destinations curate affordable and family-centric experiences that provide a lifetime of memories for locals and out-of-town visitors alike.”

There are countless events, destinations and local businesses to celebrate with this season, including:

Wild Adventures Christmas Wild & Bright: Boasting over two million lights, this is Wild Adventures’ brightest and merriest celebration yet, spreading cheer across the park with new attractions, jolly entertainment and holiday culinary delights. The event features a new animated floating lake spectacular with thousands of sparkling lights reflected across the water. Guests will journey through Wonder Woods, watch the beloved tale of Rudolph come to life in the Holly Jolly Junction and experience the Gingerbread Village to capture one-of-a-kind family memories. Join the Christmas spirit on select dates from November 18 through December 31.

Community Tree Lighting: On December 1 at 6 p.m., the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and the Valdosta City Council invite the community to kick off the holiday season at the Valdosta-Lowndes County annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Located on the lawn of the newly renovated historic courthouse, guests will enjoy a performance from the Lowndes High School Viking Cantors, and festivities include hot cocoa, light refreshments and family fun.

Greater Valdosta Community Christmas Parade: This year’s Christmas parade promises to be more enchanting than ever with a magical Snow Globe theme. The parade will spread holiday cheer by transforming the streets from Woodrow Wilson to Downtown Valdosta on December 2 starting at 6 p.m. Thousands of guests will enjoy a festive processional of beautifully decorated floats, lively music and the jolly presence of Santa Claus.

Christmas at Valdosta State University: Before Valdosta State University students head home for the holidays, students and faculty will gather for the Blazer Nation tradition of the Lighting of the Palms. Featuring holiday music, sweet treats, a VSU Winter Wonderland and a special visit from mascot Santa Blaze, this holiday tradition kicks off on VSU’s front lawn at 1500 N. Patterson Street on November 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Card Cruise: What started as a small event in 2020, has now expanded to include the entire county. The community-wide Christmas Card Cruise, hosted by Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority, Lowndes County and the City of Valdosta, includes businesses, organizations and families creating jumbo Christmas cards out of 6-foot sheets of plywood to display outside of their buildings and homes throughout December. Last year, more than 100 cards were posted. Visit vlpra.com on December 1 to view the official cruise map.

Christmas Lights at Camp Rock: Camp Rock, a nonprofit organization serving underprivileged children in South Georgia, will have a Christmas light display on select days in December for families to enjoy. For just $10, guests will enjoy a Winter Wonderland featuring mini golf, bounce houses, roller skating, axe throwing and a light maze. The event also includes a petting zoo, light show, games, crafts, outdoor movies and more.

Hahira Festivities: Just a few miles north of Valdosta, visitors can enjoy several holiday activities in Hahira. Check out the third annual Parade of Trees at Hahira Square where families and organizations decorate trees to spread holiday cheer, commemorate loved ones and promote local businesses. The Merry Main Street Christmas Parade and Festival will take place on December 9 at 10 a.m., with the parade beginning at 6 p.m. The festival features arts & crafts booths, local vendors, food trucks and more.

31st Annual Toy Ride: Calling all motorcyclists from South Georgia and North Florida! Hosted by the Outback Riders of Valdosta, the Toy Ride brings together motorcyclists to spread holiday cheer to children in Valdosta. Thousands gather to bring a toy and ride through Valdosta, ending with a donation to the Salvation Army. This year’s ride takes place December 16 at 1:30 p.m.

For out-of-town visitors, Valdosta has cozy inns, a new boutique hotel, campgrounds and much more to find a perfect fit for every family this holiday season. Plan your trip and learn more about overnight accommodations at visitvaldosta.org/stay.