ALL THIS AND MORE IN GEORGIA
Text and Photography by Sandy Katz
 

Georgia can be described as a world-class destination.

All eyes were on the state when the G8 Summit was held on Sea Island, part of Georgia’s Golden Isles along the Atlantic coast and in 1996 when Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.

Most recently a tour took us through some not-so-familiar parts of Georgia, each with their individual charm and beauty.

Athens is a vibrant city that defines sophisticated southern culture. Just below the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains this university city of just over

100,000 residents presents visitors with a unique blend of Southern heritage and contemporary entertainment.

A wide range of award-winning restaurants offer distinctive dining. Take time to stroll through their inviting, restored downtown and take a drive through the historic districts, featuring antebellum, Victorian, and other period homes.

Visitors driving into Athens from any direction will likely pass one of the three dozen larger-than-life bulldogs painted by prominent local artists and on permanent display throughout the town.

On a “Roam Athens Past Tour” there were lovely 19^th century homes to see. The Ware-Lyndon House(1856) is listed in the Historic Register of Historic Places as a distinctive Italianate home completely restored as a house museum and is the centerpiece of the Lyndon House Arts Center. The recently restored and expanded community arts complex includes large airy galleries, a children’s wing, artists’ workshops, and a gift shop. Tel: 706-613-3623.

The Taylor-Grady House (ca 1844) is a Greek Revival-style house, a National Historic Landmark built by Gen. Robert Taylor, a planter and cotton merchant. In 1863, it was purchased by Henry W. Grady, a newspaper editor considered by many to be spokesman of the new South. Tel:706-549-8688. It’s also a lovely drive through the 14 Historic Districts with varying architectural styles.

One big feature of Athens is their doubled-barreled cannon on the City Hall grounds. It was featured in Ripley’s Believe it Or Not! The cannon was built at the local foundry in 1863 when an anxious community feared attack by invading Northern armies. This one-of-a-kind weapon is among the most unusual relics preserved from the Civil War. The concept was to load the cannon with two balls connected by a chain several feet in length. When fired, the two balls and chain would whirl out and cut down the unfortunate enemy soldiers caught in their path.

The walking tour of University of Historic North Campus brought us through the mid 19^th century arch that symbolizes the state seal of Georgia. Founded in 1785, it is said to be the nation’s first state-chartered university. Visitors can stroll the campus and view historic structures, most of which were built before 1850 . 706-542-0842

The Church-Waddel-Brumby House/Athens Welcome Center (ca.1820) is a Federalist-style house believed to be Athens’ oldest surviving residence. Its rescue from demolition and restoration in the early 1970s as a house museum and welcome center sparked the historic preservation movement in Athens.

No visit would be complete to Athens without sampling a bit of its renowned music scene. Known worldwide as the birthplace of REM and the B-52’s, hundreds of bands call Athens home. Acclaimed venues such as the 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre attract up-and-coming musical acts as well as old favorites, and the music scene remains as vibrant as ever. Music fans throughout the world make pilgrimages to Athens to discover its musical roots through a self–guided Music history Walking Tour, available at the Athens Welcome Center.

Culture is alive and well in Athens state’s official museum.  Georgia Museum of Art houses 8,000 works of art as well as a variety of international traveling exhibits. Tel: 706-542-4662

The Mercury Art Works is one of the many local galleries representing Athens’ thriving visual arts scene.

The Canopy is an innovative arts center featuring classes in flying dance trapeze. Guest artists include members of the famed Cirque du Soleil troupe.

I had a special treat - viewing of my favorite movie “Singing in the Rain” at the giant screen showing at Classic Center Arts Foundation Inc. Tel: 706-208-0900

Athens also hasThe State Botanical garden of Georgia, a 313-acre preserve featuring trails that wind to the garden’s furthest boundaries, a stunning 3-story tropical conservatory and gardens showcasing native and international flora. www.uga.edu/bogarden. There is also the Sandy Creek Nature Center with its 225 acre nature preserve that is home to a diverse group of animals, plants and ecosystems.

The next theme we followed was “Plays, Parks & Presidents.” From Athens we flew to Valdosta on the Governor’s plane. We stepped back in time in Lakeland while touring the city’s 17 charming murals depicting 1925 Milltown, Georgia. I took some photos which I call “Mingling with the Murals.” Members of my group were willing to step beside the murals hoping to look like a part of the mural.

We took a walk on the wild side along Banks Lake, where 1975 thriller “Gator” was filmed. We even took a quick spin in a speed boat among the eerie moss-filled trees in the lake.

My definition of fun is going to a theme park. Valdosta has Wild Adventures where you can experience 50 rides, come face to face with 500 wild animals and take in an ice show. www.wildadventures.net.

We departed for Colquitt to arrive at historic Tarrer Inn. This inn is reminiscent of the Victorian era, rich in period tapestries, quiet elegance and down-home southern hospitality. We ate a delightful dinner here and a robust breakfast. www.tarrerinn.com

That evening we were treated to a performance of Swamp Gravy: The Gospel Truth, which was a slice of life in South Georgia. This folk play was performed by the “ordinary folk” of the community and was part of Cultural Olympiad held during the 1996 Olympics.

We departed Colquitt to arrive in Americus to go aboard the Sam Shortline Excursion Train for a ride in 1949 antique rail passenger cars through pecan groves, cypress swamps and scenic country farms. We enjoyed the mix of romantic yesteryear with the excitement of today’s south www.SamShortline.com

In Plains we enjoyed ome-style cooking at Mom’s Kitchen. We took a peek at Plains Inn and Antique Mall where I found a few treasures. It is located in an 1870s building, each room in this inn was designed by Rosalynn Carter to represent a decade in the life of her husband, President Jimmy Carter.

We toured the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site located in what was formerly Plains High School where Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter attended grammar and high school. The national Park visitor center features exhibits on Carter’s life and career and serves as Georgia’s official school with educational programs as well.

We re-boarded the SAM Shortline and continued on to Archery. Here we toured President Carter’s Boyhood Farm. The beginnings of Jimmy Carter’s legacy can be found where he learned the value of devotion and service to family, church and community.

From Archery we went on to discover how Habitat for Humanity International is changing the world, one house at a time, at new Global Village & Discovery Center. It featured an intriguing display of sample homes built around the world. www.habitat.org

We checked into Windsor Hotel, first built in 1892 to attract winter visitors from north. Dinner was delicious and accommodations delightful. 229-924-1555

Our last, but not least stop was at the Little White House in Warm Springs. For more than two decades, former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited warm Springs to bathe in the area’s healing waters as part of his polio therapy. While serving as governor of New York, he oversaw construction of a white clapboard home here, the only home owned by the president. Upon its completion in 1932, this Little White House became the president’s retreat. It was from there that he witnessed the impact of the great depression. Today, the little White house draws over 120,000 visitors annually, more than any other Georgia state historic site. A new museum and visitors center will be opened to bring to life the significance of the area and the president who lived there and died there.