SPRING EVENTS IN GEORGIA

Spring is such a special time in Georgia and it is just around the corner. The weather is the best and the gardens begin blooming in March. Below is a list of some of the special spring events in Georgia. Happy visiting!

1. Annual Southeastern Flower Show - Jan. 30 - Feb. 3
2. SEC Basketball Men's Tournament - March 13-16
3. Peaches to Beaches Yard Sale - March 14-16
4. St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah (2nd largest in US) - March 14
5. Savannah Music Festival - March 20-27
6. Callaway Gardens Spring Celebration - March 22 - April 20
7. 26th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon - March 28 - Apr. 6
   
8. Atlanta Steeplechase - April 12
9. Tour de Georgia - April 21 - 27

You may google any of these events for more information.

Georgia Golf

Georgia has over 300 golf courses across the state from challenging to five-star resorts. No other state gives you such an opportunity to be a part of the history and heritage of the game of golf. Georgia is also home to golf legend Bobby Jones, born in Atlanta in 1902 and retired from golf at the ripe old age of 28. He was considered a child prodigy and won his first tournament at age 6. Another famous part of golf history is the Savannah Golf Club, the oldest in the country with a conception date of 1927. But the most famous of them all is The Masters of Augusta, the world's most prestigious golf tournament. Below are the three big tournaments in Georgia this year, be sure to visit if you love golf!

1. The Masters of Augusta National - April 7 - 13
2. AT&T Classic, Sugarloaf at Duluth - May 15 - 18
3. The Tour, East Lake Club - Sept 22 - 28
   

OAK HILL - Home of Martha Berry

Welcome to Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum, one of the finest attractions in Georgia! Martha Berry was raised in Rome, Georgia at the beautiful home of Oak Hill. She was very conscious of the need for education among the children of the nearby mountains. Her early vision was to educate children in order to provide a path out of poverty. She devoted her energy toward a school for boys that included a work program. Berry College was eventually the result of her vision and remains as a work related college today. You can tour Oak Hill as well as the nearby buildings that were the beginnings of the school. Be sure to also see the Martha Berry Museum and the Colonial Revival Gardens. And for those of you that are movie buffs, Oak Hill was used in the movie "Sweet Home Alabama" for use as the family mansion. You may find more information at www.berry.edu/oakhill/. Enjoy your visit!

OKEFENOKEE! SWAMP AT ITS BEST!

The Okefenokee Swamp is located in southern Georgia and encompasses 438,000 acres (see map below). There are 60 named lakes, 70 islands and 370,000 acres of declared wetlands. There are over 230 species of birds, 49 species of mammals, 64 species of reptiles and numerous species of fish and amphibians. If you love the outdoors and nature at its best, you need to visit the Okefenokee.
Native Americans occupied the swamp as early as 2500 B.C. The last tribe, the Seminoles, conducted raids on settlers and in 1850 were driven into Florida by General Charles Floyd. The Okefenokee was declared a National Wildlife Refuge in 1936. Due to the vastness of the swamp area, you need to be sure to bring your incidentals and plenty of gas in the old automobile. The location is isolated and will definitely encompass a full day of travel and sightseeing. Boat tours are available and can include night tours through the swamp. Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and boating are all activities you can enjoy while visiting. Be aware that there are five different entrances and each entrance offers different activities, so call ahead for information or visit www.okefenokee.com. 912-496-7836.

Above: Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge Location